Happy near end of May, Home & Away family! And hope you all day a splendid month – I absolutely did as I recently returned back from our VS1 Travels group cruise with Virgin Voyages on the Starry Nights in Greece & Croatia itinerary. I had an amazing time with our group – celebrating my birthday which happened to be the day of embarkation (May 9th), exploring the islands of Greece and getting an intro to Turkey, Croatia, and Montenegro.
I can go into so many different topics about our trip, but will start with the Greek Islands we visited and which I would go back to!
1st Island: Santorini
Loved: If I were to go back, I would stay in Imerovigli. It’s in the middle of Oia and Fira with gorgeous panoramic views of the volcano and the rock of Staros. A little quieter there, but just as beautiful. We did a small group sightseeing tour and it was great because it ended up being private for us and we got to see a lot of the island, but it would have been a little better if the weather was not as windy (and a little warmer)
What I Know Now: The infamous Santorini blue domes are all churches, however not all churches have blue domes. So there are not as many blue domes in Santorini as social media makes it out to be. Some picturesque spots have lines of tourists waiting to take that perfect photo which is not my cup of tea, but hey, we got some photos in!
Would I Go Back?: I think seeing it once was good enough for me, but if given the opportunity, I would go back and see the sunset as we had to board the ship before sunset took place on the island.
2nd Island: Mykonos
Loved: We did this tour, Discover Authentic Mykonos, which I would have preferred to do private (as it was one of those large bus type of tours), but I really loved the farm lunch experience we did. I’m a big foodie so I thought all the food (and unlimited wine) was fantastic. I don’t know what it is about their Greek yogurt, but it is especially good here in Greece when compared to the states.
What I Know Now: We visited a beach club that one of the locals recommended, Scorpios which was absolutely stunning. We were able to get a bungalow for the day (no minimum required), have some expensive drinks lol, and enjoy the sunset before heading back to the ship.
Would I Go Back?: I think visiting once more would be nice (in warmer weather) to have more time exploring the town and beaches as we didn’t get to do that as much during our stay (we were originally supposed to have an overnight in Mykonos on our itinerary, but it changed last minute)
3rd Island: Crete
Loved: I loved the tour we went on which was of the White Mountains – safari tour with tastings and lunch. And my favorite part was the lunch we had at Samaria Gorge at 4000 ft which had a spectacular view of the White Mountains. And again this Greek yogurt… just the best.
What I Know Now: Crete is the largest island in Greece and has the longest gorge in Europe. Exciting for hikers (like myself) to come back and do some hiking! And for the Greek mythology lovers, Crete is the birthplace of Zeus, the king of the gods. They also have some solid olive oil and raki (greek alcohol) – we bought some to take home!
Would I Go Back?: Yes, yes, yes in a heartbeat!!! So much we did not get to do or see such as Chania’s Old Town, the other areas of the island, the beaches, and all the hiking trails!
4th Island: Corfu
Loved: We did a private tour of Corfu where we were able to see different parts of the island. My favorite part was walking around Old Town, which is heavily influenced by the Venetians as it was under their rule for over 400 years. The architecture and town is beautiful and so is their gelato.
What I Know Now: They have 104 beaches so there is something for everyone. West coast has the open sea, more dramatic landscapes, sandy beaches, and more ideal for the nature lovers. The East coast is calmer, warmer, and has shallower waters with pebbly beaches which is more ideal for families. The North coast beaches are in the middle with a mix of sandy and pebbly beaches, with a range of activities including water sports, restaurants, and bars. And for the hikers, the Corfu hiking trails connect the north and south part of the island making for an epic (long) journey.
Would I Go Back?: Absolutely, I would return back for the beaches and hiking. Also, it’s only a 40 minute ferry to Albania so it’s good to combine these destinations together on an itinerary.
As a diverse traveler – I want to see all of the main tourist attractions of a destination, but also love experiences that are more adventurous, more off the beaten path, and focused on nature or local life. I am drawn to less touristy places however I need to see the touristy places too, lol. So with that said, I do recommend cruises to get a “taste” of the destination so that you can determine which places you would want to come back to for a longer stay.
If you are interested in learning more about my Virgin Voyages cruise or traveling to Greece or anywhere in the Mediterranean, feel free to reach out to me!
