Greece Holiday – Money Saving tips

Greece is set to be one of the top value for money European destinations in 2010. According to the Post Office Worldwide holiday costs barometer, prices are down by a staggering 9.5% compared to one year ago. With its current economic problems holidays here are far cheaper than they were, local prices for food, drink and other items have gone down and travel providers are slashing prices to keep their businesses alive. These reasons will entice more Brits to holiday in Greece over a destination such as Turkey where prices have increased by a massive 44% compared to this time last year.

Why choose Greece?
Aside from the financial factors Greece is a beautiful country to visit, rich in history with great weather and fantastic beaches. The Greek islands offer something for everyone whether you are looking for a lively break, a peaceful retreat or somewhere completely off the beaten track.

Money saving tips
Here is our top 9 tips for saving money whilst on holiday in Greece:

• Don’t travel during the school holidays. Avoid booking your trip when prices are at a premium. The weather in Greece is fantastic from May through to late October.
• Go self-catering. Alternate nights out with nights in cooking local cuisine in your apartment.
• Consider camping. Greek campsites on the islands are very basic but on the mainland they are far better. Many mainland campsites will include tavernas, mini markets, swimming pools and laundry services.
• Go local. Avoid the restaurants and bars with multilingual menus in the busy touristy areas. Instead find out where the locals go, the food will not only be much cheaper but also generally far better. Here you will get a taste of traditional dishes and Greek culture.
• In restaurants order jugs of the local wine instead of imported bottles.
• Find an island off the beaten track. You may have to get a ferry transfer from Athens to islands such as Milos and Kea but here on these islands prices have not been pushed up by hordes of travellers flocking to their shores each summer.
• Use the local transport. Don’t be afraid to hop onto a local bus to see the island. The bus service on most of the islands is great and will allow you to get a real feel of the local culture. If you are booking ferry trips to see other islands again find a local operator as you will save money.
• Shop around for your travel money. Visit our currency comparison table to find out who is offering the best deal on Euros before you go on holiday. Currency can be ordered online and delivered to your home the next working day for free. If you leave buying Euros until the airport or when you arrive in Greece you will find yourself feeling rather short changed.
• Get a currency card. A currency card is preloaded with a set amount of currency allowing you to budget whilst on holiday and not overspend. Check out our currency card comparison table to find out what rates are being offered from the UK’s leading providers. Any funds remaining on the card when you return to Britain can simply be converted back into pounds.

Which island is for me?

If you are looking for a popular destination choose:
Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Kos, Lefkas, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Skiathos or Zante.

If you are looking for a peaceful destination choose:
Aegina, Andros, Ios, Kalymnos, Lesvos, Naxos, Paros, Samos, Skopelos or Thassos.

If you are looking for a sleepy destination choose:
Alonissos, Ithaca, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos, Paxos or Symi

If you are looking for a quiet island off of the beaten track choose:
Agistri, Hydra, Ikaria, Kea, Milos or Skyros

For more information on foreign exchange rates visit the Compare Currency travel money table or the currency card table where you will find exchange rates from the UK’s leading providers.