British Summer Favourite Island Holiday Destinations

Parthenon, Athens, Greece

Parthenon, Athens, Greece
Photo Courtesy Onkel Tuca

Greek Children Independence Day Parade

Greek Children Enjoying Parade

Despite a dip in Brits heading off to the sun when the pound plummeted against the Euro and the credit crunch made everyone nervous, things are coming back to normal and we're jetting off again for lazy breaks in the Greek islands.

The economic problems experienced by Greece actually help the holiday maker. Hotels and villas are available for less cost as the tourism industry in Greece is really going through tough times.

The independent traveller can always negotiate a great deal.

Even the expensive resorts and islands like Santorini have had to become more affordable to keep their rooms occupied. Holidays in Greece have never been so reasonable as they are currently.

The most popular island destinations in Greece remain:

  • Corfu – second largest of the Ionian Islands, offers a wealth of history as well as sun and ouzo.
  • Crete – to the south of the mainland, great for end of or early season breaks
  • Kefalonia – largest of the Ionian Islands
  • Mykonos – in the Cyclades
  • Rhodes – largest of the Dodecanese
  • Santorini – southernmost of the Cyclades
  • Zante – third largest of the Ionian Islands

If you're looking for somewhere with a laid back approach, even by Greek standards! Take a look at these island resorts

  • Ithaca (Ithaka) – off the coast of Kefalonia in the Ionian sea
  • Lipsi & Patmos – well serviced with ferries from Piraeus in the Dodecanese
  • Paxos (Paxi) and it's small neighbour Antipaxos – smallest group of the Ionian Islands

Still peaceful but with more facilities for the tourist.

  • Aegina – just 27 km from Athens, great for a two part holiday
  • Ios – in the Cyclades
  • Kalymnos – part of the Dodecanese in the south eastern Aegean
  • Lesvos (Lesbos) – Molyvos is delightful
  • Naxos – in the Cyclades

The independent traveller and those lucky gap-year students with backpacks can always consider island hopping from one to another. Not as cheap as it was in the 1960s when the ferries were subsidised by the government – but what is? Still, a great way to soak up some culture along with the sun.

The range of low cost Greek island holidays has never been greater, whether you want a self-catering villa or a fully serviced, all-inclusive hotel break. Now is the time to take advantage of the Greek financial problems.

Mainland Greece has a lot to offer for a vacation but the islands still win, the cooling sea breezes make the stifling hot days of a Greek summer bearable for a start. There is a difference in attitude between the islands and the mainland that is indefinable but important all the same. Which is why the Greek Islands will continue to be a favourite destination with the British