Good Afternoon,

As a subscriber to Travel & Leisure for the past few years, I wanted to e-mail you today. I wanted to take a moment to recommend to your T&L readers the team at Hellenic Holidays. My husband and I recently returned from a 12 day honeymoon coordinated by Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays in New York. Although we dont live in New York, Petros was more than obliging and professional in our phone conversations and e-mails. These communications helped Petros to plan for us an amazing March honeymoon. We were treated as his most important clients, even though he was busy helping other couples. He took the extra time to find us lodging in what is considered "off season/winter" in Athens, Rhodes and Crete. He even found the ferry schedule and was able to get us to Santorini when the island was still preparing for the season. While on the honeymoon, he was extremely helpful via Blackberry messaging and referred us to local guides and restaurants. We found Petros and his team in Greece to be wonderful people who only wish for us to have an amazing honeymoon that we would remember fondly for the rest of our marriage.

Thank You for your consideration,

Laura & Bob Mello   
March 2010

 

To Whom it May Concern,

We would like to nominate Petros Zissimos as a Top Travel Expert for Greece for Conde Nast Traveler. After deciding on Greece as our destination, Petros at Hellenic Holidays put together our perfect honeymoon package. We met with Petros twice before departing to Greece. At our first meeting he gave us a lot of suggestions and asked if there were specific things we wanted to do. He took everything into account and presented our itinerary at the second meeting after corresponding via e-mail for a few months. Our honeymoon began in Athens where we stayed at a beautiful 4 - star hotel in the heart of downtown Athens. We were picked up by John, a local cab driver who frequently works for Hellenic Holidays. He immediately made us feel comfortable and helped us get our bearings in Athens. Petros also set up a bus tour of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum for us to see the sites. The day we departed Athens we were picked up by John who made sure to get us to the airport in plenty of time for our flight to Chania, Crete. We stayed at Casa Delfino, a lovely villa on a quiet street just outside of the busy tourist area in Chania. With the combined knowledge of Petros and the staff at Casa Delfino we had more than enough choices to keep us busy during our stay and lots of great food to choose from. Petros recommended a great Turkish restaurant that we went to twice. For our last day on Crete, we traveled to Heraklion and visited the Palace of Knossos again at Petros' recommendation. Petros went above and beyond when we asked if there was a later transfer time from Chania to Heraklion that would allow us to sleep in and have breakfast at our hotel. He arranged a private transfer for us in very little time. We then traveled to Santorini on the ferry without any trouble. We stayed at an amazing cliff-side hotel with the most spectacular views of the entire trip. We were especially excited to discover that we had been given an hour and a half of private Jacuzzi and steam room access to enjoy during our stay as a gift of Petros. We also had a beautiful sunset sailboat cruise around Santorini on our last evening there, which was a perfect way to take the island. From there we traveled to Mykonos where we spent the final leg of our two week honeymoon. We stayed at the Myconian Ambassador, which was undoubtedly the most luxurious of the hotels. We discovered that our room had been upgraded to one with an outdoor Jacuzzi and a view of the clear blue sea - another present from Petros! As part of our honeymoon we were treated to massages in the Hotel's spa which was a wonderful respite from our busy travels. Overall our honeymoon was as close to perfect as possible. With the exception of us getting mixed up while exploring, nothing went wrong and we got far more out of the trip than we ever expected. Petros made sure that we were always well taken care of and the hotel staffs were all top notch. It was a trip we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Jen Rogers & Alex Taylor   
April 2010 

To Whom It May Concern, 

This letter of recommendation is to provide our support for awarding Petros Zissimos and Hellenic Holidays,Inc. acknowledgement by Conde Nast Traveler for his expertise in travel to Greece. My husband and I were privileged to have Petros' knowledge and consideration planning our honeymoon to Greece in May 2010. He planned an exquisite trip for us that managed to have a bit of everything one could ask in a vacation. In the two weeks we were in Greece, we experienced the excitement of urban Athens, shopped and ate delectable food in Chania, had delicious peace and quiet in Santorini and finished our trip in beautiful and energetic Mykonos. Petros was excellent in listening to what we wanted for a honeymoon and provided outstanding advice on where to go and what we could do on our travels. This was especially important to us as this was my husband's first international trip. We wanted to have a good balance of adventure and solitude. Petros was able to provide us with that and more. One of the truly amazing aspects of our honeymoon was how everything was timed to perfection. The grand success of this excursion has us wanting to work with Petros again to get back to Greece as soon as possible. We genuinely feel that Petros was the key to the success of our first big adventure as a married couple. We have been recommending him and Hellenic Holidays to all of our friends, family and co-workers. One can simply do no wrong by connecting with Petros for a deluxe Greek Journey. Please feel free to contact us for more information regarding our support for Petros or our honeymmon in Greece. We look forward to hearing from you, and appreciate your time in reading our letter of recommendation.

Laura Horne-Popp & Robb Popp   
May 2010 

To Whom It May Concern at theknot.com,

I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Petros Zissimos, who was our travel specialist at Hellenic Holidays, on our honeymoon to Greece in May 2010. He made Hellenic Holidays set a good example for how a travel agency should operate. From the point of sending our deposit to the day we arrived home from our trip, he was there to care for our needs and make sure everything was going as best as we could have hoped for. We decided to take a 8 day trip to Greece starting out in Mykonos, and then traveling to Santorini, and then finally Athens. Greece is an absolutely gorgeous country and all the locals at each location were extremely welcoming. Each location had something special that set it apart from the other. From the beaches and resorts in Mykonos to the amazing views and volcano in Santorini and the city action in Athens. Petros kept in contact through text and phone call to make sure while we were on our trip that everything was going smoothly, but kept it brief showing that he was still respecting our privacy while we were on our honeymoon. Before we got there, he sent us several recommendations for things to do as well as restaurants to try which helped guide us while we were there. Overall we could not have asked for a better honeymoon. We will definitely be going back to Greece at some point in the future and without a doubt we will be using Hellenic Holidays, which we know we can trust to make our trip the best! 

Michael & Krista Sims   
May 2010  

 

Travel and Leisure,

My name is Stephanie Levinson and I am the General Manager at a 5 star resort in Las Vegas. When my husband and I decided to go to Greece for our honeymoon we had very high expectations for this trip. We had the incredible pleasure of working with Petros Zissimos on setting up our dream vacation. He arranged for us spend 14 days jumping from Crete, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens. The part that made the trip so spectacular was the relationships that Petros maintained with the hotel operators, the restaurant staff and everywhere else he recommended for us. All of the people went out of their way to make sure we had an amazing experience and they made sure to let us know they took care of us because of their adoration for Petros. As a service industry professional I would (and have) highly recommend Petros to anyone considering a trip to Greece. He followed up with us several times, made fantastic dinner suggestions, had transportation arranged and planned special outings like museum tours, a sunset cruise, couples massages and more.  We never had to worry about a single detail because Petros had already arranged whatever we needed or wanted. Petros even helped us set-up a registry so our guests could help us pay for this trip-of-a-lifetime. He was truly fantastic and deserves to be named as the top travel expert to Greece. 

Stephanie & Drew Levinson   
May 2010     

Hello!

We recently returned from a glorious ten-day trip to the Greek Islands and I wanted to pass along the highest regards for Petros Zissimos and Hellenic Holidays who planned the trip for us and our friends. We were originally referred to Hellenic Holidays by several owners of Greek Restaurants in our town who were originally consulted about our pending trip. Petros, took care of every single detail from air, hotel, ground transportation and a portfolio of day trip and restaurant recommendations, all of which he had personally experienced in the past year. Usually, I am really involved with the day to day planning of our trips but there really was no reason to because Petros took all of our needs into consideration. We were travelling with friends and had two concerns. The first is that myself and one of our travel mates are pregnant. The second, is we were concerned about transportation and government strikes. Petros assured us that it was his job to be concerned about both and that we could rest easy. He was totally right. We flew direct from New York to Athens where we had an afternoon and evening of sightseeing. The following morning we flew to Mykonos. Upon arrival, we were immediately met by staff from the Mykonos Grand who drove us in style to the spectacular hotel. Within seconds, we were escorted to the private VIP reception lounge where the staff gave us a thorough briefing about Mykonos, the hotel, activities and so forth. And everyone knew Petros. Even the restaurant owners in Mykonos town where we were assured the best tables in the house because of him. A few days later, we took the high speed ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. We loved the transition from beachside luxury to cliffside lodging at Astra Suites. The hotel staff were wonderful and Petros had a welcome present for us. Santorini was spectacular. Once again, Petros gave us many recommendations including a half day catamaran excursion that was outstanding. Petros had sent ahead any food restrictions or preferences. I failed to mention that Petros was also available 24/7. From random questions about dining options, to gratuities and even a teeny medical issue, Petros was never more than thirty second away from us at all times. I have the utmost highest accolades for Hellenic Holidays. We were pampered by him and everyone who knew him. We felt like royalty. 

Audra & Michael Hughes   
May 2010      

To Whom It May Concern at theknot.com, 

We used Petros at Hellenic Holidays for our May/June 2010 honeymoon to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, and were very glad with our choice. He steered us in the right direction at every turn - which hotels to stay at in each "port", how long to stay there, which upgrades are worth it (and which aren't), restaurants and excursions. Along our way we met several other couples who hadnt used a travel agent (or had used someone else) and were staying in lesser places, had to worry about finding their own transfers or cabs, and didnt have as top-notch an experience. We received stellar treatment from Petros and from the staff at the hotels we chose, specifically the Mykonos Grand Hotel, which was our absolute favorite. In addition to guiding us through the pre-trip planning process, Petros checked in with us a couple of times during our trip to ensure we were having a great time - and arranged for an free upgrade at our hotel in Santorini. We are very happy that we decided not to plan this once-in-a-lifetime trip ourselves, and we were confident in his choices - and able to relax and just enjoy ourselves! I would highly recommend his services.

Jackie Sauter & Alex Zajac   
May 2010        

Greetings,

We had the privilege of working with Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays to plan our honeymoon in the Greek Isles and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made while trying to determine our travel plans. Petros carefully designed our trip around our needs and wants (as well as our budget) and customized a honeymoon package that fit what we desired in perfect fashion. He always made himself available and was able to answer any question we could think of prior to, and even during the trip. Throughout all ten days of our honeymoon, Petros attention to detail really showed. The transfers to and from the hotels were seamless, the activities he planned for us in each island created incredible memories, and the accommodations that we stayed at were top-notch in terms of customer service and ambiance. This was our first experience with a travel agent and we have been truly spoiled by the first-rate services Hellenic Holidays provided. The fact that we were able to communicate with Petros during our trip via Blackberry demonstarted that he truly cares about each of his clients in order to create an unforgettable honeymoon.

Brett & Rachel Gellman   
June 2010      

To Whom It May Concern, 

I would like to take a minute and deliver my sincerest gratitude to Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays for his hard work and expertise in planning our honeymoon. When discussing where to honeymoon, my wife and I both, almost in unison, said "Greece". With the destination settled, I set out to gather information and quickly found that this trip was going to necessitate the use of a travel professional. I was having no luck locally (Lexington,Kentucky) so I happened across hellenicholidays.com and made contact. I won't lie, we were very skeptical of using a travel company that was not local. Petros understood my concerns and quickly put that anxiety to rest with his display of professionalism. It became very clear very fast that Petros had a vast knowledge of Greece and what it had to offer, but I was surprised, pleasantly, that in spite of what he knew, he was very attentive to the specifics of what we were looking for. He listened to what we wanted out of our trip and then began to make suggestions and offer a framework that we could work with and discuss. Petros gave us suggestions on sites to see and places to eat and none of them disappointed. He paid full heed to my trepidation over the price tag for this trip and made several suggestions that actually extended our trip and cost us less money! More for less,what a concept! It seemed at times that he knew what we wanted better than we did. I suppose that comes from years of making people's travel dreams come true and taking a certain amount of pride in sharing his experiences with others. I am certain that this trip would not have met with the same smooth, enjoyable, or memorable outcomehad I not run across Petros. He is the consummate professional and I enthousiastically endorse his services to anyone wishing to visit fantastic Greece! I cannot imagine a friendlier,more knowledgable or more helpful travel professional and I certainly owe him a debt of gratitude for our "trip of a lifetime".

Vince Kraus & Christy Burch   
June 2010    

  

Hi,

My wife and I were recently married and decided that we wanted to visit Greece for our honeymoon. We searched the web for information on Greece and came across Hellenic Holidays; the site looked interesting so we decided to contact them. In a very short time Petros Zissimos contacted us and we began to plan our honeymoon. Our trip included Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and a tour of the Peloponnese. During the planning process and our conversations with Petros he made it very clear that he wanted us to feel like rock stars. This was something that neither my wife or I gave much thought to, until we arrived in Athens and started our trip. Let me tell you that he made this happen, from our accommodations to the trips that he planned for us. From start to finish that is exactly how we felt. From stunning views from our hotel rooms, to the level of service that these hotels provided we didnt have a care or concern in the world. To speak of the level of service that Petros and his team at Hellenic Holidays provided I wish to share with you one of those experiences. My wife and I decided to plan a week on Crete on our own as we have a time share. Unfortunately, the accommodations and location were not to our liking. This being the case, I decided to send Petros an e-mail hoping that he may be able to help us out even-though this portion of the trip had nothing to do with him. The e-mail was sent at around 5am his time and within 5 minutes Petros contacted me. Within a couple of hours he had arranged a driver to take us to our new hotel which was fantastic. Considering my wife and I got ourselves into this mess and Petros was able to help us out speaks volumes about his commitment to his clients. So if you want to have a trip of a lifetime and to be treated like a star, I strongly suggest that you contact Petros Zissimos at Hellenic Holidays. I can promise you that when my wife and I decide to return to Greece, Petros will be the first and only person we will call to create more memories that will last a lifetime. 

Ryan Bekkevold & Kathryn Peterson   
June 2010     

To Whom It May Concern,

We would like to nominate Petros Zissimos as a Top Travel Expert for Greece and Turkey for Conde Nast Traveler. My husband and I have traveled all around the world and wanted a unique two week honeymoon with a complex itinerary covering five destinations in Greece and remote parts of Turkey. Other travel agents were not knowledgable enough about traveling between these regions and were intimidated by the complexity of our desired itinerary. We were about to give up when we came across Petros at Hellenic Holidays on the internet. I met with him immediately and knew we were in good hands right away. Petros put together our perfect honeymoon package. He was extremely thorough and professional at every stage of the preparation. Every request was accommodated while still keeping within our budget. All details from airport transfers to hotels and restaurants were covered with the highest level of care. He made excellent recommendations and was honest about tourist traps etc. Petros made our complex itinerary feel stress free. He was available 24/7 for any questions and needs and although we were in unknown territories we knew we could count on him if anything should arise. We now recommend Hellenic Holidays to all our friends and have them at the top of our list for Greek and Turkish travel.

Rosa & Jonathan Azu   
June 2010        

Dear Sirs,

I'm writing to share with you a wonderful travel experience I recently had and to call to your attention the superlative travel specialist, Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays, who made it all possible. This past June was my daughter's Bat Mitzvah and rather than spend a ton of money on a big party, we decided instead to indulge in what we hoped would be a once-in-a-lifetime family trip. My daughter selected Greece and my wife and I were thrilled as we had always wanted to go there. Through my professional life I had traveled extensively around the world and considered myself a seasoned, highly capable traveler. So I confidently set out to research and plan our trip. Much to my chagrin, Greece was quite a bit more daunting than I expected. Through an acquaintice, Petros was recommended to us by the Greek Ministry of Tourism here in New York. From the onset we knew we were in great hands. He has a relaxed, comfortable demeanor and his knowledge of Greece is not just vast, but also more akin to an in-the-know local. Petros conceived of an utterly perfect 10-day itinerary that started in Athens for two days, then to Mykonos for three days and concluded with four days in Santorini. The hotels he selected were exactly what we were looking for: stylish and luxurious,non-touristy and in perfect locations. And because Petros has excellent relationships throughout Greece, the level of personalized service that we received at all our hotels made the stays particularly special. For my family, traveling is as much about eating as it is anything else, and here too Petros was right on the mark with fantastic restaurant recommendations in every location that were authentic, interesting and eclectic.From a practical standpoint, the logistics of the trip were flawless. The actual trip book that we received from Petros was thoroughly detailed, and very user friendly. Every transfer, pick up and in country arrangement went like clockwork. And best of all, Petros was always reachable by e-mail or texting with questions that popped up during our trip. We set out to have a trip of a lifetime and can safely say that we exceeded that. Petros is amazingand I would encourage you to promote/recommend him to your audience base.        

Stephen & Laura Sonnenfeld   
June 2010 

Dear Conde Nast Traveller,

I am writing you this letter to commend Petros Zissimosof Hellenic Holidays for making my daughter's birthday vacation to Greece something special. We went to Athens, Santorini and Mykonos. Petros is truly an expert in making your vacation what you want it to be. I was traveling with two 16-year-old teenagers and he was able to make the vacation exciting for the teenagers and myself. He made sure someone was there to take us from point A to point B at all times. His organizational skills were commendable. He checked in after every stop to make sure everything ran smoothly. He had wonderful recommnedations for restaurants and if you mention his name you are treated with the uttermost care. Petros went a step further to surprise my daughter with a beautiful cake and sweets while on a catamaran in Santorini. I cant tell you how happy and special it made my daughter feel. His friendships and connections he has in Greece made our vacation something we will truly treasure. I am a long time subscriber of your publication and I would be truly pleased to see Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays as one of your Greece specialists. Any one who had the pleasure to deal with Petros will be very satisfied with whatever he plans!    

Sylvia Vella   
July 2010 

Dear Travel & Leisure, 

My wife and I recently returned from our amazing honeymoon to Greece! We would like to give you our sincere recommendation that Hellenic Holidays be considered as a Top Travel Specialist for Greece. From the moment we stepped foot in Greece till the moment we arrived home, our honeymoon exemplified class! Petros, at Hellenic Holidays, designed a destination honeymoon for us that captured the awesomeness and allure of Greece with the style and romance of a James Bond - 007 thriller. Nestled in our luxurious rooms adorned with fresh cut flowers, tea-light candles, and gorgeous rose petals in the shape of a heart on the bed, we had the most spectacular views; the awe-inspiring Acropolis and Parthenon ; islets,isles, islands and sailboats bathing in the azure Aegean from Crete to Mykonos; breathtaking sunsets off the Santorini coast; private eternity and infinity pools; bright fruits spilling over bowls on our verandas; breakfast for two on our bed stands; these were the sights of a lifetime. The daily affair consisted of first class private tours of well known sites, indulgent massages and spa treatments, exquisite meals and delectable desserts, holding hands through shops, art galleries, quaint streets and parks and lollygagging about in our private pools and on the beach. No detail was overlooked by Petros, and we truly experienced EXACTLY what he promised; we truly had the time of our lives! Thanks Petros and Hellenic Holidays for giving us the Honeymoon of our Dreams!!

Brian Archipley & Joelle Smith   
July 2010

Dear Conde Nast Traveller, 

We recently had the pleasure of booking our honeymoon to Greece with Petros Zissimos through Hellenic Holidays from Aug 23 to Sep 05. It was a 14 day trip that started in Athens followed by a quick flight to Mykonos, a comfortable ferry ride to Santorini and another easy flight back to Athens. We loved the itinerary and wouldnt have changed a thing. It afforded a perfect blend of adventure and leisure. The entire trip was seamless. The hotels were great. Amalia Hotel was in a perfect location. Petasos Beach Resort's pool deck was amazing and White's Hotel view was stunning.  The private transfers were more than comfortable. We especially appreciated all the upgrades including the Business Class tickets from Mykonos to Santorini. We also managed to eat at each of Petros's recommended restaurants.We were not disappointed. Last but not least, the recommended Santorini sunset cruise may have been the highlight of our trip. The food was excellent, the scenery was breathtaking, and the overall experience was a ton of fun. We also appreciated the peace of mind of having Petros's domestic and international cell phone numbers in the event of any problems. Overall, Petros's excellent customer service coupled with his clear understanding of our interests and unquestionable insider's knowledge resulted in our storybook honeymoon. We would gladly recommend his services to anybody visiting Greece. 

Christian & Jennifer Oliver   
August 2010

Hello,

Going to Greece was always a dream of mine. I came across Hellenic Holidays in a bridal magazine and decided to check it out. Having never heard of the company before, I decided to look up some reviews on it. Everything I saw looked great so I decided to take my chances. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE! Petros gave us some suggestions on where to stay and what to do once we were there. We decided on the Hellenic Dream Package, 2 Days in Athens, 3 in Mykonos and 3 in Santorini. Once the trip was booked, Petros took the time to go over all of our reservations, suggested some restaurants that turned out to be amazing, and made sure we knew when our sightseeing tours, couples massage and sunset cruise were. We expected that to be the end of our contact with the travel agency but we could not be more wrong. Petros e-mailed us to make sure we arrived safely in every location and to see if there was anything he could do for us while we were there. Traveling in a foreign country this was extremely comforting. We spoke to other couples while we were there and none of them had the experience we had. Hellenic Holidays was worth every penny and made my dream come true. Petros Zissimos and Hellenic Holidays have both of our highest recommendations!

Kristen Lenardo & Joe Fisco   
August 2010

To TheKnot.com,

When planning my honeymoon I was getting overwhelmed with options and my time was limited. I knew I really wanted to do Greece but was having trouble booking on my own. By doing some research online I found Petros and Hellenic Holidays. From our first consultation call with Petros I knew we were in good hands. He was extremely knowledgable about the area and the hotels he recommended. He planned a perfect trip within our price range and timeframe. We had an amazing 8 night trip to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Every hotel was amazing and boutiquey. The staff and drivers that met us were friendly and helpful and all of them spoke very highly of Petros! Our room in Mykonos was amazing and the Myconian Ambassador was one of the best we have ever stayed at; great pool,spa and staff. The staff all congratulated us and we had wine and treats awaiting our arrival. Petros was even in Santorini planning a wedding when we were there and came by to meet us! I cant say enough good things about Petros and our trip. He made our honeymoon worry free, relaxing and luxurious. Thank You Petros and Hellenic Holidays!!!

Katie Motz & Joe Wilson   
August 2010

Recommendation for Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays for Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist

I cannot say enough about Petros Zissimos at Hellenic Holidays. My husband and I sat down with him about a year and a half before our wedding/honeymoon. He was extremely patient with us and answered every single question or concern we had over the next 18 months almost immediately, and made sure we were comfortable with every decision. He spent the time to get to know us as a couple and what we truly wanted out of our honeymoon and helped us plan the trip of a lifetime - to Athens, Mykonos, Paros and Santorini. Petros did not let us down once. Every recommendation he made - from the hotels and what part of town to stay in, to the restaurants we ate in each night - were perfect. He is truly an expert on Greece and the Greek Islands, and makes it his priority to personally confirm that the places he is suggesting are consistently providing top-notch service and deserve to be recommended. From the moment we landed in Athens to the minute we arrived at the airport for our return flight, everything was taken care of. Petros arranged personal transportation to and from every airport and port and made sure he got us the best rooms available in each hotel - working hard to make sure we got the very best for our budget. He was available the entire trip on blackberry and text and checked in with us to make sure everything was going well. His dedication to making sure we had an amazing honeymoon went above and beyond anything we could have imagined, and his expertise of the ins-and-outs of Greece allowed us to experience the best Athens and the Islands had to offer - making it a trip we will never forget. We would recommend Petros at Hellenic Holidays to anyone looking to travel to Greece and or the Greek Islands - he is truly the best in the business. In my opinion, there is no one more deserving to be awarded the distinction of a Top Travel Specialist in Greece.

Robert Dasaro & Christina Miller Dasaro   
August 2010

To Whom This May Concern,

I am writing this to nominate Petros Zissimos from Hellenic Holidays, as a top travel specialist for Conde Nast Traveller. We recently returned from our honeymoon in Greece and the entire trip was so absolutely amazing that we feel we have to share our experience. It was truly like a dream and it wouldnt have been the same without Petros's expertise every step of the way.  From the first time I went to meet Petros, I knew he was going to be perfect for us. Not only is he extremely knowledgable, but he also makes sure to listen and tailored the trip specifically to our requests so it was perfect for us. We started our process by selecting the number of days, islands and then hotels. We decided on 9 nights that would start in Athens for 2 nights, then head to Mykonos for 3 nights and end in Santorini for 4 nights. My fiance and I had very specific requests when it came to hotels and we must have e-mailed and changed our minds so many times I can't count. Finally we were set and we couldn't wait to go. A couple of weeks before we left, we met with Petros and he handed us an entire packet with every single detail of our trip taken care of from our hotels, to airport and ferry transfers, to activities, it was all there. He even provided restaurant cards with recommendations for every single night of where we should try. Having started a new job and with our wedding coming up, it was such a relief to have someone to plan and guide us through the entire trip. We began our journey in Athens where we stayed at the Electra Palace Hotel. It was a beautiful boutique hotel right near the Plaka old town district in Athens with great views of the Acropolis. We spent the afternoon walking around the city and decided to try a traditional Greek restaurant Petros had recommended for dinner, which had our favorite spanakopitas and traditional food of the trip. Next we flew to Mykonos where we stayed at the Mykonos Grand Hotel. We were escorted from the airport in a luxury car and immediately upon arrival we knew that this hotel would exceed our expectations as well. The hotel itself was gorgeous with breathtaking views and outstatnding amenities. To top it off, Petros has such wonderful relationships with all of the managers that we really felt special every step of the way.  Our final stop was Santorini that we were really the most excited to see as its reputation for being the most romantic island. We also had the biggest issue in our Santorini hotel as I had my heart set on a specific hotel, Astra Suites but we couldn't find a room that fit our needs or our budget. After going back and forth, Petros ended up surprising us by working the manager to not only get us into Astra, but also to get us a suite that was the most amazing place we have ever and may ever stay.  Our trip was just fabulous every step of the way and we cant wait to go back again, to Santorini especially, already. We cant say enough praise for Petros in making our dream honeymoon come true.

Rachel & David Fisher   
August 2010

Petros,

I have to tell you that we had THE most amazing time on our trip! Everything was above our expectations. You did a great job on making sure our trip was totally worry free! From the drivers, to the absolutely fantastic dream hotels, everything was so amazing! We absolutely loved Greece; from the food to the people everything exceeded our expectations. You definitely know how to make a honeymoon fantastic! I now know why your company is so successful. I hope in the future that we can plan another trip to Greece using your company. I wish we were still there!

Thank you again so much for everything!

Andrea & Philip Pappas 
September 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

I write this letter as recommendation of Hellenic Holidays's services that made my honeymoon an exciting, effortless and romantic experience. I found out about Hellenic Holidays through some Internet searches. I was not particularly set on going to Greece and/or Turkey for my honeymoon, however I visited their webpage and was able to immediately gain interest-as the website is very informative. I contacted Hellenic and spoke with Petros Zissimos. He provided me with critical and important information that I needed: what I could do within my price range, whether or not to fit both Greece and Turkey in the same trip, and all my options. I was a little skeptical working with someone I was not actually able to meet in person, as Petros is in New York City and I am in Raleigh, NC. However, I was made very comfortable due to the fact I was not the first person who had worked with Petros in similar situations and Hellenic Holidays has many years of service under its belt. My fiance (now husband) and I chose the 10 day package that took us first to Athens, to Mykonos and finally Santorini. We were impressed by the presentation of the travel documents that arrived at our house a month or so before our departure (with Hellenic swag and a leather booklet containing everything we needed.) Included in the package were informative documents about what to expect on our trip, agendas, and business cards of local restaurants that Petros suggested we visit. All transportation was organized for us, which made the logisitics of getting to/from airports,hotels, and excursions effortless. I find that Petros is very keen on what "most" vacationers on a trip like ours really want and what one should try to fit into the agenda. We were also surprised to be graced by Petros, who happened to also be in the Greece at the same time, outside of our hotel as we were leaving. He stopped by to see how things had been going for us thus far. It was quite a pleasant surprise to see and meet him. In conclusion, I sincerely recommend Hellenic Holidays as an expert on Greek tourism. Petros was very customer-oriented, always following up, full of recommendations, and was full of frank/candid replies to any questions that ever came up. The simple effort he made to stop by our hotel really meant a lot as well. The fluidity of the trip as well as the lodging and treatment we received at every destination was first class. I will, without question, work with Hellenic Holidays again on a more custom trip to other islands in Greece as well as an inevitable trip to Turkey.

Ashley Williams & Chadwick Hicks
September 2010

To theKnot.com,

We worked with Petros for our September 2010 honeymoon to Greece. I picked him because he was highly recommended by other brides on the Knot. My husband and I had a dream honeymoon in Athens and Santorini! Everything from start to finish was easy! He arranged everything and we felt like a king and queen especially at Andronis Suites in Oia, Santorini where we received a double upgrade, wine and a beautiful fruit platter. He specializes in Greece and also made me feel at ease when I worried about the news stories I heard coming from Athens months before our dream trip. We had a lovely honeymoon, saw some great history in Athens, basked in the beauty of Oia and want to go back! If we could afford a re-honeymoon we would use Petros every year to go back! We highly recommend him and also highly recommend Andronis as the most romantic hotel in the world!     

Laura & Jeffrey Hitchcock
September 2010

Dear Conde Nast Traveller,

My husband and I recently returned from an amazing trip to Greece. It was truly the trip of a lifetime thanks to our travel specialist, Petros Zissimos of Hellenic Holidays. His personal orchestration and meticulous attention to detail allowed us to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary in a way that we never experienced before when we traveled. We spent two weeks in the beautiful country of Greece visiting Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete. When my husband first surprised me with this vacation, I was apprehensive because we were"going it alone". However, Petros assured me that this was not the case and true to his word we were met at every hotel by a representative (that he had arranged) who answered all our questions and provided us with information to make the most of our visit. We were amazed that at every hotel the concierge staff knew Petros and we later found out that he personally visits each hotel to make sure it meets his high standards and expectations. I can honestly say that every hotel we visited surpassed our expectations! He answered many e-mails and calls from us prior to our vacation and we personally met with him two times before our departure. At our first meeting he asked both my husband and I what we wanted to see in Greece and what we liked to do on our vacations. This personal attention allowed him to create an itinerary that included our personal interests and likes - exceeding all our expectations. Two weeks prior to our trip he met with us once again and meticulously explained our itinerary, travel vouchers and excursions. He also provided us with his 24 hour contact number in case we needed his assistance while abroad. His recommendations to restaurants, historical sites and areas of interest were extremely valuable to us. We will fondly remeber our trip to Greece for a long time and if we ever have the oportunity to return, we will definitely seek Petros's assistance again. We already have and will continue to highly recommend Petros, without hesitation, to any of our family and friends who plan to visit the wonderful country of Greece. It is with pride, gratitude and sincerity that we recommend Petros Zissimos for "Top Travel Specialist" for Greece because he truly deserves this honor and distinction. Thank You. 

Virginia & Leonard Cuce
September 2010

 Hi,

After plenty of research and talking to other travel agents, I came across Hellenic Holidays in Brides Magazine and instantly knew after speaking to Petros Zissimos that Hellenic Holidays was the right decision. We decided to do the 10 day package to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini which included a little of everything - history, relaxation, romance and fun! After planning a wedding, it was a dream come true to have organize such a relaxing and romantic getaway. He took care of every detail you could imagine! Our first stop was Athens and our hotel, Hotel Amalia was in the heart of the city, making it easy to walk everywhere. I loved Athens and Petros recommended doing one and a half days, which was just enough to see the sites. Our next stop was Mykonos. Our hotel, Mykonos Grand, was beautiful and they took great care of us. The private beach and pool were lots of fun and we spent the days enjoying the sun. We also did the couples massage which was included in the package and which was very relaxing. Petros had recommended restaurants at every place, making it a little easier to decide on where to eat. Our last and favorite stop was Santorini. Our hotel, Astra Suites was on the tallest point on the island overlooking the Aegean Sea. We were upgraded to a really cute suite with two balconies and breakfast was served to us in our room every morning. We LOVED the sunset cruise that Petros set up for us. My husband loves swimming around and snorkeling and the crew made us a great dinner. I talked to Petros about our interest in doing a wine tour and on the last day we had the opportunity to see three wineries with a knowledgable local , Vaios and we were dropped off in Oia for dinner. Overall, we had the time of our life on this trip and will talk about it for years to come. Petros planned every little detail for us and even added in little touches of romance. He is extremely knowledgable about the areas and only recommends the best for his clients. I have recommended Hellenic Holidays and will continue to tell people to use their services for an incredible trip! We are already talking about planning an anniversary trip to Greece and this time Turkey!       

Suzanne & Matthew Richter
October 2010

To Whom it May Concern,

I am writing this letter to nominate Petros Zissimos at Hellenic Holidays as a top Travel Expert for Greece for Conde Nast Traveler. After contacting numerous travel agents who specialize in Greece, we chose to go with Hellenic Holidays for our honeymoon in October 2010. Petros made us feel completely comfortable with our choices and treated us like we were his most important clients. Petros discussed with us on multiple occasions what we envisioned for a honeymoon and what was of less priority and he created a custom package for us so that we could stay on each island an extra night. We booked our trip a year in advance and over the course of the following year, he was always available to answer any questions we had; have a Saturday afternoon call with my husband and I, and reassure me everything was fine to travel to travel to Greece especially when the turmoil in Athens started to hit the news. Finally, October arrived and our honeymoon was everything we imagined and more. Petros had every aspect of our trip planned perfectly. Being the worrier that i am, we purchased a pre-paid phone in the airport to contact him in case of any issues we ran into as he assured us he would be available 24/7. However, we did not even need to turn the phone on once because everything went so smoothly. The hotels we stayed at on the islands were breathtaking and we could not have been happier with his choices. The staff at both hotels treated us like celebrities the entire time we were there and we attribute it to the wonderful reputation of Hellenic Holidays. We love to eat and try new food and the recommendations that he gave us were great. In Santorini, we had a fabulous time on a Sunset sail where we met the nicest group of people (2 couples also who worked with Petros) had an amazing dinner, and was schooled in some history by a very knowledgable sail guide while we swam in the hot springs. It was the trip of a lifetime and it was flawless because of Petros and his knowledge of Greece and the islands and his ability to truly understand the kind of trip each person is looking for. We are so glad that we did not book this trip on our own and used HH, because it was so stress-free and relaxing not having to worry about transportation and knowing that he was just a phone call away. We hope to visit Crete and possible Turkey for our 5 year anniversary and there is no doubt that we will be using Hellenic Holidays to book our trip. 

Lauren & Jacob Poulin
October 2010