Greece Travel : Holiday Accommodation In Greece

In this part of our guide to holidays in Greece we focus on accommodation…

Greek hotels are, by and large, no-frills operations. Most rooms are small, but they have balconies and air-conditioning, and are kept clean and tidy. In some areas, however, busy roads, restaurants and bars can create a lot of noise. Travelers yearning for more well-appointed hotels can find some in the cities and on some islands, but there a relatively few options and they tend to be more expensive than their amenities justify.

As well as hotels, most popular Greek destinations offer self-catering accommodation, called apartments or studios, which are much like hotel rooms, but also offer basic kitchens. While not often listed in travel guides, these are a cost-effective alternative.

Travelers with bigger budgets can consider renting a villa. As well as being spacious, villas tend to be near – or even on – the beach, offering convenience and good views. With most villas able to comfortably house up to eight people, this is a cost-effective option for groups.

Whether you choose a hotel, studio or villa, you will be able to book it online. Nowadays, even the smaller accommodation providers have web sites. You should be able to organise bookings by email, but faxing can sometimes be a more reliable option. In addition, many hotel booking services – both Greek and international – will make online, fax or phone bookings.

Otherwise, once you’re in Greece, you can usually find a place without a lot of trouble. But don’t try this in summer on the most popular islands, where rooms can be difficult to find at the peak of the season, and on major holidays. If you find yourself stuck for a room, you can ask at a cafe whether the owner or staff know of any rooms for rent, or seek help from a local travel agency (if possible, one recommended by a major guidebook).

Greece : How To Travel Around Greece

In this installment of our guide to holidays in Greece we look at the transportation on offer there…

It is inexpensive and easy to hire a car or moped in Greece. All you need is an internationally recognized driving license and a passport. Prices per day start at about $40 for a car and $15 for a moped – but make sure the quoted price includes all insurance and taxes. Hiring a vehicle offers the freedom to travel where you please. Most roads are good, but be careful in some parts of rural Greece or on the islands as some roads in these areas can be narrow and poorly maintained.

Greece’s superb ‘KTEL’ (intercity) bus system lets you travel easily anywhere on the mainland. It’s great value for money and lets you visit parts of Greece that you would otherwise never get to see. But the system was designed for locals, not tourists, so you might run into some language problems. However, most young Greeks have a little English and you will probably find one is willing to assist you.

Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced; all are required to have a meter and you’re not expected to leave a tip. In the cities and on the islands, most drivers will speak a little English, but not all will. It’s also worth noting that it’s common for them to continue to pick up passengers until they’re full so you can still try to flag a taxi that already has passengers so long as they’re heading in the same direction that you want to go.

Getting to the islands requires either a boat ride or a short flight. For islands further away, you can fly to them (many islands have airports) from Athens or Thessaloniki; the distances within Greece are small, so even the furthest destination is less than an hour flight.

When travelling to islands close to the mainland, ferries – which run regularly throughout the day – are the best option. But these trips can be more time-consuming than you first expect as the ferries will make multiple stops on various islands.