Stress-Free Halkidiki, Greece
A visit to Greece offers more than blue water beach vacations or ancient sites and museums chock full of antiquities. This country is an easy-to-reach spot that offers discoveries in the great outdoors via hiking, camping, white water rafting, rock climbing, and more in places like the Northern Pindos National Park. With Bulgaria and Albania nearby, you’ll garner a sense of cross-border culture that adds a unique perspective to your adventures.
IFWTWA is grateful to all of our gracious hosts for this special opportunity. Lodging and tours sponsored by HALKIDIKI TOURISM ORGANIZATION (https://www.visit-halkidiki.gr/) and organized by PASS PARTOUT – Tourism Marketing. Thank you to IFWTWA member Sofia Bournatzi for making these trips possible.
All opinions expressed are those of the the individual writer and not influenced by IFWTWA.
IFWTWA Writers in Attendance:
- Elizabeth Willoughby
- Debi Lander
- Thomas J. Talleur
- Joy Steinberg
- Judy & Len Garrison
Social Media:
IFWTWA Media Trip participants utilize Twitter, Instagram, Insta Stories, Facebook, Facebook Live and/or Facebook Stories in addition to social media promotion by IFWTWA and its pages.
Media Placements:
Lander, Debi. Food Wine Travel Magazine, August 14, 2018
“Dining with the Saints: A Byzantine Themed Dinner in Greece“
It isn’t every day you get invited to a Byzantine themed dinner, and this one promised to be exceptional. As we approached the restaurant on the sprawling ground of Acrotel Athena Pallas Village, a gentle chanting floated from the doors.
Garrison, Len & Judy. Seeing Southern, September 2018
“Two Coots Go Greek“
It was always on our bucket list; we just didn’t think the opportunity would present itself so quickly. With the nudge of the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association and Sofia Bournatzi of PASS PARTOUT Tourism Marketing, we eagerly packed our bags and pegged September as our month of everything Greece.
Willoughby, Elizabeth. Creators Syndicate, January 13, 2019
“Discover the Greek Island of Ammouliani“
Ammouliani Island is not what first comes to mind when you think of Greek island holidays. It’s not famous like Crete, Santorini or Mykonos, but those who do know this place have done a good job of keeping quiet about it.
Steinberg, Joy. Food Wine Travel Magazine, February 3, 2019
“Girls Getaway Holiday in Halkidiki, Greece“
If you and your girlfriends are looking for a great place to visit in Greece, you have plenty of choices among the many sun-kissed beaches and white-washed villages. While most tourists are familiar with the well-know souther destinations of Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens, the northern peninsula of Halkidiki …
Talleur, Thomas J. RoverTreks, December 11, 2018
“RoverTreks is on Big Blend Radio talking about Greece, your security in cyberspace, and world travel“
Smart travelers know Macedonia in Northern Greece is the new in place to visit. They flock to the three finger peninsulas of Halkidiki to contemplate life in the lap of luxury on the Aegean Sea. Veria City, Kavala, Drama, Kilkis, Serres, Kipi, and Olympus also figure prominently in their plans. Find out why at the link.
Talleur, Thomas J. Food Wine Travel Magazine, March 3, 2019
“Visitors Flock to the Ammon-Zeus Hotel to Relax in Halkidiki, Greece“
Travelers from the Americas and Asia are beginning to figure out what Europeans have know for decades: If you want to get away from it all to relax in Greece for a long weekend or a weeklong vacation, avoid the major cities and popular tourist spots and go to Halkidiki.
Talleur, Thomas J. RoverTreks, March 19, 2019
“Greece: Easier To Get Around Than Ever Before“
Greece has been one of the top travel destinations in the world for thousands of years. But a visit to this iconic country hasn’t always been easy for the international traveler. Visit Greece today and, you’ll discover easier access, communication, and financial services countrywide are three top reasons why travel to this country is easier than ever before. See the story at the link.
Talleur, Thomas J. Food, Wine & Travel Magazine, April 13, 2019
“Halkidiki, Greece: Plato’s Idea, Byzantine Fealty, Inspire Eagles Palace Resort“
Elegance without emphasis. Function without flash. Reverence toward neighbors. A symbiosis with nature. These are a few of the hallmark qualities you’ll find at the one-of-a-kind Eagles Palace Hotel & Resort.
Talleur, Thomas J. Food, Wine & Travel Magazine, May 22, 2019
“Macedonia: Eight Top Things To Do in Five Days in Kavala, Greece“
Greece offers a veritable smorgasbord of historic, cultural, and gastronomic delights sure to satisfy the most demanding of visitors with diverse interests. Yet, the challenge to figure out where to go and what to do can be overwhelming even for the most experienced traveler. One approach to resolve this problem is to set up your own travel sampler—an itinerary that will satisfy your inner butterfly to flit and sip the delights of all a destination has to offer. Kavala is a great travel sampler.
Talleur, Thomas J. RoverTreks.com, July 30, 2019
Macedonia, Greece: Guardians Old And New Watch Over The Kilkis Region Throughout History
Over the last 2,500 years, many empires overran, occupied and controlled the Kilkis region of Macedonia only to face rejection by guardians old and new. Through it all, the area began and remains Greek and in the historic territories of ancient Greece. Today, a Caveman stands watch over Kilkis.
Talleur, Thomas J. RoverTreks.com, August 10, 2019
Macedonia, Greece: Guardians Old And New Watch Over The Kilkis Region Throughout History
At 26-miles (43 km) south of the present-day Greek-Bulgarian border and 29 miles (48 km) north of Thessaloniki, Kilkis occupies a perilous perch as a guardian of the gates of freedom in northern Greece. Over the last 2,500 years, the Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, Ottoman’s and 20th century Axis powers overran, occupied and controlled the Kilkis region only to face rejection by guardians old and new. The struggle to preserve a distinct Greek cultural identity and control over these embattled historic territories continues to this day. Through it all, the area began and remains Greek and in the historic territories of ancient Greece.Yet, it is the survival of Kilkis and the towns and villages nearby from unrelenting multi-cultural influences that make this area a less than obvious but robust choice for the inquisitive traveler looking for a cultural potpourri of experiences.
Talleur, Thomas J. RoverTreks.com, August 13, 2019
Macedonia, Greece: All Our Yesterdays Are In Veria City
Veria City, Greece is delightfully dense yet deceptive. A visit here assures you can step into different points in history every time you visit. You can spend an entire day at Ancient Aigai just outside of Veria City in the town of Vergina. Aigai is the first capital of Macedonia and home to the royal burial tombs of Alexander the Great and his father, King Phillip II of Macedon.You can spend several days or more at sites in the old city. The six museums and 48 post Byzantine era churches alone can occupy you for many days.Veria is also a place to explore the great outdoors. Here, motorcyclists will find motocross and enduro tracks in the nearby Vermio and Pereia mountains and the racetrack at Tripotomos where you can ride at an international level.You’ll also find climbing, mountaineering, hiking and biking tours and outlets to your delight. Paragliding, hang gliding horse riding, and birdwatching are other favorite pastimes for locals and visitors alike.
Veria and the region of Imathia is a land of culture and religion spanning the Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire periods over more than 2,400 years. It stands at the crossroads of religious history. Diversity, multiculturalism, tolerance, and an expansive sense of local history are woven into the psychic fabric of this place and those who live here. Jews, Muslims, Greeks, and others have co-existed here happily at least since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Apostle Paul sojourned through Greece and this area in 50 and 57 A.D.Here you’ll find 48 post-Byzantine-era churches, five major museums, and nearby ancient Aigai, the ancestral home of Alexander the Great and his father, King Phillip II of Macedon,