5 independent reviews for Peloponnese food and wine holiday in Greece
Reviews for Peloponnese food and wine holiday in Greece
Kathy Grey review 28 Nov 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
My husband and I spent a week at Lavender Lodge the beginning of September this year. Bill was the most amazing host. He went above and beyond to ensure we had the very best experience. The weather was very unsettled the week we were there but Bill still managed to meticulously arrange each day so we avoided the worst of the weather. We did the Food Wine and Culture tour and Bill also arranged an e-bike for my husband to use for a couple of days. The archeological sites that we visited were outstanding. Bill listened carefully to what our preferences were and he got the balance of sightseeing, food, wine and leisure time just right. Lavender Lodge was a haven to come back to each day.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just book with Bill!!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The hospitality sector benefited all round.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Definitely 5 star. We are very seasoned travellers over the last 20 years, the week spent at Lavender Lodge with Bill as our host, was one of our best experiences yet.Suzanne Willis review 26 Sep 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We visited several ‘off the beaten track’ archeological sites. Bill puts in a lot of effort to find activities that are not well known and will make suggestions about things he thinks you might be interested in. He has a lot of personal relationships throughout the area which allowed us to get a deeper understanding of what we were doing and seeing. Be prepared to see sites that not everyone has the privilege to see.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to be flexible and as active as you want! We were out one day and Bill asked if we wanted to climb up to a deserted castle/fort. The path would have made a mountain goat hesitate. But it was totally worth it! The view was amazing and we able to do what very few people have the opportunity to do. Be prepared to bring home wine. It’s amazing and it’s so special to be able to buy it directly from the people that are making it.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Everything we did involved the local people. It was very special to spend time with the families that were doing the work at the wineries.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I don’t think I have enough adjectives to positively rate our time with Bill. The lodge was comfortable and unique. The daily outing gave a real us an understanding of Greece and its history. I travel quite a bit and this has to be one of my top experiences.Tim Capel review 14 Nov 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Tough question, but entering the temple of Apollo at Epikourios via the massive covering tent. Our guide, Bill, had provided his expertise to describe the UNESCO site prior to entry, but seeing the almost intact temple was breathtaking.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
As our tour was late season, there were few tourists at any of the sites we visited. There are more historic sites than time available, so trust the guidance of your guide Bill to recommend a program. His knowledge of out of the way Greek tavernas is equally impressive!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There are obviously economic benefits to the local economy. Especially as Bill uses local tavernas in some fairly remote villages for lunches. Bill also pointed out where conservation projects were taking place as we toured the area.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
First class. The mixture of culture and Greek cuisine proved to be exactly the kind of vacation I was looking for. I cannot praise our guide, Bill enough. His innate ability to relate the ancient stories of each site we visited, and marry them to the historic relics we were viewing, made for a compelling and memorable trip.Shane Muldrew review 24 Aug 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable part of our holiday overall was our time spent with Bill. He is a wonderful host and his knowledge of ancient history and Greek culture is outstanding. We quickly felt like old friends rather than guests. Every day brought new adventures and we absolutely loved the lodge, aka the cabin, and its location.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book early as availability is limited, and do allow Bill to help plan your daily itinerary. The area has so many options to explore and enjoy - food, culture, nature, history, scenery...3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We dined at local tavernas and shopped locally. Our needs were few as the lodge was amply stocked for us - yoghurt, local wine, homemade honey and marmalade, home-grown olives, bread, butter, eggs & fruit. We also enjoyed herbs and fresh figs from the garden. Overall, the lodge has minimal environmental impact and focus on sustainability.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a fabulous time and it went by far too quickly. Lavender Lodge and touring with Bill exceeded all expectations and it was the highlight of our vacation. We absolutely recommend this holiday as a 'must-do'!Suzanne Webb-Rees review 8 Jun 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every experience we had on this magical holiday was fun and memorable. The most adventurous activity was hiking into a gorge and then entering a stream where we walked through the water into a cavernous area with stalactites and a surprise at the end!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to have a variety of fun and interesting experiences where you will learn new information and skills which may in fact change your life.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we went to several small locations where local people benefited from our business. Recycling and composting were practiced at our lodging and on all our walks our hosts picked up trash in order to conserve the natural beauty of the surroundings.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This stands out as one of the best holidays we have ever had. Mainly because our hosts personalized many aspects of the holiday in order to meet our needs and wants. The itinerary was well crafted to offer a variety of activities that were well paced. For example, one day we visited archeological sites and then the following day we participated in making creams and soaps. In addition our hosts were especially thoughtful and caring and tuned in to what we might enjoy or need.Read the operator's response here:
Dear Sue and Jeff, thank you so much for this excellent review, we are thrilled that you enjoyed your holiday with us and that you were able to tune into the magic of our surroundings. It was our pleasure to show you the beautiful places and to share our experiences with you. I particularly enjoyed our workshop sessions too and Jeff's unique sense of humour! We would love to have you to stay with us again.
Holiday Reviews
You can trust Responsible Travel reviews because, unlike many other schemes, reviews can ONLY be written by people who we have verified have been on the holidays. In addition, we don't run these holidays ourselves - our only interest is giving you the best independent advice.
