New Deal Europe weekly update on post Covid-19 travel, Week 11
News from the destinations: Greece
This week we move to the sunny Aegean coast and speak to Simon Clifford, European Product Manager at Cox and Kings, who’s travelled for his first post lockdown holiday in beautiful Greece.
NDE: Can you tell us about the company you work for and their business to the Balkan region?
SC: Cox and Kings is the oldest travel company in the world dating back to 1758, when Richard Cox was appointed as regimental agent to the Foot Guards of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. Today the company is owned by Abercombie & Kent. We specialise in small group touring as well as tailor made FIT packages to all corners of the globe.
The Balkan region is becoming more and more popular with our clients, with group tours in Romania and Greece especially popular, as well as luxury tailor made itineraries in Croatia and Slovenia.
NDE: Why did you decide to visit Greece this year?
SC: To put things bluntly this has been a tough year, and I was desperate to jump back on a plane. I’ve accepted that covid is here to stay for the foreseeable future at least, and therefore we just have to live with it as best we can. Greece has done an excellent job at containing the virus, with some of the lowest death rates in Europe, and they are starting to open back up to international tourism, something we all know they desperately rely on. So when a Greek friend invited me to come with him to his family’s summer home in Halkidiki, I jumped at the chance.
NDE: Were there any special measures you had to take because of Covid?
SC: Yes, the Greek government requires all those wishing to enter Greece to complete a Passenger Locator Form at least 48hrs prior to travel. It’s a very simple online form, requiring all the basic information you’d expect, right down to your seat number on the plane! Once completed you’re sent a QR code and this is scanned on arrival in Greece.
At Luton Airport gate staff were checking these forms had been completed and two passengers were denied boarding for not doing so!
NDE: Where did you stay and what measures did your accommodation take to ensure your safety?
SC: Due to a late flight into Thessaloniki we decided to stay in the city for one night before travelling down to Pefkohori. We stayed at the rather basic Hotel Ilisia, which we picked for its great location and the fact that they were displaying a certificate to say it had been fully decomtamintated and was indeed spotlessly clean.
In Pefkohori we had the pleasure of staying at my friend’s holiday apartment, so there was no protocol there.
NDE: Was anything different to how you expected because of Covid?
SC: In Greece it is law that everyone wears face masks on public transport and in shops. The Greeks are very aware of how lucky they have been and are very strict on keeping to theses rules, I never saw anyone without a mask on. However Greece is very much a place where people socialise outdoors. There was no social distancing in any bars or restaurants, but waiting staff all wear masks.
What I loved was the complete sense of normality on the streets. People were generally aware of others who might be vulnerable, but were still out enjoying the beach and balmy summer nights.
NDE: Which places did you visit and what was your impression?
SC: I’m the more adventurous type and my friend was worried I’d get bored on a beach holiday, but to be honest, I was just thrilled to get away. However he still tried to break up our beach days. We visited Agia Paraskevi Thermal Spa, set on a dramatic cliff top overlooking the Aegean Sea. The waters here are all natural with high content of sulfur, the place stinks, but the waters are excellent for the skin and it was a great place to relax. Especially after the hot cycle to get there.
The highlight of the trip for me was day four, when we took a boat trip from Pefkhori over to the second arm of the Halkadiki Peninsula, visiting a lovely beach for a swim at Paralia Aretes and a lunch stop in Porto Koufo. The boat was quite busy, but there was plenty of shady deck space for everyone. Breakfast and lunch were included and we were out for nearly 9 hours, which I thought was an absolute bargain at just €25 a head.
On our last day we hired a car (€40) for the day and headed to Waterworld in the suburbs of Thessaloniki, not the biggest water park in the world, but some great slides and plenty of space to relax. We were probably the oldest group there without children, who cares! Everyone enjoys being a kid again sometimes! There were markings on the floor at the start of rides to enforce social distancing, but around the park there was lots of space for everyone.
NDE: Would you recommend Greece to tourists right now?
SC: Very much so, you just have to be aware that because Greece wasn’t impacted as much as us, the people are less aware of social distancing we as tourists should be far more aware of the risk of passing covid on to them not the other way around. Old people especially seem to be totally unaware of it and will walk straight up to you without thinking anything of it.
Just relaxing and feeling normal again, yes there were signs of the virus about, but once you jump in that warm blue sea you forget all about it.
However, Greece is an amazing country, which feels relatively unaffected by the virus. This will have still hit their economy hard and it’s so important that we get out to countries like this and support small family businesses that rely almost entirely on the tourism industry.
NDE: What was the best thing about your trip?
SC: Just relaxing and feeling normal again, yes there were signs of the virus about, but once you jump in that warm blue sea you forget all about it.
NDE: Will Cox & Kings be featuring the region in the future?
SC: Absolutely! Cox & Kings works with a wonderful family owned DMC on Crete who we plan to support for many years to come. In 2021 we’ll be offering two small groups tours, across the mainland and another focusing on the history of Crete. We’re also offering FIT packages to the lesser known islands such as Tinos, Serifos and Syros.
Questions by Robert Dee, co-founder of New Deal Europe, a travel forum and marketplace that brings together tour operators, tourist boards, and suppliers with a focus on the Balkan region of Europe, www.newdealeurope.com.
If you would like to take part in or blogs from the Balkans series, or if you would like to contribute an article, please contact us at info@newdealeurope.com.
