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Specialists in Group Tours to Greece
Greece ranks as one of our most requested destinations, and is on the whole one of the most visited European countries. When you consider the incredible history, architecture and culture that the Greek people so lovingly share, it really is no wonder that Greece is so popular.
Whether it’s the Classics, Theater, or Art that is your focus, Casterbridge Tours is able to design the perfect itinerary to fit your needs. Outlined below are some of the reasons you should choose us to show you the way in Greece.
The Best Flights to Greece on Guaranteed Dates
We have exceptionally close relationships with many European national carriers, including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and of course, Olympic. These relationships allow us to find your group the very best flights and fares, with minimal connections in order to make your trip less time-consuming and stressful. We strive to make your transfers as efficient as possible, without the unnecessary stress and increased cost of tiring, time-consuming journeys.
Casterbridge always guarantee your tour dates and you will know your proposed flight schedule and routing as much as 11 months in advance of your tour!
Making the Most of Your Arrival Day in Greece
Casterbridge strives whenever possible to make arrival days a useful part of your tour. By doing things like spending the afternoon at Cape Sounion, or heading for Eleusis straight from the airport, we are able to ensure that the afternoon of your arrival days are not simply lost time. This standard practice will serve to increase the value of your time spent in Greece, and will simultaneously reduce your “jet lag.”
Arrival Days count in your overall tour time; you should not allow that time to be wasted!
Thematic and Chronological Travel in Greece
In a genuine attempt not to confuse participants with mixed, haphazard, and unrelated materials, we aim whenever possible to provide a thematic and chronological context to each day of the tour. Our more popular thematic days in Greece are dedicated to such topics as ‘The Birthplace of Western Civilization’ and ‘Treasures of the Minoans.’ We carefully track the course of momentous events or the lives of historical figures to create learning that is both engaging and easier to follow.
All Casterbridge tours are highly customizable to fit your educational themes and priorities, ensuring you get the very best out of your travel experience.
Our Casterbridge Tour Manager/Guides in Greece
As we all know, there can be a few bumps in even the smoothest of roads. While we strive to ensure none pop up on your tour, you can relax knowing that your exclusive Casterbridge Tour Manager/Guide is there if they do.
Usually, your Tour Manager/Guide will live locally and be fluent in both Greek and English. He or she will be with you 24 hours a day, from airport arrival to departure, in order to confirm reservations, help you get from place to place, and suggest free-time and evening activities that meet your group’s needs and budget. Casterbridge
TourManager/Guides are continuously evaluated and only those with the highest recommendations from our groups are permitted to stay with us. We hand-pick each Casterbridge Guide to make certain they meet our exacting standards.
The Expertise and Perspective of Local Guides in Greece
Never underestimate the value of expertise, especially when it is shared willingly with eager learners of any age. For this reason, Casterbridge strives to provide you with specialist local guides at the most important sites on your itinerary, such as the Acropolis and Delphi.
These local specialists are in addition to the 24-hour presence of your exclusive Tour Manager/Guide. Each if them is trained to impart even the tiniest detail of their particular area of expertise. In Greece, we generally plan for you to have a local guide with you at some point almost daily, excluding arrival and departure days.
You can designate those sites where you would like to have a specialist guide and tell us whether you would prefer them to present an academic or a cultural emphasis that focuses on the specific theme of your tour.
A Balance of Educational Visits, Cultural Experiences, and Recreational Activities
Balance is essential, not only in life, but also on a great tour. Casterbridge makes every effort to achieve that balance by offering a variety of recreational and cultural activities to complement the educational opportunities along your tour. It may be attending a traditional Greek Theater performance or learning a Greek dance. Whatever your preference, we have many different options for fun, exciting experiences while in Greece.
Click here for our Cross-Cultural Connections, where you will find a comprehensive list of the recreational and cultural opportunities available in Greece.
Our Accommodations and Meals in Greece
Casterbridge Tours chooses 3-star (and occasionally 4-star or superior 2-star) hotels as a standard, but you are always free to request alternate accommodation for your group. Each hotel is evaluated following each stay and we continue to use only those who are consistently rated highly by our groups. When possible, we prefer to use smaller, family owned hotels as opposed to giant concrete monoliths. Please feel free to ask for a list of sample hotels in the area your group will be traveling.
As part of our educational travel philosophy, we always strive to give our groups extensive exposure to the local people and culture. Part of that experience is, of course, sampling the local cuisine. Therefore, unless you request it, your Casterbridge tour will not include a lot of American chain restaurants. For dinner, you will sample regional cuisine, either in your hotel or in neighborhood restaurants.
In Athens, this means that whenever possible, we will have dinner in local restaurants away from the hotels for an authentic dining experience.
All Admissions Are Included on Our Group Tours to Greece
A standard Casterbridge Tour tends to have double (and sometimes even triple) the average number of admissions than most of our competitors. In addition, Casterbridge is one of very few operators who will pre-book your group into as many major attractions as we can.
Pre-booking ensures that we always receive group admission rates, we can pay them in advance, and your group can bypass the lines. This unparalleled level of service and value has come to be expected by group leaders choosing Casterbridge as their tour operator.
Getting Around in Athens
A practice unique to Casterbridge is that, unless a coach has been specifically requested, many of our groups will receive passes for the public transportation and subway systems for sightseeing in Athens. Not only will this provide a great cultural experience for your group, but it is also the most efficient and convenient way to navigate Athens.
Remember that your exclusive Tour Manager/Guide will be with your group at all times, including on public transport, to help you with directions, the language, and interactions with local people as you journey to your next visit.
Undiscovered Jewels and Hidden Treasures in Greece
Because Casterbridge Tours is a custom tour operator, we can offer you tremendous flexibility in your itinerary. We can mold your schedule to your specific, detailed needs. So we would be delighted to take you to any of the “hidden treasures” around Greece not always found on a standard itinerary.
In Greece many of our group leaders choose to cruise the islands for several days. Some have even opted to take a hydrofoil out and spend a night or two.
Your tour is truly your tour with Casterbridge!
Register to plan an educational tour to Greece, either online or by calling 1-800-522-2398. Start planning your group travel program today!
