Greece: where to go for the first time. Where is the best place to relax in Greece?

Where is the best in Greece: beaches

So, you have decided to go to Greece, but you don’t know where yet. We invite you to read our short review about most beaches to roughly determine the direction, and then go directly to those cities or islands that you like best. Let's start with the capital region. Tourists usually don’t swim in Athens itself, but if you want to combine sightseeing with a beach holiday, you can easily stay somewhere nearby. Naturally, the division is arbitrary, but you can imagine what tourists do in a particular region.

Where is the best place to relax in Greece? Athens and surroundings

Glyfada is the Athens Riviera. Located on the Saronic Gulf, families mainly relax here. The beaches are mostly sandy. The beach is simpler, but well organized - Asterya Seaside, the more expensive beach is Bellax Beach. There's a lot of entertainment here. In the Vravrona area you can enjoy white sand, in Varkiza - a gentle entrance to the sea ( a good option for families with children), for those who want to do water sports - Lagonissi. The closest to Athens is Kavouri, if you plan to travel to the capital often, you will like it. One of the most famous is Loutraki. The beaches here are pebble, with small and large stones. There are also a lot of discos and entertainment. Marathon resort - with convenient access to the sea, sandy beaches, again, excellent for children.

Where is the best place to go in Greece? Peloponnese Peninsula

If you choose this wonderful peninsula, you will certainly find a beach that is just right for you. By the way, there are even municipal beaches here with free umbrellas and sun loungers (a rarity!).

If you are relaxing with your family, then look at the beaches of Alykes, Arachos, Kalogria, Stoupa, Seliantika.

For lovers of active water activities, aquatic species Akrata, Zacharo, Psili Ammos, Karatonas, Porto Heli, Eleonas are suitable for sports. Young people will certainly enjoy Nerokosmos, where there is a lot of entertainment. Nature lovers will appreciate the beauty of Romanos Beach and the surrounding area. By the way, there are sea turtles here.

Where to relax in Greece: arriving in Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is a wonderful city with a huge amount sights, and also quite ancient ones. However, due to the large port, the sea in this area is not suitable for swimming. Therefore, tourists who arrive here are transported all over the coast. There are a huge number of hotels in the surrounding area, many of them have own beaches, but there are also municipal ones. They are mostly sandy, well equipped, some are marked “ blue flags» – an international environmental sign.

Where is the best place to go in Greece: shopping

Many people love Greece not only for its wonderful beaches, but also for the opportunity to buy fur coats, gold and clothes. If everything is clear with the second and third ones - it is everywhere, then with fur coats you should be more careful. Of course, they are sold everywhere in Greece, but it is still much more profitable to go as close to the factories as possible. In Greece, shopping lovers should go to the city of Kastoria. It was here that a huge number of fur factories were concentrated. There are also exhibition centers, shops, excursions to places where fur coats are sold. If the fur coat is yours the main objective, then it is better to take a special tour. This is very profitable, but you will usually be required to purchase the product (usually from 1000 euros). Remember that one person has no right to export more than 3 fur coats from Greece. Another important nuance– when buying a fur coat in Kastoria, you are unlikely to receive a tax refund (Tax Free).

Where can you go first? Perhaps to the EDICA fur center, one of the largest. There are more than a hundred exhibition pavilions here, they represent different factories. The center is aimed specifically at tourists, including from Russia.

Separate factory showrooms are also in demand. For example, Papadopoulos Furs (mass and exclusive models), Avanti (own creative workshop), Naomi (many elite options for those looking for something exclusive) and others.

Which Greek island is better to choose?

If you are planning to vacation on an island, then most likely you dream of enjoying the beach and nature. The nature in Greece is gorgeous almost everywhere, but you need to choose the beaches carefully. Especially if it is important to you whether to lie on sand or pebbles, in a developed place or not. At the same time, hotels can often have their own beaches - better than municipal ones, especially if it is a 5* hotel.

Which Greek island to choose? Crete

Crete is one of the most popular destinations for many years now. Almost everywhere in the north the beaches are sandy. Pebble - mainly in the south, sand and pebble are found in the east of Crete, in the area of Ierapetra and Sitia. Pay attention to two beaches: Balos and Falasarna (Chania) - they are rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in the world, they have been noted more than once in various ratings and top lists. The nature of Crete and the architecture are very diverse; it makes sense to travel all over the island to appreciate the richness of the colors of Greece.

Where to fly to Greece? Rhodes

Rhodes is perhaps the second most popular island. Here, luxurious vegetation goes well with the opportunity to relax in a high-class hotel (although there are many economy options). Sandy, pebble and sand-pebble beaches are located here intermixed, without a special system, so to select a specific city it is better to go to its page. Note that away from the main tourist places There are the beaches of Gennadi and Kiotari - you can relax there peacefully. Many people love Lindos for its variety of services, and athletes usually choose Ialysos.

Selecting the islands of Greece. Kos

Kos is an almost entirely “sandy” island; sand and pebble beaches can only be found in the area of Psalidi and Agios Fokas. The most popular is Marmari, pleasant white sand - on Kardamena, with children you can go to Lambi - there is a gentle entrance and sand that is pleasant to the touch. At the same time, there is something to do for adults too: rentals are available.

Corfu. Another popular resort in Greece

In Corfu, as in Rhodes, the beaches are mixed: next to the sandy one there may be a pebble one, and sometimes even without a special transition. The island is gaining popularity among Russian tourists V last years: More and more tour operators are opening this destination. Children usually go on holiday to Agios Stefanos and Dassia, since there is a gentle entrance to the sea. Partygoers choose Sidari, but in any case, the island will appeal to all lovers of gorgeous views. Incredible photos rocks, bays, forests will delight you for a very long time!

Zakynthos or Santorini?

Surprisingly, for some reason tourists often cannot choose between these two islands. Zakynthos - more nature, Santorini - more architecture and unusual views, more like Italy. There are not so many popular places here and there. When choosing the best place to fly to Greece, on Zakynthos you can consider the beaches of Daphni and Gerakas (sand, there is sea turtles), as well as Marathias (pebbles). Diving enthusiasts usually go to Limnionas beach, where there are all conditions for this. Santorini will amaze you with its unusual colors. The houses and buildings here are mostly white, but the sand... can be black, it can be red! Dark - in the area of Perissa and Kamari, red - in Aktorini, the beach is called “Red”.

You can also go for less popular islands: Thassos (almost along the entire perimeter - beaches, sand), Astypalea (also sand, but beaches are not everywhere), Kalymnos (pebbles), Karpathos (sand, pebbles, there is very light sand), Leros (mostly sandy), Mykonos ( sand) and others. If you have questions about where is the best place to fly to Greece, ask them in the comments.

If the target is the sea and beach holiday, then the best thing to do in Greece is to go to the islands.
Despite the fact that there are a lot of islands in Greece, the average citizen who has a foreign passport and means of recreation knows only package destinations: Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos.

Any sane person tries to avoid places of concentrated rest for fellow citizens who have flown to the place on a tightly packed charter.
Therefore, I’ll tell you about several places with clear sea, rather deserted beaches and beautiful landscape around.
But first you need to decide on the time of rest and where to buy a plane ticket.

When to vacation in Greece

It is best to go to the sea before the collapse with European holidays.
If in June and July you can put up with the crowds at Moscow airports, then in August the majority of Europeans, with an average salary several times higher than the Russian one, go on mandatory vacation.
And they go not to their grandmothers in the village, but to the sea: to Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia.

The consequences of this are not catastrophic, but they will pinch you painfully on the thigh - where the wallet is.
Prices for everything rise one and a half times.
Therefore, my recommendation is this: to European seaside resorts Try not to travel in August.

Instead of August, it is better to go at the beginning, or even better - in the middle of September:
- sea is warm
- the weather is sunny
— prices are gradually decreasing
The only difference between September and August is that it gets dark faster outside.
But that's not a problem, is it?

When can you swim in Greece?

Already in June, the sea on the Greek islands warms up enough to swim.
Therefore, the recipe for “when to go to the sea in Greece” is simple: from June to the end of September.
Addition to this recipe: from July 20 to the end of August you will pay more for a beach holiday than at other times.
Not only in Greece, but also in Croatia, Montenegro, Italy and Spain.

Where to get tickets in Greece

Buy tickets to Thessaloniki (SKG) - if you are going on vacation: Cassandra, Sithonia or island Thassos
Take tickets to Athens (ATH) - if you are going to relax: on the islands of the Ionian Sea ( Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Corfu) and on the islands Aegean Sea: Skiathos, Skyros, Syros and several dozen more.
Buy tickets to Heraklion (HER) - if you are going to relax on the island Crete.

Entry point - Athens

What's good about flying to Athens:
— on the Athens route there is a larger selection of flights from Russia regular airlines.
You can make sure by playing with .

Charters are evil
Note: I don’t fly charters, and even if they offered me to fly for free, I wouldn’t fly.
Why?
— negative statistics on cancellations and delays of such flights (Vim Avia, for example)
— super economical, close layout of the cabin of charter aircraft
- a large number of package travelers who have taken a vacation once and begin to relax according to the program in accordance with their horizons already at the airport.
I respect myself and value my health, for which I am willing to pay (why bother with money if you don’t spend it on yourself and your loved ones?
Don't add salt after all).

In Athens you can rent a car by finding and ordering it on the website.
The cost of car rental in Athens is cheaper than at the resorts - I don’t take into account small-town companies with a fleet of 3-4 cars of dubious condition and with a smell inside.

3 hours drive from Athens airport - port Hair, from which you can take a ferry to the eastern greek islands: ( , Skyros, Syros).

You can view the ferry schedule and plan travel logistics on the website https://tickets.ferries.gr/

By the way, if you go by car from Athens to Volos or to the west, to the Ionian coast and the islands Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos— you can stay in Meteora for the night and see the “floating monasteries”.
Review of this place: Meteora Greece reviews

The site has a lot of material about places in Greece that are good for a seaside holiday - a beach holiday.
I'll just give links to these places.

Where to holiday in Greece

Halkidiki (Thessaloniki airport): eastern Greece

Sithonia Peninsula is an hour's drive from Thessaloniki airport (how to rent a car in Thessaloniki).

There are many on the peninsula great beaches and almost deserted bays: .
A holiday here is not a package-hotel holiday.
This is a place for lovers independent rest: car, apartments and complete freedom.

Skiathos Island

The island of Skiathos is located east of the mainland coast of Greece.
You can get to the island of Skiathos by air from Athens or Italy (Bari, Rome) - the island is popular with Italians.
By sea, the island of Skiathos can be reached by ferry from Thessaloniki, Volos, Ag Konstantinos. Car ferries from Mantoudi (Evia) and Kymi.

Islands of the Ionian Sea (west of Greece)

It is characteristic that cold currents pass near the coast of the island of Crete, and its location in the open sea is a consequence of windy weather.
Below is a description of several areas on the island of Crete.

Greece - magnificent country, which is ideal for relaxation, both family and group. Considering recent events in the world, more and more Russians prefer to go on holiday to Greece rather than to Egypt or Turkey. In this article we will try to calculate the cost of a holiday in Greece during the most popular period among tourists, that is, in the summer months. After reading the article, you can easily calculate which is cheaper: buying a tour through a travel agency or independent planning trips. The cost of plane tickets, the cost of accommodation, the prices of food and transportation - we will talk about all this now.

Airfare

When planning a trip, the first thing you need to do is buy a plane ticket. As you know, air tickets can vary significantly depending on the season, date of purchase, departure date and other parameters. The summer months are peak months, so prices will be higher than in spring or autumn. On average, if you choose, the cost of a ticket can range from 150 to 200 euros, depending on the airport of arrival.

By the way, we recommend booking a plane ticket as early as possible, because everyone knows: the earlier you book a plane ticket, the cheaper it will cost. If you want to save money, then here are some more tips: try to book a flight on a weekday, when there are no weekends or holidays either in our country or in Greece. You can also save a few euros if you take an evening or overnight flight.

Visa to Greece

In terms of the number of visa centers, Greece is the leader in our country. The Greeks issue visas for Russians without any problems and quite quickly. The cost of a short-term Schengen tourist visa issued by the Greeks is 35 euros with the possibility of staying up to 90 days. This amount does not include Visa fees, which is about 1500 rubles. This amount: 35 euros and 1,500 rubles will cost you if you apply for a visa yourself through a visa center with personal submission of documents. If you wish to obtain a Greek visa through intermediaries (travel agency), then the cost may increase.

In general, getting a Greek tourist visa on your own is not difficult at all. The number of failures is minimal. Simply, when filling out the form, you need to honestly fill out all the fields, and also provide only your real data. By the way, if you already have one (not necessarily a tourist one and not necessarily a Greek one), then with it you can safely go on vacation bypassing the visa center. In this case, you can save a little.

Cost of living in Greece

When all the formalities with the visa and air ticket have been completed, you can book your accommodation. This is very easy to do, and the cost will depend solely on your wishes for the level of comfort. Booking the accommodation itself is very easy. For example, you can go to the popular booking system Booking. We select the appropriate city, arrival and departure dates and select the best option. As a rule, during the “hot” season prices start from 30 euros per night, but if you are lucky, you can find more a budget option. If you want to find comfortable accommodation without additional frills, then focus on the price tag of 50 euros per person per night. But again, it all depends on the location, area, additional services and other nuances. Many owners of apartments, guest houses and hostels often offer a cancellation service. If you are traveling for a few days and are 100 percent sure that nothing will interfere with your trip, then it is better to choose the non-cancellation option. On the one hand, canceling a reservation looks attractive, but if you do not use this service, then the same room in a hotel or other accommodation option may become cheaper by 10-15 euros.

Cost of food in Greece

Prices for food (regardless of whether you eat in a restaurant, cafe or buy in a supermarket) depend on the region. In Athens and popular resorts, prices will always be higher than in less popular tourist regions. However, prices will still be lower than in Russia. This applies to vegetables and fruits, as well as meat and seafood. By the way, as for food, in Greece you don’t have to worry about it. All food is always fresh and highest quality. When buying some fruit in a small private store, it may even be that they were picked from the garden just a couple of hours ago.

As for specific prices, a hearty lunch or dinner, which will include a salad, a main course, a snack and a soft drink, will cost from 20 to 30 euros for two.

Cost of excursions in Greece

If you are traveling in a large group and decide to hire a guide, then his services will cost about 25 euros per person per day of excursion. When ordering individual excursion, then the cost will be about 100 euros per day. Simply put, how much to spend on guides and excursions is up to you.

If you decide to experience art without the participation of guides, then you will only need to pay for admission to museums and cultural monuments. On average, the cost of entry is 5-10 euros. There are many places where you can purchase complex tickets to visit museums. If you plan to visit a lot of museums, then this ticket will save you money.

Cost of car rental in Greece

During your holiday in Greece, of course you can use the services public transport, but not always, this turns out to be a good choice. That is why we recommend renting a car and traveling around the country without any restrictions.

The cost of renting a small sedan ranges from 30 to 50 euros per day and depends on the following factors:

Rental period. The longer the rental period, the lower the daily cost;
With or without a franchise. If the deductible is zero, the cost will be more expensive;
Car drop-off location. If you return the car at the same place where you rented it, you won’t have to overpay, sometimes quite a lot of money.

If you rent a car, you should also take into account that you will have to refuel it. We recommend renting a diesel car, since the cost of diesel in Greece is lower and diesel fuel is consumed more slowly. We also note that the cost of fuel in cities is slightly lower than along deserted highways.

Conclusions: taking into account the number of people and days of stay, calculate what is more profitable for you: buy a ticket from a travel company and stay within the same zone throughout your entire vacation, or travel independently around this beautiful country without any restrictions.

The first trip abroad is always the most memorable. Therefore, you need to choose your place of stay very carefully. The easiest way is to contact a travel agency. There are real professionals working here who will quickly tell you all the pros and cons of holidaying at the most popular resorts, after which it will be much easier for you to draw a conclusion.

If you want to enjoy warm sea and but the budget is very limited, then pay attention to Greece. Ancient Hellas, the cradle of culture, will reveal its secrets to you. Today we are considering where to go in Greece for the first time.

Budget holiday

The economic and political situation is changing every day. But today the protracted crisis and difficult political situation play into the hands of tourists. Greece has become an excellent alternative in the budget holiday segment. And you definitely won’t be bored here.

You can get acquainted with ancient culture and mythology, enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Aegean Sea, soak up the Greek sun on snow-white beaches. But this is only half of the opportunities you get when traveling to Greece. Where to go for the first time depends on what your priorities are. Today we are looking at popular resort areas and hotels, their features and advantages.

How to get there

Popular resorts in Greece await their guests, offering great holiday at reasonable prices. When choosing where to go, you first need to plan your flight. The easiest way is to travel to one of major cities, for example, to Athens. Already from here domestic flight can be reached directly on Time in Greece and coincides with Moscow.

They are generously scattered across three seas and encircle the mainland territory of the country. It is believed that the most beautiful and interesting of them are located in the center of the Aegean Sea.

Big cities

A popular tourism destination today. The object is not resort area or a specific hotel, but a capital city with its lights and shopping. Young people especially often make this choice. When talking about where to go to Greece for the first time, many advise you to definitely consider this option.

The island of Mykonos is famous among experienced tourists, so we recommend choosing it. There are white buildings here that are famous all over the world. But if the choice fell on Greece due to limited funds, then you need to take into account that compared to all the others, Mykonos is a rather expensive island. The capital is the city of Chora, which will introduce you to the beautiful Greek architecture.

Where to stay and what to do

Those who come to Greece for the first time have a huge choice. You can choose where to go on an excursion yourself or contact guides. Experienced tourists recommend looking at the Church of Panagia Paraportiani. “Little Venice” - this is what they call it for its narrow streets and galleries with colonnades. Entire areas with 18th-century mansions have been preserved here. The snow-white beaches also require attention.

But most of all tourists like the opportunity to attend summer holidays and festivals. They take place here in a big way and are accompanied by rivers of delicious wine and mountains of delicious snacks.

The option of renting a cottage is very popular among tourists. The picturesque settlement of Ano Mera features 35 cozy villas that are suitable for the most discerning traveler. Cost per day for two - from 7,000 rubles. If you want to hang out and go on excursions, enjoy a beach holiday and are not strapped for money, then this is the best choice.

Best time to travel

The beach season lasts here from May to October. However, it will be better if you take a trip at the beginning of autumn. When choosing where to go, pay attention to magical island Crete. Sung in legends and tales, it is very popular among tourists, but in high season the tour may be too expensive.

Most large island attracts with a huge number of attractions. History buffs simply must visit the Palace of Knossos and the huge Archaeological Museum. The mountain monastery of Arkadi is another magnificent ancient monument that was built back in the 5th century.

And when you get tired of looking at temples and castles, welcome to the beach. The Pirate Bay of Balos is famous for the fact that here you can see the many shades of blue that form three seas when they merge. The Bounty commercial was filmed on the palm beach of Vai; the emerald sea and date grove are a perfect pairing.

But Elafonisi surprises with pink sand. And don’t be confused by the fact that when considering where to go in Greece in September, we are talking about a beach holiday. Until about the twenties, the weather here is summer, and only closer to October the daytime air temperature begins to gradually decrease.

Paros - budget option

This is one of the most popular places recreation for young people. If you're traveling to Greece on your own and want to save a little money, Paros is a great choice. Fantastic beauty of nature and developed infrastructure, pristine beaches, breathtaking landscapes and gushing waters night life- all this awaits you on the island.

Here you don’t even have to choose what to watch. Look around - and that will be enough. Tourists love the Byzantine footpaths that connect traditional Greek villages. Unusual in our understanding, they are quite ordinary for those places.

Summer festivals take over this island too. For example, in August, local wineries offer free tastings of sweet wines. Traditionally, this event takes place near the church. There are horse rentals nearby. Exploring the island on horseback is very comfortable and pleasant. Local villages themselves are the object of tourist attention. But most often visited is Naoussa, where the ruins of a Venetian fortress are preserved. No less interesting is the village of Lefkes, which is located in the very high point islands, as well as Marpissa, which has existed since the 15th century.

Best hotel

Daisy Hotel Apartments is located just 50 meters from sandy beach. Nearby there are numerous shops and taverns, cafe bars and supermarkets. It features a pool and self-catering apartments with a refrigerator, coffee maker and hotplates. Most rooms have huge balconies overlooking the sea. The cost of living is from 1,700 rubles per day per person. Tourists highly appreciate the quality of service at the hotel, the work of the restaurant, and also emphasize the ideal cleanliness.

Santorini

This legendary island, a real mystery for modern humanity. Once upon a time he was active volcano, which threw ashes into the waters of the Aegean Sea. The powerful eruption destroyed not only ancient civilization- the fire giant himself died. All that remained of it were parts of the crater. The standard excursion package includes a visit to this island, but very little time is allocated. To feel its atmosphere, you need to live here at least one day. Beaches with black, fiery red and white sand, a volcano crater where hot springs still flow, snow-white houses and winding staircase streets - all this is unusual and fabulously beautiful.

Antonia Hotel Santorini

According to tourists, this is an excellent hotel, conveniently located, with clean rooms and plenty of shops nearby. It is located just two minutes from the bus station, and the popular attractions of Fira town are within walking distance. All spacious apartments are beautifully equipped and furnished. Guests can spend the evening in the restaurant or visit the bar for refreshing drinks.

The most Italian island

This is how many people perceive Corfu. The capital is very reminiscent of Venice, only without the famous canals. And here is a web of streets, small areas with carved wells, galleries and fortresses - it all seems truly Venetian. Of special color are the towering fortresses, Old and New, from where the entire island is visible, as if in the palm of your hand.

Corfu is called the emerald island and this nickname is very appropriate. It is literally surrounded by olive groves, orange orchards and vineyards. Cozy bays make it possible to appreciate all possible colors of the sea, from turquoise to sapphire. Experienced tourists recommend everyone to visit the island of Corfu in Greece. Tours here can be very short and limited in time, so it is better to take an independent trip.

The coast near Paleokastritsa is indented with bays interspersed with steep banks. Thanks to this, tourists can relax on tiny beaches that are separated by rocky fjords. And at Cape Drastis appears before you amazing creation seas - a chain of white stone islands.

Pension Anna

"Anna" is one of the most affordable and comfortable boarding houses. It offers cozy self-catering apartments with bay views. All have modern amenities and a equipped kitchen. The restaurant serves traditional dishes Greek cuisine. This is an ideal choice for those who want to relax surrounded by magnificent mountains and sea. The cost of accommodation starts from 1300 rubles per day. Time flies by in Greece, regardless of the type of holiday you choose.

Kefalonia

We continue to consider the most beautiful islands Greece. Kefalonia is one of the most interesting corners. It attracts tourists expensive hotels and night parties, but by its silence and originality. This is where its special charm lies. The island steadfastly resists the influx of large numbers of tourists, which is why everything here is so real and sincere.

It makes sense to plan a visit to the three main attractions of Kefalonia on the first day:

The Drogarati cave, which is considered one of the most beautiful in Greece, thanks to its huge hall, which is decorated with stalactites.
Lake Melissan. It opened after the cave ceiling collapsed.
Snow-white Myrtos beach.

Rhodes Island

Considering popular resorts Greece, we almost forgot about this paradise. The airport is called “Diagoras” and is located in the capital of the same name. The main attraction here is not even the beaches, which Rhodes is rich in. The capital itself attracts the attention of tourists because of its color. This is typical eastern city, with a labyrinth of streets and cozy houses with balconies with many flowers. Inquisitive tourists should definitely visit the colorful Palace of the Grand Masters. Don’t forget about the port of Mandraki, one of the seven wonders of the world awaits you here.

Butterfly Valley

This is another option if you are wondering where to go. Holidays in Greece can be very busy, especially if you don't like to sit in one place. Among the natural beauties, the romantic Valley of the Butterflies stands out. A real carpet of flowers, between which weightless and beautiful creatures fly. All this creates a motley and bright picture, as if in a kaleidoscope. What a great way to spend a romantic evening here!

Instead of a conclusion

There is so much in Greece that you can come here a second or third time, but still be amazed by the beauty of nature and unique monuments architecture. It is equally impossible to describe all the wonderful hotels in Greece. A review today was made of only a few of them, which deservedly enjoy attention among tourists.

The idea of traveling independently arises among tourists for various reasons: some are tired of standard, similar tours, some want to exclude communication with representatives of travel agencies and guides, and some simply want to save money. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing it yourself? organized holiday in Greece? Let's try to figure it out.

Are there any savings?

When it comes to independent trip to Greece, most often we hear comments “Oh, this is very cool! You'll save a lot of money!" But in reality this is not entirely true. Whether you save money or not depends on the type of trip you're on.

If the main goal is a beach holiday in good hotel with food, animators and a lot of other entertainment - then it is more profitable to buy a tour from an operator. They most often buy places in such hotels in blocks, for which they receive a significant discount.

The second option is a vacation with local flavor. In Greece there are a lot of cozy hotels with rooms at affordable prices. Here you get a chance to get closer to local life without unnecessary tourist props, but you will be deprived of the benefits that hotel complexes promise: free swimming pools, discos, cocktails, etc.

And the third vacation option is traveling around the country, and this always costs money. In this case, you are unlikely to be able to save money so much that you end up paying less than the cheapest package tour.

My own director

So, what do we get by vacationing in Greece without a tour operator?

Responsibility for everything lies solely with you. What does this mean? Many tourists tend to blame the tour operator for all errors associated with their vacation, ultimately blaming him for the “ruined vacation.” Flight delay? It's TO's fault! Is the air conditioner in the room broken? It's TO's fault! It's raining at the resort - it's his tricks again! But when you organize the trip yourself, perhaps all the minor shortcomings will not look so terrible.
Free excursion program. You decide what and when to watch, and hotel guides They do not impose their services on you at inflated prices. You can find a good Russian-speaking guide on the Internet, and if it’s really “cheap and cheerful” - go sightseeing only with a guidebook!
Are you tired of Crete? Why not live for a couple of days in the famous Santorini? Has the weather turned bad in the Cyclades? Then let's go to the Peloponnese! By the way, we haven’t seen Olympia yet! Absolute freedom of movement - this is how a real vacation should be, and this is what it is if it is organized according to your scenario!

But, as you know, in every barrel of honey there is a fly in the ointment. Let us list the main pitfalls in the field of independent tourism.

The main disadvantage of this type of vacation is lack of time. Not every working person has the luxury of spending precious hours on paperwork, bookings, confirmations, transfers, etc. Busy people find it easier to give away money for ready-made tour and calmly wait for the day of departure.
Anxiety, self-doubt. Many people, especially older people, will feel much more comfortable under the wing of a travel agency than if left to their own devices. Even if the thought of independent organization causes you to panic, it’s better not to torment yourself and feel free to go for a ready-made tour.
The language barrier. Let’s say you are not a polyglot, and you don’t know any language other than Russian. Constantly walking with an English dictionary in your hands makes you feel sad, and it’s impossible to learn Greek in a short time - then the journey will not be as easy for you as you would like.

photo: travelswithpersephone.blogspot.com

And one moment…

In April, news sites and travel portals spread the news that the Greeks were going to issue Schengen visas to Russian citizens for a period of 5 years. To do this, you must have at least one Schengen visa in your passport, preferably multiple entries. In practice, this is not entirely true: you should not flatter yourself with hopes of a coveted 5-year multiple visa, especially if you are not an experienced traveler.

However, almost everyone can now get an annual Schengen visa. In 2014, the Greeks intend to attract at least 1.5 million Russians to the country's resorts, which means, among other things, the loyal attitude of the consulates.

Do not rush to make an advance payment for the hotel, since there are no guarantees that you will like the chosen room and the surrounding area in general. In this case, you will either have to lose the money that the hotel freezes on the card, or spend your entire vacation relaxing somewhere you don’t like.

On booking.com you can select options for hotels, hotels and apartments without prepayment or with free cancellation: such documents are also accepted at consulates.

Study well customs regulations. Organized groups of tourists always warn what and in what quantity they can buy, so that later there are no problems at the border. If you are vacationing on your own, there is a temptation to buy a lot of everything - and it is not a fact that all the souvenirs can be taken out of the country and transported to Russian territory.
The Internet is your main assistant when traveling around Greece. Therefore, it is worth deciding in advance the question of which operator’s card you will buy. Compare prices and calculate what will be more profitable for you.

Greece is one of the best places in order to try your hand at organizing a holiday. Tourists here do not feel the consequences of the protracted economic crisis: food prices in Greece are lower than ours, the quality of life is an order of magnitude higher. There is practically no question of security here, so tourists can easily travel around the country without worrying about the crime level. And in general, Greece with its numerous islands looks like a specially created scenery for bright vacation photos - an ideal place for travel!

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