Would you fly to Kos this week?

[Summer2k23]

All I keep seeing on the news is these terrible fires in Rhodes, and now on the island of Corfu.

I am due to go on holiday this week to Kos. At the moment the government are not advising against travel to Greece - but, I am a little nervous about going now…

Why?? They are different countries, over 2000km apart.

Exactly this!
We frequently go to the Greek islands and there are fires every year.

Korfu has fires too and because everything is like a tinderbox the Greek police have found evidence of arson. Emergency services have gone from all islands to help on Rhodes and now Corfu. I'd reschedule until later in the year.

Fires in Corfu now.

Greece and its islands have wildfires every single year. I'd only think twice if they were reporting bad fires on the island I was going to.

My family and I are currently in Kos. The only thing I would advise is to bring a lot of suncream, it is very hot.

Is there any advice from anyone in travelling to Kos. I’m worried about travelling with the children but also will not get a refund if we cancel

@Pombear23 Kos is nowhere near Rhodes.

Hiya. I know this but I’m concerned about fires starting in Kos.
pigeonbilly did you get to Corfu?

@Pombear23 just setting off for the airport. It's a different landscape in Kos and the winds and temps are due to ease in next 2 to 3 days. I understand your concern but if I was you I would go. Do what's right for you 🌸

This with bells on

Thanks. We don’t want to not go but obv worry about the children and if a fire started.
hopefully it will all calm down soon for us and them!
pigeonbelly I hope you have a lovely safe holiday. Please let us know how you get on

Previous advice of not watching British media is good! They are showing the very worst bits of a small part of the island terrible for those affected but everyone else needs the tourists.

I returned from Rhodes on Thursday and it was fine then, I'm in contact with friends there and they aren't worried or affected at all except a couple of power outages.

Ryanair were still flying people into Rhodes yesterday lunchtime.

Look at a map of the Greek Islands and see how far apart they are etc

We are off to another greek island in a couple of days with children n and I'm not the slightest bit worried but you have to make the right decision for you.

I'm on a Greek island right now, and it's business as usual. Locals and Greek tourists are partying here, and two nights ago, there was even a firework display (much to my surprise). I'd say continue as normal.

im travelling to kos this weekend and I’m in the same minds as you, had a lot of anxiety about it, but I’ve not looked at the uk news because they seem to dramatise it to the extreme. The med is prone to wildfires every year obv that doesn’t ease the anxiety but the people there know what to do to make it stop and ensure people are safe. Also just thanks rato people replying back to this lady’s post because I needed that reassurance also.

I live in Kos and yes switch off the British media immediately, the language and reporting i am seeing is outrageous. We often have fire warnings every single summer. Currently we have closed our forest areas as a precaution and have drone patrols monitoring for any signs. The response teams are on standby in case they are needed. To add some perspective - the fires in Rhodes although terrible affect around 10% of the island with most areas who aren't experiencing anything at all thankfully. No-one can predict if and when something will happen but fires aren't started by just the warm weather (which we have every year though a week of higher temps due to El Niño this year), man made 99% of the time. Real updates are on kosnews24.gr and click on your browser translate to English

Natmacrsa I will have a look at the news feed thanks.
we are due to stay in lambi area. So say there was a fire started what do me and my family do? Where would we go for safety etc?
I also don’t know the area too well as it’s our first time so don’t know if it’s forestry or built up.
I really appreciate all of your advice too.

@Pombear23 we have arrived and it's wonderful here. There are a few fires in the far North but as I said when I worked here 20years ago there were always a few fires during the high summer season. The British press have whipped people into a frenzy as per usual.
Going to have a break from mumsnet for the next 14days while here. I really hope you go away and you will be enjoying some 🕶👙🍹🍹by the pool very soon.
Don't forget your sunscreen. 😎

Yes ofcourse. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are always on alert for fires every summer. This one it appears was caused by arson locals know you don't BBQ or have naked flames in the country area for that reason.

It's as safe to travel now as it has been in any summer

What they don’t need is everyone cancelling their holidays through misguided panic about fires on other islands 100s of miles away and ruining their economy. These islands rely on tourism, they need holiday makers to still go or their businesses will fold. That’s really the last thing they need at a time like this.

dd and her boyfriend are still planning to go to Kos in a couple of weeks time.

The media reporting in this country has, as usual, been at hysterical levels.

We go to Greece every year (one of the islands in the NE Aegean). There is always a threat of wildfires in at this time of year, coupled with the strong winds - the Meltemi - it makes for a concerning time if the temperatures are particularly high. However, the authorities know this, and they are on alert for any developments and will act accordingly. We've often been by the pool and seen the planes going over which drop water onto affected areas so we know there is something going on somewhere.

I really wouldn't worry if I were you. There has been no mention of Kos on the news and, as @Natmacrsa says, the authorities are monitoring the situation. Have a great holiday!

I live in Greece, it's business as usual except for the very small areas on those specific islands.
As already said, these fires were started by arsonists in the first place. It's not like it was spontaneous combustion. Fire warnings are in place every summer purely because if its dry, hot and windy then it's perfect conditions for a fire to propagate if there were something or someone to initiate one.

Now it's Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. Some travel companies are no longer flying to these regions. Many travel firms now offer alternative destinations or full refunds. Check with your operator before flying.

They are cancelling holidays to the affected areas of Rhodes but as far as I can see Corfu is still business as usual apart from a small area in the mountains in the north east which has been evacuated. No advice against travel so far there.

Yes! Kos is not Rhodes you know.....