Russians Place Greece Among Top 3 Favorite Destinations

Greece was ranked third in the leading destinations selected by Russian tourists for their trips abroad in 2014, recording a 17 percent drop compared to 2013, according to the Russian Federation’s Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm).
 The almost 50 percent plunge in the rate of the ruble is seen as leading to the decline in travel as Russian spending power dropped by 28 percent last year.
(Read more:gtp)

Dollar-Euro Exchange Rate Key to More Tourists from US

The number of American tourists opting to visit Greece this year is expected to rise in large part due to the appreciation of the US dollar against the euro, tourism experts said during the 2015 New York Times Travel Show, which took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center this weekend.
Describing 2015 as a golden year for Greece, Consul General in New York, George Eliopoulos underlined the importance of the NYT travel report and added that there is great room for optimism, particularly due to the fact that the dollar has strengthened relative to the euro, making Greece an even more attractive destination.
Citing an increased number in pre-bookings of package tours, Mr Eliopoulos added: “The average American tourist spends more money on holidays than his European counterpart.”
“The messages are particularly promising for this year. If this trend continues, Greece will become a highly competitive product in relation to other destinations,” he concluded.
(source:gtp)

Lufthansa airlines: direct flights to Crete this summer

German Lufthansa airline has announced earlier this week that a new direct flight to Crete will be launched this summer.
More specifically, a flight connecting Munich to Heraklion in Crete will be operated once a week, starting from May 23, 2015.

 “Greece has always been a key market in the region, proving that even in a difficult financial environment, numbers remain strong and show positive signs of even better results,” said the announcement of the company.

Special dakos from Crete!

A traditional meze or light meal on the island of Crete, dakos is easy to make as it requires no cooking.
  
Serves: 1 Preparation time: 5m Cooking time: 0m Ready in: 5m


A traditional meze or light meal on the island of Crete, dakos is easy to make as it requires no cooking
Ingredients
One round barley rusk
1 medium ripe tomato
Olive oil
Vinegar
Some fresh basil, finely chopped
Xynomyzithra cheese
Some samphire
A few capers and caper leaves
Black salted olives
Salt
Preparation method
Step 1
Grate the tomato, add salt, a little olive oil, a few drops of vinegar and mix well.
Step 2
Place the barley rusk on a plate, cover it with the grated tomato and sprinkle with the chopped basil.
Step 3
Add the Xynomyzithra on top of the tomato and then the samphire.
Step 4
Decorate the dish with the capers, the caper leaves and the olives and drizzle with olive oil.
Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Dimitris Skarmoutsos

lonelyplanet: Best places to stay in Crete, Greece.

'Crete has all types of places to unpack your suitcase – hostels, campgrounds and family hotels, rural villas and hotels (agrotourism), apartments and luxury resorts. Good-value accommodation abounds, especially in the south and inland villages.'
 

Plakias Suites, is one of them!

'Where you stay is one of the most important decisions to make when planning a holiday to Crete.'

 

 'Rethymno has some quieter getaways, plus Crete’s longest sandy beach; it’s a good base if you want to immerse yourself in the island’s culture.'

(Full article: Lonelyplanet)

New in Plakias Suites, Korres Amenities!

 http://www.plakiassuites.com/

Hello Spring!

The outstanding natural beauty of spring in Crete reaches its maximum during the months of March, April and May, ideal for those with special interests in bird watching and wildlife. Spring in Crete also boasts opportunities for those with particular interests in mountaineering, archaeology and walking.
Spring in Crete continues to attract thousands of tourists each year, due to the temperature, climate and serenity of this popular Greek island...

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