Beginning with the mainland, there is lots to experience in Greece. The country is inarguably one of the most memorable holiday destinations in Europe. A visit to Greece begins with sampling the mainland and crowning if off with a visit to the more than 6000 Cyclades islands. And all these islands feature excellent hotels, villas and even villages. Of course the mainland too has its fair share of first-rate hotels, but the Cyclades Islands are something else. As a traveler, there is a wide variety of hotels to choose from. The mainland and each of the Cyclades Islands have varying types of hotels.

Samos, Greece by Aanjhan Ranganathan

Tour operators understand your budget constraints and can find something affordable. Accommodation ranges from the most expensive and exotic to the moderate but excellent. It all depends with your budget and how much you are willing to part with. However, rather than have tour operators organize your trip at additional costs, how about doing it yourself? It is easy to find cheaper flights and moderate accommodation but still have fun once you land in Greece.

Available Options

You need to understand some few facts before venturing out to look for hotels in Greece. Firstly, Greek hotels are categorized as follows; Luxury, A, B, C, D, and E. There are six groups, each ranked according to varying metrics. Like star ratings used in other places, Greek hotels are ranked according to size of rooms, amenities on offer and services. Unlike most American or European hotel classifications, the Greek don’t consider cleanliness or comfort. They also don’t consider friendliness in their ratings.

Make no mistake however, that doesn’t mean the hotels are unclean, unfriendly or uncomfortable. On the contrary, Greek hotels are some of the best in the mentioned areas when rated against other celebrated holiday destinations. These aspects are a must have that don’t have to be considered in classifications. In terms of price, a limiting budget can do well with class D and E hotels. Unfortunately, you forego some luxuries in these classes, for instance hot water, private bathrooms and food.

Evia island, Greece by Agnee

Understanding Hotel Classifications

But that doesn’t mean this is always the case. There are some instances where class D and E hotels may have hot water, or private bathrooms, but it is not always guaranteed. The price range for these hotels is almost similar. If looking for something on the upper end but moderate in price, class C hotels are most appropriate. Here, the hotels give food, private bathrooms, hot water and other quality amenities.

But when looking for ultimate luxury, class A and B are most recommended. Class A and B hotels are famous for the array of amenities available for customers. You get to enjoy continuous hot water supply, private bathrooms, quality food amongst other things. Luckily, the rent prices are controlled by the tourist police of Greece. That means standardized charges for the various classes of hotels. Hotels are required to post a sign detailing the maximum cost of a room behind the door.

Touristorama is a unique website that provides a plethora of information about the Greek islands including tourism, accommodation, and leisure actvities.

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It has always been something that puzzles me, in that why would someone pay out a lot of money to go on holiday, and then spend the time basically repeating how they live their own lives at home.

Mount Olympus, Greece by Gabriel

Check out our list of top five unusual ideas of activities to do during a visit to Greece – throw the beach towel away and embrace all of what the country has to offer.

Mountain Biking

Many companies promote activities such as hiking across the many natural trails that Greece has to offer, so why not get on a mountain bike to explore the surroundings instead? If you do not wish to explore generally, there are several sites across Greece that have specific trails designed for mountain biking, and most of them are open all year round. Among the most popular sites is Mount Parnitha, which is on the outskirts of Athens.

This mountain can be a great resort in its own right, with a casino and several hotels among its many attractions.

Tactual Museum, Athens

One of only five museums of its kind in the entire world, Athens’ Tactual Museum is set up specifically for partially sighted people. The museum contains copies of many famous works of art an ancient artefacts, and people who can see are even offered the option of wearing a mask so they can experience the full spectacle of why the museum was built.

Climb a Mountain

We have already looked at mountain biking down a mountain, but how about climbing one? Situated midway between the cities of Thessaloniki and Larissa, Mount Olympus is one of the most challenging peaks in the whole of Europe. The mountain is accessible to most people, with the vast majority of the climb being a simple hike, although only trained climbers will reach the very highest peak.

As well as climbing the mountain itself, Olympus is surrounded by many charming villages that contain historical churches and other landmarks.

Paintballing

Paintballing has only recently caught on as a hobby in Greece, having been popular elsewhere for many years. Although perhaps not advisable during the height of summer, a visit to Greece can take an added twist of fun should you decide to go paintballing at one of the many centres popping up across the country.

Skiing at Delphi

While the southern resort of Delphi is best known for its mythical ancient ruins and thriving village, it also offers opportunities for skiing. This is perhaps best booked specifically as part of the holiday, unlike our other ideas which can be organised on impulse upon arriving in the country.

Give your trip to Greece a unique twist with our different and out of the box tourism ideas.

One of the leading Greece holiday websites is Touristorama. The website provides all the information you need to enjoy when you visit Greece and the surrounding islands.

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