Budget Travel Greece - Tips for Enjoying a Cheap Vacation in Greece
92Budget Travel Greece
In these difficult times, where most people have little money, it is useful to look at ways of downsizing our holiday plans. If you insist upon a luxury hotel or cruise, in a prime location, then Greece is expensive. If you are prepared to lower your sights a little, and put in some effort, you can have a budget holiday and enjoy a better experience than sitting on a crowded beach for two weeks. Greece offers much more than the stereotypical beach holiday, and a couple can get by on 50 – 90 Euros, with a little planning and thrift. This year, it looks like the airlines are dropping prices to attract customers, so 2009 could be a great time to take advantage.
If you visit Greece and stick to the traditional places, such as Athens, Santorini and Mykonos, the bill soon builds up. These places, whilst beautiful, are very expensive for both accommodation and food. There are many other beautiful places around Greece, away from the tacky bars of the tourist beaches. Everything that you see on the postcards, and in the brochures, is not the real Greece, but a stereotypical myth designed to extract as much money from the average tourist as possible.
Cut out the middleman by arranging your own flights and accommodation, and avoid the package tours and cruises. Arrange your own medical insurance, and you will save a lot of money and unnecessary expense. The Peloponnese, the north of Greece and Crete are fantastic, and offer a plethora of interesting sites for very little money.Budget travel in Greece requires a little extra work but can save hundreds of dollars.
Budget Travel Greece - Picking the Right Time of Year
The high season, from June to August is extremely hot, very busy and also expensive. April/May and September have the best weather and the cheapest rates. The spring and autumn in Greece are cool enough to move around and tour, but still warm enough for a lazy day at the beach. In addition, these times of year boast abundant blooms of colourful wildflowers and butterflies. The low season is when the hotels drop their prices significantly, and you can drive a hard bargain. For example, the Hotels in Sparta usually charge around 35 Euros per night, instead of the high season 50 Euros.
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Budget Travel Greece - Cheap Food
Food can vary wildly in Greece, but is guaranteed to be
extremely expensive near the tourist spots. Generally, you will come across
restaurants with waiters standing outside, trying to entice you in. Avoid these
places – they are generally very expensive and the food is not usually great,
certainly not the real Greek food. You are looking for a Taverna rather than an
Estiatorio (restaurant). The latter is generally overpriced and serves exactly
the same food, but in a classier surrounding, for which you pay a premium. One good tip is to make yourself a Greek breakfast with tomatoes, feta and bread. You can buy the ingredients very cheaply!
Ideally, you are looking for a place where the locals eat, with authentic food, and a much lower price. Greeks will not tolerate bad food, so if a taverna is full of Greek families, it is usually safe. By law, a taverna must display the prices, so spend a little time comparing prices rather than falling into the first place you come across. As an example, there is a little taverna in Sparta, hidden down some stairs, where a meal for two will cost less than 15 Euros, including drinks, and the food is fantastic. In a tourist area, you are looking at double the price for the same meal. A local pizza parlour feeds five for less than fifty Euros, so the bargains are there – talk to the locals, check some of the lesser known areas and look for the Taverna with the unassuming exterior.
Again, like most capital cities, Athens is expensive – expect to pay 4 – 5 Euros for a coffee, whereas off the main drag, you will pay less than 2 Euros. Despite this, there are some hidden gems, just a street or two away from the tourist trail. One word of warning – NEVER ENTER INTO A TAVERNA THAT HAS PICTURES OF THE FOOD ON THE BILLBOARD. Generally speaking, if they need to put a photo of the food, then it is usually poor quality, meant for the tourist palate.
Budget Travel Greece - Accommodation
Like in any other country, Hotels vary in price and quality, but you can usually find basic but clean accommodation if you hunt around. If you want good information, try the Lonely Planet guide, which is full of great information about travelling on a budget. If you want to explore Greece with freedom, and without booking ahead, there is no problem during the low season. Instead of looking for a hotel, look for ‘Domatia,’ basic but clean rooms in a house, and usually very keenly priced.
This year may well be difficult for the Greek Tourist industry, so check in advance – you will be bargaining from a position of strength and should be able to negotiate a good price. Outside Athens, most of the hotels are of a good standard and clean. They also have to, by law, put a notice on the door of your room with the maximum price that they can charge. If you feel that the hotel is charging you too much, threaten them with the Tourist Police. If they are trying to cheat, they will soon back down. This is a rare occurrence, but there are always some owners who will take a chance.
Staying away from the tourist areas will halve your accommodation costs; Athens is a no go, as it is expensive and overcrowded. If you want to see Athens, which is definitely worth visiting, then stay outside the city and catch the coach. From Gythio to Athens, for example, costs 20 Euros and takes about 4 hours – you can stay just a couple of nights in Athens and then return to the peaceful coast.
It may also be worth looking at self-catering accommodation – staying at home and cooking the odd meal can save you a lot of money. If you feel really adventurous, you could bring a tent. In Greece, it is so easy to camp under the stars, albeit with a mosquito net. We have often overnighted on the beach – it is beautiful to fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The Peloponnese is well provided with campsites for a few Euros per night, and you generally meet like-minded people.
Budget Travel Greece - Going off the Beaten Track
There are many other beautiful places in Greece – Gythio, Monemvasia and Sparta are fairly cheap, and many other wonderful places lie dotted around the Peloponnese. There is so much history and culture outside the hotspots that you can have a wonderful experience and see things that many other people have never even heard about. Instead of visiting the crowded Parthenon and Knossos, Ancient Sparta, Pylos and Mystras are steeped in history, yet lie forgotten about by the Athens-centric tourist brochures.
All around Athens, and in Greece generally, information centre staff are always helpful and bilingual. Greece relies upon tourism, and the whole industry is based around the customer care aspect. Look also for the tourist police, who are an excellent source of information, in English and often many other major languages
Budget Travel Greece - Transport
Public transport is very reasonable in Greece, and the coach and ferry system is cheap and reliable. Athens is well provided with buses, trams and a modern metro system installed for the Olympics, costing a Euro or so per journey. It is also possible to buy cheap multi-journey tickets, so ask at the information desk. If you need to get from the airport to the coach station, avoid the taxi, which costs at least 25 Euros, and catch the bus, costing a couple of Euros.
Taxis are very cheap within Athens, and the vast majority of the drivers are honest and friendly. Like in any major city, there is the odd rogue, so make sure that the meter is turned on. If you feel that you have been cheated, ask for a receipt, which they legally must provide, and ask them to drive you to the nearest police station. The tourist police, since the Olympics, have really cracked down on unscrupulous behaviour, and merely mentioning the term will ensure that people behave.
If you want to hire a car, try to avoid booking with the airline or holiday company, as they will charge you top dollar. In addition, the hire places around the airport are expensive and, whilst it may be a little extra hassle, you are better to catch a coach to your destination and hire a car there. You will easily save 100 € per week, and generally receive a car more suited for the purpose. Athens companies often give you a city-car, completely unsuitable for the twisting country roads in Greece.
For catching ferries, there are a couple of things to watch out for. If you buy a cheap ticket, you are supposed to remain in a certain lounge with ‘aircraft style’ seats. In reality, once the boat is underway, everybody mingles, so do not be persuaded to pay extra for ‘exclusive seats.’ Finally, there is usually an employee responsible for stowing your luggage. It is wise to tip him before the journey, and he will ensure that your bags are well looked after.
Hope that this helps – Greece has a lot to offer, and will give you a lifetime’s worth of memories without costing a small fortune.
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Glad to help, CW. Thanks for the thumbs up!
That is great advice - the locals always know the best places.
Great tips! My brother (philosophy/classics major) went to Greece this past spring for study abroad and had a great time. I am dying to go myself, but trans-Atlantic travel with a toddler isn't high on my to-do list so it looks like I'll have to wait a few more years. :(
Not sure about the plane journey with a young 'un, but Greece is a very child friendly country. The Greeks love children and generally spoil them rotten!
Should I or anyone that I know want to travel to Greece I know which hub to direct them to, yours! Its funny, but when I think of Greece, romantic Athens comes to mind. Regarding your comment about the postcards, its true, I live in Oregon, and in the postcards, one sees all these beautiful lights, and buildings, and in person its really much simpler.
Great tips. Thumbs up!
Thanks for stopping by, VioletSun.
Athens is beautiful and romantic, but it is also very expensive. When family and friends come over, they stay with us and then spend 2 or 3 days in Athens. This is enough time to see the sights without breaking the bank!
I must admit that I am not really a city person, so I may be a little biased against Athens. It has some great attractions and a vibrant nightlife, but a few days is enough for me!
Hello, I am planning on going to Greece in early June for 3 weeks. I think I will spend 2 weeks island hopping and one on the mainland. Other than my airline tickets and reservations, it would be nice to be as unrestricted as possible. Should I reserve my accomodations ahead of time or will it be easy to find moderate places to stay as I go along? Thanks for your help.
Hi Islander.
I hope that you look forward to your trip - you will have a great time here.
This year, with the state of the economy, there is little need to book reservations, and June tends to be fairly quiet. We rarely book ahead when we travel around Greece.
There are a few exceptions - Santorini and Mykonos can be a little crowded, so booking ahead is advisable for those islands. If you plan to visit Athens, it may be wise to book in advance, to make sure that you find a good value hotel. Other than that, visit with freedom and go where the mood takes you.
I would recommend the Lonely Planet Greece guide, as it is full of information for backpackers. Most major stockists carry the title.
Hope that helps.
Hey Sufidreamer.
Thank you very much for such a quick response. I will take your advise. Those are the places I will be going so I may make reservations ahead of time. I have one other question. Do you know if there are shops in Mykonos and Santorini where I can burn images from my camera memory card to a cd? I have read that there are places in Athens where this can be done. I don't want to have to buy and carry around a laptop. Thanks again.
Islander.
Hi, Islander.
I am not 100% sure. I think that two major tourist spots like that would have such a place. They both have internet cafes, so you could always bring your connection cable and burn them yourself.
If you want to double check, you could try Carolina Crete's hub - she may well know more about Santorini.
http://hubpages.com/hub/10-Tips-When-Backpacking_1
Let us know if you have any more questions!
Hi Sufidreamer lovely hub to read on a cold day in ireland and the heating is broken!! I had a fab holiday in Mykonos approx 20 years ago!! so i would love to go back just for a look. We have 2 small boys now so aim for short haul but we might brave a longer flight soon and greece will be high on the agenda.
Hi CFlynn - Thanks for stopping by.
It is not much warmer here, and we have no heating, if that makes you feel better!
You would have a great time over here - as you probably saw last time, the Greeks love children. They will be spoiled rotten. I have never been to Mykonos, but believe that it has changed a lot, and is a 'clubbers' island. There are still plenty of traditional places left, though.
I lived in Ireland for a while, and the Greeks and Irish have similar mentalities. Drinking, singing, dancing and enjoying life are all high on the agenda!
Thats for sure!! the greeks love a laugh too...when i was there i was sooooo white the greek men used to call out "IRISH" as i walked by...every day!! i was so embarrased of my lilly white butt. But Mykonos was heavenly then
lol - And if your butt had been lobster red because you sat out in the sun for too long, they would have shouted 'ENGLISH!'
There are still a few places like Mykonos used to be, so hunt around. The traditional Greek holiday exists, and you can still have a beach to yourself, if you know where to look!
If I ever get the opportunity I will visit Greece using your suggestions. For the moment I love reading travel guides, which is the cheapest way I can ever travel :).
Thanks for dropping by, SweetiePie.
I hope that you get the opportunity to visit - if you do, let us know and we will help you to find some good budget places, or even lend you a tent!
Sufi- Since sweetipie is such a sweetie I was expecting you would say I would even let you stay in our house(free boarding & lodging)...LOL
lol...No problem with that - we have room here. We both like cooking so food is not a problem. Mind you, my partner might wonder why I am inviting lots of pretty girls to stay! ;)
If anybody wants to travel around Greece on a budget, a tent is a good and cheap way. We met a Korean guy last summer who stayed on campsites and managed to live on 25 dollars a day - top bloke.
Oh you are so nice Sufidreamer. I wish I had money to travel, but the problem is I have to pay this high rent here in SoCal :(. Someday I would love to see Greece though, and Italy too!
That sucks - money is so tight foreverybody at the moment. Hopefully, you will manage to save up enough to come and visit. I have been to Italy, a long time ago, and that is a nice place too.
Hi, this is great! I am thinking on going go greece with my boyfriend, sisterand her boyfriend in may. Looking at staying there for a week or so, we will fly into athens, and hope to see some of the beautiful beaches, history etc, where do you recommend we go from athens? and is it easy to get over to turkey from there?
May is a great time of year - it is sunny but not too hot. A week is a fairly short time, so you will not be able to go too far. There are planes, trains and buses to Turkey, but it takes time and will eat into your holiday.
It may be better to pick one area and concentrate on that, rather than trying to see it all in one trip. You could spend a day or two in Athens and see the Acropolis etc. After that, you could try Nafplio - about two hours from Athens, and it is a beautiful town, with nice beaches and the famous Epidavros theatre.
The island of Aegina is easy to get to from Athens, just over an hour by ferry, and has some beautiful old villages and beaches. It is popular with Athenians wishing to get away from the city for a weekend.
Hope that the info helps - if you need anything else, let us know!
How I got to Greece inexpensively was to go visit my fun cousins in England - and hang out and laugh etc. Then he and partner would drive me to Luton, one of England's small local airports - it was so much cheaper to fly from a local airport instead of the two main ones. I few on EasyJet!
Ah, but no matter how you get there or how much you spend - Greece was worth it! Wow! I met an artist who showed me all around the art colony by the Parthenon, and we had great Greek coffee in a sidewalk cafe - I sailed to three of the near Islands - and traveling alone was no problem. Generally I prefer it - I like to come and go as I please and dance to my own tune. Being an older woman alone has always turned out to be an advantage - truly I have enjoyed the kindness of strangers everywhere in the world.
A great place to go back to again and again and again...
Thanks for the memories!
Thanks BkCreative
Really glad that you enjoyed your time here - there are plenty of cheap flights within Europe, so that was a good plan!
There really is so much to see here - it is such a varied country that a lifetime would not be enough time. It is one of the safest countries for a lone woman - outside the Athens and the tourist areas, crime is virtually zero. I am quite happy for my partner to walk across Sparta at night, something that she would not do in England. Mind you, she went to Venezuela on her own and had np trouble - a lot of it is the media hype.
The Greeks have the code of Filoxenia, the love of strangers, and they see it as a sacred duty to make sure that you have a good time. Add to that a fierce pride in their culture, and you will never be alone in Greece.
Hope to see you back here at some point in the future!
Thank you! My husband and I are looking to take a cruise and would love to go to Greece for the first time! These are great points!
Hi, Andromeda 10. Thanks for commenting!
It is a good time for a cruise - tourism is going to be down this year, so you should be able to negotiate a good deal. The other advantage is that you can avoid the crowds! Feel free to PM if you need any help, although cruise locations are not my speciality!
it has been a long time since I travelled to Greece. Any suggestions and which Island would suit kids and adults
Hi Morgan.
Personally, I would recommend Crete - it is a big island with plenty for kids and adults alike. My partner brought her young son to Crete a few times, and he loved it. A nice mixture of history, culture, scenery and beautiful beaches. The Greeks love kids, so they will be spoilt rotten!
nice article
Greace......... can't you please come to NewZealand
lool so far
I'v been there
I like it soo much
especially one all white land
grat place man
best regards
Hey Eng.M - Glad that you liked the place!
Great to see you - I would love to visit New Zealand one day, but need to save up some money first :(
Greece is like heaven on earth for me...I am an avid history buff. Would so love to visit your country one day. Thanks for all the wonderful tips. Pity my days of living in a tent are long gone. :(
By the way love your 'name' - Sufidreamer
Thanks, Diana,
There certainly is a lot of great history here. Greece is not as cheap as it used to be, but there are some cheap places to stay without resorting to the tent! I would love to visit India for much the samr reasons - the culture and history :)
lol - Thanks, the name seems to have stuck nicely!
Thank you for the valuable and money-saving tips, Sufidreamer. If one were to stay in Greece for, say, a week or two, would it be worth purchasing a bike in order to get around? Or rent one?
Hi mythbuster - Glad that you found the information useful.
Bikes can be a little expensive to buy, but most of the major tourist spots have bike hire shops at reasonable rates. We cycled a lot in Crete - those mountains will keep you fit. If you like camping, too, there are plenty of good campsites - lets us know if and when you come over, and we will find you more detailed information.
Greay Hub, makes me want to pack my bags and fly to Greece! Thanks for a job well done!
Thanks for the kind words, Betsylckes - you are welciome here anytime :)
Another hub of yours that I'll be bookmarking. I especially liked the comment about pictures of meals on the outside -- that's true when traveling in any country.
Thanks, Jerilee - lol - that is true - if it needs a picture, you do not want to eat it. The same with fast-food - Why does the burger that you are served bear little resemblence to the fat and juicy quarter pounder shown on the menu?
Sufidreamer, excellent Hub with great tips that I will use one day when I visit Greece! As you recommend, I would much prefer to see the Greece that locals know than the tourist facade. Be careful these HubPages ladies don't get you in hot water with your sweetheart! :-)
Thanks, Staci-Barbo7 - You are welcome in Greece anytime - if and when you decide to visit, feel free to PM if you need any advice.
I think that I will be in even more hot water soon - I just wrote a Kitten hub, guaranteed to draw the ladies :D
Great site!
My sister and I are going to Greece on August 21 to September 4th. Initially we were going to spend $1700 sailing to about 8 of the Aegean Islands which is a lot of money for us (we’re in our mid 20’s).
So we’ve decided to do it on our own. We like adventure and we want to see the real Greece. I definitely want to stay away from the touristy areas and beaches.
We both love love love beaches, swimming, ruins, ancient things and places etc. And we are highly considering doing the whole camping thing. Should be bring our own tent and sleeping bag or just buy it there?
I want to eat real good Greek food too.
However, I don’t even know where to begin! May you please help us?
Thanks a lot. We really appreciate it.
p.s. last year I went to Europe for 2 weeks (France, Czech, Italy) and it was horrible. Everything that could go wrong on a trip went wrong. I love food and it was the worse food I’ve ever eaten and that’s b/c we were always in the touristy spots and didn’t know where to go.
Very interesting Hub about travelling to Greece. On all of the islands and some parts of the mainland there are resorts worth avoiding unless you want to drink and party. For the real Greece you have to be just a little more adventurous.
Hi Dubienka - thanks for dropping by and for the kind words.
You should have no problem having a great time in Greece with that budget - there are many good value places off the beaten track.
The best place to begin is by buying the Lonely Planet guide for Greece - they have a new edition out, as well as guides for Crete and for the Peloponnese. They are full of good information for the budget traveller.
The Peloponnese has pretty much everything you want - history, nature, quiet beaches and great places to eat, all very low priced. There are plenty of campsites - bring a tent, but remember that you should be able to sleep under the stars at that time of year! That costs about 5 Euros and, if you know the right places, the two of you can eat out for less than 20 Euros.
I think that the best thing is to send me a personal mail - click on my profile - and we will help you to plan a trip. It is worth staying a night or two in Athens - we know a good hostel - and then touring the Peloponnese.
Look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks, CMHypno
There was an item on the BBC News today about the British tourists getting drunk and ruining certain islands. Very embarrassing to be an Englishman, sometimes.
The Peloponnese, Northern Greece and parts of Crete are much quieter for the tourist who wants to sample culture and history. Much cheaper, too!
Um, we Brits are a strange nation that seems to like behaving badly abroad, making TV programmes documenting it and then beaming them out to the rest of the world!
lol - 'Tis true! Luckily, Sparta is well away from the club scene, and is geared towards culture and history junkies. Must admit, it is embarrassing to watch some of these programmes. Brits seem to see being drunk as a good thing - Greeks see it as shameful :)
Thanks for telling much about Greece. In India Greece is famous for its medicines and It is called Unani medicines. Thanks for info , I may use it in future.
Thanks, Vizey
Glad that you enjoyed the Hub. I never knew about Unani, so you taught me something new today. Cheers!
Thanks for your tips. I will keep these in mind.
But, I think when you visit Greece first time, you will definitely visit Athens and other tourist spots.
These tourist spots are ideal for those who have visited Greece famous spots two or three times, and would like to see something new.
Thanks, Karmadir
Certainly, many visit Athens and have a great time, although it can be expensive to stay there. Many people base themselves outside Athens and stay there for a long weekend, saving a little on hotel bills.
Thank you for your insight and expertise :)
Great advice! I always wanted to go to Greece. I would love to see the Acropolis as well as everything the cities of Athens and Sparta have to offer. 300!
I really am a huge history buff.
Thanks for dropping by, Shaun.
There is a lot to see for the history buff - apart from Athens and Sparta, we have Mycenae and Pylos nearby. Well worth a visit. I have not seen the new Acropolis museum yet, but apparently it is awesome.
Hello Sufidreamer,
I just wanted to leave a comment and let you know that I think this is a great hub that you have done! I have never been to Greece but, would love to go...Keep up the great writing!
Thanks for the kind words, vacationguides - always appreciated. You are welcome in Greece anytime!
Thanks! great tips!
Thanks, lilian - Glad that you enjoyed the article :)
Really great info
Thanks for the kind words, Jen - we hope to see you in Greece, one day :)
OH MY!! GREECE, my dream, hopefully one day. When I was a teen I made it to Venice, Italy, with my family who live in Germany. I hope God blesses me to live long enough to go to Greece. The food is amazing, I used to eat it all the time while living in Germany. I still make some of it here, (Seattle area) How lucky you are, God has blessed you.
hey, sufidreamer, great hub! we are two people who want to see greece this may/june, and have a joint budget of about 100 euros per day in mind. is this at all workable? we want the culture and the history more than the beaches
Hi cjc - thanks for dropping by. You are certainly welcome over here any time.
I never made it to Venice, although I have been to Rome and Naples and enjoyed Italy very much.
The food certainly is one of the added benefits of Greek life, alongside the wonderful Ouzo.
Thanks for the blessings - I have always liked the look of Seattle - Partly the wonderful scenery, partly the music scene :)
All the best for the New Year
Hi Aneeta, thanks for commenting
For two people, it is possible to have a great time with 100 Euros a day, as long as you are a little careful with the money.
In many places, you can find a double room for less than 30 Euros. When we backpacked around Crete, we ate out occasionally but often bought bread, feta and tomatoes to make our own Greek salads!
Athens is expensive, so you won't be able to spend too much time there, but the Peloponnese, Crete and Northern Greece have some fantastic places to stay. In the Peloponnese, you can see Mycenae, Sparta, Mystras, Pylos and Olympia - not bad for a historical holiday.
The Lonely Planet guide was our Bible - it has all of the tips for finding cheap rooms, cheap transport and good places to eat.
Let me know if you need anything else :)
Dear Sufidreamer, That was such a swift response! In the meanwhile I've been through some of your pages, and I want you to know I am in awe of the work you've been doing and the discipline it must take to keep all this together. I bow to thee! And thanks for the offer of help, I shall call on you when in need :)
Greece is on my list of must places to see. I always travel on a modest budget mainly because it is the best way to see the real people and taste the real experiences of a place.
Hi Aneeta - Thanks for the kind words - we writers are a vain bunch :d
Pass on any questions, once you have an idea of where you want to visit, and we will try to find some recommendations for places to stay etc.
Look forward to hearing from you :D
I'm always looking for resources and guides for the budget traveler. This is a pretty good one for Greece. I hope to get there in the next year or so.
Thanks for sharing this post!
Thanks for commenting, askjanbrass
Greece is certainly much more expensive since adopting the Euro, but you can still enjoy a budget holiday in Greece if you think laterally!
Let us know if you need anything :)
Great post! It reminds me of my trip to Greece on-the-cheap a few years ago. I went to Corfu in late January and stayed at a summer resort in the off-season.
The room was clean and inexpensive, and breakfast & dinner were included - plus there was a really cheap bar right in the lobby!
The atmosphere was laid back and new arrivals from allover the world came along every day or two. It rained most of the time I was there, but I had so much fun I ended up staying for 3 weeks!
Glad that you enjoyed the Hub, Edweirdo, and even more glad that you enjoyed your stay in Greece.
Off-season certainly is a great time to visit, as far as the finances are concerned, but the winter is wet. Still, they say that a cheap bar is a good bar, so that more than makes up for it.
Agree with you about the new arrivals - backpacking is a great way to meet people from all over the world.
Have a good one and we hope to see you over here in the future :)
Hi Sufidreamer, I have bookmarked this page as I am hoping to travel to Greece in the future in the spring or autumn raher than mid-summer. This should be useful when planing a trip, thank you.
Thanks 2uesday- I am glad that you found the article useful. If you need any further tips, shoot me a PM and we can help you out with any questions.
Good hub.
Thanks for commenting, sreeiit
Nice hub, you make me want to visit. If only I could I would do it in the manner you suggest I'd rather stay off the beaten path.
Thanks, Missi - if you ever want to come over, feel free to PM and we will help you to plan your stay :)
travelling alone in greece, june time. i want to camp but do everything really cheap, any tips?
Hi Kim - The first thing to do is to buy the Lonely Planet Greece guide. It has a lot of great information for budget travelers. Another tip is to stay away from the main tourist areas - places like Mykonos and Santorini are expensive.
If you want to send a PM through my profile, with a few more details, please feel free :)
Hello,
very useful information for those who first come to Greece.
I agree is September have the best weather (warm see and comfortable air temperature) and the cheapest price.
In taverns can be very nice seafood lunch and drink bottles of domestic wine, and does not cost more than 10 eu per person.
Only is very high price (unduly) is ferry to Skiathos:( while prices in the Sporady islands is very affordable.
Cheers to September :)
Cheers, Easy Driver - September is the best month, and I love the flowers at that time of year. Still a little cold here - it has been a harsh winter, but summer is not far away :)
Geia Sou!
I've been meaning to travel to the Greek Isalnds for a while now, budget was deinitley my main concern but now I have hope that I can make it on a pittence! :)
Thanks, Posada - you can enjoy a cheap vacation here, if you stay away from the main tourist areas. Look forward to seeing you over here :)
Great Hub! I have been to Greece once, and hope to go back some day. I highly recommend the beautiful island of Santorini -- the views are simply breathtaking.
Cheers, Easy Fit - I have yet to visit Santorini, but hope to when we can free up some time. All work and no play, at the moment :(
Excellent hub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm taking notes ;-)
Thanks, Wire-Zone. Glad that you enjoyed it! :)
Some great advice
Hey there, I was thinking about renting a car when I go. Do you think it is safe to drive over there? I'm thinking of renting it in Athens then heading south.
Thanks, Ethel - always good to see you :)
Hi Azucar - Absolutely no problem. Most of my family and friends hire cars when they come to visit. You have to be a little careful, as with driving in any foreign country - once you leave Athens behind, the roads are pretty quiet :)
this is an excellent article.
i've always wanted to go to greece and this will be great for when i finally get the chance to.
Hi, Sufidreamer- your comments are so kind and helpful; thanks for this great hub. My friend and I are planning a trip to Greece with 4 adults and 5 kids (all of whom adore ancient mythology and have favorite Greek gods!) under 12- we are hoping to rent a house and just live for a few weeks. The time doesn't matter, though we would love to be able to enjoy the beaches. As families who'll have to cough up for airfare from the States, though, we are on a budget. Any tips on the best time to visit, and on Corfu, Sparta, or another island well suited for mental exploration and playing in the sun? Is it practical to find a home base and travel by ferry to other islands? Thanks...
Thanks applejuic3 - Hope to see you soon!
Hi Ariadne - The best time to visit is September: the weather is good, the sea warm, and the prices much cheaper than June/July/August. I don't know much about Corfu, I am afraid!
If you want beaches, Sparta is a little too far inland. One place that might be worth looking at is Stoupa, in Messina. A couple of years ago, my brother in law found a villa there for 250 Euros per week. I am not sure about what packages are like in the US, but many Brits book a charter flight to Kalamata which includes the villa rental. I am not sure if that is possible from the US so I will try to dig some information out if you want to PM me.
To see Greece properly, you are best hiring a car or two - the public transport is good but infrequent. From Stoupa, you are pretty close to Sparta, Olympia and Pylos. A day trip to Athens is possible, and you can drive down to Gythio and catch the ferry to Crete easily.
Crete is another great option - if you touch down in Athens, you can catch the ferry from Piraeus. Carolina Crete has some excellent information about the island:
http://hubpages.com/profile/Carolina+Crete
Hope that helps - PM through my profile if you have any questions!
it really does help - thanks. I will definitely get back to you once I share this great info with my friend!
No problem, Ariadne - any time :)
Excellent information about some of the easy ways to save money in Greece. Picking some of the lesser known destinations can result in some huge savings. A very useful resource. Travel in cheap flights to Greece and save your money.
Very Nice information. I will always keep it in mind.
Is June really too crowded to visit?
Great! Perfect selection of words for perfect destination….. By the way I have only heard about the capital city of Greece, Athens- just because of Olympics. However after, reading this hub I think I must have been there at least once in my life…. So I am coming Greece…
@anonymous: Thanks for visiting and commenting. There certainly are some great places just off the beaten track :)
@karmadir - Thanks for dropping by. June can be very crowded - I advise booking hotels and rooms in advance at that time of year. However, considering the economic difficulties, this year may be very quiet for tourism.
Thanks, azizzii - Thanks for the very kind words. Let us know when you plan to visit and we will help you find some wonderful places.
Take care and have a great weekend :)
I've always wanted to go to Greece. This article has some great insider tips. Ill make sure to eat at Tavernas and stay away from Estiatorios...not sure how I feel about this "Greek breakfast" of feta, tomatoes, and bread, though. I'm more of a cereal or eggs person myself, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Thanks for dropping by, Ian - I do eat cereal and eggs during the winter, but it is too hot during the summer. If you find somewhere self-catering, then you can have whatever breakfast you want!
This is one of the places that I'm hoping to visit soon...your hub is great thanks...
Thanks, retirement village - feel free to drop us a line if you want any advice. :)
Excellent Hub - I am sure I was already following you but must have been technical hitch - love the detail - have you been to all of the countries you have written about - I am not well travelled but love reading about travel - I went to New Grange on Sat and done a hub on it - were you ever there - wonderful place - by the way - serious - I would post you cheese and onion crisps if you wished - no problem at all .....Irish
Cheers, Irish - I have lived in Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and Greece, so I am not that well travelled! I will check out the New Grange hub - it is an amazing place.
Thanks for visiting :)
I think I agree that travel with the locals will experience places that was unknown to you while planning for the trip e.g doing a home stay...http:a-thai-village-homestay.weebly.com
Thanks for visiting, Eric :)
Great tips on saving money on a tour to Greece. Thanks for such an informative hub.
Thanks for the kind words, Andy - happy to help :)
That is the great thing about Greece. You can do it on a budget and still have a great time.
'Tis true - Kefalonia is a very nice part of the world, too!
Greece has been on the top of my list for a long time to travel. After reading this hub, I have to make this dream a reality. Great hub! I love it!
Hi bd - thanks for leaving such a positive comment. You are welcome in Greece anytime - let us know if you need anything :)
I just e-mailed you on one of your other sites. I am hoping to get a reply sooner on this one. I'm coming in Sept to work on our big old stone house and I think I am just down the road from you. You may want to come for a visit. Check out my olive trees. I haven't been there for four years so who knows what I will find..... I am dying to hit the beach though. I will be there for about a month.
Hope to see you Penny
Hi Penny - I did not receive the e-mail.
Hotmail changed its user interface recently and I seem to have lost quite a few mails. If you try contacting me through Hubpages (the contact Sufidreamer link), I should get that one :)
looking to visit our daughter who will be studying in Thessaloniki for 2 weeks either before Easter or immediately after Easter. Any suggestions on sites in that area and preference for places to stay? Very excited about this and never been to Europe
Hi Kristin - I am afraid that I don't know that area of Greece particularly well. The Lonely Planet Guide is a good start - I do know that Thessaloniki is a beautiful city with plenty to do and see :)
Well done. And good tip on Monemvasia - great town - the entire Peloponnese is fantastic.
@Kristin - Check out the Halkidiki: beautiful area.
Thanks, Greece with Kids. All the best :)
I always dreaming to visit Greece since I was a child, when I feel so in love with it mythology. The pictures I had seen about Santorini really amazing. Thank you for providing this info.
By the way, how if we want to visit Greece with Yacht? Do you have any suggestion where the most coziest place in Greece to visit with Yacht?
Hi Freya - Always lovely to see you :)
You are welcome in Greece anytime.
I believe that the Aegean is the best place for yachting - there are a few companies operating out of Samos and Kos, and you can always stop in Turkey, too, for the best of both worlds :)
Great information, the only problem for me is getting there is not cheap. I might be able to afford everything else.
Great Hub.
Thanks for commenting, CharterJet
We are longing to visit Greece but will be on a tight budget, love to stay a few months if we can get real cheap accomodation or even house sitting.
The wytegarillaz
Hi wytegarillaz - we know some people who do short/medium-term lets. Feel free to contact me through my profile and we will ask around. There are some real bargains in this area :)
This is a great hub, with so much useful information! I am determined to visit Greece one day to explore its culture, history and natural history. Thanks for some great suggestions for traveling through Greece on a budget.
Hi Alicia - Thanks for the kind words. There certainly is a lot to see in Greece and you are welcome in Greece anytime :)
Great hub! It's nice to know that it is actually possible to still travel in Greece on a budget. I absolutely cannot wait to get back to Greece and venture out into some of the less traveled islands. Thanks for the great tips and ideas.
More valuable advice for my trip to Greece! Thanks. Off the beaten track is where I want to go!
Thanks for visiting, Celine - There is so much to see here and, because of the poor state of the economy, you can find some great bargains. Hope that you enjoy your future trip :)
Great to see you, PennyofHeaven - Off the beaten track is certainly the best way to see a country :)
Now Greece is in the Eurozone, the prices have risen considerably
Hi Cressinia - That is certainly true. Life is getting expensive over here :(
Sufidreamer, I want to go back to Greece so badly, I truly loved it there. Thank you for this wonderfully written hub! My son wants to go back as well, and I hope to take my husband and other son too some time. Going by your suggestions here, it may be doable before too long. What a beautiful and amazing country.
Hi oceansandsunsets - Really glad that this wonderful country made such an impression on you. With the economic crisis, the tourist businesses are desperate for money - you can really strike a good deal. Let us know when you come over and we will have to meet up for a coffee :)
Sufidreamer your article made me dream about my amazing vacation from last year in Greece! Such an amazing country! Just a tip: pack lots of sun block lotion since it can be a major expense for anyone spending some time at the beach.
Great post! We are looking in to Greece this year and were thinking springtime. It's sounding like September might be a better option though. Can't wait to see your beautiful country. we travel a lot, We've been to Mexico twice this year, and Germany and Switzerland the year before. Would love to keep in touch via email for your insights and advice. And your always welcome to hit us up for info on the Pacific NW in Washington State!
Thanks, Lake Mary Hotels - Glad that you had a great time in Greece. That is an excellent tip about the suntan lotion - it can be very expensive over here.
Hi Girlinyelm - If you can make it in the spring (Late April/Early May), that is a fantastic time of the year. Everything is green, the flowers are in full bloom, and the temperature is good. Failing that, September is also a very nice time of year - it is nice and quiet.
Feel free to PM anytime :)
Such an informative hub. I was just browsing and since Greece is on my list of places to see I reached your page. I've always wanted to visit the Greek islands and never knew where to begin. Bookmarking this page! Thanks
Thanks for visiting, minilady - if you need any advice, feel free to PM. I also recommend the Lonely Planet Greece guidebook as a starting point for information :)
I can't wait to visit Greece! Wonderful hub...thanks for sharing.
Your hub tempting me to visit Greece.Hope I"ll be there soon.
This is very useful and I am glad you covered the food aspect too.
Thanks.
Thanks for the comments, puertorico :)
We hope to see you soon, ed77burns!
Cheers, Lady_E - always great to see you :)
Thanks for the great tips. Visiting Greece is on my to-do list.
Voted up and useful.
Thanks, aleida - you are welcome anytime :)
Hi, Sufi, I love Greece, I have visited Kos Corfu and the best of the best is Cyprus, as you said if you look around for the local taverns not only do you get authentic Greek food and company it is so much cheaper, I can't wait to come back!
Thanks, Nell - You are welcome anytime :)
great post you did on the subject. you may want to do another hub on Kos Island, Greece. visit http://wwww.kosexplorer.com
I have always wanted to travel to Greece thanks for the great content. Makes me want to go even more.
Great hub, very informative. Thanks so much
Thanks for commenting bullettrainhq.
Cheers, jannthomassen :)
reading this hub for the second time.
still amazed at how helpful this information and hub is. thanks again!
I am 62 and terrified to travel by myself, but it is time that I step out and take the risk. Just in the last year Greece has spoken to me. I love the white buildings built on steep plateaus overlooking beautiful turquoise ocean waters. I love to swim in warm water and sunny skies; all of which seems plentiful along the Greek coastline. I don't have a lot of money-probably enough to travel to Greece before my life is over...unless of course the financial picture changes.
Generally speaking Greece is not expensive to visit. Food is also cheap and good quality and of course beaches and tourist attractions are spectacular. Accommodation is not so hard to find since there are numerous villas and apartments for rent in almost every town or village
very informative and obviously well read hub. Thanks
Thanks for commenting, twhitney - I hope that your dream comes true, one day. Now is a good time to visit because prices for flights, hotels, and food are low. If you need any help, feel free to message through my profile :)
Cheers, Nikola - Right on the money. There are some real bargains at the moment.
Lovely to see you, cowtowngirl :)
Thanks for visiting again, applejuic3 :)
Great hub with great advice! A trip to Greece is on my to do list someday.
Lots of great advice there. I've only been to Athens but have always wanted to see the rest of the country. Hopefully now I can do it on the cheap!
Kefalonia in the greek islands on my must do list before im 30, this hub is making me more anxious lol
wow.. that's one detailed article! im certain that you have spent a lot of time in greece! really found your insight into the eating places helpful!
I love travelling and one day i will definitely travel over to Greece. I will keep all those information given in this hub on my visit. Thanks for sharing such useful information. :) useful
thumps up..
There are more than 60 greek islands which can be very different from each other. To pick the right one use this great online tool:
Thanks, jraphaelson - we look forward to seeing you :)
@Travelo - it is a good time to visit, because the economic crisis means that everyone has lowered their prices.
Hi Drek - I have never been to Kephalonia, but my brother-in-law loves the place :)
Thanks for visiting, Travel-O-grapher - I have lived here for a while, and it is a great country. The food is excellent! :)
Cheers, cookingrecipes - feel free to get in touch when you want to come over. I will help you to find the best places :)
There are more than 60 islands, very different from eachother. To pick the right one use this great online tool:
http://www.greecevacationsearch.com/
You simply enter your search criteria (even cost) and you instantly get the list with all islands that qualify.
Hi Sufidreamer.. its an excellent post..
My partner and I traveled NZ last year and found magicbus travel safe and convenient to go to both islands as well as very cheap
I want to know if ther is any way we can reserve right upfront on coach options to visit as many places in greece in 2 weeks as possible? Or do u recommend we land in athens and do a booking.. we want to do a 15 day vacation in september 2012
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Listings for some of the budget travel agents and places to stay in and around Athens. Athens is a city that every tourist should visit but it can be expensive if you do not know the cheap places to stay and eat. - Worth reading: Greece\'s new Acropolis Museum opens - This Just In - Budget Travel
Information about the new Acropolis Museum, a must-see for anybody visiting Greece. The state-of-the-art museum contains many rare and ancient artefacts documenting the long and noble history of this important land. - Greece + Budget travel | Travel | guardian.co.uk
Useful information from the respecdted British newspaper about some of the prime spots for a budget holiday in Greece. A good read with some pointers to sources of further information. - travel.gr | LOW BUDGET TRIPS -
Excellent information about some of the easy ways to save money in Greece. Picking some of the lesser known destinations can result in some huge savings. A very useful resource. - Backpacking in Greece: Matt\'s Quick Guide to Greece on a Budget
Matt Barrett provides an excellent guide for backpackers and budget travelers, pointing out some of the ways to save money. He has been there and done that - well worth a visit.
countrywomen 3 years ago
Thanks Your Majesty for giving me this kohinoor...LOL
Seriously a very informative hub. Just a small tip since I did a lot of traveling in India/US whenever we go to a new place strike a conversation with locals on a flight/bus/train. Then ask them for the must see places, flea markets or inexpensive places to shop and what are the local specialties/where they go to eat it. More often than not people always are friendly if you are polite and keen to have a good tourist experience (we were even invited once for dinner by a local when we enquired in India)...hehe
You got my thumbs up. Good Job.