I long to visit Greece before I die

loverofcats

However I have very little money, I want nothing much except peace and quiet, night life is not important, but food for the soul is. Any ideas or suggestions?

grex9101

hmmm, the quieter islands sound ideal (paxos,kalymnos,lesbos,or even quiet parts of crete/rhodes/corfu/zakynthos). certainly, the last four would be cheap to get to, if you got a "last minute" deal (look in the travel agents window or use the likes of the teletext holidays website).

The problem with the last minute deals is that you could end up in some 18-30s resort hell......

You could always get a flight to athens, then a local olympic airlines flight to one of the islands, but you would need to get accomodation too, and this would work out expensive.

the only other thing i could think of would be a coach, but i think the tiny amount you would save would be well offset by the utter torture of 2/3 days on a bus ...

hope that helps a bit, i'm sure some of the other guys will be along shortly to give better advice

iwanttosave_2

Sidari was lovely and peaceful when I went, its a small town with everything you need, nice shops, few resteraunts and bars and then if you want to go a bit upbeat for the day its a bus ride into corfu town

MrSmartprice

The best way to see Greece is island hopping. Get a flight to Athens with Easyjet as cheap as possible. Then get the bus to Piraeus or Rafina and travel the islands by ferry. Take as long on each island as you like, as long as you get back in time for your flight home.

It is worth researching before you go by using the Greek Island Hopping book, although you should be flexible. And it is very rewarding when you get there. Accommodation is cheap and plentiful on most islands, and normally owners will meet the boats at the port. It is not necessary to book any rooms before you go. You can get to see the "real" Greece too, and tour the islands by public transport in many cases.

The backpackers love this type of holiday, but if you want to go when it is quieter, get there before they do. June is excellent, with quiet resorts and villages, lower prices and deserted beaches.

Just a note on Sidari. I first went in 1982 when it really was a little village. But I gave up on it a few years back because it had become a totally different place. It's so developed now I couldn't face it again. Pity, as I have some old friends there who I would love to see again.

iwanttosave_2

mrsmartprice wrote:

Just a note on Sidari. I first went in 1982 when it really was a little village. But I gave up on it a few years back because it had become a totally different place. It's so developed now I couldn't face it again. Pity, as I have some old friends there who I would love to see again.

Thats such a shame, I went last around 1996 and it was lovely, I would have liked to have gone back as well

Lady_E

How about Ios, Paxos or Samos? I think the poster who wrote about getting the boat from Piraeus has hit the nail on the head . I did that in the early 80s and it was by far the most interesting way to see the Greek Islands . At the arrival port , there were people offering "rooms rooms" to stay and you end up pitching up in a family house ,on the roof with corrugated iron as your roof!. Do it spontaneously (sp) and it will be more exciting IMHO . HTH x

monkeyspanner

How about Thira on Santorini. Lots of little hotels perched on a clifftop overlooking the remains of a volcanic crater, very romantic.

Or parts of the Greek mainland are unspoit, fly into Preveza and head for the coastal resort of Parga. Tavernas on the beach, a small island with a church you can swim out to, castle on a cliff overlooking the town. Winding streets leading up to the ruined castle. Tavernas perched on a clifftop to watch the sunset. Lemon tree groves. A perfect encapsulation of Greece.

wigginsmum

Can't say I liked Santorini at all - dry and dusty. The Thira/Oia community right on the cliffs is pretty enough in a bohemian way but I doubt you'd want more than a couple of days there.

shammyjack

I can really recommend this place

http://www.paleochora-holidays.com/index.htm

Very quiet except in peak periods, open air cafe culture, no rowdy teens, scenery is breathtaking and you can catch the early morning local bus to Samaria Gorge walk down it ( experiance of a lifetime ) and return by water bus !

shammy

loverofcats

So many different answers, much to think aabout and don't worry I will. What if did not say is that my husband is disabled, this is one of hte major reasons we have not a lot of money as I have been unable to work full time for many years. He walks with cruthces and had a stroke just a little under two years ago, he is also a diabetice but thankfullyis not insulin dependent.He is game for most things and will have a try, although he cannot really cope with spontinaity.

gentlepurr

i adore greece, but sadly it is fastly becoming just like spain for the amount of ignorant holidaymakers (sadly often brits) who now go there, and don't seem to have any respect for the country or its lovely countrymen. made the mistake of going back to a quiet little villge 10 yrs after our first visit, and how hoorendous it had become. fish n chip shops, english taverna's (contradiction in terms here methinks!) and so many hotels, and downright rude holiday makers, treating the greeks like !!!!!!,

Paxos, i want my ashes scattered there, tranquil, unspoilt, greece as it should be. very hilly though, so be careful to book suitable accommodation. greek cats, i love, everything about greece i love, except that minority of brits who spoil it for everyone else.

hydra, little island accessible by ferry from pireus, wonderful, a poets delight.

don't think i would recommend any of the greek islands featured in any major tour ops brochure anymore.

Kosmar are an excellent package operator - and very cheap!

hth

xx