Well in Greece !

  Health, Wellness & Happiness  Travel to Greece 

 

Tourist arrivals  up 46% in the first three months of 2015 compared to 2014 

25/ 05/ 2015
ANA - MPA -- The number of inbound visitors jumped 45.6 pct to 1.728 million in the January-March period of 2015 , from 1.187 million in the same period in 2014, while travel receipts grew 12.8 pct to 532 million euros over the same period, the Bank of Greece said on Monday May 25, 2015.

Deputy Minister Elena Koudoura, also announced the data talking on Saturday 30, May 2015 on Real Fm radio on the teddyboys' airshow
 In the official report on this years' tourism trends in the country, the central bank said that in the period under review, arrivals from within the EU-28 rose by 70.6 pct year-on-year to 1.021 million, while arrivals from outside the EU-28 increased by 20.3 pct to 708,000. Arrivals from the euro area rose by 29.7 pct, while arrivals from the non-euro area EU-28 countries rose by 105.7 pct.
More specifically, arrivals from Germany and France rose by 35.9 pct and 94.2 pct respectively, while arrivals from the United Kingdom rose by 37.7 pct. Finally, turning to the non-EU-28 countries, arrivals from Russia fell by 66.9 pct to 9,000, while those from the United States increased by 49.7 pct to 48,000. In January-March 2015, travel receipts increased by 12.8 pct year-on-year to 532 million euros.


Wellcome to the Greek Blue Zone

Welcome to Blue Zone!  What are they?

Meet the less than one hand's fingers places on globe, where, Greece, also uniquely, finds herself 


Go also to special article 


Go Greek Blue Zone, Ikaria, and meet the Greek Non-agerians' life


      How they do it?

go to full story on Greek Centenarian Menu Page


What's that?

Oh, is this a fashion on beaches in Greece?


Thankfully not yet. Learn more about what's hot on the hot Greece, on our Sun Page. There;s also an international beach code. Did you now? Go to our What a beach Page


 


Hilton in Crete 


After Athens and Kos, a third Hilton hotel is about to open in Greece, this time in Crete, by Dolphin Capital Investors (DCI) as the group appears poised to kick off a series of multifaceted investments worth a total of more than 1 billion euros in five destinations across the country between 2014 and 2016. More, ANSA med,Feb24

Your Safety Traveler

In all cases, the tourist-consumer:

  • Should acquire, for their own convenience, detailed information regarding the use of public transport at their destination, especially with regards to the cost of the journey, ticket validity and cancellations, and recommended arrival times in advance of the departure of the service.
  • Has to be aware, when using taxis, that drivers are obliged, upon request, to issue official receipts for the total cost of the journey, which include vehicle’s registration number and  owner’s name.
  • In the event of any omission or violations of the above, you may submit a complaint or claim on a 24h basis to the Tourist Police at the number 1571.
go to the official of Greek Tourism Ministry Visit  Greece Page


UK travel advise for Greece: watch you wallet

Most visits to Greece are trouble-free, but theft of wallets and handbags are common on the metro and in crowded tourist places. Leave valuables in a safe place at your hotel or apartment. You should maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as in the UK. There have been some racially motivated attacks, mostly in inner-city areas.

Personal attacks, including sexual assault and rape, are generally rare in Greece, although there have been incidents involving British nationals in some holiday resorts frequented by large numbers of youth tourists. In some cases the alleged attackers were also British nationals. In many cases excessive drinking by either the victim or the offender preceded the incident.

Australia updated travel advise to Greece

  • We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions in Greece. You should exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia. Monitor the media and other sources for changes to local travelling conditions.
  • Australians visiting Greece should be aware of the possibility that retail banking services throughout Greece may at times become very limited at short notice. Make sure you have more than one means of payment with you (cash, debit cards, credit cards), and make sure you have enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays. See Safety and security.
  • Protests and demonstrations can occur in cities across Greece with little warning. Australians are advised to avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent. Areas in Athens that have been affected by demonstrations and riots include Syntagma Square, Monastiraki, Omonia and Exarchia.
  • Strikes affecting air, sea and rail transport, as well as taxi services happen regularly in Greece. If you are affected by transport disruptions, you should monitor the media, maintain contact with your airline, your travel agent and your insurer, and be prepared to change your travel plans. See Safety and security.
  • If you intend to hire cars, quad bikes, motorcycles, jet skis or engage in adventure sports such as bungee jumping, talk to your travel insurer to check if these activities are covered by your insurance policy, and seek advice on any restrictions that may apply (such as if you are not licensed for those vehicles in Australia). Read more at our Travel insurance page.
  • If you intend to drive in Greece, you must carry a valid International Driving Permit and your Australian drivers licence.
  • There is an ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe. In the past, terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities.
  • Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
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The no cash shock of Greece's 2015 Summer

...Tourists have been seemingly unaffected by the country's current economic turmoil despite the publiced, -and- reproduced, malicious international media presentations that Vacation to Greece could be under question or cancelled , especially under the Capital Control imposed measures to the Greek ATMs and also  by the fear of local banks shutting down because of a lack of funds.


 Even the Grexit fear to travelers have brought to country blessed tourism profit results. To the miserable creditors' approach sticked just to numbers, and loosing "the picture" of this land, show to the world the exact opposite. The love of Greece, the Dream to Greece, the Magic that's Greece, simply turn the world travelers to react conversly. 


Don't miss !

the Greek Breakfast excellence 



The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels goes on with its ambitious initiative to establish a breakfast menu in all hotels of the country through the exclusive use of local Greek products and each destination’s cuisine.

In a timeframe of five years, the chamber aims for guests at hotels throughout Greece to become acquainted with the local gastronomic wealth and local products via Greek breakfast.

According to Mr George Pittas, such a program needs time and hard work since it’s mainly all about hoteliers changing their attitudes.

“For years there was an attitude that either underestimated breakfast as a meal or served it based on international standards (continental American or English breakfast),” he stressed.

Hotels that take part in the “Greek Breakfast” program will receive a special seal to display on their premises. The seal ensures quality standards and can also be used as a promotional and marketing tool to increase clientele and competitiveness. According to a study conducted by Agropole, a food and agribusiness-consulting company, the serving of Greek breakfast in hotels in the short term would bring a steady clientele, an increase in bookings by 15 percent, a rise in turnover by 10 percent, while the hotel promotion through mass and electronic media would grow by six percent.

Enjoy, by your taste-and-vision cencors ,the blessed Greek-landers' breakfast suggestions on the  slideshow above




Oh that Jump!

In one of the most famous beaches of Greece, the Navagio Beach (“navagio” means “shipwreck”) in Zakynthos, a group of adventurous people did base jumping free falls!

Navagio Beach takes its name by the shipwreck which was washed offshore on a secluded beach of Zakynthos and today is one of the most alluring sights on the island.

The shipwreck happened in 1982, when the ship Panagiotis, carrying contraband cigarettes from Turkey in international waters in order to sell them at an agreed point, lost its course and fell into the rocks of the northwestern side of Zakynthos. Until then, the beach was called Agios Georgios.

Due to the inaccessibility of the area the waters have remained crystal clear, and during the latest years of Greek crisis, this particular Greek beach become of the most popular, and often the first in popularity

among world travelers. 

Today it appears to be already sold by this governent, but nobody tells clearly if it is or it m is not.For more, go to our  What a Beach Page

 

Wonderland Greece

Explore ! The Butterflies' Valley on Rhodes island 

By Tripadvisor




When the nature itself paints....!  explore
Since the early 1990s, Lesvos has quite rightly established itself as one of the premier birding destinations within the Mediterranean basin. It combines the excitement of migration with several key species which can be otherwise difficult to see elsewhere in Europe. Go to our Greece Wonderland Page

 no matter what, ... feel Greece !


From Greece, for Greece. By the international travel blogs , expert views and special travelers

 Where-to Greek 

Travel by Telegraph 14 July 2013

Greece cultural tours, activity and special interest holidays Complete guide to the best cultural and activity breaks in Greece, from food and wine tours to yacht charters and beach clubs MORE 


AN EXCELLENT  Guide To Athens

by a HOW-TO-GROW-MOUSTACHE traveler enthousiast Go to the Guide   

Cyclades, the Sea diamonds, know them all!

Get to know Greece's little-visited Small Cyclades islands by hopping between them by ferry, or be more energetic with swimming, walking and sea kayaking trip The Guardian, Friday 12 July 2013 

Travel queries in brief: 

by Travel Magazine 

JULY 14 2013 

Activity holidays in Europe, camping kit, Greek island hopping 

Sophie Butler responds to readers' queries, including advice on affordable activity breaks in Europe and sailing to the Greek port of Piraeus Read more on  Telegraph Travel


eDreams in Greece!

operating a mosaic of more than 2,000 islands where travel is key eDreams,enters Greece. gr.edreams.com, an online travel agency fully adapted to the Greek market,


Cheap Holidays to Greece


Greece is split up into many smaller regions and islands each with it's own atmosphere offering unique holidays. With just over 400 beaches, some of the worlds most beautiful coasts can be found here. Greece is also famous for it's vast cultural tradition and folklore making it one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. find out, island per island, on Sunshine.co.uk 

Magnifica Cruiseship crushed at Piraeus Port 

The 2,4690 foreign passengers and 976 crew memebers , are all in good health and safe Just  technical  damage and a small fracture  on the cruise ship are mentioned so far  by the technical stuff of the Magnifica  cruiseship with Panama flag, which crashed in the early hours Wednesday in the breakwater of the port in Piraeus. The causes of the accident  are not clarified up to now





 Athens , Destination Nr.1 
 Tripadvisor


Once known for smog, traffic and tacky architecture, Athens is a city reformed thanks to fortunes brought by the 2004 Summer Olympics writes the  the Tripadvisor special Athens Page. Spotless parks and streets, an ultra-modern subway, new freeways, an accessible airport and all signs in perfect English make the city easily negotiable. Meriting more than a stopover en route to the islands, sophisticated Athens sites include many pillars of Western history, from the Acropolis to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, as well as treasures in the National Archaeological Museum.  Go to Tripadvisor 



Don't miss the Laterna! ... Once you listen to it's sound, you will automatically learn to recognise it , while walking around in Athens, and other cities; streets, it is so unique,... Together with its melodies, laterna carries the history of half a century century tradition, by the joy or and melancholic of people that have surround it through the years, that hi-tech was replacing traditon on our ears.
Discover what makes this sound so special , by  your ears only .....

Live art, in every glance you take, every step you make... 

In Athens, the Last Man Painting  Mr. Dimitriou, 78, has never met a Hollywood star, but he has painted thousands of them. Nearly every week since the age of 15, he has immortalized legends of the screen in dreamlike friezes of love, anger, pride or temptation — Today, wrote the NYT he is the last living movie billboard painter in Greece, and one of only a handful in Europe.Go to our StreetArt in Athens Special Page 

Meet the Koulouri!

 just next to you around the corner Traditional best of Street Bites 

Athens' best street foods and stalls, go  

Get your mobile
travel guides for Greece


You definitely find all the hot, useful and most updated links on Greek to me !  Choose the Greek island you are, or dream of or intend to visit, by the Greek islands' travel guide apps, on our Special Page



In the Palace of Knossos: A strike on the head of the tourists terrified them , 19 seriously injured


STRIKE ON THE TOURISTS’ HEAD INSIDE the ANCIENT GREEK PALACE 

Nineteen Russian tourists on Friday, May 29, 2015, were injured in a lightning strike at the archaeological site of Knossos, on the island of Crete. A 46-year-old woman suffered a heart attack and she is being treated in hospital. Another nine people were slightly injured and others are suffering from shock.

The Russian tourists went down a tree with an umbrella to protect themselves from the rain when the lightning struck. Ambulances rushed to the area to give first aid and transfer the injured people to the hospital.go to our sosgreece site on tumblr

Greek

destinatinations 

much more than sea+sun say the Germans


According to the German Travel Association (DRV) Greece remains one of the most popular tourist destination for German visitors

The Greek-German Working Group that record the best practices in order to promote Greece for holiday making, has found that in fact Greek destinations have much more to offer than just the sun and the sea, and they share the common belief that the development of medical, marine and religious tourism can extend the tourist season which is limited between May and September. Germans spend € 64bn every year on traveling. .