How much does a solo trip to Greece cost. Independent holidays in Greece. Tips & Tricks

Greece is a country where attractions with centuries-old history, such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, Areopagus, are combined with picturesque islands, luxurious beaches and spa hotels. Add here also the magnificent Mediterranean cuisine, the romance of narrow cobblestone streets, and you get the perfect vacation spot, a paradise that really has everything! Is it possible to relax in Greece and at the same time save a little? You will find the answer in this article.

Planning a vacation

The tourist season in Greece usually starts at the end of April and ends at the end of October. The peak season is July-August. During these two months, many hotels are full, and it is almost impossible to rent a free room, the beaches are crowded, and prices in local taverns and other places of recreation are significantly increased. If you want to get to know Greece "tete-a-tete", avoiding the ubiquitous crowds of tourists, we recommend visiting this country in September or the first half of October. At this time, the main flow of tourists leaves, the hotels are empty, and prices become lower. At the same time, the sea still pampers with its warmth, and local shops offer many discounted goods. Another option for the budget traveler is May - early June. The sea at this time, of course, is a little cool, and you are unlikely to be able to soak up the beach. However, if the purpose of your trip is to get acquainted with the sights, then this period will suit you perfectly.

Choosing tickets

The best option to get to Greece for most travelers, of course, is air travel. Direct flights exist between many "millionaires" of our country and Greek Athens, Thessaloniki, as well as popular islands. The cost of the air ticket depends on which carrier you prefer. The average cost of a flight with Aeroflot is about 20,000 rubles. The local air carrier Aegean Airlines offers to fly for 22,000 - 25,000 rubles. In flight, you will have to spend, on average, about four hours. If you want to see the islands of Rhodes or Crete, then charter flights will come to your aid, the main advantage of which is a direct flight and relative economy. However, if you are planning your trip in winter or in the off-season, then you cannot do without a transfer - you will be offered a route through Athens or Thessaloniki.

Getting to Greece by train is quite difficult. Direct railway communication between Moscow and Athens was terminated many years ago. If you are afraid of flying, then the bus will most likely become an alternative to the plane. Flights are offered mainly to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. On the way, you will have to make a transplant, and not even one. For example, in Minsk, and then in the city of Katowice - in the south of Poland. There are also other flights: with a change in Brest, Prague, Vilnius or Sofia. The fare, on average, is about 10,000 rubles, you will have to spend about three days on the road. Such a trip can be economical only in financial terms, but not in terms of time.

If you plan to visit the islands of the Aegean Sea, then you should also find out the prices for ferries. As a rule, it is cheaper to get to the desired island by flying to Athens and transferring to the ship there. This recommendation will be especially relevant for those who decide to visit not the popular islands of Rhodes or Crete, but small ones, for example, Milos or Santorini. The cost of tickets for the same route can vary significantly, as it depends on many factors: the carrier company, the speed of the vessel you have chosen, and the type of cabin. You can find out the exact cost and book a ticket on one of the specialized sites. You can easily find them on the Internet.

Tricks of an economical holiday

In general, low prices are one of the undeniable advantages of holidays in Greece. And how nice that costs can be reduced even more. Here are the tricks experienced travelers share with you:

It is best to book a hotel room in advance. This will save you money, especially if you do it during seasonal discounts, for example, in May or October;
there are enough all-inclusive hotels in Greece. But if you prefer to eat on your own, then the cheapest option is to dine in local taverns. Here you will be offered homemade food at affordable prices;
most travel agencies offer discounts and promotions on excursions. Buying them as a “set”, you can get one excursion as a gift;
do not hesitate to bargain with local taxi drivers if you decide to use their services rather than public transport. They like to overcharge tourists.
You won't be able to save much on car rental in Greece. Choose a small economical car, because gasoline prices bite here. Oh, and don't forget your international driver's license.

As you can see, there are many ways to save money on holidays in Greece. Armed with our tips, you can get a lot of positive emotions from your vacation here!

Greece really has everything: amazing beaches with black and red sand, and centuries-old museums with monasteries, underwater caves and ancient excavations, the opportunity to swim with turtles and dolphins, and Greek cuisine will appeal to even the pickiest gourmet, mild climate and magnificent nature. The swimming season here lasts from the end of May until October. Perhaps all this explains why Greece is so loved by tourists.

1) Children in Greece will love the Attic Zoo in the forest. Almost under natural conditions, animals of 350 species live, some of them are listed in the Red Book. You can visit it daily from 9 am to sunset. Children under 3 years old are admitted free of charge.

While on vacation in Greece, it is worth visiting at least one excursion to feel the mythical spirit of ancient history that literally breathes every stone of the homeland of the Olympic Games. The main attraction of Athens at all times was the Parthenon. Greece is rich in its geography: the nature of each of its corners is unique - the south of the Balkan Peninsula differs from the north in vegetation, the Pilopones Peninsula also has its own unique microclimate. The Greek islands, located on the waters of three seas - the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean, annually attract a huge number of lovers of quality recreation. In Balos Bay, the waters of all three seas mix, where you can admire the colorful sea, Mediterranean fur seals and sea turtles from a height of 137 meters.

The most visited resorts of this country are the picturesque places of the Halkidiki peninsula, on the map it looks like a pronounced “trident”. On the easternmost cape is the monastic republic of Athos, revered by the Orthodox, where the monasteries of Meteora rise on the tops of huge rocks in the form of pillars. There are few sandy beaches here, but rocky shores and pebbles provide crystal clear water. On the island of Crete near Heraklion is the largest aquarium in Greece Cretaquarium. 60 aquariums are inhabited by more than 2500 varieties of tropical and Mediterranean fauna. You can consider them, armed with periscopes, microscopes, stereoscopes. Modern audio and video systems allow you to dive into the bewitching underwater world. In addition, Crete is rich in ancient monuments and stunning scenery. You can buy a high-quality fur coat at any time of the year in the fur coat capital of Greece - the city of Kastoria and neighboring cities.

7) All resorts have diving centers, there is a rental of surf equipment, yacht trips are organized. Those who like to swim underwater without scuba gear (snorkelers) will be pleasantly surprised by the perfectly clear water, and you don’t even have to dive deep to see the octopus and moray eels.

Many tour operators make considerable discounts on tours to Greek resorts for early bookings. It is difficult to come up with a more suitable country for a family vacation, with such a diverse service, mild climate, and an abundance of interesting sights.

Do you want to spend holidays in Greece in 2017? I want to, and therefore I carefully approached the planning, and at the same time decided to tell you exactly how to plan a vacation in Greece, what nuances should be taken into account, how best to choose the time and place for a vacation, so as not to regret your choice even once.

Why is it here

Once Greece was a stronghold of culture and even spirituality, which acted as a kind of base for the formation of the culture of all of Europe. Now it is a good and inexpensive resort area, which attracts vacationers with children from all over the world.

Tourists in Greece enjoy the wonderful climate, the abundance of cultural and historical monuments, as well as the well-developed infrastructure oriented towards travelers. Why holidays with children in Greece are a good solution:

very mild climate - there is a fairly low level of humidity, it is rarely stuffy, and the island is simply immersed in greenery;
stunning natural landscapes set you in a sublime mood, and stunning beaches and a delightful sea introduce you to an atmosphere of relaxation and fun;
the local population itself is very friendly and hospitable, which makes the rest just fabulous;
there is practically no crime in Greece;
unlike Turkey, so beloved by tourists, childhood infectious diseases are rare here - it is really safe to relax with a child;
as in many popular tourist countries, there are a lot of Russian-speaking employees here - there is no feeling of a language barrier and helplessness;
many hotels offer special conditions for families with children - for example, a special menu;
the cost of rest is quite affordable for most families, and many hotels do not require payment for children (almost all hotels do not charge for children under 12 years old, many do not require payment for children under 14-18 years old);
a large amount of excursion material - Greece is simply full of historical places that are associated with myths, world history and literature;
many hotels provide special conditions for children's recreation - at the hotel, a family with a baby will be offered a special crib and high chair, they will provide a stroller for walking, and they will also provide children with the attention of animators;
Almost all hotels are equipped for families with children.

The main thing to do is to choose the right resorts or islands of Greece for recreation, which can meet any wishes of parents with a small child.

By the way, it should be said separately about the "adult" vacation - it is clear that any parent wants to provide the baby with the most comfortable vacation, but the Greeks do not forget about the parents - a large number of excursions, good water parks, beaches and pools, as well as bars and discos for everyone Those who yearn for a little break from parenthood will kindly open their doors to every vacationer.

Choose a place

Where is the best place to stay in Greece? In fact, you can relax here almost anywhere - it will still be of high quality, sunny, fun and tasty, but, of course, different resorts have their own differences. So, the resorts of Greece can be divided into mainland and island. If you want to relax on the mainland, then welcome to Chalkidiki or the Peloponnesian Peninsula.

If you are thinking about where to relax in Greece and see something resembling a trident on the map - This is Halkidiki.

Each "prong" is a peninsula, Kassandra, Athos and Sithonia. Washes the peninsula of the Aegean Sea. Most often, a trip to Greece on the mainland means trips to Halkidiki. There is not too deep sea, beaches with pure white sand and a large number of attractions. Kassandra resort will appeal to those who would like to combine family vacations with an active nightlife.

Sithonia - a green peninsula, where there are not so many people and it is quite quiet. Here you can find a peaceful retreat, a lazy beach holiday, as well as many pine forests and olive groves.

Here, time flows in a completely different way, and you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest, even if it lasts a little more than a week.

Athos - a place popular in the religious world. Specific, to be precise. The fact is that St. Athos is located here - this is a monastic city in which there are about 20 active monasteries of different faiths. It's hard to get there.

In the central part of Halkidiki there is a town Neaya Kallikratia - small hotels, a good beach made of a mixture of sand and pebbles, as well as a large number of shops and clubs.

Another peninsula called Peloponnese more suitable for holidays with children of middle school age - they will be interested to get acquainted with ancient sights.

There is also a resort on the mainland called Pieria - it stretches along the foot of the Olimka. There are more cultural events and activities, as well as unique nature (most of the territory is under state protection).

island resorts

Among the islands, the most popular Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Santorini.

Crete boasts a variety of excursion programs, there are several resort regions that differ significantly from each other. It makes sense to choose according to the hotel - a good hotel for families with small children will make your vacation simply unforgettable.

Many are also attracted by the islands of Corfu, Zakynthos and Rhodes. The Ionian Sea will allow you to get acquainted with marine life, and it is also worth considering that there is a rather rich club life here.

However, Rhodes in its eastern part is quite calm - here you can enjoy a leisurely vacation on the beaches with the purest sea sand, visit an amusement park with children or visit a huge Aquarium. Rhodes also boasts the Valley of the Butterflies.

How to decide where to go:

choose for yourself the main indicators - in my case, this is the possibility of fast sea travel and an average pricing policy;
weed out those resorts in Greece that are not suitable;
to choose one of the remaining ones for rest, look at the photos and compare the reviews.

So you can understand which island of Greece is right for you, as well as where to go on vacation in Greece to the mainland resort.

If you are planning to get to Greece and Thessaloniki on your own for a vacation, then the airport is located there.

Make your own list of preferences and you will understand where in Greece you will like it the most.

Choose the time

You also need to think about when it is better to relax in Greece. In Greece, the holiday season never ends, however, in the tourism business there is the concept of a high season - from May to October, and it is quite difficult to find an inexpensive tour at this time.

To travel to Greece and not go broke, consider two ways to save money:

early booking (if you have a vacation planned with hard dates, it is better to start planning a few months in advance);
last-minute trips (suitable for the category of tourists who are not tied to dates and may well get ready for a vacation in a couple of days).

in winter

In January and February, all kinds of carnivals are held here - various entertainments, costumed masquerades and general fun are guaranteed. During this period, many vacationers come to Greece. In winter, it makes sense to go to mountain resorts. And many girls go to Greece in winter for shopping in January - the season of big discounts attracts all fashionistas.

March-April

A great time for an exploration trip. Everything is blooming, the sun is not hot and gentle, it is not hot yet and it is already warm. By the way, vacationers who go to Crete and Rhodes bathe in April.

May and June

Great time for a beach holiday. The ambient air is warmed up to about +30, and the water in the sea is up to +24.

July and August

Traveling with small children, and even more so with babies, should not be planned for this time - these are the hottest months. At this time, a sailing regatta takes place, and if you're lucky, you can get to the wine festival.

September October

The velvet season starts in September and continues throughout October. There are few tourists, but it is still warm, and the water is at a pleasant temperature in the sea, but thanks to the fresh winds, solar activity is much easier to tolerate. At the end of October, the beach season closes.

November December

Holidays in November and December can be wellness or ski. There are healing springs on small islands around the island of Santorini, almost all hotels have spas and saunas, and you can also take a walk at the autumn fairs with pleasure.

Visas

So, you have found out when it is better to relax in Greece, how and where to relax on the mainland and islands, and now we will find out how to get a visa for a holiday in Greece with children and whether it is possible to get to Greece without a visa.

In fact, in the summer you can really get to Greece for a couple of weeks literally without a visa - when traveling by plane or arriving by ferry (for example, from Turkey), polite customs officers will issue a visa right on the spot.

The cost of such a visa last year was about 30 euros, duration - up to 15 days. However, if you are traveling to Greece with children, it is better not to take risks and apply for a visa in advance.

The procedure for obtaining a visa is usual - you need to send all the necessary documents and come to the embassy on the appointed day. If you plan to travel on a tour package, then the representative of the travel company usually handles the registration.

Please note that according to the new rules, when traveling with a child (when only one of the parents is traveling), written permission will be required. And if both parents travel with the child, but the surnames are different, you will need to provide a marriage certificate.

Nuances

If you are planning a beach holiday in Greece, then by all means take care of protecting your child from sunburn.

Do you want to organize an independent seaside vacation in Greece? Look for accommodation in advance, because most of the villas that are suitable for families (especially if a child is traveling) are booked by travel agencies.

Good camping is a great alternative to a beach holiday, especially since Greece has a whole network of excellent campsites organized by the Hellenic Tourism Organization.

Like snow on his head, fell suddenly. One wonderful evening, I was flipping through social media feeds and then bam - amazing photos of a classmate from Greece. Want Want! I immediately opened the site of one of the travel agencies in parallel and sat down on my ass in surprise - the cost! This prices! And I want to go to Greece with even greater force.

I decide to fly savage, especially in my practice it already was. ;)

Well, what are you with me? Let's fly!

How to travel to Greece on your own

To start, I made plan actions:

route;
Schengen visa;
insurance;
tickets;
hotel reservation.

If you act according to plan, then not far off. ;)

Of course, you won’t be fed up with concepts alone, now I’ll tell you how I performed travel plan forGreece.

Where to go

At the outset, you need to decide route. To be honest, it was difficult for me, I wanted both in and on Crete warm up the ass, and before Rhodes get. I was literally torn to pieces, as a result, Crete won in my internal duel. :)

Schengen visa

Nobody canceled the visa regime, so the second important thing is obtaining a visa! Of course, if you are the owner of a multi-visa or Schengen visa, then you can skip this section, and if not, then read on. I thought it would be difficult to get a Schengen visa to Greece, but I was wrong, in Embassy of Greece in Moscow me her done without any problems, is very loyal to Russian tourists;).

Insurance

This obligatory condition If you already have a Schengen visa, you can risk your health and go without insurance.

And if you, like me, needed to draw up Schengen then I want to tell you without insurance it is impossible to get it! In general, if you want to relax in Greece with peace of mind, then I advise you to purchase an insurance policy, if something happens - you will have to pay crazy money for treatment. I think everything is clear with insurance, we move on.

Tickets

Since I flew during the tourist season, from Moscow to the island of Crete itself was straightflight you could say lucky. :) I know from experience that the easiest way to find direct flights With mid May to mid September, at other times there is an opportunity to get to the island with transfer in Athens or Thessaloniki.

Hotel reservation

When the visa and ticket are in your pocket, the route plan has been drawn up, it's time to move on to hotel booking. I always compare the cost of staying in hotels in different booking systems, for example, I choose the most advantageous option where I make the reservation.

So, the hotel is booked, it remains only to pack your suitcase and board the plane, have a nice trip! ;)

How to prepare for an independent trip to Greece? What are the prices in the country in 2019? What you need to know when going on vacation? Useful tips and reviews of tourists.

Visa to Greece on your own in 2019

How to get to Greece cheaply?

The easiest way, in our opinion, is to get into the country by plane, especially since tickets are not too expensive. The cheapest way to fly on vacation to Greece in the off season is flights from Moscow to Thessaloniki and Athens cost from 6 thousand rubles round trip. You can fly to Crete, Corfu and Rhodes in the low season from 9 thousand rubles. In summer, air tickets are more expensive - from 10-11 thousand rubles. Tickets from St. Petersburg cost from 12-14 thousand rubles.

How to book a hotel for a holiday in Greece?

If you have planned an independent vacation in Greece in the summer of 2019, we strongly recommend booking a hotel in advance so that it is not excruciatingly painful: good inexpensive rooms are sold out very quickly. It is better to search for a hotel on the Roomguru.ru service, as it compares prices in several booking systems - no need to search manually.

Prices depend on where and when you are going to rest in Greece. A double standard in a 1-3 * hotel will cost 25-45 euros in the low season (in the high season the price can be twice as high). 4 and 5 star hotels cost from 70 euros and up. Want to save money and unpretentious to the conditions? You can check into a hostel, where a bed costs from 10 to 35 euros.

Food prices in Greece - 2019

Transport

Public transport is quite well developed; in large cities, it can be used to get to almost any place. The most common - bus and tram, in Athens there is a metro.

bus carrier- KTEL company. Tickets are inexpensive and depend on the distance (for intercity flights - about 5 euros per 100 km). A trip around the city costs from 1.10 euros, the ticket needs to be validated. Before stopping, press a special button, and if you want to get on the bus, wave your hand to the driver to stop. You can buy tickets in special machines, in kiosks and from the driver.

According to the reviews of tourists, the schedule often changes, it is better to constantly check it. Arrive early to buy your ticket and secure your seat (loose seating is common, even if seats are listed on tickets). By the way, buses have an unpleasant habit of leaving a little earlier than the appointed time.

If you plan to actively travel independently in Greece, for greater mobility, we recommend taking rent a moped or automobile(just follow the traffic rules). You can rent a car online at Skyscanner Car Hire, so you don't have to depend on the Greek intermittent bus schedules.

taxi drivers, as elsewhere, they try to cash in on tourists. Deception schemes are the most common: a "forgotten" counter, the longest path. Do not sit down with private owners, look for official companies. Landing costs about 3.20 euros, 1 km - about 0.80 euros. You can order a car online at the service (it is also possible to order a transfer between cities or from / to the airport) - this is convenient, reliable and safe.

Do you plan to move between the islands during your independent vacation in Greece? There is nothing easier, because the country has an extensive network water transport: catamarans, high-speed and conventional ferries, hydrofoils, taxi boats. Navigation is carried out from May to October. The schedule is unstable, check on or . The range of prices is large, the cost depends on the type of vessel, distance, carrier, conditions. This type of transport cannot be called cheap: for example, a ferry from Athens to Rhodes costs from 47 euros, from Santorini - from 30 euros. You can save on ferries by booking tickets a couple of months in advance. It is also cheaper to cross at night - this way you will save not only on the ticket, but also on accommodation.