by Margarita Manousou
We choose holidays that offer safety, relaxation and fun.
The Peloponnese, Halkidiki, Crete as well as other smaller islands and tourist destinations are ready to welcome visitors-tourists to their tourist accommodation, offering everyone the new experiences and services they are looking for.
Especially this year, with all the particular problems that the Greek family has faced, both the Peloponnese, for residents of Athens and the large urban centers and Halkidiki for residents of Thessaloniki and other cities of Northern Greece, are particularly smart choices. Easy road access with the family car or for the youth and friends with the long-distance bus services of the KTEL at very affordable prices and many possibilities to choose different destinations. Enchanting beaches, luxury hotels with private pools, traditional guesthouses, family hotels, well-designed rooms in beautiful picturesque and hospitable villages or in small special towns, make up the list of choices and can offer the different kind of holiday that the Greek family is looking for.
At the same time, Crete, the first Greek destination for foreign visitors-tourists, seems to be a particularly interesting destination for the Greek family this year. The boat is a comfortable and economical way to transport the family and the car. Airline tickets, if purchased in time, are often very economical. On the island there is a network of long-distance bus services that can take visitors to all the towns and villages of the island. In Crete there is of course a wide choice of hotels or traditional guesthouses and small accommodations in seaside villages in Southern or Northern Crete. Unique beauties such as the Finiko Forest in the prefecture of Lassithi, Preveli, south of the city of Rethymnon, the Samaria Gorge in Chania, Knossos in cosmopolitan Heraklion and Phaistos are special and unique places to visit on the beautiful island of Crete.
The endless beaches of the Peloponnese, Halkidiki and Crete contribute to make swimming a carefree experience. Those who choose hotels with swimming pools know that the accommodations ensure high quality water as well as excellent sanitary conditions.
The natural environment of the Peloponnese, Halkidiki and Crete make an ideal combination for excursions that appeal to all ages. Walking, swimming in the beautiful beaches, hiking in the mountains, while many beaches offer water sports such as sailing, wind surfing and water skiing. For the more demanding there are complexes offering golf courses and golf and/or tennis lessons. In many accommodations there are areas suitable for racquetball, beach volleyball and other sports.
At the same time smaller islands such as cosmopolitan Zakynthos, Paros, Kefalonia, Chios and other special islands are ready to show their best to the visitors of this special year for all of us.
All tourist accommodation throughout the country will implement the protocols required by the WHO (World Health Organization) and the Greek authorities. They have all set the health of visitors-tourists, staff and citizens as a top priority this year.
As far as domestic tourism is concerned, in June the state will complete the social tourism programme of the OAED and the social tourism programme of the Greek National Tourism Organisation “Tourism for All”, which the Ministry of Tourism is implementing, with the aim of strengthening the liquidity of the tourism sector, supporting employment and stimulating demand. There is a lot of information on the internet for those interested. Applications have started from 25 June on the OAED website and will run until 2 July.
Have a nice holiday!
