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| Image Source: Wikimedia Commons |
You might have recently heard about Greece’s financial crisis and decided to postpone your visit for a while. If you’re not sure what to expect then read on to discover why it’s still a great time to visit Greece.
The scenery in Greece isn’t going anywhere. Regardless of currency fluctuations or changes in government, the beaches of Zante are still as beautiful as ever. The sun shines in Greece just as magnificently now as at any other time of the year too and we've found some great deals to get you there.
Greek hospitality is legendary and in plentiful supply in the current climate. The unrest from earlier in the year has subsided and tourists can rest assured that Greece is a great place to explore. Mid August saw an agreement on a bailout, which has all but ensured Greece will stay in the Eurozone for the foreseeable future.
Greece is a very safe country. Don’t for a minute compare events in Greece to other countries that have recently suffered unrest. Greece’s problems are purely economic.
If you’re worried about how much currency you’ll need while visiting the various islands of Greece then make sure you take a little extra with you. By all reports currency is no longer an issue and accounts from abroad can be readily accessed. In any case credit card transactions are unrestricted and can easily be used to pay for any of your expenses within the country.
Tourists recently returned from Greece report they were not even aware that there was any internal issue. Holidays are being experienced by many people who are enjoying their Greek beach holidays just as much as they would at any other time of the year.
Due to the recent changes prices in Greece have dropped, making your upcoming holiday a little cheaper than you may have planned for. Imagine going on holiday and coming home with a little more cash than you expected?
Or being able to visit an extra island you thought was out of your budget. However you choose to treat your small windfall, Greece will provide you with hours of stories to tell your friends and family when you return home.
The history of Greece means that there are plenty of places to keep you busy as you explore. If you’re feeling energetic you can spend days traipsing through glorious hillsides and visiting all the sites you learned about in school.
If a beach holiday is what you’re after then Greece is the perfect destination. A week spent lying on the beach reading your book means a light suitcase at the airport too. You won’t need to take too much with you to spend the week working on your tan. Beautiful photographs with clear blue water as the backdrops are another fabulous advantage of a holiday to Greece.
For some, a Greek holiday is the trip of a lifetime. It would be a shame to put off such a wonderful adventure because of a minor financial hiccup. Let us know when you book your tickets. We’d love to hear about your vacation.
For those who leave their mobile phone at home before jetting off in search of true isolation, Cyprus may not seem the obvious holiday choice. Its proximity to the UK makes it a popular tourist destination, with many holidaymakers finding the mix between Greek and Turkish cultures simply too tempting to resist. It can look as though it is impossible to find a quiet moment, amid the foreign party-goers and sightseers. Even the cliffs and rural areas are dotted with ramblers in search of references to Greek mythology.
However, like many holiday destinations, Cyprus has its secret quiet parts. If you're lucky, we'll impart them to you - the areas that are mercifully left off the map when the Lonely Planet team visit.
Kyrenia
Holidaymakers often overlook this little-known harbour town due to the mistaken belief that there is little to do there. On the contrary - with a vibrant shopping scene, plenty of restaurants and tavernas, as well as more than its fair share of history, this is the place to be if you want a tourist experience without the irritation of other tourists.
Sites to visit include the town's open market, which is a treat to explore, and also the ancient castle which houses a museum on ship building. But more than that - Kyrenia is surrounded by gorgeous countryside just waiting to be explored by courting couples. Mountains to the south, the sea to the north and rolling hills in between. A treat of a town.
Nicosia's Venetian Walls
The Venetian fortifications that surround Nicosia represent an ideal opportunity to observe the divided city from above. Still viewed today by tourists, they are nonetheless included on this guide as they stand dramatic testimony to the incredible history of Cyprus. Initially constructed by the Venetians to protect the inhabitants of Nicosia from an Ottoman attack, they were intrinsic to the defence of the city. Their construction was in vain, however, with Nicosia falling victim to the Ottoman admiral Lala Mustafa Pasha in 1570. Despite this, the importance of the Venetian walls in Nicosia's history cannot be denied.
Selimiye Mosque
Yet another prominent landmark - both literally and metaphorically - is the splendid Selimiye Mosque. Also located in Nicosia, it is housed inside the oldest surviving Gothic church in Cyprus. The mix of cultures and architectures on offer here makes it worth the visit and it is certainly worth bringing your camera as you wander its hallowed halls. Of particular interest are the arches, decorated with reliefs depicting kings, prophets, bishops and apostles. These were sculpted before the invasion of the Ottomans in 1570, who proceeded to transform the church into a mosque. Hence the melting pot of cultures held within a single building that we see today.
However, like many holiday destinations, Cyprus has its secret quiet parts. If you're lucky, we'll impart them to you - the areas that are mercifully left off the map when the Lonely Planet team visit.
Kyrenia
Holidaymakers often overlook this little-known harbour town due to the mistaken belief that there is little to do there. On the contrary - with a vibrant shopping scene, plenty of restaurants and tavernas, as well as more than its fair share of history, this is the place to be if you want a tourist experience without the irritation of other tourists.
Sites to visit include the town's open market, which is a treat to explore, and also the ancient castle which houses a museum on ship building. But more than that - Kyrenia is surrounded by gorgeous countryside just waiting to be explored by courting couples. Mountains to the south, the sea to the north and rolling hills in between. A treat of a town.
Nicosia's Venetian Walls
The Venetian fortifications that surround Nicosia represent an ideal opportunity to observe the divided city from above. Still viewed today by tourists, they are nonetheless included on this guide as they stand dramatic testimony to the incredible history of Cyprus. Initially constructed by the Venetians to protect the inhabitants of Nicosia from an Ottoman attack, they were intrinsic to the defence of the city. Their construction was in vain, however, with Nicosia falling victim to the Ottoman admiral Lala Mustafa Pasha in 1570. Despite this, the importance of the Venetian walls in Nicosia's history cannot be denied.
Selimiye Mosque
Yet another prominent landmark - both literally and metaphorically - is the splendid Selimiye Mosque. Also located in Nicosia, it is housed inside the oldest surviving Gothic church in Cyprus. The mix of cultures and architectures on offer here makes it worth the visit and it is certainly worth bringing your camera as you wander its hallowed halls. Of particular interest are the arches, decorated with reliefs depicting kings, prophets, bishops and apostles. These were sculpted before the invasion of the Ottomans in 1570, who proceeded to transform the church into a mosque. Hence the melting pot of cultures held within a single building that we see today.