HYDRA ISLAND
GREECE
August 31, 2024
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WELCOME DRINKS
Friday, August 30th
Location: Kallitsantsis Family Home
at 7:00-9:30pm
DRESS CODE
Island Chic
WEDDING CEREMONY
Saint Georgios Church
at 6:00pm
DRESS CODE: Formal
Tips for Women: streets are cobblestone,
so wear stable heels (wedges or thick heel or flats)
Tips for Men: summer suit, white shirt, tie
WEDDING RECEPTION
Sunset Restaurant
at 7:00pm
Right after the wedding ceremony
BEACH DAY
Sunday, September 1st
Location: Mandraki Beach @ Lefteraki's Taverna
at 1:00pm
DRESS CODE
beach attire, bathing suit
A little bit about us…
We met in San Francisco, Paul’s first weekend in the Bay Area back in 2016 (thank you Pat and Doug for throwing the party!). He claims to remember meeting, but we lovingly disagree on that. Fast-forward to 2019 when Patrick, Doug, and Paul hosted an arepa latino night at their place where we serendipitously reconnected. We exchanged numbers and in traditional Bay Area fashion agreed we would go on a bike ride together. We spent the next year playing text-tag trying to schedule that bike ride but our busy lives and full travel schedules kept getting in the way. When COVID hit in 2020 everything came to a standstill. We were both in San Francisco, and finally succeeded in scheduling our first date. Christina was being very cautious, so we agreed to a wine date on the balcony! Paul in his attempt to show his fun humor brought a bottle called “Pessimist”, and used a cheesy one liner to indicate that he did not think that the night would go that way. Despite the bad wine and questionable humor, we connected instantly. The conversation and wine was flowing, and the rest, my friends, is history..
Backpacking along the Lost Coast
California Backpacking
Covid lockdown in Athens
Death Valley National Park
First dive together; Riviera Maya
Hawk Hill sunrise club
New Years in Hydra
New Years in Paris
Night dive at the Great Barrier Reef
Only smiles after our half marathon
Our "back yard"
Paul's favourite activity in Greece; catching uni
Paul's first gyro in Greece
Point Reyes Oysters
Russian River Cycling Adventure
Skiing in Tahoe
Sometimes we dress up; Jean & Baby's wedding
The land down under
Wait till you see us docking
Walking amonst giants; Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park
Going back in time in Monemvasia
Sunset with our favorite side kick
She said yes!!
About Hydra Island
Nestled in the Saronic Gulf, Hydra unfolds as a picturesque island, casting a spell of timeless charm. Contributing to its unique beauty is the fact that the whole island is car-free. Locals and visitors alike navigate the cobblestone, winding paths on foot or on donkeys. Keep this in mind when booking a hotel or a house to not be too high up in the hills, and make sure you stay in or near the main port of Hydra! If you have any doubt, message us!
As you plan your visit, we've provided recommendations for hotels and general guidance for booking an AirBnb / VRBO. Hydra is a small island, with limited accommodation. We recommend booking accommodations as soon as possible to ensure that you have access to the best options and better prices before the peak season demand goes in full effect.
We look forward to sharing the magic of Hydra with you.
Getting to Hydra
To reach Hydra from Athens, we recommend you take a ferry from the port of Piraeus. Ferries operate regularly, and take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. We suggest the following ferry operators : Hellenic Seaways or AlphaLines. There should be more availability in a few months as the summer schedules kick in. There is no airport on Hydra.
You can also drive to Metochi (3 hour drive), and take a small boat across to Hydra. The boat schedule is available via the link below.
You can also reach out to the Hydra local travel agent at hydreoniki@gmail.com. They will be able to help you book your ferry tickets and provide additional information about accommodation on the island.
Water Taxis
While most attractions are easily accessible on foot, adventurous visitors looking to explore further can take advantage of the small boats departing regularly from Hydra port. These boats head to various island spots featuring vibrant bars and serene beaches.
Water Taxi Contacts
General Taxi Telephone Center: +30 22980-53690
Panayis Anargyrou: +30 6944161273
Marina Lazou: +30 6940430063
Stavros: +30 6937921838
Georgakopoulos K "Despina I": +30 6955190110
Georgakopoulos N. "Despina II & III): +30 6944738100
WHERE TO STAY
The island offers a variety of accommodations, including numerous small hotels, a handful of larger ones, and a wide selection of AirBnBs and villas. We recommend staying in the main town for convenience, though the surrounding villages also boast some fantastic places to stay.
ACCOMMODATION IS LIMITED ON THE ISLAND SO WE RECOMMEND YOU BOOK SOON!
Orloff Hotel
4 Star Hotel | $$$
Mention that you are booking for Paul and Christina’s wedding
Hydra Hotel
$$-$$$
mention that you are booking for Paul and Christina’s wedding
Douskos
3 Star Hotel | $$
Book at Port, Beach, and Guest House. Avoid by the sea
Angelica Suites
4 Star Hotel | $$
Miranda Hotel
4 Star Hotel | $$
PHAEDRA HOTEL
4 Star Hotel | $$$
you can contact them via e-mail at grecohotelhydra@gmail.com
Hydroussa Hotel
3 Star Hotel | $
ask for Mrs. Betty Synodi and mention that you are booking for Christina and Paul’s wedding, in order to share with a specific booking form – special prices are valid for bookings until 31st of March
Greco Hotel
3 Star Hotel | $
you can contact them via e-mail at grecohotelhydra@gmail.com
Most hotels offer to handle the transportation of your luggages if you share your arrival/departure time with them. We recommend coordinating with them to make the experience more seamless for you.
AirBnB / VRBO
There are great private houses to be booked in Hydra. Our general advice is to not be too far from the port, and to avoid high elevations as there are no cars and will you have to walk up and down. There are donkeys and mules available in the port to help with your luggage.
EXPLORE HYDRA
We are so excited to have you join us on beautiful Hydra. We wanted to share a few of our favorite spots as you explore the island
Explore Hydra's beaches either by foot or by boat. For the beaches closer to port, you can choose to walk. If you're venturing further away, there are boats at port that can take you to each beach and pick you up at a set schedule. You can also go/return by sea taxi.
Hydra has a variety of delicious food to offer. We hope you love these restaurants as much as we do. We suggest making a reservation in advance.
Breakfast
We suggest trying a Freddo Cappuccino: a classic summer coffee in Greece!
Lunch & Dinner
Cocktails
GIFT REGISTRY
We are truly touched and grateful for your presence at our wedding, we cannot wait to celebrate with all of you. Please know that your presence is the greatest gift, and we sincerely do not expect anything more.
