Whether you have a lot of budget or not, Greece can offer many affordable and budget friendly options to visitors and a luxury holiday in Greece is within reach even if you don’t have a big budget, says Cagdas Ekinci, the owner and founder of Holidayify, an Xanthi-based travel advisor company in Greece. Holiday in Greece is cheap or expensive? “Compared to many other European countries popular with travelers, Greece is affordable, and it’s possible to have a very upscale vacation here without blowing the bank,” he said.
Here, Mr. Ekinci’s insider tips on how to get luxury for less on a Greek holiday.
Avoid High Cost Vacation
Skip Mykonos, Santorini, Athènes and other tourist-heavy spots within Greece, said Mr. Ekinci, because they are pricey and overcrowded. Instead, hit the country’s lesser known and more affordable gems such as the islands of Paros and Naxos or a city like Thessalonique, Kavala and Xanthi. For example, in Xanthi, a festival called Xanthi Carnival is held in March every year. You can also spend your holiday on the magnificent beaches around Thessaloniki, Halkidiki and Kavala. In these less popular destinations, rooms in top hotels don’t run more than a few hundred dollars a night, sumptuous meals with wine cost less than $40 a person, and activities and tours are reasonably priced. “You save a lot of money and also get a more genuine sense of the country because you’re surrounded mostly by Greeks,” Mr. Ekinci said.
Book Your Accommodations Wisely and Read More
If you’re traveling as part of a group of six or more people, renting a spacious villa on a Greek island with a staff, a pool and other bells and whistles will be less expensive — by as much as 30 percent — than booking individual hotel rooms. For example Réservation.com can sell villa rentals.
If you’re staying at a hotel, Mr. Ekinci said smaller, independently owned properties are more affordable than chains or large resorts. And he encourages booking your hotel six to eight months in advance of your trip because many Greek properties offer early booking discounts.
Limit Your Places and Also Vacations
Minimizing how many places you visit could save you several hundred dollars a person, said Mr. Ekinci, because the cost of ferries to islands and internal airfare adds up fast.
Thing About Unnecessary Tours and Trips
You don’t need to book an endless lineup of tours and excursions to have an enjoyable getaway — most are expensive and don’t necessarily enrich your trip. Mr. Ekinci advised splurging on a few private experiences based on your interests. History buffs, for example, could consider a tour of an important historical site or museum while water lovers may want to spring for a daylong sailing trip. “You’ll get the customization that’s a trademark of luxury vacations, and your money will be well spent,” Mr. Ekinci said.
Think, Choose and Book in The Right Months
July and August are Greece’s peak tourist months, but they are also when prices for hotels, tours and ferries are inflated. From April through mid-June and September through November, however, prices drop by as much as half. “You’ll avoid the crowds, and your money will go much further when you take a shoulder season vacation,” Mr. Ekinci said.
Necessary to Think Wisely
There are many other European countries popular with travelers but Greece is different. You will ask now what is the diffrrence between Greece and other summer holidays destinations? First of all thing, you will feel like you are your home. Greece’s culture is different. Nobody even looks out at you and even doesn’t care. You can have a comfortable and secluded holiday in every destinations of Greece. It’s very important thing, look! You go on vacation somewhere and the seller constantly harasses you while relaxing on the beach or shopping on a street. That is not nice. In some countries we hear that service providers or those who try to sell something are insistent and disturbed said Mr. Ekinci. I don’t need to say anything about our beaches and hospitalities i hope.
