“We are planning a family trip for just a few days. That is my family, my brother’s family, and my other brother’s family. Our mother will be joining us, too. That makes four households, seven adults and six children all under three years old. Praise to my brave (foolish?) wife who has somehow volunteered to coordinate the arrangements.

Even reserving months in advance, we were unable to get four rooms adjoining at the hotel, all with the right view and on the right level. If we were going for longer, we would probably rent a house as we have done before. There are vacation rentals in almost every corner of the world, but they are particularly common in high-tourist areas like Greece and the Mediterranean countries.”

Here is my top ten list of why a family should pick a Villa rental (and specifically a villa rental home):

• 1. No hard work to find ideal, adjoining rooms.


Lots of space & private pool

• 2. Everybody gets privacy, without having to worry about where the kids are.
• 3. You don’t have to share the common area with strangers, but you can still lounge around together.
• 4. More than one bathroom. Need I say more?
• 5. Lots and lots and lots of more room. This is usually the main selling feature.
• 6. Private pool, in most cases.
• 7. Almost always cost less than hotels.
• 8. Store cold drinks, ice creams, fresh fruit or any other snacks you fancy, which is a huge cost saver.
• 9. Barbecue any time you want. You can still eat out, but you don’t HAVE to.
• 10. You don’t have to take home several weeks’ supply of dirty laundry.

Typical Villa Floorplan (2nd Fllor)

“There you have it. My top ten reasons to choose a villa rental.in Greece

Of course, I you still prefer a tent on a beach, but you might have some difficulty convincing my mother to join us there.”

John

Author: James Yee

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, there are several important things to keep in mind before calling your travel agent and booking your next Holiday:

1. Time of year: While “Paris in the Springtime” sounds very romantic, the truth is that you’re liable to spend many days indoors, because the weather can be cold and rainy. On the other hand, the French Riviera in the springtime boasts warm temperatures, sunshine and beautiful places to visit. If you’re not sure of weather patterns, check with your travel agent who can advise you on rainy seasons or other weather-related issues for traveling to a specific spot.

2. Your Budget: Decide how much you’ve got to spend, and don’t forget to include extras like tourist attractions, getting around, souvenirs and meals (which are typically more expensive in Europe than in the states — dinner can cost upwards of 50 Euros per person, especially in metropolitan cities). If your budget is smaller, consider visiting Eastern Europe, looking for packaged tours, or, if you’re flexible, book a “last-minute” trip, which can often save you 30% or more. Check out the current exchange rate between your currency and that of the country you’ll be visiting, to have a better idea of what your Holiday is going to actually cost you. Whenever possible, travel during an off-peak season to save even more.

3. Your secret dreams or “someday” wishes: For most of us, taking a Holiday is something we get to do only once a year, and often plan and save the whole year for. So if you have always wanted to visit somewhere or do something special — why wait? Include it in your next Holiday plans.

4. Political Climate: While most countries that rely on tourism make every effort to ensure the safety of tourists, these days it’s always a good idea to keep up on the current political climate of the country you’re planning to visit, especially if there have been problems in the past.

5. Your own “internal clock”: If you prefer sleeping in in the mornings, and “doing your own thing” then a guided tour is probably not for you. Most guided tours start early in the morning, and you’re on the go until evening. You may visit several cities in a country or countries within a specified amount of time, and you’re required to stay with the group.

On the other hand, if you don’t like traveling alone, you enjoy the companionship of others and getting to see as much as possible in the time you’ve got, a guided tour or cruise may be just the thing for you.

6. How you like to spend your time: Take a little time to think about what you like doing before planning your trip. Do you prefer the water, or the mountains? Lying on the beach, or rock-climbing? Adrenaline rushes or visiting an art museum?

While going outside your comfort zone and trying new things can be a great experience, spending your time doing something that bores you silly or makes you uncomfortable and unhappy just doesn’t make sense. Once you know what you want to do, figure out what you’ll have time to do. Many times, in an effort to get the “most bang for our buck” we tend to over plan the Holiday, and end up needing a Holiday from the Holiday when we get home! Prioritize your list, and be willing to save some activities or attractions for another trip.

7. Use the resources that are available to make your trip special and save money: Today’s travelers have numerous options when planning their Holiday. You can use the Internet to find out more about the cities or countries you want to visit, check out prices, even book your flight or hotel room. If you’re visiting a place for the first time, check with a travel agent, talk to someone who’s “been there, done that” on an Internet Forum, or contact local chambers or commerce or travel councils to get more information about where to go, what to see and what to do.

8. Get organized: You can use trip-planning software, or your own favorite organizing system to organize and plan your trip. Don’t forget things like making sure your passport and picture ID are up-to-date, finding out if travel insurance is something you need, and how and where to exchange your money. The more organized you are in the beginning, the better Holiday you’ll have.

9. Pack lightly: Most of us take too much on a Holiday, and end up lugging heavy suitcases and other bags along filled with items that we either don’t use or don’t need. When planning your trip, look at your wardrobe and pack as lightly as you can. Take only what you’ll really need, and remember that if you forget or end up needing something, chances are you can get it once you reach your destination.

10. Have fun! Get organized, make your plans and expect the best. That way, once you’re on your way, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy yourself. But remember, there are very few “perfect” Holidays, so if something does go wrong, try to relax and “go with the flow” as much as possible. Experienced travelers say that sometimes their best Holidays have been the ones where the unexpected happened.

About the Author:

James Yee enjoys travelling and photography. His useful information on travel is available on www.sogoodnews.com

This is a disposable credit card. You do not physically get a card, instead you get a number much the same as buying credit for your mobile phone.
However, a financial adviser known to this journalist is adamant you can get a Visa Electron card by logging into www.entropay.com.

There is a small transaction charge, around 4.9pc, but it still works out markedly less expensive than paying credit card charges to airlines.

1) Don’t fly with Ryanair, easyJet, etc

2) Get a Visa Electron card

The problem is that the Visa Electron card, which is the only card most of the budget airlines don’t charge for transactions, is a rare acquisition for the kind of person who tends to buy flights.

Visa Electron is a very limited Visa debit card, designed for teenagers and students. It won’t allow you to go overdrawn and cannot be used in as many places.

If your bank offered you one, normally you’d be a bit offended. But it has one advantage – it does mean you don’t have to pay £5 per person each way to book a Ryanair flight.

Holiday Villas Greece

Of course the winter is a good time to come visit too. Trust me I live here, and most days it is really nice even in January and February. Of course the summer and early in the summer are the best

So if you want to be sure your family lands in that awesome Greek Island rental you’ve had your eye on for the family summer holiday  now’s the time to book it and get confirmed. Otherwise someone else may beat you to the punch. I have some really nice beach rentals in the inventory now. There are some really special Greek Island Villas on our website.

Many homeowners even offer reduced rates for booking early, so you may want to take advantage of these lower rates if that is the case.

Even if you’re not ready to book yet, it’s never too early to start planning that greek islands holiday that will crea

Port Spilla in the morning

te those precious lifelong memories of time well-spent with loved ones on the Greek Ionian Islands.

Why not talk to us about creating a custom dream holiday where for on week you and your family stay in an amazing luxury private villa and then one week sailing in Greece aboard one of our spacious modern yacht. Depending on your experience you can skipper the yacht yourself or we can provide a skipper and hostess!

New language options on Ionian Dreams

The links to the new languange versions are located on the top right hand side of the pages.

These new pages should help our search engine results hugely for the new languages. We welcome any comments or more ideas you might have.

(πολύ αέρα) Very Windy best describes this last month.

The last few weeks here have been very wet and windy.

Storm Lefkas

Raining Lefkada in September

Hi everybody, well after almost five months of perfect weather the rain finally came. The temp. had been steady at about 34°C and sunshine every day .

The temperature (plumeted) fell to about 22-24 °C. It is not all bad though to many people the lower temperature means getting on with a more active lifestyle like getting out jogging and more walking etc.
I have just started sailing again after a hectic summer season and realised why I fell in love with the area in the first place.There are not so many tourists around and your not hiding out of the sun all afternoon.

“There are not so many tourists around and your not hiding out of the sun all afternoon”.

It also means you have a lot more energy. A great way to spend Friday evening with the family,jump on the boat and call into our friend Babis in Porto Spilla on the Island of Meganisi.

Port Spilla in the morning

As usual we had a great meal and leaving the next morning we bumped into some friends of ours that we haven’t seen in a while. The weather was brilliant. Sun shinning with the temp. around 24 °C and a gentle 2-3 breeze on the beam. There were lots of boats around. Saturday is the day most charter boats finish their week so they make their way back to either Nidri,  Lefkas Marina or the sunsail base in Vounaki.

September Sailing in Ionian

Ionian Regatta 2008

More news coming soon

With rugged escarpments and clear azure water, Greece has a splendor like no other country. Western culture has long been influenced by the civilization of Greece. It really is no wonder that over sixteen million people visit Greece each year. With tourist activities and sites offered in sports, nightlife, and history, experiences in Greece teem. For visitors to Greece, I have compiled some helpful information.

The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic. The map of Greece would show that Greece is surrounded by both the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. An ancient country, Greece lies in the southeast of Europe. Greece has a wealth of culture and history, so there will be no end for experiences. Greece is also where democracy, philosophy and theater go their start.

The capital and biggest city of Greece is Athens, a city with a well-known place in history, as well as a recent host to the Olympic Games. When traveling to Greece, note that they use Euros. Places that are less well known may also be less equipped to handle ATM needs, as many places have an “old world” atmosphere, so keep that in mind before leaving the more tourist-oriented areas.

Many islands contribute to the mainland in the composition of Greece. In summer, both are home to beautiful seaside sights and beaches. Ferrying around the islands of Greece is a common part of tourist’s itineraries. In winter, the mainland also boasts some great ski resorts. Year round, Greece offers many options for travelers.

Greek food is loved the world over. Many dishes, native to Greece, should be experienced while there to truly experience Greek culture. Well known dishes include stifado, Greek salad, and spanakopita. Souvlaki, similar to shish kebab, is made of meat and vegetables grilled on a stick, though it can even refer to a gyro. A popular dessert is Pantespani, a sponge cake with a traditional orange-flavored syrup. You will not go hungry in Greece!

There is no limit to the activities you can do while in Greece. Ranked number eight in the world, the Greek national football team is a sure bet for fun. If football is your thing, you can also check out the Greek Super league. Made up of sixteen teams, this is the professional league of football in Greece. If football, or soccer, is an interest, get tickets to a match!

For history buffs, Greece is the ultimate vacation spot. Western culture wouldn’t be what it is if not for ancient Greece. Important historical sites are located throughout Greece. Two major locations are the Parthenon and the Acropolis. Minoan palaces at Crete are also major sites to see for history aficianados.

No matter what the purpose of your trip to Greece, every whim can be catered to. From ancient historical sites to the favored sports of the country, Greek experience opportunities abound. The food and seaside vistas throughout the country will create an atmosphere of romantic tranquility. Lose yourself in the beauty and history that is Greece!

Source: Destinations