🧳 Nomadic Notes: Real Trips, Real Stories
Thanksgiving in Greece: A Family Travel Adventure | Nomadic Journeys
✨ The Story in a Snapshot
Thanksgiving doesn’t always have to mean turkey at home. With careful travel planning from Nomadic Journeys, one family swapped pumpkin pie for baklava, and autumn leaves for sunsets over the Aegean Sea.
With a tight holiday schedule, one child joining directly from college, and a dream to see both Athens and Santorini, this trip was all about making the most of one special week together.
👨👩👧👦 The Travelers
A family of four – parents and two teenage daughters. The dad had briefly visited Athens before and wanted to share it with the rest of the family; the girls dreamed of Santorini.
📝 Key Considerations
- One daughter was traveling directly from college, needing to arrive and depart around the same time as the rest of the family.
- Only 6–7 days available due to school and work schedules.
- Mid-range budget: comfortable, central hotels without over-the-top luxury.
🗺️ The Itinerary
Flights were the puzzle piece. Around Thanksgiving, fares can be the deciding factor for a destination. I found flights from both origins to Athens, and picked routes that let both flights connect in Toronto, so the family could re-united mid-journey and flow to Athens together. On the return, they would depart together and part ways smoothly in Frankfurt.
With flights solved, and with expert travel planning, we built an itinerary – balancing Athens’ history with Santorini’s iconic beauty – 2 full days of island charm, followed by 3.5 days exploring the ancient city..
Comfortable, mid-range hotels hand-picked by your travel advisor rounded it out — the Grand Hyatt in Athens (thanks to a supplier promo) and a caldera-view gem in Fira that kept everything walkable and easy.
🌟 Highlights
- Reuniting mid-journey so no one traveled alone for long
- Taking in the white-washed buildings with blue domes of Santorini
- Caldera tour visits to the unique black and red sand beaches
- Sunsets from both Fira and Oia
- Walking in the footsteps of history at the Acropolis
- Delicious greek food, desserts and wine
- Balancing sightseeing with relaxation on the coast
💭 Final Thoughts
A week goes by quickly, especially if you’re covering multiple destinations. But with the right planning, it’s not only doable – it becomes the kind of trip that creates memories you’ll talk about for years.
🥧 Pumpkin pie will always be there next year. But 🍯 baklava at 🌅 sunset in Santorini? That’s a Thanksgiving you’ll never forget.
✈️ Thinking about a family trip to Greece or elsewhere? As your travel advisor, Nomadic Journeys can craft the perfect itinerary for your needs. 📩 Reach me at priya@nomadic-journeys.com and let’s make it happen!