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Greece comes third in Blue Flag certification with 430 beaches and 9 marinas!

Greece has came third among 50 countries in terms of Blue Flag certification, with 430 beaches and 9 marinas for 2016. 

The country also came fourth in Europe with the European Environment Agency confirming that 97.2 percent of its beaches are of the highest quality for swimming.

Run by the independent non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education, the Blue Flag Program is dedicated to labeling beaches and marinas appropriate for swimming.

The criteria that a beach must fulfill to get a Blue Flag has to do with its cleanness, the water quality, organization, safety of the swimmers, environmental protection and other services.

This year, 3,462 beaches and 660 marinas in 50 countries were inspected.

 

Greece Wineries ‘Open Doors’ to Intoxicating Taste Experience

Wine lovers and bon viveurs will have the chance to indulge on May 28-29, when wineries and vineyards across Greece open their doors to the public for an intoxicating wine and dine experience.

The two-day series titled “Open Doors”, an initiative of the European Network of Wine Cities (RECEVIN), includes vineyard, production area and wine cellar tours, wine tasting sessions and many surprises.

The Wine Producers Association of the Vineyard of Central Greece (ENOAKE) is participating in the event and invites all lovers of the vine to come along and meet the producers, taste their wines and stroll selected routes that traverse the country’s most picturesque viticultural zones.

While there, visitors will have the chance to select from a wide variety of wines at attractive prices.

Meanwhile, the Wines of Crete network will also be participating with a series of food and wine tasting events featuring local delicacies and wine varieties.

“Open Doors” at wineries across Greece run between 11am and 7pm. Admission is free.

Some of the wine routes included are: the Olympus Gods, Epirus, Limnon, Naoussa, Pella-Goumenissa, Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Dionysus and Crete.
(source:gtp)

DPA: German Tourists are Choosing Greece Again this Year

Despite the refugee crisis and tax hikes in Greece, German tourists are opting once again to holiday under the Greek sun, Deutsche Welle said on Monday, citing a report of the German Press Agency (dpa).

According to the dpa, despite “gloomy forecasts” made by Greek tourism  representatives that refer to a dramatic reduction in bookings to Greece this summer due to the refugee crisis and the increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate at popular Greek tourist destinations, this does not seem to be verified in practice, at least in relation to data provided by German tour operators.

As a representative of the German Travel Association (DRV) informed the dpa, this year’s booking figures to Greece are exceeding those of 2015, which had recorded a record.

According to data from DRV, German travellers are opting this year for the popular tourist destinations of Crete, Rhodes and Corfu.

On the other hand, bookings are sluggish to Samos and Kos, mainly due to the massive arrival of refugees and immigrants from Syria and other major trouble spots.

Meanwhile, the German Association for Consumer Research GfK has come to the same conclusions. According to GfK, bookings to Greece in 2016 will rise compared with last year’s summer tourist season, partially due to the decline in demand for Turkey, because of recent terrorist attacks in the country, especially in Istanbul.

 Last year Turkey had ranked third on the list of favorite destinations of the Germans. The dpa added that bookings to Egypt have also declined, for similar reasons.

On the other hand, according to the dpa, tourist traffic is expected to increase significantly at Spanish and Portuguese destinations.
(source:gtp)

Police-manned Help-desks at Greek Airports to Assist Tourists

Tourist police offices have opened up at airports across Greece with officers ready to answer questions and assist incoming visitors in efforts to facilitate travel.

Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, Chania, Corfu, Mykonos, Kos, Santorini and Zakynthos airports are currently hosting tourist police offices in their arrival area. 

A tourist police office will soon be opening at Athens International Airport. 

 

The new help desks – manned by foreign language-speaking (English, French, Italian and Spanish) Greek police officers from the Department of Tourism Police and the Security Service of Attica – aim to support Greek tourism by providing assistance and necessary information to incoming visitors and tourists.

Holidaymakers or visitors can also file complaints or charges concerning loss/theft of travel documents/objects. 

The offices are operating in collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and local government bodies.

(source:gtp)

New Review on Tripadvisor: "Holiday and relaxation"

After 2 weeks of different accommodations on Crete we could enjoy a weeks in the best accommodation.

Perfect suites were where we spend the night with the best bed. 

Lovable by the super nice hosts Eleni and Georgios.

All around a recommendation.

Gunnar and Elisabeth from Munich

Stayed April 2016, travelled as a couple.

 See here: TripAdvisor

Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 47 Speciality Lodging in Plakias, Crete - Greece.

  

94 Reviews Certificate of Excellence

Greece 5th most popular destination for British in 2016

 According to a poll on travel site ‘TravelZoo’, Greece is the 5th preferred holiday destination for British nationals.

 The survey revealed that safety is the tip priority for the British tourists, a factor explaining why they choose domestic ‘stay-cations’ destinations for their holidays. 

Following their homeland, the Brits’ second most popular destination is Spain, with France coming in third, followed by the US and Italy. 

Two thirds of the British holiday makers are already in the process of planning their summer travels. 

Low cost and sunny weather are two most important factors for Brits to choose their destinations, following security. 

This is the list of British nationals’ favourite holidays places for 2016:

1. UK – 27%
2. Spain – 21%
3. France – 10%
4. USA/Italy – 8%
5. Greece – 7%
6. Canada -/Germany/Portugal – 5%
7. Australia/Caribbean/Cyprus – 4%

New Review on Tripadvisor: “Tutto perfetto”

Siamo stati ospiti di Eleni e Giorgos ad agosto 2015.

La struttura ha poche suites, tutte molto curate; l'arredamento è moderno e funzionale: la cucina è ben attrezzata e consente a chi ne ha voglia di cucinare come a casa, anche gli spazi sono ben studiati sia all'interno che in veranda. Ad aspettarci c'era anche un assaggio di prodotti locali come olio, vino e raki.

La nostra suite aveva una camera da letto e un divano letto nella zona giorno, un bagno non molto grande ma con un box doccia ampio, tutto curatissimo e pulitissimo.
A dire il vero tutto il complesso di Plakias Suites è estremamente ordinato e pulito: tutti i giorni le camere e gli ambienti comuni vengono puliti.

La spiaggia attrezzata (di sabbia) è proprio a pochi passi dalla camera, il lettino è sempre garantito e non c'è affollamento - apprezzabile la distanza tra gli ombrelloni.

Completano il quadro la possibilità di utilizzare biciclette, la vicinanza di ristoranti e supermarket, e di molte spiagge tra le più belle di Creta.

Ci torneremo l'anno prossimo.

 Stayed August 2015, travelled with family.
 See here: TripAdvisor

Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 47 Speciality Lodging in Plakias

  

93 Reviews Certificate of Excellence