Visitors to museums and archaeological sites up in 2014.

Visitors to Greek museums in December 2014 increased by 19.3%, and revenues from entrance tickets rose by 30.2% compared to the same month last year.

According to an announcement released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on Thursday, visitors to Greek museums in December 2014 increased by 19.3%, and revenues from entrance tickets rose by 30.2% compared to the same month last year.
ELSTAT also said today that in the period January-December 2014, there were 22.5% more visitors in museums and revenues rose by 27.9%, compared to the same period last year.
Specifically with regard to archaeological sites, ELSTAT said that the number of visitors rose by 33.8% in December 2014 while revenues increased by 35% in comparison with the same month last year.
In the period of January-December 2014, the number of visitors in archaeological sites rose by 21.9% and revenues increased by 13.5%.
(source:protothema)

Liam Neeson wants Parthenon Sculptures to go back to Greece!

The famous actor wants Greece to get back the stolen Parthenon Marbles. Period. 

Irish actor Liam Neeson has added his voice to those of other celebrities calling for the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Speaking to private STAR TV to promote his new action movie, “Run all Night” he was asked about Greece’s efforts to have the marbles returned. “(The UK) should give them back. Period,” he said. “Give them back to where they were stolen from. They should be given back. Absolutely.”


Last year, George Clooney and Bill Murray both said they believed the UK should return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

At the time, Maria Pullinger Koutsikou, campaign manager for Marbles Reunited, told the British press that it is always positive when public figures speak in favor of reunification of the Parthenon Marbles as it helps raise awareness.

Looking for a budget Easter holiday break? Greece is expecting you!

Are you looking for the ideal Easter holiday break destination that combines great springtime weather, amazing beaches, traditional charm and low prices? Well, your search is... Crete!

People who think about visiting Crete often ask: When is the best time to visit Crete?
   

There are many answers to this question, but for people who want a unique experience of the real life in Crete and Greece, I would suggest them to choose the week of the Greek Orthodox Easter.... 

Season 2015

Non-refundable Rates for Low Season (25/03/2015 - 30/04/2015)
 
Two – roomed Suite (2 persons) 65€
Three– roomed Suite (4-5persons) 95€

 Free sun beds loungers and umbrellas on the beach.

We have obtained for our clients a 12% discount (www.alianthos-group.com) and you can pick up your car directly from the airport .

 (Note, Orthodox Easter this year falls on April 12, a week after Catholic Easter.)

http://www.plakiassuites.com

Greece Tourism Gets Off on the Right Foot, Despite Challenges

Despite the recent political changes in the country, incoming tourism to Greece seems to have taken off with an increased number of arrivals from abroad.

The travel surplus increased by 50 percent due to a significant rise in non-residents’ arrivals in January, even though the corresponding receipts rose by just 9 percent.

According to provisional data from the Bank of Greece, incoming traffic in January came to 606,000 passengers, up 49.9 percent year-on-year, leading to a 9.1 percent rise in travel receipts at 14 million euros, with the average spending per trip dropping by 27 percent.
( full article:gtp)

Tourism Professionals Decide to Fight Illegal Accommodation in Greece

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), has decided to fight back against illegal tourism accommodation in Greece.
Speaking at the annual general assembly of the Confederation of Greek Enterprises for Rented Villas & Apartments (SEEDDE), SETE’s president Andreas Andreadis announced that a specialized company will be assigned to carry out electronic checks to tourism accommodation that is illegally rented out for the short-term.
The data collected will be delivered to the country’s tourism and tax authorities for penalties to be imposed.
Mr. Andreadis said that illegal tourism accommodation is a “huge wound” to the industry as some 40 percent of Greece’s total overnights per year are booked in such establishments.
Data from the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels  reveal that the annual lost revenue resulting from illegal leasing practices adds up to some two billion euros.
According to reports, recent Greek legislation requires for a special sticker to be present in all rooms of tourism accommodation enterprises as proof of legitimate operation. Otherwise, owners will face a fine of 1,000 euros. The penalty can reach 50,000 euros if it is discovered that the accommodation enterprise is not even operating under the state’s special operational seal.
(source: gtp)

More than 100,000 visitors tour ‘The Greeks’ exhibition in Montreal

Since its opening last December 12

Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex, has welcomed some 100,000 visitors since the opening of the exhibition “The Greeks – Agamemnon to Alexander the Great” last December, an indication of the enthusiasm this fascinating and never-before-seen exhibition has generated.
There are less than four weeks left to see the exhibition in Montréal before it continues its North American odyssey, travelling to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, the Field Museum in Chicago and, finally, to the National Geographic Museum in Washington.
An enormously popular success
Making its world premiere at Pointe-à-Callière, the exhibition has met with great interest among visitors, as evidenced by the record-breaking winter attendance figures at the museum. The program of lectures held to coincide with the exhibition has sold out, both at the Museum and at the Université de Montréal. The various books on the exhibition have also enjoyed great sales. The Greeks also drew many visitors during the school break, another indicator of the popularity of this exhibition covering over 5,000 years of Hellenic history and culture, taking visitors on an exceptional and fascinating journey back to the origins of the cradle of Western civilization and its heritage.
 
A fascinating period and treasures of humanity
Greek Antiquity is a rich and captivating period, a time populated by mythical heroes and historical figures, under the watchful gaze of the gods on Mount Olympus. The exhibition is divided into six zones that introduce us to this great civilization and showcase rare and priceless artefacts. Visitors will meet many famous characters from Greek history, including Homer, Aristotle, Plato, King Philip II of Macedon, and King Leonidas of Sparta. The heritage of ancient Greece, which we can still see all around us today in various aspects of our daily lives-such as politics and philosophy, arts and literature, mathematics, architecture, medicine, and sports-is clearly illustrated in the exhibition. Among the many highlights of the exhibition are a number of artefacts that are true treasures of humanity never before displayed outside Greece.
A hands-on experience
The exhibition offers visitors a range of interactive elements and items they can actually touch. Visitors are notably invited to handle a Cycladic female figurine, a block of marble, a reproduction of a warrior’s helmet, and a sword. There are also over twenty videos shown in the various exhibition zones, most of them produced by the National Geographic Society, the Acropolis Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, and the Canadian Museum of History.
Last chance to see the exhibition
The exhibition, which brings together over 550 valuable artefacts from 21 Greek museums under the aegis of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, runs until April 26. Remember that the Museum is open every day except Monday, and is also open on Wednesday evenings until 9 pm (only for visits of The Greeks exhibition). The Museum will exceptionally be open on Easter Monday, April 6, from 10 am to 5 pm.
(source: protothema)

Homemade jam with nuts and dried figs

Jam with a unique taste to enjoy with yogurt, creams, ice-cream, cakes, bread or with whatever you fancy…

 
Ingredients
6 dried figs
375gr. walnuts
1.5lt water
½ vanilla
450g. granulated sugar
1.5lt water for soaking
Preparation method
Step 1
Leave walnuts in cold water to soak for a day. Also, place dried figs to water for 4 hours before using.
Step 2
Cut the vanilla in half and then scrape it with a sharp knife, then put the seeds in a small bowl.
Step 3
Produce syrup with water, vanilla (seeds) and sugar. Drain the nut flesh and pour into the syrup. Simmer on low heat for about 1½ to 2 hours until softened.
Step 4
Remove from the heat and strain. Remove the vanilla pod.
Step 5
Puree the nuts with figs and ¼ of syrup in a blender. If necessary add a little more syrup until to achieve the jam texture.

Source: Olive Magazine
Chef: Dimitris Chronopoulos

Greek vacation anyone? Tourism set to boom - CNBC

Diplomatic relations between Athens and the rest of Europe may be at a low ebb, but there is one part of Greece that is clamoring for overseas visitors. And a plunging euro could make it the perfect place for a vacation this year.
Christina Kalogera, director of the Greek National Tourism Organization's U.K. and Ireland office, told CNBC that Greece was hopeful that 2015 would be a good year for the tourism industry, particularly with the euro weakening against the dollar and sterling.
"We are very optimistic that 2015 will be another successful year for Greek tourism as the hotel, restaurant, and bar scene is booming and we are seeing young entrepreneurs getting more actively involved with the tourism sector," Kalogera told CNBC Friday.
"There are new innovative products provided by hotels and multiple new restaurants and bars openings especially in Athens and Thessaloniki, so with the euro also at an 11-year low this is definitely the ideal time to visit Greece."

 Around 18 million international tourists arrived in Greece in 2013, according to the UN World Tourism Organization's 2014 report on "Tourism Highlights."

In addition to that data, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2014 report found that travel and tourism contributed 28.3 billion euros ($31.2 billion) to the Greek economy in 2013 (16.3 percent of gross domestic product). That was forecast to rise by 3.0 percent in 2014 and by 3.7 percent per year to 41.8 billion euros (19.1 percent of GDP) in 2024. The service sector as a whole accounts for about 40 percent of the country's GDP, according to the CIA's "World Factbook."
Further demonstrating how important the travel and tourism industry is to Greece, the WTTC said the total contribution of travel and tourism in terms of total employment in Greece was 18.2 percent, or 657,000 jobs. That's a significant amount in a country with a high unemployment rate of around 25 percent.
Hotel managers like Dorina Stathopoulou are also optimistic that 2015 could be a bumper year for the travel trade, with occupancy levels for summer already looking good.
"We're very busy, this is a booming period for us," Stathopoulou, hotel manager of three hotels in Athens, told CNBC. "This started last September, from on then we knew it would be a good year. For example, we have 92 percent occupancy for May, 80 percent already for June."

Plakias: Photo of the day

Plakias is 35 kilometres south of Rethymno, on the southern coast of Crete on the Libyan Sea and is a popular tourist resort well-known for its award-winning Blue Flag sandy beach stretching for 1400 metres.

It combines everything as it offers visitors many facilities: surgery, pharmacy, all kinds of shops, car hire, post office, ATM, many tavernas, exciting nightlife, organized beaches (Souda, Damnoni, Ammoudi, Schinaria), diving centre, free-riding centre, and an extensive marina where even large yachts can berth.
Photos

Greece among top 5 “dream destinations” for US travelers

Greece is among the Top 5 Dream Destinations for US travellers, according to TripAdvisor’s TripBarometer Study.

The TripBarometer study is the analysis of more than 44,000 global responses from travelers and the hotel sector. According to this extensive report, Greece is included in the Top 5 “dream destinations” for U.S. Travelers, along with Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

In the meantime, Greece ranked 8th in the hotelier confidence index in terms of optimism about profitability, room rates and investment priorities.

The online survey was conducted between January 16 and February 2, 2015.

Tirokafteri cheese spread... from Greece.

A delicious, creamy cheese spread from Greece. It is usually served as part of a mezze platter but it can also be enjoyed by itself, with slices of warm bread.

Serves: 1 jar Preparation time: 10m Cooking time: 5m Ready in: 15m
 
A delicious, creamy cheese spread from Greece. It is usually served as part of a mezze platter but it can also be enjoyed by itself, with slices of warm bread.
Ingredients
1 Florina pepper or any sweet pepper
1 -2 chili peppers (depending on how spicy you want the spread to be)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
250 gr. anthotyro, a traditional fresh cheese
250 gr. crumbled feta cheese
A pinch of sweet paprika
Preparation method
Step 1
Remove the seeds from the Florina pepper and the chili peppers and finely chop them.
Step 2
Heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute until tender.
Step 3
Place the anthotyro cheese and crumbled feta cheese in a blender. Add the sautéed peppers with the oil from the pan and the paprika and process the ingredients until you get a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
Step 4
Keep the cheese spread refrigerated in a glass jar, pouring a little oil on the surface from time to time.
Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Ioanna Stamoulou
Photo: George Drakopoulos
Food Styling: Tina Webb

Top 20 most Googled destinations in Greece (see tables)

The powerful company released interesting data with regard to the way travelers worldwide research their trips.

 
During an event that was organized by Google to announce the expansion of its innovative “Grow Greek Tourism Online” program, the powerful company released interesting data with regard to the way travelers worldwide research their trips.
According to the data presented by Google, most travelers that search Greek destinations online come from UK, Germany and USA.

Moreover, the 20 most googled regions in Greece include the country’s two biggest cities, namely Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as popular islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Crete.
See the full list below:
1. Athens
2. Thessaloniki
3. Thessaly
4. Peloponnese
5. Corfu
6. Lefkada
7. Zakynthos
8. Skiathos
9. Lesbos
10. Chios
11. Andros
12. Mykonos
13. Paros
14. Naxos
15. Patmos
16. Kos
17. Santorini
18 Rodos
19. Karpathos
20. Crete
 
Google’s “Grow Greek Tourism Online” program is a project that aims to provide enterprises in Greek tourism with tools that can help boost their businesses over the summer season and beyond. The initiative has been taken to deal with the 70% increased demand for online vacation searches noted from June to September.
The campaign kicked off on the isle of Crete in September with some 650 local tourism businesses trained to use online tools to enhance their tourism growth potential.
The success of the initiative has now led to more destinations. It is expanding to include the Peloponnese, the Cycladic islands, the Ionian islands, Macedonia, the Dodecanese and the Attica region.
(source:protothema)

Oinokritika 2015: A special event for wine lovers

Oinokritika 2015 is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

For the eighth consecutive year the Wineries of Crete invite oenophiles from every corner of the world to the annual wine exhibition “Oinokritika” which will be held at Chania on March 21 and 22, 2015.
During “Oinokritika 2015” (a name which derives from the word oinos, meaning wine and kritika which means Cretan), visitors will have the opportunity to taste some older vintages, discover new wines, talk with the winemakers and learn about the activities organized by the Wines of Crete.
Oinokritika 2015 is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization.
(source:protothema)

GNTO Partners with TUI Group to Promote Greece to 12 Markets!

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) this year will launch advertising campaigns and a series of actions in partnership with German travel giant TUI Group to promote Greece in 12 markets.
According to a decision approved by the Super-Ministry for Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism, the GNTO and TUI will target the markets of UK & Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Russia and Ukraine.
The total amount of investment on the Greek side is 985.000 euros and actions will be addressed to both consumers (B2C) and travel agents/partners of TUI (B2B).
The joint campaigns include a set of activities such as online advertising through display campaigns, e-mail marketing and social media campaigns, offline actions via print, TV and/or radio, sales promotion through in-store activities, familiarization trips (FAM trips) for travel agents, etc.
The campaigns per market will vary depending on the available budget, the specific characteristics of potential travelers from each market and the means they use to get informed and book their holidays.
(source:gtp)

Are you ready?? Welcome to Greece...

On Saturday, 28th of March we open for the summer!
http://www.plakiassuites.com/

 
We are counting the days until we open the door to our precious guests...

Greece's 11 least populated islands

There are reasons why we visit the Greek island honeypots of Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete: direct flights, reliable hotels, and buzzing nightlife. But for those willing to make the effort, there are dozens of timewarped islands that offer complete tranquility and a chance to escape the crowds. This is our guide to the least populated of the Greek islands, where transport may well be a donkey rather than a taxi or bus, and the best lesson is learning how to do not very much at all...
By Lizzie Porter (see all the article: Telegraph)
 

New exhibition on Winged Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre

The exhibition traces the history of this masterpiece and its origins linked to the excavations on Samothrace island.

 The Louvre in Paris invites its visitors to rediscover the Winged Victory of Samothrace, opening an exhibition on Thursday that will run until June 2015.
This emblematic statue, amongst the most renowned exhibits at the iconic Louvre, is again on display after a year of restoration.
The exhibition traces the history of the masterpiece and its origins, linked to the excavations on Samothrace island, in the northeast Aegean.
 
Winged Victory of Samothrace
The winged goddess of Victory (Nike, in Greek) standing on the prow of a ship overlooked the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothrace. This monument was probably an ex-voto offered by the people of Rhodes in commemoration of a naval victory in the early second century BC. The theatrical stance, vigorous movement, and billowing drapery of this Hellenistic-era sculpture are combined with references to the Classical period — prefiguring the baroque aestheticism of the Pergamene sculptors.
This exceptional monument was unearthed in 1863 on verdant Samothrace. It was discovered by Charles Champoiseau, French Vice-Consul to Adrianople (modern-day Edirne, in Turkey). The goddess of Victory is shown in the form of a winged woman standing on the prow of a ship, braced against the strong wind blowing through her garments. With her right hand cupped around her mouth, she announced the event she was dedicated to commemorate.
(Source: Louvre museum official site)

Free museum entry on special dates!

Are you entitled to enter Greek museums and archaeological sites around Greece for free? 
 

Days in which museum entry is free

•  March 6 – tribute to the late actress/politician Melina Mercouri
• June 5 – International Environment Day
• April 18 – World Monuments Day
• May 18 – International Museum Day
• August full moon night
• The last weekend of September each year as part of the European Days of Cultural Heritage
• Every first day of the month from November 1 through to March 31
• October 28
  

People entitled reduced and free entry
Reduced entry for Greek and EU citizens and for those over 65 years who show their ID cards as well as students from the EU
Free entry for

• Journalists who show their ID
• Those who have free entry cards
• Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM or ICOMOS) who show their ID cards
• Those who have culture cards
• Members of the councils of Friends of Museums and Archaeological sites of Greece who have a card
• Children of up to 18 years
• Tour guides who are registered with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Academics and teachers
• Guests of the Greek public sector who have registered cards supporting this from the General Secretariat of Antiquity and Culture
• Teachers accompanying their students on school visits
• The blind and people with disabilities
• Escorts of the blind or people with disabilities
• Archaeology, culture and sports public sector employees who show their employee ID cards
• (source: protothema)

ITB Berlin Opens, Greece Optimistic for 2015 Tourism Season

Greece will aim this year to win more visitors from Western Europe, the Unites States and Germany, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura told the press on Wednesday, the opening day for ITB Berlin.
The minister visited the Greek stand and wished all tourism professionals and regional bodies a successful tourism season.
 
While in Berlin, the tourism minister’s agenda includes meetings with the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai, Berlin Mayor Michael Muller, major tour operators and travel journalists.
Greece is enjoying its tourism recovery at ITB Berlin 2015. According to market research institute GfK, year-to-date bookings for 2015 to Greece from Germany, by end of January 2015, were up by 12.8 percent compared to the same period last year.
 Meanwhile, TUI revealed that it was experiencing good sales for Greece and German tour operator Schauinsland-Reisen also said that Greece was selling particularly well this year.
Greece hit record arrivals last year — a 23 percent increase in tourism arrivals over 2013 — and even better is expected for this season, tourism professionals underline.
“Early bookings and the increase in scheduled flights to Greece indicate that the 24.5 million visitors that Greece welcomed in 2014 –- including 2.5 million cruise ships arrivals –- will be surpassed this year,” said Andreas Andreadis, president of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) during a press conference.
 
Some 70 Greek enterprises are participating as co-exhibitors at the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) stand.
ITB Berlin will run until March 8.
More than 10,000 exhibitors from around 190 countries and regions are presenting their innovative products and services in the 26 display halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Over 100,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the world’s largest travel trade show in order find out about all the tourism industry’s products and services at this year’s event.
(source:gtp)

The Fortezza of Rethymno, Crete

Fortezza is Rethymno’s landmark and its most important monument, built in the late 16th century in order to reinforce the city’s defense..

 
The Venetian Fortrezza of Rethymno is almost at the center of the picturesque old town, offering panoramic views of the Cretan harbour-city.
One theory suggests that the hill on which it is built was once, possibly millennia ago, an island linked to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The hill of Paleokastro (Old Castle) was probably the site of the acropolis of ancient Rithymna with its Temple of Apollo and a sanctuary of Artemis, though this hasn’t been proven.
(source:ptotothema)

Traditional Greek recipe: Octopus stewed in red wine.

This traditional Greek recipe produces a delicious octopus stew with a piquant red wine sauce.
 
This traditional Greek recipe produces a delicious octopus stew with a piquant red wine sauce.
Ingredients
1 octopus (about 1 ½ kilo)
4 cloves garlic
3 bay leaves
1 wine glass of olive oil
1 wine glass of sweet wine from Lemnos
1 wine glass of vinegar
1 wine glass of dry red wine
Coarse ground pepper
Preparation method
Step 1
Make sure the octopus is thoroughly cleaned. Place the whole octopus in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Cover with the lid and put a weight on top to prevent the evaporation of the fluids. Cook for half an hour.
Step 2
Add the garlic, the bay leaves and the olive oil. Then, add the vinegar, the dry wine and, finally, the sweet wine. Bring the ingredients to a good boil.
Step 3
Cover again the lid, lower the heat and simmer the octopus for about 1 hour, until tender and until the sauce thickens. Before serving, sprinkle with plenty of pepper.

Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Ilias Mamalakis
Photo: George Drakopoulos 
Food Styling: Tina Webb

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...

http://www.plakiassuites.com/

Photo of the Day...

Plakias is 35 kilometres south of Rethymno, on the southern coast of Crete on the Libyan Sea and is a popular tourist resort well-known for its award-winning Blue Flag sandy beach stretching for 1400 metres.

Sleep on Nature..

Season 2015.
The suites offer comfortable beds with orthosomatic mattresses by COCO-MAT
www.plakiassuites.com

Greece 5th top holiday preference for German tourists in 2015!

The data was announced by DW in an article previewing next month’s influential ITB tourism exhibition in Berlin

German tourists are apparently ignoring whatever political debate over a recent Greek deal with eurozone creditors — as well as Bild’s “yellow sheets” — and looking ahead to the summer, with Greece the fifth favorite destination if judged by pre-bookings.
The data was announced by DW in an article previewing next month’s influential ITB tourism exhibition in Berlin.

“There’s no indication that Germans are less inclined to travel to Greece due to the new political situation there,” according to the president of the German Travel Association (DRV), Norbert Fiebig.
He referred to a 10-percent increase in bookings, compared the same period last year, speaking at a press conference on Thursday.
The same trend is reported by Thomas Cook, which cited a robust number of bookings for the Greek market this summer, while TUI also stressed that politics is not affecting its clients’ preferences, something echoed by DER Touristik.
(source:protothema)

Everything changed... Except the unique Cretan landscape!

The website British Pathé takes us on a trip on 1964′s Crete with a video that include a look at the many attractions on the island of Crete.

"Various shots of tourists water skiing or lying on the beach in swimsuits and eating in restaurants. Various shots of the seashore caves where locals live in the summer. Various shots as they harvest grain, bake bread and weave outside. There are also shots of windmills in the fields and men milking goats.

People play the lyre and dance in a circle. Various shots of the ruined palace at Knossos including the pots, and paintings on the walls. Several more shots of holidaymakers on the beach."

The website British Pathé takes us on a trip on 1964′s Crete with a video - See more at: http://www.ellines.com/en/good-news/12222-spanio-binteo-me-ti-zoi-stin-kriti-to-1964/#sthash.AvCZ0dFQ.dpuf

Διαβάστε περισσότερα: http://www.ellines.com/en/good-news/12222-spanio-binteo-me-ti-zoi-stin-kriti-to-1964/
Copyright © Ellines.com

Greece isn’t just about the islands you know!

Only in Greece, paradise is awaiting!!

See you.. in Greece

Greek Breakfast Aims To Benefit Tourism

Greek Breakfast is becoming a trend. It’s being talked about everywhere, in gastronomy schools, in Greek society, by foreign travel agents!!

 “‘Greek Breakfast’ is growing into the most innovative initiative in gastronomy while serving as a fresh action for the promotion of Greek tourism. At a time when activities in gastronomy serve as strategic choices, we hope to take initiatives to develop and promote other sectors and products of Greece’s primary production to the benefit of Greek society,'' Giorgos Pittas, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels representative, supervisor of “Greek Breakfast” program, said.

ETC: Greece Welcomes Most Arrivals in Southern and Mediterranean Europe in 2014

Greece led growth in Southern and Mediterranean Europe last year with a 22 percent increase in arrivals, the European Travel Commission (ETC) said in its recently released European Tourism 2014 – Trends & Prospects (Q4/2014) report.
According to the quarterly report, Greece’s tourism growth was driven by the recovery of business travel and price convenience.
Also, the ETC revealed that Greece was the second strongest performer among the 10 ETC members in terms of arrivals growth in Europe last year, after Iceland (24,1 percent).
“The recovery in Greece continues… Hotel data for Athens support the idea that business demand is partly responsible for this performance, reducing the recent reliance on the Greek islands for growth. Greece should continue to grow if its economy grows in 2015 as it did in 2014, however, uncertainty relating to its status within the EU may act as a stumbling block”.
Following Greece, ETC members that reported strong arrivals growth include Latvia (15 percent), Serbia (12 percent), Romania (11 percent) and the Czech Republic (11 percent).

European tourism in 2015

The UN agency for tourism, UNWTO, has estimated that the European tourism sector grew by four percent last year, reaching a total of 588 million visits, a 22 million increase compared to 2013. For the fifth consecutive year, international tourism in the region has grown above the 2.4 percent average rate forecast for the period 2010-2025.
According to the ETC, factors that contributed to a successful year include the recovery of major source markets, marketing efforts in promoting travel outside the main season and themed promotional activities. Also, many destinations benefitted from increased travel from Europe’s top markets, such as France, Germany, Italy and the UK.
The ETC said that a number of factors bode well for another positive year in Europe’s tourism sector but that “dark clouds may be gathering over the waters on which European tourism is sailing and slow down its growth”.
For 2015, the ETC expects the European tourism sector to continue at a cruising speed around its long-term annual average growth, forecast at a rate between two and three percent.
(source:gtp)

Greek Tourism Experts Hopeful About 2015

Tourism professionals are optimistic that 2015 will be a fruitful year, expecting even more arrivals to the country compared to last year.
Attributing the positive trend to the implementation of a far-reaching tourism strategy, president of the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers (HHF) Yiannis Retsos told the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels general assembly last week that it is not a random success story but one based on consistency and attention to quality.
Retsos said the strategy, based on a McKinsey study, involves investments amounting to 3.3 billion euros annually in infrastructure, hotels, marinas, etc. including an increase in the number of hotel beds from 770,000 today to 900,000 in the coming years.
Retsos told the Athens News Agency that in the period 2010-2014, 696 new hotels opened their doors to the public, 73 percent of which moved into the top three categories. According to chamber figures, the number of five star hotels in Greece has tripled since 1990 from 4.8 percent to 14.8 percent in 2014.
According to the general assembly results, bookings from Germany seem to have stopped, compared to a 15 percent rise in bookings from the UK with major losses estimated at approximately 50 percent expected from Ukrainian and Russian markets.
In the meantime, despite the favorable exchange rate, Turkey has upped its efforts and become strongly competitive.
(source:gtp)

Crete: The Apokriés, or Carnival season in Rethymno, Brings Thousands of Tourists...

Since 1914 beautiful Renaissance Rethymnon has been celebrating the carnival with its many humoristic events. A carnival of another era leaving behind its nostalgic aroma of romantic balls and the Rethymnians through laughter and their comical antics paying their tribute to "His Excellence, The King of the Carnival."
The Treasure Hunt, an old custom dating back to when the Carnival of Rethymno began about a century ago, was the reason for the creation of 'teams' in 1990, which would give birth once again to this age-old tradition.
In 1993, the Municipality of Rethymnon decided to help fund this popular event and requested the teams to take on the challenging task of creating and organising the Carnival of Rethymnon, which has become the most popular and famous Carnival of Crete!

 The whole town becomes one big party: for almost a whole month, the city plays host to a succession of fun-filled celebrations, bringing together locals and visitors who participate in this carnival because they love to enjoy every moment of their lives. You will see groups of people sitting together in traditional cafés (kafeneia) drinking “tsikoudiá” (raki), tasting Cretan titbits and thinking up “mantinádes” (folk couplet songs) on the spot.
The Carnival in Rethymno, an institution with a great history, has withstood the test of time and returns each year full of vigour. It is a superb way to raise your spirits, meet new people and experience an event that is pure magic.

 (source:Plakiassuites 
VisitGreece
RethymnoCarnival)

Best places to travel in 2015: Athens, the third best destination in Europe!

20 selected destinations competed for the prestigious title of Best European Destination 2015. After a three-week online voting period, Bordeaux was elected as the Best European Destination 2015 and won this prestigious title.

Lisbon, Athens, Valetta, Riga, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Innsbruck, Milan, Brussels, Vienna, Rome, Barcelone, Istanbul and Madrid were not far behind as far as best destinations for a holiday or city-trip in 2015 were concerned, with Greece coming third!

Athens is considered the cradle of western civilization. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments - a rare historical palimpsest, evident everywhere in the city.

 

The contemporary urban scenery of the sprawling city reflects its exciting history, its multi-cultural modern personality as well as the infrastructure and facilities. In other words, Athens is a must destination that combines modern urban innovation with history, culture and natural beauty throughout the year. 

 

Straight from the Cretan earth...

The metro at Syntagma offers commuters a chance to sample traditional Cretan products from February 16 through to 21. The metro’s conference hall will be filled with kiosks offering Cretan cheese, bread, honey, raki, wine, marathopites and a number of other local products served with a smile.

 (source:protothema)

Mediterranean cooking: Beef roll stuffed with kefalograviera cheese and peppers.

Slow-cooked for hours in greaseproof paper and foil for an even better taste
Serves: 6 Preparation time: 20m Cooking time: 3h.20m Ready in: 3h.40m

Ingredients
½ kg shoulder of beef
200g. kefalograviera cheese, cut into sticks
1 green pepper into strips
1 red pepper, in strips
3-4 cloves of garlic
olive oil
salt, freshly ground pepper
Preparation method
step 1
Ask from the butcher to open the shoulder in a rectangular piece. Mix salt and plenty of pepper in a bowl. Cut the garlic into oblong pieces and dip in salt and pepper.
step 2
With a sharp knife make a few holes in the meat and place pieces of garlic. Spread over the meat on both sides with a little olive oil and season to taste.
step 3
Preheat the oven to 220 ° C. Place pieces of cheese and green and red peppers at one end of the meat along. You begin to wrap the meat as roll sealing in the filling ingredients. Continue with the second row of cheese and pepper. Then wrap again. Repeat until you make a complete roller.
step 4
Tie with baking  string and wrap in two baking sheets taking care to cover well and the side edges of the roll. Wrap also in a piece of foil. Put the roll in a tray and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.
step 5
Then, lowering the temperature to 150 ° C and continue baking for 3 hours and is ready to serve.

Source: Olive Magazine
 Chef: Ioanna Stamoulou
Photo: Giorgos Drakopoulos
  Food Styling: Tina Webb