Yes again, this June we will be taking an LCV crew to Greece for some sun, singing and relaxation! Come and join us.
Week 1: 01-08 June 2025
Week 2: 08-15 June 2025
Both weeks: 01-15 June 2025 (Sunday to Sunday)
This will be our ninth trip to this gorgeous island. We chose Spetses for our first singing holiday back in 2015, and it’s been perfect. It’s a bit of an effort to get there as it has no airport and is a >2-hour ferry journey from Athens. However, this also means it has no crowds, no package tours and is a real getaway. We’re quite well known there now, too.
As before, we’ll begin and end the trip on a Sunday. You can come for the first week, the second week, or both.
A SNAPSHOT OF THE HOLIDAY
After a leisurely breakfast under the villa’s gigantic olive tree or on the hotel’s terrace, we set up for the day’s rehearsal. These are held in the villa’s extensive garden. Much like a standard LCV rehearsal, Richard and Ben will teach us some brilliant songs arranged specially for the holiday. We usually expect to learn about 4 or 5 over the course of the week.
The rehearsal finishes at lunchtime, and your time is your own. You can pop down to the surprisingly well-stocked local shop – a couple of minutes’ away – and pick up some provisions for a lunch in the garden. Or you may prefer to wander into town to check out the many restaurants, bars and shops, or just relax on a beach or by the pool. The villa’s pool is available for everyone to use, no matter where they’re staying. There are usually a few people in the garden of the villa practising on their own or in groups for the open mic (which takes place towards the end of the week), while others laze by the pool reading or listening to music. We have a keyboard and a couple of guitars there which you are welcome to use, as long as you check with Richard or Ben.
In the evenings we may go to dinner all together or maybe in smaller groups, depending on what people want. And we’ll often end up in one of the island’s waterside bars. After eight years we definitely have our favourites, but we’re always eager to discover new ones.
At the end of each week, we go into town in the evening in order to perform the songs that we have been rehearsing. There’s a bit of the “wandering minstrel” about it, in that we go and sing them where people are gathering. This always goes down very well with the locals, and we’ll finish up singing at one of our favourite bars.
ORGANISED EVENTS
Other than the singing rehearsals and performances, we also provide a couple of special activities - a boat trip and a party with an open mic.
Boat trip. For one day each week we charter a boat and travel around the island. We moor in a beautiful cove to swim, then we hold a rehearsal on the boat – sometimes to the bemusement of the crew. We then travel a little further by boat, stop at a beachside restaurant for lunch, then complete the trip back to old harbour. Bring your own drinks and snacks and some ice – we have several cool bags and boxes to keep your beer nice and chilled. This is always a fabulous day, and a real highlight of the holiday.
Villa party. On one evening towards the end of each week we hold a party in the villa gardens, with food provided by local caterers. Again, bring your own drinks (the local shop has an extensive selection). Part of the evening is an open mic, so bring a party piece with you if you want, or maybe get involved with one of the small groups which will probably be pulled together. There is absolutely no pressure to perform, so if you want to just watch, that’s fine, but it’s a lovely safe environment, and Richard, Ben and others will be on hand to help you prepare. Then, after the open mic, DJ Ginjaar will take to the decks and you can dance and chat until late.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
There is plenty of free time on this holiday so here are some ideas for some things you might like to try. These are not included in the price of the holiday.
Bicycle, electric bike, quad bike or buggy hire: There are several bicycle hire shops in Spetses. It’s a great way to take in the scenery. You can cycle round the island in a few hours – it’s about 25km. If you’re daunted by the hills an electric bike is a great option, or if you want to take a couple of friends, an electric buggy is the answer.
Yoga and/or Pilates: This year, our very own Krastina will be leading yoga sessions for us, as and when is convenient for her and the group. There will also be the option of Pilates if enough people are interested, and you can also book Krastina for a 1-2-1 session if you want.
Massage and therapy treatments: There is a local practitioner whom we’ve used several times. She provides private treatments at a hotel nearby.
Horse-riding: Several of our members have enjoyed horse-rides offered by a nearby stables. The horses are healthy and well cared for.
Tennis: There is a tennis court near the villa and hotel. Bring your own racquets.
Gym & spa: The island’s iconic grand hotel, The Poseidonion (as seen in The Glass Onion), offers a gym and spa for anyone looking to work out or be pampered. It’s in the main town, about 15 minutes’ walk from our accommodation.
Scuba diving: This can be organised by a local watersports centre.
Cabana: You can hire a cabana at the local beach club - about 10 minutes’ walk away – or at the beach on the other side of town. It’s a lovely way to while away an afternoon.
Hinitsa Beach: You can get a water taxi over to Hinitsa beach on the mainland. This is lovely sandy beach, whereas the island’s beaches are all pebble.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
There are two options for accommodation: Villa Irini and Hotel Mimoza. We have used both of these for all of our previous trips. They are very close to each other – about a minute’s walk apart. If we fill all the available rooms at those establishments, Villa Martha is nearby and we can take some rooms there.
All these properties are walking distance to the beach and the charming old harbour which has a variety of restaurants and bars. The main resort centre is a 15-minute walk away and where you’ll find many shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.
NB: Many accommodation providers in Greece have the title “Villa name”. They are not villas in the sense of having a communal lounge, kitchen facilities etc. They are essentially hotels based in a big house, and the owner lives on site.
Villa Irini: This has large gardens with lemon and olive trees, and a swimming pool with sunbeds. The villa offers a continental-style breakfast. This is where many of our activities are based.
Hotel Mimoza: This has a pretty shaded courtyard, and offers family-run hospitality with home-cooked breakfasts. Although the hotel has only limited outdoor space, if you are staying there you also have access to the villa’s gardens and pool.
Both options offer air-conditioned twin/double rooms, many of which have a balcony or terrace. Sole occupancy is possible, too. One of the villa rooms is able to be used as a triple room. There is also one triple room and two two-bed apartments at the hotel.
GETTING THERE
You are responsible for booking your own travel to and from Spetses. Many airlines fly to Athens, but if you're feeling more adventurous -and have a bit more time - you can do the trip by train and boat!
Athens to Spetses: The easiest and quickest way to get from Athens to Spetses is by sea. There are several ferries per day from Athens' Piraeus port. The price works out at approximately £95 for the return trip. Piraeus is around 40 minutes from the city and around 50 minutes from Athens airport by taxi. A cheaper way to reach Piraeus from the airport/city is the Metro system, which is very efficient and easy to navigate. The sea crossing takes around 2.5 to 3 hours each way.
NOTES FROM AN INSIDER...
One of our regular holiday-makers, Annie, has put together a few thoughts and tips that you may find useful.
What to expect in Spetses
I’ve been lucky enough to go to Spetses with LCV since 2017. Here are a few tips on what to expect, so you can decide if it’s the holiday for you...
Accommodation:
Rooms in both Villa Irini and Hotel Mimosa are typically Greek, with simple furnishings and tiled floors. All rooms have air-conditioning and a full-size fridge. Kettles and irons are not provided, so bring travel ones if you can't do without a cuppa or a crisp shirt. Bathrooms are small but functional with a shower, and they all have a hairdryer. Towels are provided but bring a beach towel for pool/boat/beach time - you can buy great 'compact' microfibre ones in the UK, or local shops sell traditional Greek cotton towels.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is included at both the Villa and the Hotel. At the Villa, breakfast is around the pool, under the olive trees, and includes hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, fruit, yoghurt, bread and cheese. The breakfast at the hotel is similar but has a wider range of fruit, breads and jams. Note that there's no communal indoor space at either the Villa or the Hotel, and no kitchen facilities.
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals are every morning, usually from around 11 to 1, outdoors at the Villa under the lemon trees. It's a beautiful place to sing, but bring a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent (the short grass can hide biting insects).
Lunch:
Many people buy supplies and eat a picnic lunch in the garden of the Villa, at the large picnic tables or on the small terraces outside ground floor rooms. There's a supermarket a few minutes' walk away that stocks a wide range of fresh food, wines, beers, soft drinks and water as well as household goods, from shampoo and suntan lotion to flip flops and pool inflatables. There are also 2 bakeries within a short walk. The supermarket closes every day at 1.30pm and reopens in the evening. Lots of the shops in town do the same.
Afternoons:
Except for the boat day, afternoons are completely free - many people will relax around the pool at the Villa. It's available to people staying in the hotel too; there are half a dozen sunbeds and loads of canvas chairs.
Several beaches are a short walk away - Paradise Beach is less than 10 minutes and has a beach club, with sunbeds to hire and food and drink available. Be aware that beaches in Spetses are pebble and shingle, and there can be sea urchins. Rubber beach shoes / jelly shoes are recommended, and you can buy them in the local supermarket, as well as snorkelling equipment.
If you're not a beach lover, bikes are available to hire (by the day or the week) and for the brave(!) there are mopeds to rent. There's diving available if you're qualified.
Evenings:
Most evenings will involve eating and drinking in the many local restaurants and bars in Spetses town. There’s any number of places to eat, but we usually gravitate towards the main square with the clock tower for anything from pizza to souvlaki, at prices that are very reasonable by London standards.
Except for an evening at the Olive Press (see below), Richard does NOT make arrangements. It's up to us where, when and with whom we eat. Keep an eye on the WhatsApp group chat to see if anyone is making plans and share your plans with others - there's no need for anyone to feel that they don't have a dinner or beer buddy unless that's their choice.
We usually have one evening at the Olive Press, a local restaurant overlooking the sea, where we sit at long tables on the jetty and have dinner with often spectacular sunset views. It’s a relatively pricey restaurant by Spetses standards, and there’s no obligation to come along, but it’s always a good evening. Richard will confirm numbers and make a group booking for this one.
There’s an open-air cinema, and more bars along the waterfront than you can shake a stick at. We have some LCV favourites; keep an eye on the WhatsApp group to see where people have landed.
Getting around:
Spetses is a little island but can be a challenge if you have impaired mobility. It’s not at all suitable for wheelchair users – the accommodation isn’t accessible and island roads can be rough and unfinished. The walk from the villa or hotel into town takes around 15 minutes and involves some hills. There are very few cars on Spetses – they’re prohibited in the summer, and just half a dozen taxis operate from the harbour. Most islanders whizz around on mopeds (also worth watching out for when you’re walking home in the dark at stupid o’clock after a cocktail or two), and mopeds, quad bikes and pushbikes are available for hire. There are horse-drawn carriages that operate from the harbour, but in reality, to enjoy your Spetses experience you probably need a reasonable level of mobility.
Overall:
This holiday isn't an organised 'package' and, outside of the singing stuff, very little is arranged for us. (It's Richard's and Kate's holiday too.) Be prepared to be a bit self-sufficient about working out how you want to spend your free time, and make use of the WhatsApp group to share plans/tips/local knowledge.
If you want solo time and a chilled week you can certainly have that, but it's also a lovely opportunity to spend proper time with old and new LCV friends. While some people travel to Spetses with established friends, many come on their own or share with people they don't know well. The group dynamic seems to work best when everyone is prepared to be open to new conversations and new friendships. You'll get the most out of the trip if you're a bit proactive about sharing your time and your plans and if you're happy to join in with stuff.
HOLIDAY COST
Here are the costs for Spetses 2025. Bear in mind there will be extras to pay for once you're there (boat trip, party, lunches, dinners, drinks), but the prices here include accommodation and breakfast and all singing/learning activities.
All prices are per person and include:
· 7 or 14 day accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis
· All singing and teaching time on the holiday
· Greek government tax for Spetses
Prices do not include:
· Travel to Greece
· Travel to Spetses
· Lunch, dinner, other meals, drinks
· Activities such as the boat trip, catered party, yoga, scuba diving etc
· Travel Insurance
Your balance/full payment will be required by 15 March 2025 (for 01-08 June or two-week bookings) or 22 March 2025 (08-15 June bookings).
Cancellation charges
Please ensure that you take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you in case of personal cancellation. Charges will apply as below:
BOOKING
To make a booking for Greece 2025 please contact us on hello@musicroutes.co.uk.
We recommend you book your place as soon as possible as this holiday is already proving very popular.
Extending your holiday
There are many possibilities for extending your stay to make the most of your trip.
If you’d like to stay in Spetses either before or after the singing holiday, there are lots of accommodation possibilities from hotels to AirBnBs.
The nearby island of Hydra is beautiful, and many people have enjoyed a few days there before or after the singing holiday.
Athens is also a fascinating city, and you may like to spend an extra few days there to explore.
General notes
The holiday is open to non-choir members as well as LCV-ers. In the past people have brought partners and friends. There’s no requirement for them to join in the singing, but they’ll have a lot more fun if they do.
The holiday is not suitable for children.
Please check entry requirements for Greece and make sure your passport is valid: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements