Greece 2024 trip

I know I’ve barely been back a week since my adventures in St. Barths and Anguilla, but my mind is already racing ahead to our upcoming trip to Greece next week.  I’m in full-blown Abba and toga mode – or whatever else it is they’re known for.  Creating democracy?  Pah, thanks a bunch.  That gave us Liz Truss.

This trip has been a long time coming, initially planned for last September.  But fate had other ideas, or rather, the travel industry: first, the flight route between Thessaloniki and Kalamata was entirely cancelled.  I’ve had flights delayed, but never entire routes.  No half-arsed measures around here, you go big or go home.  Then, the openings of One&Only Kea Island and One&Only Aesthesis were delayed so many times they might as well have been rescheduled by George R. R. Martin.

One&Only Kea Island initially accepted bookings for August 2023, only to suddenly shift to May 2024.  Naturally, I booked for late May, because I am an idiot and like nothing more than self-inflicted pain by going to a new hotel opening, where they can test all their mistakes on me.  About a month ago, their reservations system changed to only accept bookings from June 1st.  I double-checked to make sure my May reservation was still good, and they assured me it was.  But a few weeks ago, they reached out in a mild panic to suggest I come in June instead, as they wouldn’t be fully operational until then and the staff would be better prepared.

By this point, I had already booked flights and paid for the rest of the trip.  What’s the big difference a week will make?  Not even the shark from Jaws would be a strong enough motivator to improve your job performance within a week.  Unless, of course, they forgot to hire staff, and everyone starts on June 1st.  Maybe I’ll have the keys to the kingdom and get to wander freely, doing whatever I want, like Will Smith in I Am Legend.

I’m told other guests will be there and all the facilities will be open, including my beloved and much-needed kid’s club, so I’m not really sure what the fuss is about.  However, there is a point to all of this waffling.  Their panic resulted in the following offer: come in June when it will be better.  Or stay in May, and due to said panic, the entire stay is free.  Hmm, it’s a tough one.  What a predicament.  Either move my trip at great cost and inconvenience or stick to my original plan and have it on the house.  Me thinks I’ll take the freebie, cheers.  This could be one very interesting review.

So, in short, we’re headed to the new One&Only Aesthesis, the even newer One&Only Kea Island, and the more established The Danai.  Stay tuned for what promises to be an eventful trip.