GREECE TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE - GREEK LODGING & TOURISM INFORMATION

Greece is widely regarded as the place where the western civilization was born many centuries ago. It is widely acknowledged as the guiding force that has driven the human civilization for over 2500 years now. It is also the place where three continents, namely Europe, Asia and Africa, and three varying climatic conditions submerge into one. These enthralling shades make it one of the most visited places on earth today. Roughly 16 million tourists walk on its soil every year, thus allowing several hundred thousand Greek nationals to be employed by its tourism industry. Located at the southeastern fringe of the European peninsula, Greece is spoken of highly for its world class beaches, lavish hotels and the level of hospitality it offers. Hotels in Greece are an integral part of its tourism infrastructure, which earns around 15% of the nation's entire GDP in revenues.

Rich visuals may be recalled; if one began examining how the events of Greece had benefited the world we are part of. It was Greece that first gave the idea of democratic governance almost 2500 years ago. The word "democracy" itself stemmed out from the Greek language, meaning the rule of the people. In spite of its initial doubts, the Greek democracy survived on and was later followed by many other states. Modern states are often seen mimicking the same federal structure that Romans established around 2000 years ago. However, it should be noted down for academic reasons that Romans were more of an autocratic regime, as their later years suggest. Only parts in and around Athens had democratically elected councils to look after their people.

Greece also gets known for having gifted the world with Modern Olympic Games. It was Athens in 1896, where the first Olympic Games were organized after its modern-day revival. Olympic Games have since become a rallying point for the players and athletes from all over the world to compete and people from varying backgrounds to mingle with each other. Remains of the ancient Olympia stadium were excavated and restored in the middle of the 20th century. It is the same location from where the Olympic Flame starts its journey and gets carried to the game venues. These and many other exciting stories may suggest why Greece has been admired for ages now.

The world loves visiting Greece in huge numbers as a result, providing an immense boost to its tourism infrastructure. Its scenic Mediterranean coastline and the yearlong pleasing weather make holiday making fun and frolic. Athens, Peloponnese, Cyclades and Crete are some known cities carrying immense historic significance, where most travelers prefer heading on to. Hotels in Greece would be seen having high occupancy rates throughout the year, in this process, and one should plan their journeys in advance, for the same reason, to make their trips hassle free. Travelers can buy both cheap and high end accommodation from hotels in Greece, and also try to get best deals from tour operators, which include last minute holidays.

There is enough online support available for those who might be willing to book their accommodation from hotels in Greece. Sea-side resorts and self-catering apartments should also be taken into consideration apart from prime hotels in Greece for garnering accommodation. Planning out in advance should make your Greek journey memorable, since there were plenty of activities to be entertained from apart from visiting the usual heritage sites.

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades - the group of islands in the center of the Aegean. The island is eighteen miles in length and 12 miles wide and is oval in shape. It is also the most fertile, and this makes it one of the most beautiful. But it is the miles of unbroken golden sandy beaches that attracts the majority of the thousands of summer tourists that flock to Naxos every year.

For the holidaymakers who can drag themselves away from the glorious beaches, Naxos provides a wealth of ancient Greek remains as well as plenty of Byzantine and Venetian history. The island's capital, also called Naxos, has a Venetian fortress as well as an ancient Greek temple to Apollo.

This temple is usually the first thing that a tourist sees when visiting Naxos by ferry because it stands proudly on the tip of the island, marking the way into the busy ferry port. The temple dates back to 522 BC but its ruinous appearance is not because much of it has been lost to the passage of time, but rather because the ancients never finished building it.

Naxos town is very picturesque port with a maze of whitewashed streets and alleyways, designed with the frequent invasions from Aegean pirates in mind. Its typically Cycladic architecture blends with the Venetian and every turning invites the visitor to explore. With such romantic charm and mystique, it is little wonder that Naxos has long been popular with writers and artists. Lord Byron visited in his youth and never forgot the experience, referring to it in his writings as the 'Dream Island' and often saying that he would love to return some day.

Naxos has 41 villages and most are worth exploring. They are found in the green fertile, valleys that are sandwiched between the rugged, arid mountains. Many of these are over 2000 feet high and the highest, Mount Zeus is 3,200 feet. Naxos enjoys the economic rewards of being a tourist island but it does not depend on them for its prosperity. A great deal of farming takes place in its rich valleys and the cultivation of lemons is especially successful. In addition to lemons, Naxos produces cherries, pomegranates and other fresh fruit. It also produces olives, nuts and potatoes whilst its grapes make some of the best of Greek wines.

Travel Tips for Getting to Naxos Naxos is deservedly popular with discerning tourists but unlike nearby Mykonos, it is not in danger of being turned into a mass tourism resort. What has saved it from doing so is its lack of an international airport. There is however an excellent airport providing domestic flights and some tourists, mainly Greek holidaymakers, arrive in Naxos this way, flying from Athens. The majority of tourists arrive by ferry however, and there is no better way to start a Greek island holiday than this. You can sail all the way from Athens but it will take at least six hours. Or you can fly to Mykonos and get on a ferry that takes only two hours. Both options have their pros and cons. We flew to Mykonos one year only to find all the ferries were booked. Another travel tip, whichever route you choose, is to be careful that you get off at the right island. The first time we visited Naxos, we misheard a landing announcement and got off the ferry only to see a sign that read 'Welcome to Paros'. Luckily, we had enough time to re-board and complete the remaining minutes of the journey to neighboring Naxos.

Visit the best-travel-tip.com website for more travel tips and articles about Greece and other holiday destinations.

The Mediterranean island of Crete is a favorite for Europeans who are looking for a second home, vacation spot or retirement haven. It has year round sunshine and beautiful scenery, and is currently undergoing a development boom. Crete has over 1,000 kilometers of coastline, is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean, and is important historically as the home of the Minoan Civilization and has many archaeological remains for visitors to see and explore.

Crete, approximately 160 kilometers south of the Greece mainland, has a population of nearly 650,000 residents, who mostly reside on the north coast of the island. A long mountain chain runs through the island, coming right to the sea along much of the southern coast, where there a number of smaller towns and beaches. The climate is temperate, with summers long and hot and winters mild. During the winter, snow falls in the mountains, and occasionally along the northern side of the island but rarely on the south.

The largest city on the island is Heraklion, with nearly 150,000 residents, followed by Chania, with 54,000 residents and Rethymno. Chania and Rethymno are the most popular destinations for tourists on the western part of the island. On the eastern half, Heraklion is the business and commerce capital of the island, with Agios Nikolaos and Sitia being popular tourist destinations.

In between Heraklion and Rethymno is the small town of Panormos, where a new home development is under construction. Panorma Seafront homes all have sea views, shared or private swimming pools and are located within 50 meters of the sea. 
 

Homes here begin at under €70,000 for a 1 bedroom property, while 3 bedroom houses can run over €200,000. This development is a fine example of the type of property available off-plan and nearly new on this idyllic island. Chania is the major tourist destination on Crete. It has many resorts as well as the scenery and weather that Crete is known for. Chania has some of the best nightlife on the island, in the capital city of Chania Town and at resorts such as Platanias and Paleohora. The Golden Beach is within walking distance of downtown Chania and provides a sandy beach for those who want to stay in this lively city The main airport for Crete is Heraklion International Airport, also known as Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport (HER), which serves many UK and European cities with daily, nonstop flights. The other international airport on Crete is Chania International Airport (CHQ), serving the western part of the island. A number of discount airlines fly to both airports, making it a reasonably priced destination. There are also ferries that travel to and from the Greek mainland, often taking an overnight for the trip.

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FEATURED CORFU SELF-CATERING / VACATION RENTAL ACCOMMODATION

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FEATURED MYKONOS SELF-CATERING / VACATION RENTAL ACCOMMODATION