It’s all GREEK
Looking for a holiday that combines stunning views, simple pleasures and a ‘no problem’ attitude? Greece should be top of your wish list, says David Wickers
For those who like their sun diluted with a good measure of warm, beautifully blue sea, Greece is an unbeatable choice for a holiday. Now add to this tempting cocktail a scatter of whitewashed villages, easygoing Greeks, lively tavernas, a wide choice of accommodation, the legacy of ancient civilisations and flights from an airport near you and what more could you want?
Of the 200 or so inhabited islands, most put out the welcome mat for visitors (‘philoxenia’, or hospitality to strangers, is a bedrock of Greek tradition). Each island is distinctly different from its neighbours. If you can’t make up your mind which blob on the blue is for you, there’s always a ferry to take you to another, either on a day trip or as part of a twin-centre holiday.
If sandy beaches are a priority, head for Zakynthos, Cephalonia (home to Myrtos beach, star of many a ‘Come To Greece’ advert), Levkas, Corfu, Skiathos and Crete (the latter also having the longest summer season of all). But don’t turn your nose up at pebbles; tiny Paxos, for example, has a string of the most gorgeous, pale-pebbled coves lapped by the clearest of seas.
Stunning beaches are also found on the mainland. The peninsulas of Halkidiki in the north, easily accessible from Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, share more than 300 miles of coastline and fly around 30 Blue Flags.
You can have a brilliant holiday in Greece with very little effort, slipping into its timeless, friendly pleasures. But, despite the temptations of the coast, it’s worth discovering the country’s ancient history. You can wander among the first bones of Western civilisation at countless archaeological sites.
Although Greece was a late developer when it comes to luxury, you’ll now find many of the Med’s best hotels and wonderful villas there. If you can’t decide which is right for you and yours, you could opt for a villa that belongs to a five-star hotel, combining privacy and social distancing with access to a resort’s facilities, from water sports to restaurants. On Crete, the Domes of Elounda and the Blue Palace are perfect examples.
As well as these tangible attractions, there’s another endearing aspect to Greece that makes it such a rewarding place to holiday: its pace of life is the least frenetic in
Europe, driven by a laid-back, ‘no problem’ way of living that would no doubt drive you stir-crazy if you were going for business; but for a holiday, it’s just what the doctor ordered. Greece is a destination of simple pleasures, a place to recuperate from the everyday pressures of home and enjoy a change of scenery that has been denied us for far too many weeks this year.
• Sovereign offers seven nights in Crete at the five-star Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, half board, from £969pp, including flights and private transfers, based on
20 April 2021 departures. Book by 31 December 2020; sovereign.com.