Greece: The best islands for…

May 17, 2010, 12:00

Greece’s economic meltdown may be dominating the news headlines, but the national debt isn’t making the sky any less blue, the sea any less warm or the sun any less shiny.

Once the current hubbub dies down, all the factors that have made Greece such a popular tourist destination will remain. It is the Greek people, not tourists, who will be hit by cuts to pensions and public services.

As the Greeks come face to face with the planned stringent austerity measures, they’ll be even more reliant on spending from overseas, so tourists will be even more welcome than usual. And the destabilising effect on the euro, while spelling worry for the financial markets, may make tourists’ pounds go further.

Sunvil Real Greece director Dudley der Parthog says: “One positive outcome, for British visitors at least, is that this crisis has had the effect of weakening the euro, so UK guests should find things a bit cheaper on the ground this year.”

Travel Weekly asked specialist operators to recommend options for a range of clients. Combine this expert knowledge with some sensible reassurances – Sunvil managing director Noel Josephides has emphasised that consumers are looking for security from agents and operators – and your clients will be booking Greece again in no time.

For first-timers

First-time visitors looking for a quintessentially Greek experience can’t go far wrong with one of the larger islands to give them plenty of diversity. Planet Holidays managing director Mathilde Roberts suggests Rhodes for its dependable weather and wide range of accommodation.

Corfu gets the nod from Olympic Holidays for its lush vegetation, mountains, golden beaches, fishing villages and lively resorts. Glyfada, in particular, is famous for its fine beach, and the operator offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Louis Grand Hotel from £519.

For repeat visitors

Operators tend towards smaller, more out-of-the-way islands for repeat visitors who may well be looking to find somewhere authentically Greek. Manos suggests Symi, via Rhodes, or Skopelos or Alonissos via Skiathos.

It offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Dionyssos Hotel in Skopelos Town from £465 in September, departing Gatwick.

Sunvil recommends exploring the mainland on one of its Hidden Greece fly-drive itineraries – one for the more independent-minded tourist.

For couples

You can’t get more romantic than Santorini (see this week’s Santorini feature for more on the island). Manos, Planet and Olympic all tip it as the top spot for couples.

The capital, Fira, stands on a cliff edge and is a maze of winding streets. Nearby Oia is picture-perfect, with whitewashed buildings overlooking the spectacular caldera.

On the other side of the island there are more affordable properties on Perissia’s black-sand beaches. Depending on the couple’s focus and budget they can stay in one area and visit the other.

Planet Holidays offers the couples-only, 17-room, five-star Sun Rocks hotel overlooking the caldera from £1,993.50 for seven nights in September, departing Gatwick.

As an alternative, Thomson suggests cosmopolitan Mykonos, popular with celebrities and packed to the brim with fantastic boutique hotels – a great choice for young professionals.

For families

A safe sandy beach has to be number one on most families’ wish lists, and Sunvil recommends the Peloponnesian resort of Tolon and Aghois Gordis on Corfu. Both resorts also have friendly beach cafes and tavernas close to hand, so everything is in easy reach.

Olympic suggests Kos for its water parks and choice of child-friendly hotels, which are often less busy than similar hotels on larger islands.

First Choice is opening a flagship resort on Rhodes this month – a five-star, all-inclusive Holiday Village with a Kids’ Academy, ASA Swim Academy, Razzmatazz Stage Academy and Reebok Football Academy – plus activities including archery, raft-building and kayaking. Seven nights’ all-inclusive starts from £1,070 for adults, £284 for a first child and £424 for a second child, sharing a double family room and flying from Gatwick on August 28.

For luxury

Planet Holidays suggests Mykonos, known as the St Tropez of the Aegean, where whitewashed houses and windmills cluster around picturesque harbours. The operator suggests the five star Grecotel Mykonos Blu and the boutique Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge.

Sunvil tips the new 64-room Sivota Diamond Spa Hotel in the small town of the same name, on the north-western coast of the mainland, opposite the southern tip of Corfu. This contemporary-style five-star is tucked out of the way, for those that like their luxury of the peace and quiet variety. Seven-nights’ bed and breakfast starts from £656 with flights from Gatwick.

For louder, larger-scale luxury, Thomson’s first Sensatori Resort in Crete has swim-up suites and separate family and adult dedicated areas.

For affordability

Corfu and Zante top the value list for most operators. Both islands offer budget hotels, plus a wide selection of self-catering options. Clients can pick up a no-frills week in an apartment from about £250 each, even in the height of summer.

Thomson offers seven nights’ self-catering at the two-star Theodosia Studios in Sidari, Corfu, from £268 per person twin-share, departing June 28 from Gatwick.

Olympic offers seven nights’ self-catering at the Lofos Studios in Alykes on Zante from £255.

For older visitors

Peace and quiet is often the name of the game for older clients, so suggest Paxos, says Olympic Holidays, where it offers a number of villas with free car hire so they can do a bit of exploring. Properties start from £345. Thomson tips beautiful Kefalonia, with its stunning scenery and laid-back feel.

For nightlife

Select your nightlife spot depending on your client. Cosmos suggests Laganas on Zante for the young market wanting to party, and offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Alkyonis from £259 with flights from Gatwick.

Olympic recommends Cretan towns of Malia, Hersonissos and Aghia Marina. Planet recommends Rhodes for a broad choice of nightlife, and Mykonos for a more sophisticated set.

For culture

For a city break, few are more cultural than Athens – especially, as Planet Holidays’ Mathilde Roberts points out, now the new Acropolis Museum is open.

She recommends the St George Lycabettus boutique hotel in Kolonaki, Athen’s answer to Knightsbridge, which has a rooftop terrace and freshwater pool. The operator offers four nights’ bed and breakfast for the price of three in November, from £530, including flights and transfers.

Of the islands, both Cosmos and Manos recommend Rhodes. Rhodes town itself is a Unesco World Heritage Site, where visitors can walk around inside the fortified walls and see the Street of Knights and the Grand Master’s Palace.

Lindos has a 3rd-century Acropolis overlooking its old town, and visitors can hop over to the tiny island of Symi just off the coast to see the steep streets of pretty Chorio and the 18th-century monastery at Panormitis.