When you have decided on your preferred dates and location, just telephone us and we will make the necessary reservations, subject of course to availability. In order to confirm the booking we require a deposit or the full balance if you are booking within 10 weeks of travel. The amount of the deposit requires will depend on the airfare for your chosen holiday and will be advised at the time of booking. Once the holiday is confirmed, this deposit is non-refundable.
We accept any debit and credit cards linked to the Visa or Mastercard systems. We do not accept American Express or Diners Club. Alternatively, you may also pay by bank transfer.
We have allocations at some of the properties listed in this brochure, so we can often confirm availability instantly. However, many of the smaller hotels, apartments and individual villas work on a request basis, which means that we will need to re-confirm the availability when you come to make a booking. To request accommodation, we need to take your full details, including a debit or credit card number as a guarantee for your deposit, and will confirm the booking back to you as soon as we receive confirmation from our suppliers, which is usually within 24 hours.
We are also happy to accept bookings via independent travel agents.
What happens next?
Once we have taken your deposit we will issue a confirmation/ invoice by email (or by post on request), which you should check thoroughly as soon as you receive it. If there are any errors or omissions please advise us immediately, as any changes made at a later date will incur amendment fees. Your confirmation acts both as your contract and final invoice, so you should make a diary note of the date that your balance is due.
Tickets/travel documents will be dispatched to you by electronic mail (or by post on request) approximately 14 days before you travel.
What is included in our prices?
- Return daytime flights (plus ferry where applicable) from London to the nearest airport to your property. Regional departure points and alternative flights can often be booked at a supplement. Please click here for more flight details.
- Accommodation and any meals specified.
- Return transfers between the airport and your accommodation, unless a complimentary or special rate car is included in the cost or you are not flying into the nearest airport to your property.
- Complimentary cars, including their insurance, where specified.
- All airport and local government taxes.
- Maid service, linen and towels.
- Services of our local Representatives or Agents.
What about children and infants?
Children from the age of 2 years onwards require their own flight seat and the majority of leisure airlines now charge the same airfares regardless of age. Most hotels, however, offer special rates for children provided they share a room with two adults. As discounts and qualifying ages vary from hotel to hotel, please contact us for a quote. The prices of our villas and other self-catering properties are based on the overall occupancy; children over 2 count towards their occupancy and are charged accordingly.
Infants under 2 pay just £75 and in many cases this charge includes the provision of cots, high chairs and car seats. Please indicate clearly at the time of booking if any of these are required or if you are planning to bring your own. Infants are not entitled to a flight seat.
Can you choose a multi-centre holiday?
If you wish to try two or more different locations on Crete, we are more than happy to advise you on your selection of properties. To calculate the cost of a straight-forward twin-centre holiday on the same island simply take the two week cost for each property (based on your departure date from the UK), add them together and divide by 2. This does not include the cost of transferring between the two centres, and we can quote you a price for a taxi, you can transfer yourself by hire car or our representative can help you with the arrangements locally. Alternatively you could consider our Explore Crete by Car option.
It is more difficult to combine a stay on Crete with any of the other islands due to the distances involved and the infrequency of internal flight connections but we can tailor-make arrangements subject to these constraints.
Can you choose a shorter or longer stay?
Whilst our brochure prices are based on one or two week durations, we are happy to arrange shorter breaks, extended stays or odd durations, all subject to suitable flight availability. With daily flights between Gatwick and Heraklion, this route offers the greatest flexibility, whilst regional departures tend to be more restrictive. Please contact us to discuss available options.
Are there any properties available for single travellers?
We are able to accommodate single travellers in many of our selfcatering studios and hotels. All our rooms are either twins or doubles capable of sleeping at least two people and our prices include either a taxi transfer or a hire car where the cost is based on two people sharing, so there will be an under occupancy supplement. In some properties at certain times of the year the supplement may be minimal so please ask us for a quotation.
What if you have any special requests or medical problems
Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking and whilst we will endeavour, wherever possible, to meet or pass onto suppliers any reasonable special requests we cannot always guarantee that they will be fulfilled. If you or any member of your party has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday, it is vital that you tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen accommodation.
Travel & Medical Insurance
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have Travel and Medical Insurance before embarking on any of our holidays. This can be purchased from a number of reputable companies who must comply with the latest legislation relating to the sale of insurance. Please ensure that your policy choice has adequate medical cover, including the cost of repatriation in the event of serious illness or accident and covers you for any of the activities you plan to engage in whilst on holiday.
When is the best time for you to travel?
For those not tied to specific holiday dates it is certainly worth considering the seasonal differences. On Crete, April and May are the best times to enjoy the abundant flora, the countryside and sites, although the weather may be a little less settled. June, September and October are the most popular months for those wishing to enjoy a combination of sun, sea and sites. July and August are the hottest months and are more suitable for traditional beach holidays than exploring.
What should you expect from your surroundings?
Our locations and properties are all chosen to give you a relaxing but authentically Greek holiday. Many of our properties are in beautiful rural areas where it is likely that you will experience the sight and sounds of some local wildlife or farm animals. In many of our locations you will exist in close proximity with the local population so their way of life should be not only observed and enjoyed but also respected.
It should also be remembered that, although we make every effort to provide all the facilities you would expect from your holiday, you are on a Mediterranean island and it is possible that from time to time, especially in high summer, you may experience such things as a temporary power cut or water shortage.
In the low season and on Public Holidays some of the public facilities may not be available and during local festivals villages which are normally peaceful may be transformed.
Sadly there are no seasonal building restrictions in Greece and we have no control over such matters but we will endeavour to keep track of any planned long-term construction and withdraw any properties likely to be adversely affected. Any short term local ‘DIY’ activities are however totally beyond our control.
What should you expect from your accommodation?
Our properties are chosen primarily for their location and appeal and although they are all of a good standard they are not necessarily luxurious. Our self-catering properties are all equipped with linen and towels, which are normally changed twice a week, and maid service is provided a minimum of twice a week, often more frequently.
All our self-catering properties are equipped with sufficient crockery, cutlery and glassware for the maximum occupancy and utensils suitable for preparing simple meals. Kitchen facilities in Greece do not normally include ovens, washing machines or dishwashers but there are some exceptions (especially in the individual villas) and details are given in the property descriptions. Irons, ironing boards and hairdryers are also not the norm but are provided in some properties.
For apartments without air conditioning we are able to provide fans if you request this at the time of booking. In some apartments where air conditioning is provided there is a small local charge (usually between 6 and 8 euros per unit per day), please check at the time of booking. There is also often a local charge for the use of safety deposit boxes.
Many of our properties have solar power so water may be tepid rather than piping hot especially in the early mornings and at night time but most have electrical back-up for use during cloudy spells.
When satellite televisions are provided it should be noted that the only English speaking channels available are normally one or two news channels and an international sports channel so it is not possible to view any of your normal programmes or even British sporting events.
Our brochure is prepared and photographs taken well in advance so some of the decor and facilities may be updated. It is also impossible to describe and photograph each individual apartment so whilst all the main facilities will be common the layout and furnishings may differ slightly.
Maintenance and repairs may need to be undertaken from time to time in order to keep properties to up the standards we require, and our staff make health, safety and quality control checks. You, however, are responsible for any breakages or damages caused by you or any member of your party during your stay in your accommodation. It is your responsibility to either put things right or advise our local representative so that they can replace things and recharge you before your departure.
Hotel accommodation in the Greece is generally of a good standard, but naturally the level of service in the smaller, rural establishments tends to be more laid-back and informal than in the larger hotels, and the range of facilities will be more limited. Some hotels make additional charges for the use of safety deposit boxes and sports or spa facilities.
What local support is there?
We have our own representatives both on Crete and on Samos. They will ensure that you are transferred to your accommodation as efficiently as possible. They will contact you during your stay, if you so wish, and offer any friendly advice and guidance that you may need to make the most of your stay. Should you encounter any difficulties they are just a telephone call away and have all the local contacts needed to solve most problems. They will also prepare a detailed information booklet, usually given to you on arrival, to familiarise you with your property and the surrounding areas.
What passport, visa and health requirements are there
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a current passport valid for travel to Greece and a visa should you require one. For travel to Greece and other EU countries, British citizens need a full 10-year passport valid for the duration of their holiday. The expiry date of your passport must be at least 3 months after your booked return date, and the issue date must not be more than 10 years before your date of travel (it is important to check this if you previously renewed your passport early and had any unused months from the previous passport to the expiry date of your new passport). Please note children under the age of 16 including infants who are not already included in their parent's passport will require their own passport.
At the time of going to press British Citizens travelling to Greece do not require a Visa. If you do not hold a British passport it is vital that you check current entry requirements with your own Consulate or the Greek Embassy.
Always check with your doctor as to which inoculations and health requirements are advisable or necessary for your holiday well before you travel. Information on health is contained in the Department of Health leaflet available from most Post Offices.
Foreign Office Travel advice is readily available on the internet at www.fco.gov.uk
What else is there to consider?
Our Booking Conditions are clearly laid out and you should read them carefully before making your booking. They should answer many of your remaining queries but please don’t forget we are approachable and available on 020 8847 8700.