Greek Culture in Depth - but with a popular flair:
This tour takes you to many top sites in Greece, and promises especially well-informed guides called
"Study Leaders" vetted by the organizers, the Smithsonian Institution.
Good Price for a Specialized Tour ....But:
At US 1749 to US 1999 per person, excluding air, this is a good price for a culturally-enhanced tour of Greece.
... If You're Single? You'll Pay Too Much Extra:
One thing I don't like about this tour - the single supplement is a hefty $650 - $850 depending on departure date - but people traveling in pairs get a seasonally-adjusted lower rate per person. But this doesn't apply to the single traveler.
Caution - Some Trips Get Cancelled:
In 2008, trips in May and June were canceled by January, which is a surprise for trips backed by a major provider. Booking early may protect you.
Pre-Tour Extension - Kind of:
A single night in Athens is offered as a pre-trip "extension" for US 150 per person per night. This is not doing you any particular favors.
It's Not a Ten-Day Tour:
This is one of my pet peeves in Greek travel (and around the world, for that matter). Your travel day getting to Greece is NOT day one of your tour. This is a somewhat skimpy eight-day, seven-night tour, with day eight providing breakfast before you go to catch your plane.
Does the Quoted Price Include Air? Hm. Well, Does it?:
After searching through the Smithsonian Journey pages to see if the trip included air, including the hopeful one entitled "Tour Costs", I finally gave up and went to their partner, Collette Vacations. There the fact that the quoted trip prices do not include air was clearly marked. So why make it such a secret?
Love Athens? Good. You Stay There Every Night:
Don't mistake this for a coach tour through Greece. It uses Athens as a hub, with day trips radiating out from it. The primary hotel is the luxury Divani Caravel, though they caution it may not be available for some dates.
Greece: Footsteps Through Time from Smithsonian Journeys:
When a friend called my attention to this tour and asked me to check it out, I looked forward to it. The Smithsonian is a legendary institution and a highly respected name - but is this deal respectable?
Yes and no. The closer I looked, the less I liked. The base price per person is competitive with trips that provide nothing but the minimum in terms of tour guides. But the locations are very typical of these same tours and seem to be assembled from the usual pre-packaged elements. You'll visit Athens, Delphi, Mycenae, Cape Sounion, etc.
Your "bonus" is a presumably better-quality guide whose educational specialty is in an aspect of Greek culture. But the materials on the Smithsonian website vacillate between mentioning their special "Study Leaders" and "local guides". Just which one are you getting on this "value-priced" version?
Bottom line: If this itinerary or the tour leader appeals to you perfectly, book it. But you have other options in the same price range, offering many of the same amenities.
This trip is booked through Colette Vacations at 1.800.528.8147.
Collette Vacations
162 Middle Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
1-800-528-8147
Website: Collette Vacations
Smithsonian Journeys - Greece
