To Greece on your own or a tour operator as cheaper. Greece on your own: useful resources and recommendations

Greece is a member of the European Union, its visa is Schengen. If you already have a Schengen visa of any state, this question is closed for you. If there is no visa, then it must be done. The requirements for Schengen visas are standard, these are a questionnaire, financial documents, booking tickets and hotels. IN last years One can note a positive trend in the issuance of visas by Greece: it has become much more willing to issue multiple visas to Russians, while previously it issued mainly single-entry visas.

Buying airline tickets and booking hotels

Quite a lot of planes fly to Greece from Russia, you can find suitable option wherever you fly from. The offers of some companies are quite budget-friendly. In general, if you take tickets no later than a month before departure, you can confidently count on a price of about 100-130 euros for a one-way ticket from Moscow. Often, airlines arrange promotions for which it turns out to find cheaper options. It is convenient to search for tickets on sites such as skyscanner.com.

If you are flying to the islands in Greece, then pay attention to flights with transfers, usually it is carried out in Athens. This option is often much cheaper.

With hotels in Greece, not everything is so simple. IN high season, in summer, room rates become quite high. This is an argument in favor of booking in advance. The sooner you start planning your trip, the cheaper it will cost you. An excellent period for traveling to Greece will be the time of early autumn: September or early October. Prices are already low, and the sea is still warm. It is convenient to search for hotels on services such as booking.com.

Where and when to go

If you have the opportunity to travel in the low season, this is the most profitable and pleasant option. The high season lasts from late spring to early autumn. On the other hand, holidays in Greece are good warm sea and good weather on the islands, so you won’t experience such pleasure at all in the off-season.

The nature of Greece is very diverse, everyone can find something that will appeal to him. In addition, wherever you go, you will not be bored: many excursions and interesting places can be found anywhere in Greece. The most equipped holiday destinations in Greece: Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Peloponnese. Chalkidiki, Kos. Santorini and Mykonos are places that deserve a separate discussion. Incredibly beautiful, they are also associated with many legends. But the prices for rest here are higher. If you want to relax in seclusion and feel more peace, it is recommended to choose other islands.

The sea and beaches are good anywhere in Greece, and healthy Mediterranean food will delight you wherever you are.

The idea to travel independently arises among tourists for various reasons: someone is tired of standard, similar tours, someone wants to exclude communication with representatives of travel agencies and guides, and someone just wants to save money. What are the advantages and disadvantages of self organized recreation in Greece? Let's try to figure it out.

Is there any savings?

When it comes to independent trip to Greece, most often we hear the comments “Oh, this is very cool! You'll save a lot of money!" But in fact, this is not entirely true. Save or not - it all depends on the type of your trip.

If the main goal is beach holiday V good hotel with food, animators and a lot of other entertainment - then it is more profitable to buy a tour from the operator. They most often buy places in such hotels in blocks, for which they receive a significant discount.

The second option is a holiday with local flavor. In Greece, there are a lot of cozy hotels with rooms at affordable prices. Here you get a chance to get close to local life without unnecessary tourist props, but you will be deprived of the benefits that promise hotel complexes: free pools, discos, cocktails, etc.

And the third option for recreation is traveling around the country, and this is always a cost. In this case, you are unlikely to be able to save enough money to end up with a smaller amount than the cheapest package tour.

director himself

So, what do we get when relaxing in Greece without a tour operator?

• The responsibility for everything lies solely with you. What does this mean? Many tourists tend to blame the tour operator for all the errors associated with the rest, ultimately blaming him for the “ruined vacation”. Flight delay? Blame it! Is the air conditioner broken in the room? Blame it! At the resort, rain is again his tricks! But when you organize the trip yourself, perhaps all the minor flaws will not look so terrible.
• Free excursion program. You decide what and when to watch, and hotel guides do not impose their services on you at inflated prices. good Russian speaking guide can be found via the Internet, and if it’s completely “cheap and cheerful” - go sightseeing only with a guide!
• Are you tired of Crete? And why not live a couple of days on the famous Santorini? Is the weather bad in the Cyclades? Then let's go to the Peloponnese! By the way, we haven't seen Olympia yet! Absolute freedom of movement - this is how a real vacation should be, and this is how it is, if organized according to your scenario!

But, as you know, in every barrel of honey there is a fly in the ointment. We list the main pitfalls in the field of independent tourism.

• The main disadvantage of this type of recreation is the lack of time. Not every working person can afford the luxury of spending precious hours on paperwork, bookings, confirmations, transfers, etc. It is easier for busy people to give money for ready tour and calmly wait for the day of departure.
• Feelings, self-doubt. Many people, especially older ones, will feel much more comfortable under the wing of a travel agency than left to their own devices. Even if the thought of independent organization causes you to panic, it is better not to torment yourself and boldly go for a ready-made tour.
• The language barrier. Let's say you're not a polyglot, and you don't know any language other than Russian. Regular walks with English dictionary in the hands they make you feel sad, and it’s impossible to learn Greek in a short time - then the journey will not be as easy for you as you would like.

photo: travelswithpersephone.blogspot.com

And one moment…

In April, news sites and travel portals the news spread that the Greeks were going to issue Schengen visas to Russian citizens for a period of 5 years. To do this, you must have at least one Schengen in your passport, preferably multiple. In practice, this is not entirely true: you should not console yourself with hopes for a coveted 5-year multivisa, especially if you are not an experienced traveler.

However, almost everyone can now get an annual Schengen. In 2014, the Greeks intend to attract at least 1.5 million Russians to the resorts of the country, which means, among other things, the loyal attitude of the consulates.

• Do not rush to make an advance payment for the hotel, as there is no guarantee that you will like the chosen room and the surrounding area in general. In this case, you will either have to lose the money that the hotel freezes on the card, or spend the whole vacation where you don’t like it.

On booking.com, you can choose options for hotels, hotels and apartments without prepayment or with free cancellation: such documents are also accepted at consulates.

• study well customs regulations. Organized groups tourists are always warned what and in what quantity they can buy, so that there are no problems at the border later. If you are relaxing on your own, there is a temptation to buy everything and a lot - and it’s not a fact that all souvenirs can be taken out of the country and brought to the territory of Russia.
• The Internet is your main assistant when traveling in Greece. Therefore, it is worth deciding in advance which card of which operator you will buy. Compare prices and calculate what will be more profitable for you.

Greece is one of the best places in order to try their hand at organizing recreation. The consequences of a protracted economic crisis tourists here do not feel: food prices in Greece are lower than ours, the quality of life is an order of magnitude higher. There is practically no question of security here, so tourists can safely travel around the country without worrying about the level of crime. And in general, Greece with its many islands looks like a specially created scenery for bright vacation photos - perfect place for traveling!

As A.P. Chekhov, “everything is in Greece”, which is hard to disagree with - the azure sea awaits visitors, high mountains green slopes, charming picturesque islands And beautiful beaches, antique monuments ancient civilization And unique museums as well as excellent local wines and national cuisine.
The main part of the country's territory (80%) is occupied by mountains and plateaus, and vegetation in the form of forests and shrubs covers 44% of its area.

The three main geographic areas are:

1) mainland (from Central Greece in the south to Thrace in the north);
2) the Peloponnese peninsula (connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth);
3) about 6,000 large and small islands in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian seas (most are part of an island group called Greek archipelago; Crete, Rhodes, Dodecanese, Cyclades).

A huge cultural heritage, combined with a wonderful natural component, provided the pilgrimage of millions of tourists to both mainland, and to the island (mainly a beach holiday), but at the same time there are still quite a lot of wonderful untouched corners. In addition to tourism, which is the main way to make a profit, agriculture is also developed - growing cereals, vegetables and fruits, as well as winemaking traditions that have long been strong (the favorable climate and soil contribute to obtaining an excellent product). Greece is the cradle of many things that are still actively used and developed all over the world - theater, the Olympic Games, as well as ancient sciences.

The culture of winemaking also did not go unnoticed in the development segment tourist routes - « wine routes» pass through picturesque places with the possibility of visiting wineries and tasting the product. It is especially pleasant to make such sorties in the prefectures of Drama, Imathia and Kilkis.

The network of hiking trails is also well developed, especially in certain areas of the country, and lovers of long walks and hiking can always use one of the trails. For example, Greek part international walking route E6 or E4 (more information at http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/touring/on_foot), as well as tracks in Argolis, Attica, Corfu, Cyclades (Naxos, Syros, Ios), Kefalonia, Lefkada, Rethymnon, Thessaloniki and Zakynthos.

We must not forget about the wide range water activities. Swimming, diving, riding water skiing, yachting is only a part of what the local sea expanses offer. The beaches of Paros offer excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, as well as beach soccer and volleyball. Explore diving in Santorini sea ​​depths. Everything related to sails is good in Mykonos, thanks to the winds. And on land you can play golf or tennis. The small but picturesque Dodecanese Kalymnos is one of the most popular places for climbing fans. And climbing skills can be trained when climbing Olympus itself or crawling along the forest slopes of Taygetos.
Trekking lovers are waiting national park Walia Calda. Nearby, in Grevena, you can book a wonderful jeep safari.

There are also several airlines that will quickly and comfortably transfer you from point A to point B: Olympic Air (www.olympicair.com), Aegean Airlines(www.aegeanair.com), Athens Airways (www.athensairways.com).

Longer, but at the same time romantic and certainly interesting, the traveler can move around sea ​​views transport. main port Greece - Piraeus - provides a huge amount of transportation between the islands and the mainland. A general site through which you can book and purchase tickets for the desired ferry in the right direction- www.ferries.gr, and the main companies are Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Nel Lines, Superfast Ferries, Anek lines and Minoan Lines. On the aforementioned site, you can also purchase tickets for international crossings - for example, to Italy, Albania, Turkey or Bulgaria, as well as plan a cruise.

And finally, one of the most comfortable ways movement, independent of others, -. The roads here are of quite decent quality, they drive adequately (especially in comparison with St. Petersburg or Moscow), so if you have international law You can organize interesting outings or a trip with stops in different places.

Greek cuisine

Shopping in Greece

Visa

How to organize independent rest in Greece - a note to the tourist. Useful articles on the "Subtleties of tourism".

A trip to Greece is the dream of every person planning their vacation. Today this dream is easily fulfilled. To do this, you do not even need to use the services of tour operators, because you can buy tickets to Greece and go there on your own. There are several questions, by solving which you can be sure of the successful implementation of the planned vacation:

Choosing a place to stay. In Greece, this will not be a problem for sure, since here every corner can rightly be called "paradise". And every tourist who has been there at least once can confirm this. Studying the country and the peculiarities of staying on its territory. Any little thing in case of unforeseen situations during the rest can help you. For example, special attention deserve the cultural and religious traditions of the country. It also doesn't hurt to check out national cuisine to know in advance what you will have to eat. Although in Greece, apart from national dishes You can always order any European delicacies.

It is important to pre-calculate your financial capabilities and draw up an approximate vacation budget. If you are only interested in a beach holiday, then you will not have any additional expenses for entertainment. Check the Internet for approximate prices for food, hotel accommodation, taxis and other services that you may need during your stay in a foreign country.

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo

Buying air tickets. Saving on this item is quite realistic. To get started, you should choose a good site, for example, Yestickets.com, where you can book tickets online without additional overpayments. Next, you need to do everything according to the instructions of the portal, choosing flights that are suitable for all parameters, booking and buying a ticket.

Finding suitable housing. Most often, vacationers prefer to rent rooms in hotels. But no less popular are rented apartments. Having studied the real estate segment in Greece, you can easily find a small studio apartment, one- or two-room apartments at the best price, not much different from the cost hotel room. You can also choose housing using the Internet, just like renting it.

Decor required documents, in particular medical insurance and visas. A medical policy will help the Chams feel more confident in a foreign country, since unforeseen situations can happen to anyone. Having a visa is a prerequisite for entering the country. Greece is currently undergoing far from the best moments of its economic situation, so the authorities are helping fast clearance documents for almost every tourist.

And the last but not the least step on the way to unforgettable vacation- checking the availability of documents, air tickets, food and water, as well as many seemingly small things, the absence of which can significantly complicate the flight to Greece.

Which airline to choose?

As mentioned above, on specialized sites you can buy an air ticket to St. Petersburg, Athens, Barcelona, ​​etc. But when buying tickets, it is important not only the direction of the flight, but also the airline whose services we are going to use. In Russia, popular companies performing regular flights to Greece are Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and many others. During the summer, the number of flights increases markedly, and direct flights begin to run from many cities from where it was impossible to reach Greece throughout the year. Flights to Athens, the capital of Greece, are made daily from Moscow.

The amazing land of Greece has long gained fame as a place where both the fertile climate, the stunning beauty of landscapes, and the most unique ancient monuments, impressive in their grandeur, converged at once. Here you can not only relax with pleasure, but also, looking out of the corner of your eye into history, draw the wisdom that is still carefully stored on the shores of its many islands. That is why tourists from all over the world strive here, allowing it to win the glory of one of the most visited countries.

Let's try to calculate how much such a vacation will cost us. It is unlikely that those who want to save money should consider the most popular, and therefore one of the most expensive islands Greece - Crete. Therefore, as an example, we will take a slightly less popular (but quite visited) and less rich in historical sights, but still quite a pretty island of Rhodes.

The cost of rest "savage"

Visa

To begin with, you will have to deal with the issuance of a visa, unless of course you already have a Schengen visa open. On the site visa application center Greece, you can find out what documents are required for a particular category of visa, find application forms and other information, including information about the visa fee. On this moment it is 35-37.5 euros per person (short-stay visa - long-stay visa). Additionally, in a number of cities a service fee is charged, which costs 19.55 euros per person. Thus, for the usual tourist travel a visa for two will cost you 109 euros.

You can apply for a visa 90 days before the trip, the application is considered at the consulate within 2 days. Here, on the website of the visa center, you can track your passport.

Flights

If you book tickets in advance, about two months in advance, they will cost you about 665 euros for two, the average price in the high season is 924 euros (again - when booking seats in advance). The flight is carried out with a transfer - usually to Athens, and then to local airport. The cheapest tickets are if you fly to Athens with Aegeanair (it's best to book tickets on the company's website).

Accommodation

If you decide to live in a hotel, then living together in a three-star hotel will cost an average of 520 euros per week (with breakfast). However, many travelers prefer to rent apartments or rooms - as a rule, it comes out much cheaper. But at the same time, it is desirable to clarify some points - for example, how old the house is, whether there is air conditioning (this sometimes happens too), and finally - how far to the beach. So, if you decide to rent an apartment, it will cost you an average of 225-500 euros (depending on location, number of rooms, etc.).
If you eat on your own, then by renting an apartment, you can cook breakfasts and dinners yourself, and dine in local taverns. Lunch for two costs an average of 25-30 euros, which means that it will take you 175-210 euros per week. Breakfast and dinner prepared from products bought in the market and in the store will cost about half as much - a little over 100 euros.
Do not forget about excursions - you can spend about 150 euros for them for two. Can be ordered sightseeing tour on the island of Rhodes, around the city, or separately visit ancient Lindos, ancient Kamir, Seven springs, visit the Butterfly Valley, and if you wish, go to the water park, where there are attractions for adults.
Given that you want to bring at least small souvenirs to friends and family, they will cost about 30 euros (magnets - from 1 euro, olive oil - an average of 5 euros, etc.).

Transfer

Transfer, as in any European country, is a mandatory item in many hotels in Greece. Individual transfers cost from 55 to 160 euros - depending on the distance. Rhodes, in principle, is a small island, so it is very convenient option see everything you want, will be renting a car. It costs about 30-35 euros per day in season plus the cost of gasoline (in the low season, in May, June and September, it is quite possible to rent a car for 15 euros). By the way, you can do this right at the airport - this will also allow you to get to your place of residence on your own and, moreover, save a little.

Cost of an organized tour

The cost of the tour starts from 1475 euros for a standard one-room room in a three-star hotel with all-inclusive meals, and from 1490 euros for four-star hotel. You can find "burning" tours that cost an average of 1000 euros (meals - breakfast only).

If you calculate all the expenses that a couple who decide to relax on their own will have to spend, such a trip will cost them a total of 1400 euros - this is if you take into account only the visa, tickets and accommodation with meals, which travel agencies usually offer. And at the same time, they themselves will have to solve a number of issues, such as: obtaining a visa, booking airline tickets, searching for a hotel or apartment. As you can see, the savings are not too big.

The charm of this amazing and mysterious country great. It is not for nothing that it is called the cradle of Western civilization, the birthplace of philosophy, culture, sciences and Olympic Games. In addition, in Greece everyone will find a place to their liking - from luxurious hotels to sparsely populated and secluded resorts. And no matter how you go to this unique country– choosing a tour or an independent holiday in Greece, you will certainly leave from there spellbound. Enchanted by her sun and sea. Her rich cultural heritage. Its hospitable and benevolent inhabitants. That's why she and Greece.