Splendors Of Greece and Turkey

I was recently a part of an industry group that traveled for 8 glorious days to Greece and Turkey. Our odyssey began in the beautiful and historic city of Athens, at the Hotel Grande Bretagne. On the first night of our adventure, we enjoyed a sumptuous meal and breathtaking views of the Acropolis and Parthenon from our hotel’s beautiful rooftop restaurant. We spent the next 2 days exploring the capital city of Greece, which included a sunset visit to the Athenian Riviera.

The next stop on our journey was at the Blue Palace Resort and Spa on the beautiful island of Crete. Crete is a magical island, and the Blue Palace offers the best in style and quality. One of the highlights of our visit was a trip to an authentic Cretan Olive Oil Farm, where we enjoyed a traditional Greek lunch and sampled (and purchased) many of the authentic blends of olive oils.

The following morning, we sailed by Hydrofoil from the port of Heraklion to the spectacular island of Santorini. We stayed at the Vedema Resort, which overlooks the beautiful Aegean Sea and is situated in the medieval village of Megalohori. The warm and beautiful tones of blue and white greet you upon arrival at this traditional Greek resort. Every portrait I painted in my mind of Santorini was magnified a million times over as we explored every part of this breathtaking island.

We ended our magical adventure in very ''cool'' Istanbul, Turkey, a fascinating and exotic destination. Istanbul was everything I had imagined and so much more, both culturally and aesthetically. Old and new traditions mingle on the streets everyday in this bustling and ever mystifying city. The new W Hotel, the first W in Europe, was our home away from home for our unforgettable stay in this extraordinary city. The highlight of our visit was a boat cruise on the Bosphorus River, under the enormous bridges spanning the 2 continents of Europe and Asia, connecting east and west, past and present.
- Rosemarie McGuire, T100G Vice President & Travel Consultant