sage Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Anyone got one booked? Are you worried with the present economic climate? I was hoping to get a cheap late availability self catering but HD has refused to go saying it is taking advantage, my argument is the country needs tourist to help keep people in work and they need people to spend. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 We are looking at going back next year,as we miss it,but are doing Menorca this time Of course they need the tourist business,whether it is cheap availability or not Overseas bookings are way down this year due to our economic problems,so cheaper holidays are due as much to that as anything. The only way Greece can get back on track (or one of the main ways),is through tourists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 My folks kindly take Rosie and I there each year - it's lovely and thoroughly enjoyable. I didn't spot any more closed down businesses/properties than in the UK... go ahead, it's a lovely country and they need your business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 We went earlier this year - had a great time. Its not taking advantage, depending on who you book with you may not be paying a Greek person anyway. If you book direct, we didn't notice things were any cheaper this year than last so there weren't any special cut price bargains as such. The country is in a very severe mire indeed; not going will not help their micro or macro economy one little bit, whereas going and spending some money on the ground will help some individuals, albeit in a small way, with ready cash - and as individual citizens ourselves thats probably the best we can hope to do. I wouldn't be at all worried ,except I'd have to stay steer clear of some bits of Athens; I was working there years ago and was told to stay indoors because they were expecting trouble. I have never seen so many police Later a full scale riot took place outside in one of the posher bits of town. And its happened several times since then, the Athenians are not shy of demonstrating. Last year OH and others found themselves in a rough bit of town; and said it was scary - and they are street-wise blokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I'm off to Crete next month... hoping it's going to be ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Greece is beautiful - I'd go! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 spooky me and kev were talking about this the other day, i was going to post to see if anyone would go considering the climate and such. I am seriously considering it cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 My Mum and dad are there at the moment and everything is fine where they are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I don't think there's any problem outside the big cities, we stayed near Halkidiki and not a murmur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 if we had the money for a hol this year, we'd go like a shot! definitely go and spend the money there, and if you can book direct and so forth (paying for flights/hotels on credit card for your own protection) and spend cash where you are staying, it can only be a good thing. bon voyage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I think you've raised an interesting question - many of the places that we regard as holiday destinations are places where the local people live in quite poor conditions. Is visiting there exploitation or helping them to raise money? There are companies that promote 'responsible tourism' and the aim is to give as much income as possible to local people, rather than to Western tourist agencies, and not to create problems by increasing waste and rubbish, or by taking unfair advantage of cheap prices and exchange rates. I would say go to Greece, but try and book direct as far as possible, and eat and drink in local bars and restaurants, e.g don't drink Coke and eat in MacDonalds. Tourism is very important to Greece - according to Wikipedia it contributes between 16% and 25% of their economy, so they really need you to go there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 Had a long chat with DH last night, he's still not convinced. I think I will have to work on him. We wouldn't be going till mid September so plenty of time. I could understand him if we booked all inclusive but a main part of our holiday is to go to local places to eat and spend the evening sipping wine & watching the world go by. I love shopping in the local markets. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Do you think he is put off by the economic climate/taking advantage argument or is there some other reason he isn't keen on going? If he has another worry then maybe we could help counteract that! Does he know he doesn't stand a chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 I think it is the economical climate thats putting him off. Never had a problem before with holidays. I usually fined somewhere show him and say " Fancy going there" I booked it and do all the shopping packing. He just sits in the car and says "are you ready yet ". He doesn't even know what cloths he has till he looks in the case Last year we had been there a week and he didn't know the name of the resort or hotel. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Greece has so much going for it. Go to an Island maybe,rather than the mainland....Kos,Zakynthos & Kephalonnia are all gorgeous. The food is,IMHO,the best in the world The people,well,the ones we have met,are brilliant. The wine may not be to everyones taste,but Metaxa is great & the beer is always cold You are almost guaranteed good weather, & if as suggested you book direct,you are helping them to make some money too - whats not to love? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Corfu we usually go in October to a lovely quiet part of the island where we go SC and eat every night at local tavernas. I love the place and sadly can't go this year but am already planning to go next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Which part of Corfu do you go to? I went to Sidari many,many years ago,and would love to visit a quieter area one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Have only been to Corfu and only once but would love to go back again and also go to more greek islands. Cinnamon we stayed in a place called Barbati. Barbati is quite a small place and was nice and quiet. The hotel we stayed in was this one and it was fantastic with views to die for We had one of the luxury rooms. http://www.pantokratorhotel.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Going to Corfu on Friday !st July (Sidari) can't wait.......just to feel the sun on my skin will be fab. Not expecting any trouble. Went to somewhere near Halkidiki last year, just gorgeous. Great place, lovely people, best food in the world, ditto weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 We're going to stoupa in the peleponnese for the third time. Book direct and this time flying to Athens and driving there abou 3 hours. First time we went had to persuade the oh as he speaks spanish and preferred to go to Spain, but soon converted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
