“I’m wanting to visit Greece with a good friend. We are past the backpacker stage and wanting a bit of luxury that isn’t going to ruin the cultural experience too much. How far in advance should I plan my travel? What factors do I need to consider to make sure I budget for everything?”
DEANNA JOHNSTONE
NZ TRAVEL BROKERS
Planning Travel in advance is not always necessary, although a couple of main factors will determine when is best to book, such as having the funds available (most airfares are now payable within 7-14 days of booking), the month you plan to visit (ie Is it high or low season?) and how long you intend to travel for.
High Season, especially in Greece- can be extremely busy for accommodation, trains, ferries and airfare availability. Therefore booking early is recommended. July/August is especially difficult and you will find it hard to get accommodation in the neighbouring Islands which are hugely popular.
Budgeting is a very personal thing, so factors here to consider would be alcohol consumption, (this can really blow some people’s budget because they have not factored it in)
You need to budget for activities , if you like to buy trinkets, are you going to be taking in the best beaches, visiting the major historical sights..
Other Factors to consider are Transport and Accommodation and Food and this will depend on how flexible you are and where you intend on staying and eating.
Ferry Crossings costs which are around EUR60.00 on average. Overnight Ferries help here as you save on a nights accommodation also. So decide on how many Islands you intend to visit? Are you intending to party on Mykonos or Explore the historic island of Crete and the off beaten Island of Rhodes or the spectacular island of Santorini with beautiful landscape, ruins and beaches.
Hotels have a huge range of costings for Budget hotel rooms with being in a Hostel environment, bearing in mind that prices intend to increase for larger resorts and destinations and particularly in peak Season.
If you can skip the cocktails and eat from Street Vendors for lunch, Get accommodation if you can with Breakfast included and avoid fancy restaurants at night for dinner (They are always the ones with white table cloths) Instead eat at family friendly Taverna’s or Psistanria’s to enjoy a more authentic Greek meal. Not only more delicious but a more entertaining atmosphere and saves the dollars!!
Unless you have a lot of time, it is worth considering a tour of Greece, often by the time you have factored everything in they are amazing value for money and time!