Greece Tourism Upswing??!!

From the Washington Post/AP earlier this week, they had this headline of good news: "Greek tourist arrivals rise amid greater stability".

Here are some of the key story highlights: "Greece’s tourism sector appears to be reaping the rewards from a period of relative political stability as well as attracting many travelers who had shied away from Turkey and Egypt. International arrivals are up 7 percent in the nine months through September compared with the year before. The four summer months from July were the best ever. International arrivals are expected to exceed 27 million, including cruise arrivals, which is a new high record for Greece. Tourism, according to many measures accounts for around 25 percent of Greece’s annual GDP when direct and indirect influences are incorporated."

Good summary and news for Greece and their people.

Full story at:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/greek-tourist-arrivals-rise-amid-greater-stability/2016/11/07/b4447186-a509-11e6-ba46-53db57f0e351_story.html

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 218,861 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

That would explain why our Greek Isles cruise had a sudden rise in rates and is close to being sold out. Good for Greece, but not looking forward to crowds.:(

We've been to Greece several times but never on a cruise. Can't wait to cruise there.

We have been on several cruises through the Med that stopped in Greece. All very enjoyable.

But our most enjoyable experience of the Greek Islands was doing our own cruises as it were. Departing from Piraeus and using to the Greek ferry system to island hop down to Crete and also up to Turkey. Several days on each island with a week or so in Crete with only carry on bags.

It is a beautiful country with warm, friendly people. The food on the islands will beat cruise line food hands down any day! We hope to get back next spring or fall.

We have been on several cruises through the Med that stopped in Greece. All very enjoyable.

 

But our most enjoyable experience of the Greek Islands was doing our own cruises as it were. Departing from Piraeus and using to the Greek ferry system to island hop down to Crete and also up to Turkey. Several days on each island with a week or so in Crete with only carry on bags.

 

It is a beautiful country with warm, friendly people. The food on the islands will beat cruise line food hands down any day! We hope to get back next spring or fall.

which ferry did you use? we are thinking about Celestyal Cruises and hopping off on a couple of islands- so, not exactly a ferry

We used multiple ferry companies. There is lots of choice BUT the ferry companies tend to service one specific group of islands. So, you need to think about your itinerary and match it up against the most convenient ferry routes.

There is also a choice between fast ferry and slower ones. The ferry schedules are sometimes reduced in mid October.

We determine a general schedule but we only book ferries and lodging a day or two ahead. Last time our only constraint on leaving Piraeus was a flight from Crete three weeks later. We stayed longer than we expected on one island, less on another.

We got a good book from the library that had an up to date listing of the ferry companies, routes by island grouping, etc.

Last year after driving through Peloponnese and visiting Hydra we went from Piraeus-Sifnos-Paros-Naxos-Crete (stop in Santorini). In a prior year we went south form Marmarmis to Rhodes,etc. Lots of options.

We used multiple ferry companies. There is lots of choice BUT the ferry companies tend to service one specific group of islands. So, you need to think about your itinerary and match it up against the most convenient ferry routes.

There is also a choice between fast ferry and slower ones. The ferry schedules are sometimes reduced in mid October.

 

We determine a general schedule but we only book ferries and lodging a day or two ahead. Last time our only constraint on leaving Piraeus was a flight from Crete three weeks later. We stayed longer than we expected on one island, less on another.

 

We got a good book from the library that had an up to date listing of the ferry companies, routes by island grouping, etc.

 

Last year after driving through Peloponnese and visiting Hydra we went from Piraeus-Sifnos-Paros-Naxos-Crete (stop in Santorini). In a prior year we went south form Marmarmis to Rhodes,etc. Lots of options.

i'm almost convinced we may fly to save time as we only have two weeks

I had a quote from Celestyal (which isn't a ferry anyway), the quote was expensive and they no longer allow hop-on and hop off.

also, as much as we'd love to wing it, there are five of us in our family, so, probably better to pre-book accommodation

We did a fly in trip when I was working and time was at a premium. Flew to Istanbul. Flew to the Turkish coast (wonderful). Ferry from Marmaris to Rhodes (very close), then flew to Santorini, then Crete, and home thru Athens

It was a good trip. We did it in April so there was lots of tourist accomodation available. We did all of our own bookings.