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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Everyone has chosen Greece this year.

108 replies

Awittyfool · 15/08/2023 17:55

I realise it’s a perennially popular holiday spot but literally everyone seems to have to Greece this year. This includes my lots of friends who normally do France or Europe, work mates ( from both jobs ) and just people who I talk to in shops and dog walks.

One year everyone seemed to do France and after that it’s was all Croatia.
Just me or goes Greece seem to be having a moment?
.

OP posts:
Angstyaug · 15/08/2023 21:59

*I’m looking at a week in Skiathos, self catering for 5 people for £3,600 mid-July. Does this sound reasonable? I’m clueless!
*
^^ We're paying this for a villa though it does have a pool and 10 mins walk to beach.

Can someone explain what happens with the poo bin in s/c properties please? I mean do you empty it daily after everyone's done and dusted? Doesn't it smell in the heat? Attract flies?

TinkerbellefromYorkshire · 15/08/2023 22:03

Just read Greece and Turkey are the most popular holiday destinations for the UK this year due to the strong exchange rate and getting more for your money.
With the Canary Islands coming third.. this year I've been to the Canary Islands 3 times.. Cyprus once and Corfu once.. looking to go to Turkey in September ( first time) so reviewing quiet destinations and villas.

jocktamsonsbairn · 15/08/2023 22:05

Toilet paper situation is still very much there but bins get cleaned daily in every place we've ever stayed in. We tend to stay in small local self catering places which are cheap as chips but let you get to know the locals. I once gave in to a 5 star AI in Greece and had to escape every day to a wee taverna for a drink then to talk to the Greek family who ran the water sports on the beach as the hotel was so impersonal we could have been anywhere.

Places like Santorini, Mykonos and sadly Skiathos are becoming more polished, more Instagram and less Greek - as others have said the real Greece is rough and ready with the friendliest people ever! Anything can get sorted for you and people will go do out of their way to make sure you have a great time. Don't look too closely at the health and safety at times - often think it's like Britain used to be back in the 1979s when people were important not money.

Savemesos · 15/08/2023 22:10

@Angstyaug oooh, could you pm me the details please?

patterpittercake · 15/08/2023 22:15

For me it's because:

  • we've been to Frances loads recently
  • we love Italy but it's really expensive at the moment
  • I love Spain, but I don't trust my judgement with booking Spanish holidays. I've been to some horrible places and absolute gems in Spain.
  • Croatia is great buuutttt.....
  • Ooohhh, what about Greece? We haven't been there for years, I love Greek food and it's reasonably priced
Quisquam · 15/08/2023 22:20

We pay about £1,500 for two for two weeks in a 4 star hotel bed and breakfast on a Greek island in May or September. We pay about £3 for our lunch from the village bakery; and £30 for dinner for two in a taverna, unless we push the boat out! We know it’s the fresh catch that day; and most of the rest of the food was grown within 500 m! There’s no crime!

MirandaWest · 15/08/2023 22:21

I know of no one going to Greece this year 😃

rc22 · 15/08/2023 22:27

Comedycook · 15/08/2023 21:09

Eastern side of the island...cala millor

Show quote history

DH and I have just been to the Eastern side of Mallorca...Sa Coma. Like @Comedycook we found the majority of holiday makers were German but we certainly felt very welcome and didn't feel as though anyone was trying to discourage British tourists.
I wanted to go to Crete but DH really dislikes flying so prefers shorter flight to the Balearics! We had a lovely time in a very nice, reasonably priced 5 star hotel!!

Angstyaug · 15/08/2023 22:29

Savemesos how do I pm you?

CardamomGarden · 15/08/2023 22:49

I was saying this earlier this year! I went to the Cyclades in spring and I’ve lost count of the friends and colleagues who have been there or elsewhere in Greece.

Italy v Greece? My DP is Italian and, while nowhere tops Italy for him and it’s quite hard to get him to go anywhere else in the Med, he’s a convert after visiting Athens.

Personally, I think they’re quite different. I haven’t been to any beach in Greece that compares with any number of amazing beaches I’ve been to in Italy, I find Italian food lighter and more varied and I just don’t think you can beat Italy for historic towns and cities. I love Greece for the many, many islands that mean there are always new places to explore, the hospitality and the language (despite speaking Italian I prefer Greek), and the ancient civilisations of Greece are more interesting to me than Rome.

thaisweetchill · 15/08/2023 22:55

I've noticed more people going but I've been going to Greece for years, started as a child and now me & DP love going. Great food and friendly people.

Did look at costa del sol to weigh up options for this year and was double the cost. No brainer for us!

TiredMum30 · 15/08/2023 22:58

We've been looking at holidays this year and we noticed that greece was fairly cheap compared to other places, we almost booked due to how cheap it was before the wildfires started in july, we booked else where eventually

HalloumiLuvver · 16/08/2023 00:14

coxesorangepippin · 15/08/2023 19:08

Dbro paid £5.5 k.for ten nights in Turkey... Doesn't seem cheap??

Jeez sounds like he was stung. My friends got her 2 weeks for under 3k and it looked fantastic.

Leoislazy · 16/08/2023 07:42

So where would people suggest that has good beach & water access, tavernas, a bit of walking etc but I wouldn’t not need a car? I don’t know why but I’ve never been to Greece. With relaxed teens (that actually get along well as a unit and don’t need nightlife for entertainment )…

TheChosenTwo · 16/08/2023 07:47

We haven’t done Greece/islands together as a family, I last went as a teenager over 20 years ago and before that on a school trip.
don’t know why, it was lovely.
For Europe we tend to stick to Spain/Portugal/Italy. Maybe it’s because of the flight times, not that Greece is especially far but the others are definitely closer… Never been to Turkey.

Leoislazy · 16/08/2023 07:48

*would not need a hire car 🤦🏻‍♀️

SaturdayGiraffe · 16/08/2023 07:51

Yes, several colleagues in Greece right now. Seems to fit the bill of what people were after this season.

Window82 · 16/08/2023 07:55

We did France (again) it’s so so expensive. Everyone I know who has been to Greece went to Sani; out of budget.

I’d love to know where to go in Greece. I’ve been to Crete many years ago but don’t really remember it.

Meredusoleil · 16/08/2023 08:47

Window82 · 16/08/2023 07:55

We did France (again) it’s so so expensive. Everyone I know who has been to Greece went to Sani; out of budget.

I’d love to know where to go in Greece. I’ve been to Crete many years ago but don’t really remember it.

Sani? Is that the name of an island, or short for Santorini?

Usernamen · 16/08/2023 09:26

Yes, Greece is definitely having a moment.

We’re off to Mykonos in 3 weeks. I first went to Greece 2 years ago (so a latecomer!) and I now have a long list of Greek islands I want to visit. 😅

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/08/2023 09:28

Greece is fabulous!!!!! Less stuck up than France, chic’er than Spain, safer than Turkey- love it!

Swishswish26 · 16/08/2023 09:43

You’re absolutely right, the majority of my friends have been to the Greek Islands this summer. Having looked on Jet2.com though it is noticeably cheaper to holiday in Greece than Spain/France especially for all inclusive resorts. With lovely weather, food, friendly locals who are so appreciative of tourism- I can definitely understand the appeal.

mrsnjw · 16/08/2023 15:36

@Savemesos I am just about to leave skiathos what a beautiful island . You will not be disappointed. A visit to skopelos is a must!

Savemesos · 16/08/2023 20:37

@mrsnjw that’s good to hear, thank you! whereabouts did you stay?

JimmyGrimble · 17/08/2023 00:06

We are off to northern Corfu next week. Small hotel overlooking the harbour, bed and breakfast, lest than £1500 for both of us. We go to Kassiopi, don’t have a car and take a couple of boat trips, evening trip to Corfu town etc. it’s heavenly. There are a couple of beaches, they’re stony but the water is clear and the swimming is lovely.