Моя Эллада My Hellas

Hello everybody. I have never written any reports about my trips, but this trip is an exception. I will try to make the report as detailed and useful as possible for everyone who wants to relax in Greece. So let's get started. I went abroad for the first time with my daughter (4 years old). I looked at the sea of ​ ​ ​ ​ reviews and opted for the Potidea Palace Hotel 4 * (Halkidiki). The trip was for two weeks (September 10-24.2010). Standard room on the "ultra all inclusive" system. I will break my story down into several subtopics. Whoever reads this story to the end, can safely print it and use it as an instruction....)))
Tour operator and flight.
The tour operator Mouzenidis Travel pleased me, the company has been on the travel services market for a long time and I had no complaints about its work. Everyone works very clearly and harmoniously, in the office they will tell you in detail about all possible hotels and answer all questions. They really help with registration, departure from Moscow and Thessaloniki (there was a huge line for registration - the girls saw parents with children out of line), upon arrival you will be seated on buses and taken to hotels. The Vimvia Boeing aircraft is fed in flight, including hot. The buses are very comfortable, the drivers are skillful, the guides are different - it seemed that everyone was already tired of telling tourists about the same thing.

Advice. In Thessaloniki there is a very small duty-free and everything is there together. Try to buy souvenirs, oil and olives in the city or hotel shop (large selection of Greek cosmetics and a rich selection of magnets - prices are almost the same).
Hotel.
The hotel welcomes you with a glass of champagne. The girls at the reception will answer all questions at any time of the day or night, the lobby is very beautiful and rich. Marble is mined in Greece, so many front rooms are decorated with it. The hotel is designed for the Russian public, there are very few foreigners. The audience is very decent, either families with children or couples over 40. There is nothing for young people to do there. The hotel is 100% family. We had no problems with resettlement. The room is clean, comfortable, with a balcony - everything is standard (cleaned daily); in the room there is a refrigerator (beer, water, juices are replenished daily), a safe, a kettle, coffee, tea, cream, a bottle of wine, TV with DVD. Service at the hotel at the level, give a tip or not, at your discretion. All staff speaks Russian and English. The hotel area is small, very green, the gardener works tirelessly. In 2009, the hotel was built Parthenon - a favorite vacation spot. There are two swimming pools - one for adults and one for children - no slides. Bar by the pool and next to the beach. In Greece, many smoke-ashtrays at every turn. One fish restaurant. The spa is very modest (hammam, sauna, gym and spa are located on the -1 floor opposite the reception, there is also a room to iron things).
Advice. Next to the restaurant there is a schedule of the animation program for the day. Read it carefully and your day will be all scheduled.
Nutrition.

There is only one fish restaurant on site. Highly recommend. . . the food and wine are excellent. Also in the neighboring village there is a wonderful fish tavern Marino. Breakfast and dinner in the restaurant building, lunch in the summer dining room next to the pool. The food is varied, a lot of meat, fish, pasta. Orange juice only for breakfast or optional at any time at the pool bar for a fee. There is a separate children's menu. The coffee and tea bars are very fond of frappe. Alcohol is poured from the heart and not diluted, there are taps with beer and wine, pour it yourself))). Non-alcoholic cocktails based on milk and chocolate are prepared for children. Ice cream, yupi and cookies in a small outbuilding next to the bar around the clock. It is not allowed to take out food in glassware, but you can take plastic forms with you and eat wherever you want. There are also many cafes and taverns in the cities, the prices are excellent, and the portions are huge.
Advice. If you didn’t have time for lunch, then until six in the evening you can find food in the dining room on the stove under large covers, as well as fruit and dessert, and sandwiches in the refrigerator.
Animation and excursions.
The animation is unobtrusive. Everyone finds their interests to their liking. Football, volleyball, tennis courts, dancing - they will teach you how to dance sirtaki, a rich evening animation program. Many vacationers came to our hotel for evening programs. Animation is designed for different audiences, but in the evening there is always a variety of live music, on Thursdays there is a Greek evening. Be sure to go to the humor show and dance show of animators. The animation team is one of the best on Kassandra. Hooray Bomba Team!! ! For children, a mini-club with a playground, in the mornings, exercises, in the evenings, a disco and cartoons. On the territory of the club there is a separate house with different birds. Girls animators Olga and Anya are very caring and try to interest children of all ages. Parents, do not forget, this is not a kindergarten, at least sometimes check your children. Spatulas, buckets, circles, balls and other beach toys can be borrowed from the mini club - very convenient.

There are many excursions, but they are tiring long journeys (to Athens, five hours one way). Near only Neo Moudania-port town and village. We were only in the caves of Petralona, ​ ​ Neo Kalikratia and Neo Moudania. Cities live at the expense of tourists... very affordable prices for souvenirs. Clothes and shoes are Chinese rubbish. The markets are full of fruits and vegetables, spices of excellent quality and Cretan honey. Do not go to large hypermarkets, do not waste time....all the same shops and things. The Greeks are very friendly and will try to help and advise you. In Greece, they mainly go for fur coats, the choice is really huge and prices start from 1.000 euros for an autolady, from 2.500 for an average length. But keep in mind, Greeks, not Turks, are difficult to bargain, there is practically no tax free, and there are no guarantees for fur coats either. The best olive oil is Minerva. The hotel shop is open late. All tours end with a wine tasting in our hotel cellar.
Advice. For the Greeks, the siesta is sacred. Consider the schedule of the shops. . . it is written in your tourist guide, otherwise you will wander through the deserted streets.
Transport.
Gasoline in Greece is expensive, so taxi prices bite a lot. Buses run completely without a schedule, from the appointed time come in about twenty minutes and you will be just on time. The ticket price is 1.5 euros, a taxi to Neo Mudanya is 10-12 euros, to Neo Kalikratia is 30 euros. Many walk along the coastline - both helpful and enjoyable.
Cellar.
Separately, I want to tell you about the wine cellar of the hotel. Starts working at noon. A huge selection of wines from all over Greece, including from St. Athos. It is better for vacationers to come to the cellar not during excursions, and for a glass of wine, which the sommelier pours for you completely free of charge, slowly choose gifts for relatives and friends. The most expensive Greek bottle of wine is 200 euros.
Advice. When buying wines, you are given overweight coupons (that is, at the airport, if you have an excess of luggage, these coupons will reduce your excess weight). You can take as much wine as you like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but only in your luggage. All bottles will be well packed and they will fly perfectly in your bags.
Output.
Of course, you won’t please everyone, but my child and I really enjoyed the trip. The main thing is the sea and the sun - they did not disappoint and the weather was beautiful. You begin to understand rest in Greek, that is - do not rush to live and enjoy every minute. If you have any questions, write - I will be happy to answer all. Thanks for attention. Photo report is attached.