Large rise in German bookings for Greek islands

According to data released by TravelTainment, the Greek islands experienced a large increase in bookings from the German market, while bookings for the Turkish Riviera have dropped substantially.

 Traveltainment is an online service monitoring the bookings of 10 of Germany’s largest travel agencies, tour operators and online tourist booking services for the most popular travel destinations of German nationals.

The airport of Heraklion, Crete will have a 50+ percent rise in bookings from German tourists, while that of Rhodes is expected to see a 37+ percent increase.

Heraklion made a noteworthy spike in January bookings of 25 percent, while Rhodes also saw a 37 percent increase in February.

Turkey, a competitor of Greece in the tourist industry, saw a 40 percent fall in its bookings for the Turkish Riviera.
(source:protothema)

Photo of the day: Summer is coming..

Today at Plakias!

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.

//http://www.plakiassuites.com/

China Expresses Interest in Crete’s Products and Tourism

China has expressed interest in importing agricultural products of Crete, especially the island’s olive oil and wine.

The interest was shown by a high-level delegation of China, led by the deputy governor of Hubei Province XuKezhen, while visiting the Region of Crete on Monday.

The Chinese delegation was welcomed by Crete Prefect Stavros Arnaoutakis and the region’s vice governors Evripidis Koukiadakis, Theano Vrentzou and Virginia Manasaki.

During the meeting, Mr XuKezhen expressed his admiration for the history, culture, and natural beauty of Crete and estimated that the next decade will see a rapid increase in Chinese tourists in Europe and Greece.

On his part, Mr Arnaoutakis noted that there is a close cooperation between the region and the Embassy of China in Athens.

“However, what we seek is efficient agreements from the Chinese side in connection with exporting Cretan products in the Chinese market”, he said.

“What also interests us is that there may be positive developments in relation to the increase in tourism from China to Crete,” Crete’s prefect added.

The representative of the Chinese entrepreneurs Wen Zhengfn informed Mr Arnaoutakis on China’s interest in importing Cretan products, especially olive oil and wine for which Crete is famous for.

“We are also interested in tourism and we are optimistic that our compatriots will prefer Greece and Crete for holidays in the coming years”, he added.

Hubei is a province of the People’s Republic of China in central China with a population of some 57 million inhabitants.
(source:gtp)

DRV: The Germans are Still Coming to Greece

The German Travel Association (DRV) on Thursday reported a 40 percent drop in bookings to Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey this summer due to safety concerns.

Meanwhile, bookings to Greece are still on good levels, despite the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees on the country’s islands.

“Of course there are some islands that are particularly affected such as Lesvos and Kos. But overall we see a decent growth in Greece”, DRV’s president Norbert Fiebig told reporters.

According to Mr Fiebig, destinations that were once popular, such as Egypt and Tunisia, have suffered a series of attacks, forcing tour companies such as TUI and Thomas Cook to seek alternative destinations.

DRV’s president said that bookings for summer holidays in Turkey are down by 40 percent year-on-year and that there is a similar drop in Egypt and Tunisia, while in some areas, the decrease is slightly greater.

However, he added that bookings for the three destinations have improved significantly in the last two weeks.

“Our goal is for the total of bookings to not drop significantly lower than the levels of 2015. But that depends almost entirely on how these three markets will evolve, especially Turkey and Egypt,” he said.
(source:gtp)

You want it we did it: A family break in the classiest hotel in Rethymno, Crete!

Open season 2016 from April with special rates.

  Welcome to the Plakias Suites (4 keys), a family complex of 6 apartments that fits perfectly into its natural Cretan surroundings in one of the most attractive locations in southern Crete, the bay of Plakias. The complex is situated on the long, sandy beach of Paligremnos in Plakias.

Each of the modern apartments is sound-proofed and fully equipped with a kitchen, air-conditioning, satellite television and wireless Internet connection.

Enjoy a wonderful stay amidst unparalleled tranquility and luxury.

Each apartment has its own independent entrance and a large private balcony with a view of the mountain and the sea.

It is an ideal place for families with children as the spacious, comfortable apartments open onto the 900 sq.m. lush-green garden where children can enjoy their games undisturbed.

 The beach is literally at your doorstep!!

Plakias Suites Beach

Video of 'Plakias suite' complex:
http://www.plakiassuites.com/en/hotel.html

Photo of the Day: February and 28C in Plakias, Crete!

Plakias, is a small fishing village and produces wonderful sunsets, like this.

USA Today: Greek Islands Among Best Destinations for Solo Travel

The Greek islands are among the best destinations for solo trips in 2016, to meet new people and gain some independence, according to a feature published in USA Today.


Greek islands for solo travel
On Greece, USA Today notes that even if the country is facing problems with its economy, people should not be discouraged to travel there alone.

“While Athens has rich history to offer and is a good home base, the islands offer a perfect solo beach escape where you’ll be able to meet people and island hop when you get bored. Luckily there are thousands of islands to explore with ferries and flights providing easy access between them. Don’t miss picturesque Santorini, famous party spot Mykonos, beach-riddled Zakynthos, historical Ithaca, under-rated Syros, and of course the biggest island, Crete.
How to meet people: Traveling solo around the Greek Islands can be tricky if you are looking for travel partners, especially if you’re island hopping from place to place. Although they can be pricey, a cruise can be your best option.”

Best solo trips for 2016

1. Solola, Guatemala
2. Grand Circle, U.S.
3. Reykjavik, Iceland
4. Melbourne, Australia
5. Ganges River cruise, India
6. Great Britain and Ireland
7. California coast, U.S.
8. Greek Islands, Greece
9. New Zealand

Read the whole feature here.