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

Greece among world’s top 50 countries, says Telegraph.

Telegraph newspaper published the 2015-16 Telegraph Travel Awards.

More than 75,000 readers voted their favorite destinations, announced this week.

Greece ranked 29th among the world’s 50 best countries.

 It is also chosen as the second most popular tourist destination in Mediterranean by British travelers.

The British newspaper notes about Greece:

“Despite its troubles over the last couple of years, we seem still to love Greece, and it remains readers’ second favourite Mediterranean destination” says the newspaper adding:

 “It’s certainly true that once you get away from it all on one of those idyllic islands, with white-washed villages shimmering between a deep blue sky and an azure sea, the problems of the world seem to melt away.”

Greece among top 10 destinations chosen by German tourists

Greece despite refugee crisis is among the top 10 destinations chosen by German tourists last year based on a research conducted by The German Research Institute (FUR) and published by Tourism-Review.com.

“The popularity of Greek regions depends on their location and the current situation.

Some places, such as Crete and Corfu, were performing well providing German tourists with the blend of sunshine, relaxation and culture that they expect.

Others, that have been hit by the refugee crisis, like the eastern Aegean Sea, however, have seen a decline.”

The research revealed several changes in the list of the most popular destinations.

German tourists continued going on holiday, despite the increased security risks. However, the destinations chosen were much closer to their home.

Moreover, the study showed that most Germans preferred the sun and sea, with large number of German tourists visiting coasts and Mediterranean destinations.


However, many Germans prefer not to leave their home country at all.
(source: protothema)

Virtuoso: Greece among top 10 summer destinations for jetsetters in 2016.

Greece has been included in luxury travel network Virtuoso’s Top 10 list as one of the world’s leading destinations for summer holidays and among the 10 leading countries recording increased bookings.

(According to data presented at the annual Virtuoso Symposium in Hong Kong this week, travel to Greece is picking up with 58 percent of bookings made in June through August, and holidaymakers preferring Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and
Rhodes.)

 Virtuoso has mined its data warehouse of more than $35 billion in transactions to reveal the top destinations.

Upscale jetsetters are largely seeking perennial European favorites for summer vacations, alongside select African locales.

 However, a few surprises emerged when Virtuoso compared this year's summer hot spots to last year's "must-see" destinations.

The Virtuoso Top 10:

The most popular destinations for summer vacations based on future bookings.

1. Italy
2. United Kingdom
3. France
4. Spain
5. Netherlands
6. Ireland
7. Germany
8. South Africa
9. Greece
10. Israel

Photo of the day..

Feel the Harmony and the relaxation..

A nice evening at Plakias - Crete, Greece!

It's Island Time: TripAdvisor Names the Europe's Top 10 Islands in 2016 Travelers' Choice Awards. Crete ranked 4th.

The island of Crete is a Greek jewel floating in a sea of melted turquoise.
 
The beaches are godly stretches of pillowy sand and smooth pebbles.

Its historical and mythological significance can not be ignored: Crete is said to have been to be the birthplace of Zeus, the king of the Gods, and was the site of Europe's first modern civilization...

 
 Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is a paradise for tourists seeking sunshine, beaches, and culture.

Lighting and Handover Ceremonies of the Olympic Flame

The journey of the Olympic Flame in view of the RIO 2016 Olympic Games will start on April 21, 2016 in Ancient Olympia. The Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flame will be held on April 27, 2016 at the Panathenaic Stadium (Athens).

Eighty years after the Olympic Flame was lit for the first time in the context of the modern Olympic Games, the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the RIO 2016 Olympic Games will take place in Ancient Olympia on April 21, 2016.

The High Priestess Katerina Lehou will hand the Olympic Flame to the first torchbearer in order for the Flame to travel in Greece before arriving in Athens. On its journey, the Flame will cross the majority of the Greek territory including islands such as Zakynthos and Corfu.

The Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the RIO 2016 Olympic Games followed by a celebrations programme, will take place at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on April 27, 2016.
For more info: www.hoc.gr

Photos © Hellenic Olympic Committee

21/04/2016 - 27/04/2016

Location: Various locations

Hours - Comments

Dates: 21/04/2016, 27/04/2016. Place: Peloponnese & Athens. Venues: Ancient Olympia & Panathenaic Stadium. Start. T.: 12:00 (Lighting Ceremony), 17:00 (Handover Ceremony). (source: VisitGreece)