Thank you for visiting my page. I’m more than happy to introduce myself to you. I am Sophie, currently 30 years old. My DNA might be Dutch, my heart is Greek! It is my favorite place on earth and I have 29 years of experience with traveling there. The endless beaches, mountains, ancient buildings, the food, the kindest people, et cetera… I just can’t get enough of it. I wish everyone can have this experience, therefore I am sharing my Greece tips with you! Below you can the full story of how and why I fell I love with Greece…
Hi there! – a short introduction
What do I offer?
Whether you want to go to one of the well-known Greek islands like Kos or Crete, or want to stay far away from other tourists and discover the hidden gems: I am here to help you. I won’t book your holiday for you, but you can ask me to suggest islands, itineraries, hotels, car rental agencies, and everything else you might need on your holiday. All based on your specific wishes. As a person, I just can’t do something ‘half’. Since I love researching and discovering, I always feel responsible for what I am doing and I am enthusiastic for you to experience what I feel when I am in Greece, I will go to great lengths to make sure your experience will be amazing.
I also offer travel guides in my shop. These have all my tips on one destination bundled and contain exclusive discounts on e.g. hotels and tours. These have been put together with care and always contain some hidden gems or out of the box activities.
For those of you that love to do your own research before you go on holiday, there are lots of (free) travel tips for various Greek destinations and practical info on my website, Instagram and TikTok.
Here’s my full story…
In 1994, when I was only one year old, my parents took me on holiday to Greece. We went to the island of Corfu. At the time my parents were looking for a small-scale accommodation outside The Netherlands, that still had all the amenities you need when traveling with a baby. They found it in the tiny village of Agios Ioannis, in the middle of the island. A Dutch guy that visits the place since the 70s, had brought over all the stuff you could need and started ‘Baby Boom Bicycling’, referring to his own generation that now had kids, and yes, to cycling…
… Cause that is exactly what we did. We are just too Dutch I guess 😉. Baby Boom Bicycling focused on offering cycling holidays to Dutch tourists.
When I was 2, we went on holiday to Myrtos on the island of Crete. As you can see, me and the Greek people have always had a great click 😊. Although Crete is beautiful, bicycling didn’t really work out there. Too many enormous mountains.
That’s why, after my sister entered the world, we just kept coming back to Agios Ioannis in Corfu. As did many other families that we, meanwhile, befriended. The village square was a safe area for us to play, eat and have fun.
It didn’t take very long until we started coming by car instead of plane. Back then, Ryanair didn’t exist people. No low cost carriers at all basically. So when travelling with 4 people, driving to Venice or Ancona in Italy and taking the ferry from there, was cheaper and more convenient since we could take our own car, bicycles, beach stuff, and of course.. cheese in the electrical mini fridge. That’s how the Dutch roll. We always loved being on the ferry. It was an extra day of vacation with us, and included things as a swimming pool, a bunk bed, and other things that kids just love.
For our itinerary in Greece this meant that every year we would visit Corfu (it’s also conveniently located and the closest to Italy of all Greek places), and another place in Greece. Over the years we’ve been to Zakynthos, Pilio, Zagorochoria, Peloponnese, Evia, Athens, and other places. At the time, there were no big highways in Greece. So traveling by car meant seeing a lot on the way to a new destination!
I was young when I first went alone to Greece: just 14 years old. My parents couldn’t go abroad that year but were confident nothing would happen to me in ‘our’ Agios Ioannis village, so they sent me over by plane and I had a blast. Everybody that has been to a Greek village knows they are watching anyone anyway, so what could happen, haha? 😉 From that year on every year I went to Corfu with my Dutch friends, lots of which I had actually met in Agios Ioannis over the years as we were all regular visitors. We went by plane, boat and/or car, we took whatever option suited our budget, and partied and chilled an awful lot.
Also, a part of me was becoming hungry to discover new places in Greece again.
In 2018, me and a friend took a boat from Corfu and went to Lefkada, which we absolutely loved. I guess it cut the hungry beast in me loose. That same year I met my Greek boyfriend (in Amsterdam, where we are based). Of course this has improved my Greek a lot. Together we have visited lots of a-ma-zing places in Greece in the past 4 years. Some examples are Mani and Elafonisos on Peloponnese, Crete, Makedonia (where he is from) and Thessaloniki. Did you know you can for instance ski in Greece?
I am honored to share my view on Greece with you!
I didn’t either, and exactly these kind of things are why I started my Tzatchickie Instagram account in 2021. There are unlimited places to discover in Greece, and to be honest, it’s hard for me to stop talking about it haha… so why not put all the info on the internet for everyone to enjoy? 😊 Of course things escalated in the past year, since whenever I am enthusiastic about something I am always looking for how to improve it and make it bigger. And I received so many questions from you about travelling to Greece and travel guides, that I just went for it. So here it is, my own website!
Honestly, I think that I am a better person in Greece. Of course the country has its shortcomings, but when I am there I never ask myself if I am l wanted or loved. I just go to the kafeneio and there’s always someone to talk to. It seems so obvious there what is important in life. And that it has nothing do to with fancy clothes or a fancy car. Life can be simple and beautiful. And I proudly call some of the Agios Ioannis residents my family. Apart from that, Greece just has everything. From snow to white, sandy beaches. From wine and beer to starters and desserts. And everything inbetween.
Greece tips daily?! 🗺 follow me and don’t miss anything!
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