Greece's hidden paradise

If planning on going to Greece and cruise out to the the islands, you are in for a surprise. Crowds! How disappointing when after paying a lot of money to get there, and you are standing in line just to take a picture. A Greek friend told me about the place where the Greeks go to get away from the tourists. They head north where the waters are warmer and the beaches are sandy. It is called Sithonia peninsula in Halkidiki by Thessaloniki. When I first went there (yes, I keep going back) I was like a little kid, filled with excitement as around every corner I was presented with a new and completely isolated beach. Even the major beaches by the villages have few people. I found this site that gives all the information needed for Sithonia - Sithonia Greece Travel Guide, check out the beaches in the pictures. We were also surprised to find the prices quite a bit lower than, say Athens or Santorini. You can have a Gyros sandwich for 2 -3 euros and it will fill you up at lunch. For a couple more euros have a plate of fresh grilled Kalimari. As for the accommodation, out of the tourist season, the apartments and hotel prices drop dramatically. We were lucky to land ourselves a little studio with a kitchenette for as low as 15 euro a night, of course we stayed for several nights so this helped bring the price down. Then we cooked for ourselves and we had a wonderful week for peanuts. The locals are not so internet oriented yet so it can be difficult to find apartments on the net. Here are some that you can look at, keep in mind the Greeks are open to haggling, so a listed price is not really the agreed upon price. Click here for some ideas ... Sithonia Greece Travel Guide From Sithonia, you are in a perfect position to do day trips. Go to Phillipi where the Apostle Paul was imprisoned, see the tombs of Alexander the Great's son and father in Vergina, Walk on Mt. Olympus, the seat of Zeus. The area is steeped in rich history and there are endless possibilities to enjoy yourself. Get to enjoy this paradise before it gets discovered!

Trip's date: June 5, (2011)
Submitted date: August 19, (2011)