Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jul 30

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece sees us covering the types of accommodation there and how / when to book it …

Most Greek hotels are basic and unpretentious and the rooms are usually small. However, most rooms include balconies and air-conditioning and are well cleaned and maintained, even in the simpler hotels. The biggest problem can often be noise from local roads, bars and eateries. While the cities and the more popular islands do offer more upmarket accommodation, the choices are limited and generally are not good value for money.

In addition to hotels, almost every popular Greek destination offers self-catering accommodation, called studios or apartments (the terms are pretty much used interchangeably). Though not listed very often in travel guides, they’re a viable option, especially for budget conscious travelers. They are similar to hotel rooms in almost every aspect, with the only real difference being that they also have basic cooking facilities.

Travelers with bigger budgets can consider renting a villa. As well as being spacious, villas tend to be near – or even on – the beach, offering convenience and good views. With most villas able to comfortably house up to eight people, this is a cost-effective option for groups.

Whichever type of accommodation you opt to stay at, you’ll probably be able to book it online as most, even the smaller ones, have web sites and will take bookings by email, though sometimes fax is a more reliable way to communicate. There are also numerous Greek and international hotel booking services which will make bookings.

Alternatively, you can usually find a place on a walk-in basis without too much trouble on all but the most crowded islands, where rooms can be difficult to find at the peak of the season, and on major holidays. If you do get stuck for a room, try a local travel agency (preferably one endorsed by a reputable guidebook) or alternatively, ask at a cafe whether the owner knows of any rooms for rent; often they do. Otherwise, once you’re in Greece, you can usually find a place without a lot of trouble. But don’t try this in summer on the most popular islands, where rooms can be difficult to find at the peak of the season, and on major holidays. If you find yourself stuck for a room, you can ask at a cafe whether the owner or staff know of any rooms for rent, or seek help from a local travel agency (if possible, one recommended by a major guidebook).

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jul 29

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece covers the cuisine of the country…

Greeks often dine out, and restaurants – referred to by locals as taverna or estiatorio – are widespread. Excellent restaurants can be found in popular tourist regions, especially areas frequented by Greek tourists. Eating in places that the locals prefer is a good way to experience authentic Greek cuisine.

The best restaurants will offer not only authentic traditional Greek cuisine and regional specialties, but also Greece’s latest culinary trends as well. Therefore, it’s easy to sample a rich and extensive range of Greek dishes, traditionally cooked, during your stay.

Greek cooking has similarities with the cuisines of neighboring regions, such as the Balkans, Italy and the Middle East. Common ingredients include lamb, pork, bread and grains, olive oil and olives, vegetables and yogurt. Garlic, onion, oregano, mint, dill and bay leaves are typical flavorings.

In coastal regions and on the islands, fish is a mainstay of the local cuisine, and it is often caught, cooked and served on the same day. Greece also offers a broad variety of cheeses with distinctive local flavors; the great bulk of these are hand-made on small farms.

The Greeks love their coffee, which tends to be strong, full-bodied black and moderately sweetened. It is served in a small cup and the grounds are left in. Walking along the streets, you can’t fail to see many locals sipping coffee in the numerous outdoor cafes.

Wine and beer drinkers also have plenty of choice. Greek wines come in many styles and are made from both indigenous and imported grape varieties. A lot of restaurants also offer good, locally produced house wine. Local beers include Mythos and Alpha. Northern European brews are also popular, with Heineken and Amstel being the widely available of these.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jul 27

In this installment of our guide to holidays in Greece we look at Greece’s climate …

Greece has a typical Mediterranean climate – it usually has long warm, dry summers and short, mild but wet winters. But despite the country’s relatively small size, there are regional variations; Greece’s northern mountains, southern islands and central mainland having slightly different climates.

From April until November, the weather is almost constantly hot, dry and sunny throughout Greece. Rain in this season is infrequent and rarely consists of more than short showers. The best weather is in May-June and September-October. The hottest time of the year is from mid-July to mid-August when temperatures average about 35 degrees and heat-waves with significantly higher temperatures can occur. If you’re in Greece at this time of year, try to stay indoors or in the shade from 11am-4pm when the sun is at its strongest.

The remainder of the year is characterized by a relatively cold, rainy period which generally starts sometime in November and lasts until late March or early April. The majority of rain falls from December to April, where it rains on approximately a third of days each month. In the northern parts of the country, this can be quite persistent and can cause flooding. The upper parts of Greece can also be very cold during the winter and snow is not uncommon.

In contrast, the southern Aegean and parts of the southeastern mainland are the driest parts of the country and have much milder winters than northern Greece, let alone northern Europe. Visitors not put off by cool weather can find the off-season period from November through February to be a rewarding time to visit Greece, particularly the drier districts, such as the southern Aegean and the southeastern mainland. They won’t get beach weather, but they will enjoy lower prices and escape the crowds.