Franco Civello review 25 Sep 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Anchoring in a small remote bay in Sifnos, surrounded by black volcanic rocks,
snorkelling in tranquil waters while the wind was howling outside the bay, before
visiting the wind-swept Kastro with amazing views and eating fresh fish in a
lovely quiet taverna by the sea with our divemaster and skipper.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take the opportunity to learn about the Med and the local culture. Learn some
Greek before you go.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We did feel we did all of these things. We cleaned up a beach on the last day and
were made aware of key environmental concerns in the Med.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic experience. Sailing and diving every day amidst gorgeous islands and in
great company, what more can one want?
C Appleby review 25 Sep 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Night swimming with luminescent plankton; diving some great sites including a wreck; eating at local restaurants I never would have gotten to on my own.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Enjoy! :) But also be aware the yacht a small space to live in (comfortable, clean, and safe, of course, but small) and it's an active holiday. Be prepared to go up and down ladders, haul ropes, and do the washing up. Bring anti-seasickness medication - better to have it and not need than otherwise!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - certainly in terms of restaurants we always ate at small, local places.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had a fantastic time - thanks to Annie and Sotiris - and would happily recommend them to everyone.
Shane Diffily review 19 Sep 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The best bit was the last night campfire and picnic near AntiParos. So clear and still. Wonderful!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The diving was fun but don’t expect Red Sea-type diversity. We saw some fishes, hermit crabs, a giant eel, a giant live sea shell, many nudibranches and a 3000 yr old Phoenician shipwreck.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. Annie & Sortiris are very committed to the ecological agenda. One example, after our beach picnic the objective of the cleanup was to leave the beach "cleaner than we found it".
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A wonderful trip. The capt showed the ropes literally and everyday we did a dive with Annie.
Ray Wisman review 6 Jun 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The gracious hosts/crew (dive master and captain) and fellow travellers on the dive/sailboat. There were only 6 sharing the boat for a week so personalities mattered, was fortunate to share a little bit of Greek life. I cannot imagine a better way to visit and dive the Greek islands than traveling with this operator, they run a great operation, exceeded my expectations.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The sailboat begins/ends at islands well connected by ferries and with abundant tourist options. If new to the islands, suggest spending a couple of nights to see the sights and eat the good food. Also can pay balance in cash from ATM (E600 seems to be a standard limit) and save a bank transfer charge.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We definitely transferred money into the Greek economy in the usual tourist way. Since we visited small islands, bought groceries for all but one meal each day which was at a locally owned place, most money went directly to the local business owners. The sailboat crew were very conscious of recycling and reducing waste, and picked up trash on some dives and beaches.
Certainly the impact was smaller and the benefit to locals larger than most other holiday options.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
In my top 5 after 46 years of travelling.
Stuart Maciver review 22 Oct 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Time stopped. It was like being transported into a cultural bubble, suspended in Grecian hospitality and nature that was a pleasure and privilege to
experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is not a holiday, it's like stepping into another world. Be as a real as you can be and it will transport you. Try and impose your perspective and you will miss its essence.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Absolutely! Not only are your hosts genuine and important parts of this world, they are totally attuned to the nature, the people and the culture
of this magnificent country.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was excellent and I recommend it to anybody who needs a real change in perspective as an element of discovering the world.
Debbie Rayner review 2 Sep 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Diving with a monk seal in the beautiful crystal waters of the med.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You will need a go with the flow attitude as plans can change quickly due to the weather.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
Nick Phillips review 10 Jul 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Great experience all around. The diving was better then I expected from the med. The crew was fantastic and took the time to teach some basics of sailing. The boat was very comfortable, and the islands were beautiful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring good sunblock, and book it!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a really good trip. Had plenty of opportunities for relaxing and/or sightseeing. Very flexible.
Casey Johnson review 8 Nov 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The entire experience was incredible - it was both challenging and exciting. The diving was especially incredible - I experienced diving in caverns for the first time, and witnessed 3 different wrecks, one of which was 3,000 years old. No where else in the world can you see something like that. Sailing to a new island everyday permitted us to see parts of the Greek Mediterranean that we could not have seen any other way. There was never a dull moment.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
So long as you are comfortable with living on a boat for a week, and prepared to brace some rocky seas at times, you will truly enjoy this holiday. I was new to diving, and the instructors made me feel very comfortable with some of the more advanced diving we did, so I think as long as you have an Open Water certification, you will be comfortable with that. Also, consider the time of year that you go. We went in mid-September and the weather was perfect - not too hot during the day and we only needed a light sweater a few nights on the islands.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Economically, it benefited local people because we supported their shops and restaurants when we arrived on different islands, large and small. Environmental impact can be a concern especially when diving, and the skipper and diving instructor were well aware of this, educating us on the areas where we would be diving, the different types of life that existed there, and how we could be enjoy but preserve that life while diving and while exploring the Med in general.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
My week-long sailing trip was the highlight of my 2-month vacation throughout Southern Europe. I enjoyed the people, the gorgeous beaches, water, and unique diving experience.
Kate Wilson review 10 Sep 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It's really rare to find a holiday that moves just at the right pace. Being a small group (just 7 including our Skipper and Dive Instructor) the whole feel of the week was about enjoying the moment. Having never sailed before I was impressed by the opportunity it gives for reflection on the beauty of the smaller (inhabited and uninhabited) Cycladic islands and the time it gives to chew the cud on all sorts of topics. The tour operator demonstrated a real commitment to and knowledge of the flora and fauna of the med, diving was relaxed and the lack of big big fish was more than made up for by the wealth of information about the ecosystems that dominate the underwater landscape and the chance to see some real Greek shipwreck pottery!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
As a novice sailor be prepared for a wee bit of seasickness if the swell is higher than normal. Stay up top! Despite my trip spanning the end of August / beginning of September I was surprised that the Mediterranean winds can occasionally make it chilly so bring some form or warm or waterproof clothing.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Sotiris made sure we got to visit lots of local tavernas and visiting smaller islands inevitably means you're tourist pound is more likely to make it into the pockets of local people. Being a small group we were careful with our usage of water and took every opportunity to buy local provisions, recycling was encouraged and straightforward.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Just perfect for me at the time.
Suzanna Wilson review 28 May 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being able to visit some of the smaller, more remote Greek islands that I don't think I would have seen had I just have done the usual 'island hopping' experience. Also a brilliant cave dive (of sorts) which was a unique experience for me.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring a fleece and/or windproof jacket - it can be very cold up on deck while sailing!!!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
They were very conscious to have as little impact on the environment as possible, everything that could be recycled was. The company is totally locally run so it definitely benefited local people!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A brilliant way to experience the Greek Islands.
Elisaveta Bobolina review 7 Sep 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Going to bed in a virgin Arki island bay: The small window of my berth showed an awesome universe of tranquillity: the dark but sparkling talk of the sea, the gorgeous rocks and the sky covered with countless stars... In the morning - instead of splashing water on my eyes - straight from bed I jumped in the transparent ultramarine waters of the bay... Unique sensation I will never forget.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Sailing is a different experience... One should be flexible and prepared to change their lifestyle and habits for a week. ...And beware, you might fall in love with it!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The trip changed my conscientiousness by the practical knowledge of sea environment and the ecology impact in terms of human - biosphere - hydrosphere interaction.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Just amazing! Could not have chosen anything more appropriate!
Diania Feuss review 1 Jul 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Diving in the Greece Med.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Save all your money and book this trip.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the crew was very concerned on the impact they had on the environment both in and out of the water.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
10
Colin Barnard review 25 Sep 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Sitting barefoot on a deserted beach around a camp fire in shorts and a t-shirt, sipping wine and cooking food, looking at the moonlight yacht moored 100m in the middle of a secluded bay.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you bring enough Euros in cash with you to pay Annie and Sotiris because they don't accept credit cards and you may not be able to pull out that much cash in one go Bring plenty of sun cream and some sea-sickness tablets for rough weather Prepare to let the weather decide your itinerary.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The food was locally bought and we were taken to places that were run by locals where every penny you spent was going in to the local economy. We picked up debris off a deserted beach and Annie and Sotiris were keen to point out not to touch and play with the underwater marine life but to observe it.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a great experience and Annie and Sotiris were welcoming and friendly hosts. This is not a standard holiday and you really have to be prepared to share everything with them as you are joining them on their boat and taking part in their lives. They are not the types to sit quietly in the corner. They want to be an active part of your experience and add to it! It was an unforgettable holiday. Thanks guys.
