Holiday Tips
Take a look at our holiday tips for your visit to Greece and Ionian Islands. From car hire to helpful tips and essential information - we're on hand to help with everything you need to know.
About the Ionian Islands
Airport Parking
For experienced help with airport parking, airport hotels, airport lounges and holiday insurance we can recommend Holiday Extras.
Car Hire
Speak to us about your car hire requirements and we can give you details including the cost before we put you in touch with our island agent. As an indication - on Paxos a Group B car (4 seater Hyundai Atos) is about 250 Euros per week in Low Season & about 340 Euros per week in High Season.
Some hire cars have limited boot space so check with the agent that there will be enough space for your luggage.
Most (if not all) car hire companies will set an excess to be paid by you if a claim is made on the included Collision Damage Waiver insurance cover. The car hire companies offer an excess waiver but the cost of this can be high . It may be better value to pre-purchase this waiver from companies such as Questor Insurance.
Babies
Most property owners will provide a cot plus cot linen at no charge but please check with us and we will let you know. If
you are hiring a car, child seats can be pre-ordered and there might be a small charge payable locally.
Doctors
There are doctors on all the islands except AntiPaxos (just a 10 minute speedboat trip to see the Paxos doctor). Island chemists are well stocked with medical requirements.
Extra Beds
Please ask us if you want to add more people to your booking than the number of beds stated on our website. This should normally be possible but some owners might want an extra payment to provide extra beds.
Greek Island Lifestyles
With a few exceptions, life on most of the Greek islands remains simple and uncomplicated. The Ionian islands offer a relaxing escape from a busy lifestyle back home but for those wanting to discover parts of an island’s history and culture, our island managers, if asked, can give you advice on how to do this without the need to join a crowded excursion bus.
Most islanders tend not to worry if the “system” fails to operate properly from time to time. Our property owners and island managers will help to overcome any problem you may have but plumbing is rarely perfect; building work can suddenly start close by; the bark of a neighbour’s dog can irritate; wasps can cause havoc during a mealtime.
Holiday Duration
If you want to book one of our Ionian properties for a period other than a week or 2 weeks (eg. 3 days or 10 days etc) let us know and we will ask the owner if this is possible - in most cases it will be possible and the daily rate will be the quoted weekly rate divided by 7.
Internet
If a property has internet connection it will be mentioned within the Accommodation section of the description. If it is not mentioned then all island towns, and some villages, have WiFi in and around the main squares.
Passports
All passengers travelling to Greece must have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity left from date of entry to the destination. Children travelling on a family passport may only accompany the person in whose name the passport is made out. All children over the age of 16 require their own passport.
Safety Standards & Regulations
Greek safety standards and regulations may not reach the same levels as those in the UK. Please take all precautions to protect yourselves whilst on holiday, especially with swimming pools, balconies and high terraces.
Tavernas
We know lots of people who think that Greek island cuisine consists of warm moussaka, chips, salad with feta cheese, squid and oily chicken, washed down by a glass of resinated wine.
Times have moved on and the choice on each of the Ionian island ranges from simple to sophisticated, traditional to inspired, economical to expensive, veggie to meatie - something to satisfy all tastes.
The small wineries of Greece are now producing some excellent wines, many of which will never be found outside of Greece. The better wines tend to cost over 10 Euros a bottle (double this at a taverna) but many of the boxed wines are good and much cheaper.
If in doubt over a taverna's menu, ask if you can look inside the kitchen and the chef will normally be delighted to lift lids to show you what's cooking!
TV's
If a property has Satellite TV it usually means Greek Satellite TV and whereas this usually includes BBC and CNN News channels it may not include many other English speaking channels. Films shown on Greek channels carry subtitles and are not dubbed.
Twin-Centre Holidays
Each island is different in so many ways (landscapes, cuisine, beaches, lifestyles, music, architecture, traditions etc) - a holiday can be more exciting if it combines two or more islands. Ask us for suggestions and we can help to tailor-make an itinerary. There are opportunities to combine a stay on all 5 Ionian islands using ferries and/or flights.
Welcome Hamper
Please let us know if you would like us to arrange for specific provisions to be at your property on arrival. We can advise you of the cost and this will be paid to our island agent during your stay.
What's Included
Included in the cost of each of our Ionian properties is gas, electricity and water costs; provision of bed linen and bath towels; maid service & linen change twice per week. On arrival at your villa you will find complimentary provisions. These will vary from villa to villa so please contact us if you would like information on what is provided. If you have any specific requests please do not hesitate to let us know so we may advise our island agents on your behalf.
Please bring with you beach towels and perhaps an alarm clock for departure day. Local island shops should cater for anything & everything you might have forgotten.