The Greek islands have traditionally been very popular with the British and thanks to their early and efficient response to the threat of coronavirus they haven’t really been affected by the pandemic. As a consequence they are now looking forward to welcoming tourists this summer.
The Tourism Minister, Mr Theocharis, is quoted as saying,”We will first see domestic tourism, then tourists from neighbouring countries, and then middle-distance countries and long-distance ones. Travelling by road will be safer initially than flying and we’ll see that kind of tourists earlier.” He added “The basic principles behind the new rules are that social distancing will be required, and that more frequent and different kinds of cleaning procedures are to be followed.” Their motto this summer is “Greece is coronavirus safe”.
Once our airlines start operating again I would highly recommend booking a holiday in Greece. It is an amazing country with many beautiful islands and places to visit. Here is a brief snapshot of a few of my favourite places that are not so well known.
Haldiki
This beautiful peninsula in northern mainland Greece is southeast of Thessalaniki and is one of the locals favourite places to holiday.  The peninsula looks like a hand with three fingers reaching out in the beautiful Aegean Sea. The scenery is breathtaking with endless sandy beaches (over 500), rugged mountains, waterfalls, lakes and forests. There are lots of pretty villages, castles, monasteries and ancient sites to visit as well as some more modern resorts like Sani that offer a great choice of bars, tavernas, restaurants and shops.
Meganisi
Despite it’s name, “the big island”, Meganisi is actually one of the smallest islands in Greece. It is a real gem – very green, with beautiful turquoise bays fringed by pebbled beaches. With a population of around a thousand there is very little traffic which makes it a wonderful place to discover on foot. Otherwise you can take one of the many excursion boats that leave from Nidri to explore the island by sea and visit caves and pretty secluded bays. This island is a great choice if you are looking for an unspoilt, beautiful place to totally unwind and relax.
Ithaka
This island is famous worldwide as the home of Ulysses and is every bit as epic, rugged and romantic as Homer suggests.  Apart from its mythical essence the island is very beautiful with lush greenery that looks amazing set against the crystal clear, emerald sea. It has many beautiful beaches, coves and lots of hiking trails. Although well known, being small means it never gets overcrowded and you can really immerse yourself in the island’s laid back way of life. Ithaka is situated in the Ionian Sea, northeast of Kefalonia and west of the mainland. It is quite an adventure getting to the island but is certainly well worth the effort.
Kefalonia
The largest island in the Ionian Sea, Kefalonia came to our attention thanks to Louis de Berniere’s novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Despite being so well known it is unspoiled by mass tourism and has pretty pastel coloured villages and gorgeous, clear turquoise sea. Even during the busiest months you can still find deserted, sandy beaches especially in the north of the island. There is lots to do and experience both on land and on the water. It is a great place to snorkel and dive, or you can explore the coastline by kayak or boat. Visit the extraordinary Melissani cave and it’s underground lake, or head inland to do a bit of wine tasting and walk around the ancient acropolis of Sami. This fabulous island destination is easy to access with airlines like Easy Jet and Ryan who  offer direct flights.
I do hope this has inspired you to consider booking a holiday in Greece. I have a wonderful and varied selection of accommodation available which I would love to share with you, so please get in touch either via the live chat below, email [email protected], or you can ring me on 0203 441 6848.
