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Jean, retired publications executive
2007 trip -- Crete, Knossos, Santorini, Naxos, Nafplio,
Epidaurus, Athens, Kea
My trip to Greece with Janet and Marlena was wonderful -- lots
of fun, with stimulating conversation. A great way to share a
once-in-a- lifetime trip. Greece was beyond my expectations!
While its history and ruins are selling points, I found Crete,
Santorini, Naxos, Nafplio to be breathtaking. Stunning mountains
and seasides, enchanting towns, wonderful restaurants were the
high points for me.
One evening in Nafplio, we had dinner in a restaurant with the sea
lapping up just inches from our table. Janet's choice of small
hotels was impeccable -- not a clinker in the bunch. Rooms were
immaculate, well furnished, charming and many had balconies
where we had breakfast or lunch. Janet was a wonderfully
knowledgeable guide who knew when to be there for information
and when to fade away and leave us on our own. |
Kathleen, architect
2005 trip - Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Nafplio, Epidaurus,
Mycenae, Athens
"I loved going to Greece with you,
Janet! Your planning was wonderful, you spared me the pitfalls
of inexperience right down to details of what to pack. The trip
was a superb blend of discovery, relaxation, exercise and good
food! I loved the energy with which we welcomed each day. The
Akrotiri dig at Santorini was fascinating…and Epidaurus!.. the
Temple of Demeter in Naxos!…the Acropolis! Nafplio!! The
Palamidi fortress!… I was full of wonder each day!" |
Joe & Ginger, architect & art teacher
2005 trip - Santorini, Naox, Paros, Nafplio, Epidaurus, Mycenae,
Athens
"Janet took care of all
the arrangements, so all we had to do was enjoy! We especially
liked her experience with ancient sites, buildings and
specialized museums that we might not have sought out
ourselves…not to mention the local color provided by small
hotels, cozy tavernas and cafes with a sunset view." |
Susan, arts administrator
2003
trip - Crete, (Phaestos, Knossos, etc), Santorini, Naxos, Athens
"In my hectic life, Janet
made a Greece getaway possible by planning every detail, so I
didn't have to think about a thing in advance. I had experiences
you'd never get on a package tour -- small bargain hotels, that
gorgeous tiny beach in Crete, picnics, a morning of sketching in
an olive grove, picking figs on a mountain road. Janet guided us
deftly through museums and ruins, then found great cheap taverns
where we could eat, drink, laugh and relax. Now, when stresses
pile up, I just close my eyes and go to Greece in my mind!" |
Ellen, artist - 1999
trip - Athens, Crete, Santorini
"Janet has
a great sense of adventure and a tireless
curiosity about Greek history and culture.
She is a great travel companion and
unearthed little gems that made the trip
even more spectacular for me!" |
Vera, yoga teacher -
2001 trip - Crete, Naxos
"Energetic!
Experienced! Enthusiastic! Excited about
everything Greek! That's Janet in a
nutshell. I consider myself fortunate to
have 'found' Janet on-line; she made it
possible for me to enjoy our trip to Crete
and Naxos, without the headache of planning
and booking hotels and ferries. She found
hotels I would never have known about, which
offered the best views of the island for
'pennies' a night. I wish ALL my trips could
be such fun and so reasonable." |
Doug and Meg, physician
and video producer - 2001 trip - Paros,
Naxos
"Janet Kroll is one of those remarkable
hosts who can be perfectly, single-mindedly
organized one moment and in the next, she'll
sit laughing uproariously with you in a
charming taverna. Oh, and she found that
taverna, of course and the sumptuous,
authentic Greek dinner you'll eat will cost
only about $8 US. Same with your hotel, your
lunch spots, your sightseeing...everything.
She'll lay out your trip with her vast
knowledge of Greece....all you have to do is
relax and enjoy it. And, yeah, Greece
really is as gorgeous as it looks on the
postcards!" |
Sylvia, healthcare field
-
2002 trip - Samos, Chios, Patmos, Ephesus, Naxos and
Athens
"I don't think there would have been
any way that I could have gone to Greece
last summer if we had not gone with Janet
Kroll. I was working right up to the time of
our departure and did not have the time to
do the research and planning. Because of
Janet's planning and her experience in the
Greek Islands, we were able to visit four
islands, a day trip to Ephesus in Turkey,
plus Athens, in 16 days, but had plenty of
down time and beach days, plus late-day
mini-naps.
"Beforehand,
Janet mailed us information on the different islands, a detailed
pre-trip checklist, and asked for input on what we were most
interested in seeing and doing.
"Janet always
had a back-up 'Plan B' for hotels,
restaurants, etc, so we always had options.
She had neat and bargain places to stay,
eat, shop and sightsee. Places that aren't
in the guide books. Hotels with wonderful
views, on the water, such as a 20 Euros per
double on Samos. Late night cafes that serve
Decaf...hidden- away shops for goat bells
and cowbells and a delightful English-fluent
cab driver who gives a super-scenic tour of
Naxos in 4 hours, complete with marble
souvenirs.
"Her knowledge
of the Greek ferry schedules and how they
often cancel a scheduled trip for no reason
helped get us where we wanted to go, when we
wanted to go." |
Bev, business
executive -
2002 trip: Samos, Ephesus, Patmos, Chios,
Naxos and Athens
"It was wonderful... the only way to travel to a country such as
Greece, with so many islands, is to have a
planner/director/leader who has been there and knows her way
around. It was great to have someone to fall back on when our
original plans changed and Janet was able to relocate us into
some very nice hotels, on the water and extremely inexpensive.
Additionally, they were all within walking distance of the
town's major attractions, even for a non-walking type like me.
She knew what each of us (of varying ages) hoped to get out of
our trip and with such a diverse group was able to offer us
alternative side trips, educational trips, relaxing days at the
beach and much more.
"As a diabetic I was traveling
with a new insulin pump, new diet and a new adventure. Janet was
able to pick out activities and restaurants that would fulfill
my needs. She introduced me to
many Greek offerings (like their breakfasts)
that would work for me and also found other
alternative foods for me to eat. As it
turned out, between the Mediterranean diet
and all the exercise, it turned out to be
the healthiest time of the whole year of
2003 for me!
"We covered four islands,
Ephesus and Athens in 16 days. With a day
off here and there, I was able to do quite
well and see so many things. We three
'60-somethings' traveled with my 30ish niece
and Janet was able to find things to keep
her interested as well, which meant there
are times when you all will go do different
things. My niece and I had a wonderful,
memorable time and have had some good laughs
over it since then.
"I loved the
city of Athens and even though the hotel was
more modest than in my previous (spoiled?)
travels it turned out to be in a great
location, reasonable and well maintained. I
also enjoyed staying everywhere at
family-owned hotels where we were so
accepted and treated like friends, not just
customers. This trip was quite
different from the way I was used to traveling,
and looking back, I know of no other way we
could have accomplished so much... the boat
rides, trips to the markets, driving around
the back roads of islands and those
delightful rooftop and terrace
picnics!" |
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