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Greek Travel | news, views, comment on Greek Island travel
Travel in the Greek islands can sometimes seem like a marathon, given the number of interesting islands and fascinating sights. However much time you allow for Greek island travel it always seems too short. Most holiday visitors restrict themselves to one island but, with regular ferries and some internal flights, there really is no need. There are seven main groups of islands and each has its own character - no two islands are the same but island groups of do tend to share attributes, from the classic Greek style of the Cyclades to the Venetian echoes of the Ionian Islands, from the Crusader castles of Rhodes to the green delights of Thassos.
The Greek government is to slash airport taxes in a bid to boost holidays in the Greek islands this year. The move could make Greek island airports among the cheapest in Europe. All airports outside Athens will reduce charges to airlines to use landing services in a bid to stem a forecast 10% drop in visitor numbers to Greece in 2012 . . .
Fears are growing for the future of some Greek Island ferry companies as the economic situation in Greece continues to look bleak. Many Greek Island ferry firms which manage ferry routes between the islands and the mainland ports have accumulated losses estimated at more than €1billion over the past few years. The future for some of these ferry companies hangs in the balance . . .
Holidaymakers on Greek island hopping trips this Easter face misery as Greek island ferries are hit by a 48-hour strike. The strike will spell misery for many Greek island tourists around Easter, which falls on April 15 in Greece. Greek ferry seamen say they will go ahead with a 48-hour strike, on April 10-11, after talks with the government ended in deadlock. . .
Most holiday visitors to the Greek islands will want to hire a car in order to get the best value out of their holiday experience. Many Greek islands are relatively small but most of them, and that includes the most popular holiday islands, are big enough to make Greek island car hire a major plus. Popular islands such as Corfu, Kos and Rhodes have so many wonderful beaches to explore that car hire is pretty much a necessity if you are to make the most of your Greek island holiday.
Flight-only operator Avro is adding more holiday routes to the Greek islands next summer. Avro has added Greek holiday flights from East Midlands and Newcastle airports to both Heraklion in Crete and to the island of Corfu. Prices on the new holiday charter flights start at £229 per person based on the East Midlands to Corfu flight which will take off on Mondays from 21 May to 24 September. The Greek holiday flight
Late break holidaymakers on a Greek holiday face travel disruption as unions threaten a 48-hour general strike. Unions threaten to extend a planned general strike next week as protests against sweeping Greek austerity measures continue. The general strike planned for October 19 looks likely to continue the following day, shutting down public transport in Athens and barring tourists from touring the Acropolis.
Visitors on Greek Island holidays remain largely unaffected by protest strikes against the latest Greek austerity measures. Transport problems are set to resume this week, but disruption is mainly confined to the mainland. A walkout by Athens metro workers and railway staff triggered traffic jams in Athens last week, while air travellers faced delays after a go-slow by Athens air traffic controllers.
Public transport workers plan walkouts this week in a bid to halt Athens city buses.
Visitors taking holidays in the Greek islands may find themselves at the centre of another strike by Greek taxi drivers. Cab drivers in Greece and the Greek islands are angry at plans to deregulate the industry and make it easier for people to start up new taxi firms. Greek island holidaymakers found themselves blockaded by angry taxi drivers last month who staged mass protests outside Greek airports and ferry ports.
Tourism leaders are alarmed at reports that cheap flight airline Ryanair could axe out-of-season flights to the Greek holiday islands of Rhodes and Kos. Rumours of the suspension of late season cheap holiday flights to the Greek islands resorts have triggered turmoil in the tourism sector on both islands. Ryanair has dismissed the rumours as 'speculation' but fears that the airline could drop cheap flights has prompted a political row on Rhodes.
Greek taxi drivers have called an end to their 18-day strike which has seen roads, ports and airports in Greece and the Greek islands blockaded by hundreds of taxi cabs. Tourist visitors to Greece and the Greek islands have been forced to carry luggage long distances from airports and ferries as angry Greek taxi drivers blockaded roads and harbours in protest at plans to deregulate the sector. Now taxi drivers' leaders have called off strike action following talks.
