| We've all come across the idyllic Greek
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| | Getting from Athens to the ferry terminal
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| image of the sun-drenched, blue-domed
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| | at Pireaus is very easy: simply hop on
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| chapel overlooking an expansive
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| | the metro from the stop closest to you to
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| Mediterranean ocean. Not only does Greece
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| | the very last stop. Don't bother with
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| show that face, it also exceeds
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| | taxis, it's far to expensive and slow.
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| expectations on all fronts, whether
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| | Ferry schedules are highly variable, so
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| scenery, food, or culture. Overall,
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| | it's important to enquire in advance. You
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| Greece is an amazing destination that is
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| | can purchase tickets from agents all over
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| easy to travel in and has countless
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| | the city, or at the port itself, though
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| memorable sights. For an easy, safe, and
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| | in peak season, it is possible for
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| memorable vacation, Greece is hard to
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| | sailings to sell out.
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| beat.
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| | Which islands to visit? All of them, but
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| So, where to go? On your first trip
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| | if you have to choose, go to the
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| (believe me, you'll want to go back), I
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| | Cyclades, and in particular, Mykonos and
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| suggest your itinerary consist of a few
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| | Santorini.
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| days in Athens, and then the remainder of
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| | Mykonos is charming, exciting, beautiful.
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| your time indulging in the Greek Cyclades
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| | The ferry trip is approximately 5 hours
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| islands. Why, because this will give you
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| | from Pireaus. Mykonos features hotels of
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| a nice variety in food, wine and perfect
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| | all quality levels, and a charming town
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| picture opportunities.
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| | centre (called Mykonos town).
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| Why Athens?
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| | Of all the Greek islands, Mykonos is by
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| Why not Athens? Athens is fascinating. On
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| | far the most popular. And for good
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| first blush, Athens is hectic, a little
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| | reason: in the peak season, Mykonos is
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| dirty, a little confusing. But it is also
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| | active and friendly. There are endless
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| packed full of history. You can't miss it
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| | daytime and nighttime activities that
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| - from almost anywhere you can look up at
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| | will keep almost anyone entertained, with
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| the Acropolis, or stumble across
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| | amazing dining and beautiful beaches in
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| beautiful ruins scattered throughout the
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| | abundance.
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| city. The city itself is an incredible
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| | Mykonos is small. As a result, it also is
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| museum of history, real, live,
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| | quite crowded and expensive when compared
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| in-your-face two-thousand-year-old
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| | to other destinations. It's not unusual
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| history. Not only that, but a walking
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| | to see Paradise Beach filled end-to-end
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| tour of Athens reveals architecture from
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| | with sun worshippers.
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| every era, modern and ancient, readily
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| | And in spite of what you might have
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| available. It's really quite beautiful,
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| | heard, Mykonos is the perfect destination
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| particularly given how
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| | for almost anyone: couples, families and
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| pedestrian-friendly Athens is.
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| | individuals seeking a respite from the
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| Some easy must-sees if you only have a
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| | ordinary.
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| few days in Athens? Well, first off, stay
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| | As for accommodation, stay in Mykonos
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| near Monastiraki square. It's easily
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| | town. You'll want to be there to enjoy
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| accessible from the airport via Metro,
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| | the nightlife, and it's easy (and quick)
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| and is walking distance to fantastic
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| | to get there from the ferry port. In
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| shopping, dining, and key tourist
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| | fact, you shouldn't have a problem
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| attractions like the Acropolis, the
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| | finding the perfect get-away within a 5
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| National Gardens, and of course, the
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| | minute walk of the ferry.
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| Monastiraki flea market.
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| | Mykonos town is a pedestrian-only wonder,
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| As for attractions, the Acropolis is
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| | with white-washed walls and beautiful
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| simply amazing, and is definitely not to
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| | blue shutters over every window. You'll
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| be missed. Accessing the Acropolis is
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| | find it easy to discover wonderful meals
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| relatively easy: simply wander up by
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| | within your first few steps, and the
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| yourself. There are promenades that lead
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| | shopping rivals that of Athens.
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| up to the site, featuring charming cafes
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| | As you've likely heard, Paradise Beach is
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| and restaurants. There is a fee to enter,
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| | a must-see. It's not the largest beach on
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| but the view from the top is one you'll
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| | the island, but it is the most fun. With
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| celebrate the rest of your life, not to
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| | it's various restaurants, bars, and
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| mention the remarkable historical
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| | back-packers, Paradise Beach is the
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| experience found at the Acropolis site.
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| | destination for fun in the sun and after
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| Monastiraki square also features amazing
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| | the sun sets. Transportation is easy,
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| restaurants, and anything-goes shopping,
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| | with buses and taxis readily available.
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| from flea-market to high end. Again, an
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| | Unfortunately, it's too far to walk
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| experience no to be missed.
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| | conveniently from Mykonos town (unless
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| Athens is also a dining wonderland.
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| | you have a lot of time).
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| Recommended dining: don't go with a plan,
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| | From Mykonos, take another ferry to
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| just walk. Food, good food, is
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| | Santorini.
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| everywhere. You'll find as you walk that
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| | Santorini
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| often restaurateurs will stand outside,
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| | Santorini is simply spectacular, and is
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| trying to guide you into their
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| | not to be missed.
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| restaurants; it really makes for a
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| | The ferry terminal is about 20 minutes by
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| charming stroll.
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| | taxi from Thira, the main town on
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| Onto the Islands
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| | Santorini. Thira sits on the edge of the
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| There are lots of options when
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| | "caldera", a volcanic crater in the
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| considering the Greek islands: different
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| | middle of the ocean. It's a view that is
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| destinations, different ways of getting
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| | all at once breathtaking and inspiring.
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| to and from. I suggest taking a ferry,
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| | Find any hotel that's on the caldera, and
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| they are simply the best way to arrive at
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| | you are guaranteed more beautiful sunsets
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| and see the islands up close.
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| | then you could ever imagine. The shopping
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| And a suggestion: some of the islands are
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| | is varied, the coffee fantastic, and the
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| FAR away, as much as 11 hours away; a
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| | sights unparalleled.
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| cost-effective and time saving idea is to
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| | Santorini offers an entertaining
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| book a private cabin, and travel
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| | nightlife, first-rate beaches,
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| overnight.
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| | spectacular scenery and truly romantic
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| I suggest this for a couple of reasons:
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| | sunsets, making it one of the world's top
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| first, cabins are relatively inexpensive,
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| | destinations. If you have a day, head to
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| and, if you go overnight, you won't be
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| | Oia (E-ahh) to enjoy lunch and watch the
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| paying for the cost of a hotel room.
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| | sunset with an unobstructed view of the
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| Plus, you won't lose valuable time in
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| | Mediterranean.
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| transit; instead, do it while you're
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| | I'd also suggest renting a car for one or
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| sleeping. Finally, and perhaps not a
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| | two days. It's not essential, but it does
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| consideration for everybody: smoking is
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| | make it easier to go the long distances
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| permitted inside ferries in Greece, and
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| | between beach destinations.
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| it is very heavy. Coming from North
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| | All in all, Greece is a true wonder. It
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| America, I found the shear volume of
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| | has a distinct and charming national
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| smoke entirely surprising. A private
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| | character that is infused with history
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| cabin gets you away from that discomfort,
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| | and culture. You'll never forget your
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| plus you'll enjoy your own private bed.
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| | first trip to Greece, and you'll never
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| It's a win on all sides.
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| | stop thinking of your next trip there.
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