Content Secrets of

Secrets of Greece 1 Are you: About us 2 Someone who appreciates special places, where the crowd usually Sustainable tourism 3 does not come? Someone who considers his most beautiful holiday Hospitality 4 memories are the lovely encounters with the locals? Someone who Authenticity 5 wishes to stay in a beautiful, traditional or characteristic place where Customized island hopping 6 one is welcomed as a guest and not as a number? Someone who Island hopping 7 15 days 8 agrees that people and nature on the destination should benefit from 15 days 9 tourism? 15 days North- 10 Request form 11 Then Secrets of Greece is the right touroperator for you: The Terms and conditions 12 traveler who enjoys real, authentic Greece in all its beauty.

About us

Who we are and what we stand for Carla Benningshof liv es f or ov er 25 years in Greece and has been working in tourism as a guide, sustainability controller Secrets of Greece is a tour operator specialized in tailor made holidays of hotels and as a v olunteer during for authentic Greece. emergencies f or the ANWB/department We like to distinguish ourselves by offering quality, expertise and personaltrav el in surance. T hrough many y ears of attention. experience and expertise, she can inf orm Through our years of experience and unique knowledge y ou in detail and prov ide the necessary of the country and of the we have guidance on the spot. the ability to show you, apart from the well known sites, the other, authentic sides of this beautiful Anneke Kamerling, has liv ed for country. y ears in Greece and has worked as destination-dev eloper. She knows We try to leave the beaten tracks so you can the ins and outs of the v arious experience real Greece. destinations like no other. Each y ear she returns to Greece as a In this brochure you will find a trav el guide f or special groups number of different and theme holiday s and to write possibilities and and up date her trav el guides for suggestions, but if you tell the "het-boekje" series.. us your wishes, we can also compose your Together we want to share our passion with y ou and we of f er you our personal, tailor made expertise to make sure y ou will hav e an holiday. unf orgettable holiday in authentic Greece.

What you can do yourself

1. Respect the locals You are a guest in Greece. A country with a dif f erent culture and dif f erent customs. Respect this and learn a f ew words of Greek, the appreciate this v ery much. Note the dress code during y our v isit to churches and monasteries: no bare shoulders nor short s kirts or shorts. If you want to photograph people, ask their Sustainable tourism permission. Not ev ery one likes itto be photographed, but some lov e it! Tourism in harmony with 2. Please sav e water and energy nature, the environment When y ou leav e y our accommodation, and the local population please shut of f the air conditioning and at the destination. lights. Please be caref ul with water! During the long dry summers, water shortages may occur.

3. Do not litter Alway s take y our litter. Use a ref illable water bottle instead of buy ing plastic bottles ev ery time. On all destinations Secrets of Greece allows you to f resh springs can be f ound, where you can f ill y our water bottle. compensate the harmful emissions of your flight. For our 4. Buy local products trips CO2 compensation is By eating in local restaurants and buy local or, at least Greek products y ou standard included in the fare. stimulate not only the local economy but The amount is invested in y ou also protect the env ironment (no transportation). In almost ev ery Greek renewable energy projects. supermarket y ou can f ind indications f or Greek products.

5. Animals In recent y ears much has been improved Sustainability f or the Greek stray dogs and cats. There are sev eral animal shelters, which we support. These centers do what they can, The beauty and authenticity of a country are things that make a but are of ten ov ercrowded. They are vacation memorable. We consider it important that our travelers act alway s looking f or good homes f or the with care for nature and locals and respect the local culture. Our aim is animals which are of ten f ound abroad. to take car of nature and people on the destination. Sustainable tourism You can register as a f light attendant f or not only ensures that the negative aspects of tourism are limited as transporting dogs/cats to y our home much as possible, but it also means profit for the locals. country . Please register at least one week bef ore departure of y our return f light, at the animal shelter . Of course y ou can also adopt a dog or cat and take this pet home.

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Hospitality

The Greeks are known as warm and hospitable people.FILOXENIA is Greek for hospitality. This includes the word "FILOS" = friend and the word "XENOS" = stranger. This says it all: in Greece, every foreigner is considered as a possible friend.

In mythology, the god Zeus could disguise himself in many ways and so visit your house as a total stranger. So every visitor can be a special guest. Therefore, for real Greeks, any guest, even unexpected, is always welcome.

We from Secrets of Greece would like to show you the same hospitality. You are welcome to check our site and contact us for all your questions and wishes. Just click on "contact" and we will be happy to help you on your way to the secrets of this beautiful country.

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Authenticity

We know special places and we offer small-scale tourism with authenticity, sustainability and comfort. We consider the Secrets of Greece as the very things the real Greece lover is looking for.

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Examples Customized island hopping

This brochure giv es y ou some examples When we create a tailor made trip for you, it consists of separate of composed trips, such as fly drives, components, such as flight, transfers, car hire, ferries and island hopping and theme ho liday s. You accommodation. You decide how your holiday should look like, which can change these examples, shorten or reservations you want and which ones you do not want to make in lengthen them as desired. We can also create a complete tailor made holiday. At advance. the back of this brochure y ou will f ind an application f orm that allows y ou to inform Flights us about y our wishes. As it is not a package, but a tailor made trip, we book the flights separately.We will always seek the best and cheapest alternative for you, or keep in mind any special wish you might have. Your rental car Transfers Discover the secrets of Greece by car. We work We can arrange, if desired, the transfers to and from the with reputable local car airport and/or port on arrival and departure. hire companies and pay attention to safety and Car rental quality. They provide You can rent a car at all times. The cars are usually excellent serv ice in delivered at the airport or at the port of arrival. There they addition to a good insurance! Our joint motto should be handed back on departure as well. There are is simple: offering just that, several categories. We can advise you on which car is what y ou really want when y ou best suited to your type of trip. rent a car: enjoy a caref ree holiday . Ferries Greek ferries are particularly well organized, usually on time but of course they remain dependant on the weather. Because of our direct communication we are very flexible and can easily adjust your trip to the circumstances.

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Island hopping Including Discover the uniqueness of various Greek islands. Greece has so many islands that the Greeks themselves do not know transfers exactly how many there are. It is estimated about 6000, of which only accommodations 227 are inhabited. Island hopping is a fun way to explore several islands in the Greek archipelago. The ferries are very well organized, usually go rental car on time but remain of course dependant on the weather. Each island comprehensive has its own unique charm. directions

Step aboard and discover the Greek islands one by one! maps You can specify which islands you wish to visit and according the possible boat tickets ferry connections and the available accommodations we can make a ready- music cd made program for you.

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15 days Cyclades

Day 1 Transfer Athens airport - Rafina 1 night in Rafina

Day 2

Ferry Rafina - about 2 hours 3 days car rental on Andros 3 nights in Nimborio on Andros

Day 5 Ferry Andros - about 3 hours 3 days car hire on Syros 3 nights accommodation on Syros

Cyclades Day 8 Ferry Syros - ca. 11 hours The Cyclades archipelago consists of 56 Transfer port - accommodation in Fira islands and islets in the , of which 3 nights in Fira on Santorini 33 are inhabited. The word "ky klos" means circle and this is exactly what they are: a Day 11 circle formed around the sacred island of Transfer accommodation - port . The capital of the island group is Ferry Santorini - ca. 2 hours Cyclades Ermoupoli on the island of Sy ros. The islands 3 day car rental on Naxos have a rich history and are known for the Cycladic culture (3000-1000 BC), of which 3 nights in Plaka on Naxos relics are to be f ound on almost all Cy clades. In history many different rulers have Day 14 Andros populated the islands, from the Persians Ferry Naxos - Rafina about 4 hours around 500 BC, the Romans, the By zantines, 1 night in Rafina the Venetians and the Ottomans to the Delos Germans in World War II. Today the islands Day 15 with their quaint, traditional villages, snow- Transfer Rafina - Athens airport white houses, many attractions and beaches are an attractive holiday paradis e, where each island has to offer you something different. The short distance between the Kithnos islands makes this archipelago ideal f or island hopping

Naxos

From € 1595.- p.p. Excl. flight. Santorini

Sikinos Syros Thirasia

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Dodecanese

Astipalaia

Agathonisi

Chalki Kassos Kastelorizo Lipsi 15 days Dodecanese

Rhodes Day 1 Simi 3 days car hire in Karpathos 3 nights in Pigadia on Karpathos Plati

Pserimos Day 4

Ferry Karpathos - ca. 4 hours Transfer port - accommodation in Rhodes town 2 nights in Rhodes town

Day 6 Transfer accommodation - port Ferry Rhodes - Simi ca. 4 hours Transfer port - accommodation 2 nights in Simi Dodecanese

Day 8 Literally Dodecanese means '12 islands', but Transfer accommodation - port there are many more. In fact 37, spread Ferry Simi - Kos ca. 1.5 hours across the south-eastern part of the Aegean Transfer port - accommodation Sea. Geologists claim that these islands are 1 night in Kos town the peaks of the Aegaeis mountains that once connected Greece with Asia and sank in the Mediterranean Sea millions years ago. Day 9 Rhodes is the capital of the archipelago. O n Transfer accommodation - port the island of Patmos John would hav e written Ferry Kos - Kalymnos ca. 45 minutes his rev elations. Kaly mnos is the island of the Transfer port - accommodation sponge f ishermen and on Kos was the f irst 2 nights on Kalymnos hospital of Europe located around 300 BC., f ounded by Hippocrates, who is also known Day 11 for the medical oath named after hi m. The Transfer accommodation - port islands are ideal f or island hopping and of f er Ferry Kalymnos - Leros ca. 45 minutes a lot of variety. From the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Rhodes and Kos to almost Transfer port - accommodation undiscov ered islands, such as Kastelorizo, 3 nights in Leros Agathonissi and Lipsi. Possibility to make a day trip to Patmos island.

Day 13 From € 1495.- p.p. Transfer accommodation - port Excl. flight Ferry Leros - Kos ca. 1.5 hours Transfer port - accommodation 1 night in Kos town

Day 15 Transfer accommodation - Kos airport

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15 days North-Aegean islands

Day 1 4 days car hire on 4 nights in Ireon, Pythagorion or Kokkari on Samos

Day 5 Ferry Samos - ca. 4 hours 5 days car hire on Chios 5 nights in Vrontados, Karfas or Agia Fotini on Chios

Day 10 Ferry Chios - Mytilini ca. 4 hours 5 days car hire on Lesvos 5 nights in Anaxos, Petra or Molivos on Lesvos North-Aegean islands

In the north of the Aegean Sea, between Greece and are the islands. The most f amous are Lesvos, Samos and Chios, but , , , Ikaria and Fourni belong to this island group as well. Closer to the mainland of Greece but also in the northern Aegean Sea, are the : Alonissos, Evia, , and Sky ros. Characteristic of all these islands is the ex uberant green. The islands are v ery f ertile and provide the majority of the olives and North-Aegean fruits of Greece. These islands have been inhabited since islands prehistoric times and have known many different inhabitants who have all left their mark. Although tourists hav e discov ered this area decades ago, these islands are generally chios more quiet and authentic. You will find no Fourni major tourist centers and no sky scraper Ikaria hotels. Here y ou can enjoy sun, sea and everyday Greek life. Limnos

Oinousses From € 1495.- p.p. Orestis Excl. flight

Samos Samothrak1 Thassos Thymena

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Request form

By this form you can plan your Name trip and ask us for a free quote. Address

Postal code

Place

Telephone

E-mail

PARTICIPANTS

No. Mr/Mrs Name as in passport Date of birth

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No. Holiday or component(s) Date Remarks

www.secretsofgreece.net 11

Terms and conditions

Booking request Payment Cancellation by the customer When you send us a booking request, by • The invoice, which is also your booking If the customer cancels the trip, the phone, e-mail, mail or via the Secrets of confirmation, shows the down payment following provisions shall apply: Greece website, you will receive a quote by and the remaining amount. • Cancellation up to 6 weeks before the post or by e-mail. Please be aware that a • Immediately upon receipt of the invoice day of departure, the deposit will be booking request or a quote is not a booking the down payment must be paid. This is charged. agreement. 20% of the total price plus the premium • Cancellation from 6 weeks to 4 weeks for the cancellation insurance and travel prior to departure, 35% of the fare will be insurance, if you have contracted those charged. Booking agreement through Secrets of Greece. • Cancellation from 4 weeks to 3 weeks All agreements are definitive once we have • Six weeks before departure the total prior to departure, 40% of the fare will be received your confirmation of acceptance of amount must be paid to Secrets of charged. the quote and all necessary details for the Greece. The date that the total amount • Cancellation from 3 weeks to 2 weeks contract in writing (fax, e-mail, mail). must be in our possession is stated on prior to departure, 50% of the fare will be the invoice. charged. • If the trip is booked less than six weeks • Cancellation from 2 weeks to one week Booking confirmation/Invoice before departure, the entire amount must All agreements shall be confirmed in writing before the day of departure, 75% of the be paid immediately. fare will be charged. (by mail or e-mail) by Secrets of Greece. • The payment for last-minutes has other • The booking confirmation is also the invoice. Cancellation within a week prior to the conditions which may vary per booking. day of departure, 100% of the fare will be Errors should be reported within 10 days of We will review the terms of payment with receipt. Costs arising from errors found later charged. you at the time of booking. For delivery of will be on behalf of the customer, we will tickets at Schiphol Airport (or if still charge € 25.00 change fee. (Name) possible for sending them to you by Alteration or cancellation by Secrets changes are not always possible express mail) we charge € 22.50. of Greece (depending on the carrier). In that case, the • In case of late payment the contract can • Secrets of Greece can only change or change will be handled as a cancellation be immediately terminated by Secrets of terminate the contract in the event of and a new booking. Greece according the applicable compelling circumstances. Compeling cancellation policy. In that case, the circumstances are circumstances which Travel documents cancellation fee must be paid by the are such that further alignment of Secrets of Greece to the travel contract can not After receiving the payment we will send customer. reasonably be expected. you the travel documents, approximately • Secrets of Greece will inform the two weeks before departure. Alterations by the customer customer about the cancellation or • Up to 28 days prior to departure, alteration and the reasons why, within 2 alterations to the reservation, at the Prices working days. request of the main contractor, can be • The prices mentioned in our brochure and In case of alteration by Secrets of made, as far as possible. A change fee of Greece, the customer has the right to on our website are in Euros per person. Our € 25.00 will be levied together with any calculation examples are based on a cancel the trip free of charge, within one communications costs incurred plus extra week of receipt of the above mentioned minimum occupancy of two people in a costs of the fare. standard hotel room or studio in an notice . • A (name) change is not always possible • apartment complex. Secrets of Greece will always attempt to (depending on the carrier). Secrets of offer the customer an alternative journey Greece, however, will do its utmost to that is equivalent in terms of siting, class (Air)port taxes and (fuel) surcharges achieve this anyway. If a change is not and amenities. possible, the change will be handled as a We reserve the right to pass unforeseen cancellation and a new booking . increases in taxes and/or (environmental) • Changes within 28 days will be handled charges on to the customer as a cancellation and a new booking.

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Price changes (Camping Flight) (return) flight Preference/essence Secrets of Greece reserves the right to conditions We will try to meet your special wishes, change the fare when justified, for example • The set departure times of charter flights preferences, as much as possible. You due to increasing transport costs, charges are indicative and not binding Secrets of should report these to us when booking. and exchange rates. These increases are Greece. Charter companies have the right Whether this is successful, is largely net passed on to the customer, that is to change departure times up to 24 hours dependent on the ultimate service provider. without surtax. prior departure. A guarantee can not be given. If your desire • You may bring limited luggage on both is so important that, if this is not met the VAT reservations charter and scheduled flights. Per person travel contract can not be closed, then it is an essence. If, during the validation of this program the one piece of hand luggage is allowed. Dutch or foreign tax rules will change, where Please inquire for conditions and rates at appropriate, the fares are adjusted the airline. If the authorized or reserved Problems and Complaints weight is exceeded, you may have to pay accordingly and when increased, passed on • Unexpected problems and/or complaints to the customer. for the excessive luggage. • Since November '06, the rules for and defects should be reported carrying liquids in your hand luggage immediately to a representative of Liability of Secrets of Greece have been altered. Please inquire for Secrets of Greece on the spot to give • Secrets of Greece can not be held liable more information at the airline. Secrets of Greece the opportunity to in situations resulting from: a) natural • Babies up to 1 year old are not entitled to remedy it. • disasters, acts of war, terrorism and their own seat on both charter and Secrets of Greece should be given a political unrest; b) the trip to the holiday scheduled flights. reasonable time to try to remedy the destination and back, transport to the • We recommend that you consult the deficiencies. • accommodation and back; c) damage to export and import regulations of your If your complaint is not resolved to your events carried out by third parties such as destination for importation and satisfaction you should always report it in excursions and activity programs. exportation of goods. writing (by mail or e-mail) to (a • Secrets of Greece is not responsible for representative of) Secrets of Greece. If you make no written record, it can never the damage referred to in the first Delays paragraph provided that it is not due to its lead to refunding afterwards. debt under Dutch law and in accordance Delays may occur, for example by strikes, with the accepted practice in the weather conditions or airspace congestion. Understandably this is annoying, but it can Insurance Netherlands. We encourage everyone to insure • Liability for damages, which are covered be in the interest of your own safety. The cancellation insurance covers for delays themselves properly. The cancellation by travel and cancellation insurances, is insurance only insures the booking sum, excluded. under certain conditions. Secrets of Greece is not liable for delays. both before and during the trip. Other possible costs, such as medical expenses

Obligations and liabilities of the or costs of unexpected return to your home customer Travel itineraries country, could rise sharply. A good travel • Damage suffered by the customer All travel itineraries are described in the insurance may cover these costs. Please because he/she is not present in time for applicable local times and issued subject to ask when booking. departure, and/or because he/she does change by the carriers. Schedules can be not possess the necessary travel changed at any time by the carriers. If a change occurs after receiving the travel General reservation documents is for his/her account. Eventually errors in brochures, on the Customers must ensure the right documents, you will be informed by website, in advertisements or departure times and follow the necessary telephone by one of our employees. Secrets of Greece can not be held liable in any way correspondence do not bind Secrets of formalities, such as reconfirming the Greece. Price changes are also reserved. (camping) flight. for any costs arising out of a schedule change. Secrets of Greece is not liable when The customer must be in possession of a information in the brochures or on the valid identity document. If applicable, he/she website turns out to be no longer accurate, must also be in possession of a valid visa. If as a result of changes outside its you are unsure whether you need a visa, jurisdiction. always contact the embassy or consulate. Secrets of Greece can not be held liable in any way by any damage that might occure Privacy because of this. All personal information such as e-mail, addresses and telephone numbers will be strictly confidential and will only be handled by Secrets of Greece. If you no longer want to receive commercial communications by post, telephone or e-mail, your personal data will be removed from our data file immediately after notification.

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