Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece sees us covering the types of accommodation there and how / when to book it…

Most Greek hotels are basic and unpretentious and the rooms are usually small. However, most rooms include balconies and air-conditioning and are well cleaned and maintained, even in the simpler hotels. The biggest problem can often be noise from local roads, bars and eateries. While the cities and the more popular islands do offer more upmarket accommodation, the choices are limited and generally are not good value for money.

As an alternative to hotels, most popular Greek destinations also have studios or apartments - interchangeable terms for small self-catering accommodation. These are rarely listed in travel guides, but they present a reasonable option that can offer value for money. The only real difference between self-catering accommodation and hotel rooms is that studios and apartments have simple cooking facilities.

Renting a villa can be a good option for larger groups or travelers with bigger budgets. Villas are usually on the seaside and can have great views. Most villas can accommodate about eight people, making this a value-for-money alternative for groups.

Whichever type of accommodation you opt to stay at, you’ll probably be able to book it online as most, even the smaller ones, have web sites and will take bookings by email, though sometimes fax is a more reliable way to communicate. There are also numerous Greek and international hotel booking services which will make bookings.

Otherwise, once you’re in Greece, you can usually find a place without a lot of trouble. But don’t try this in summer on the most popular islands, where rooms can be difficult to find at the peak of the season, and on major holidays. If you find yourself stuck for a room, you can ask at a cafe whether the owner or staff know of any rooms for rent, or seek help from a local travel agency (if possible, one recommended by a major guidebook).