About Greece Travel

Crystal Cruises Discounts on Greece - incl. Air

2009-11-09T15:15:43Z

Crystal Cruises, a luxury cruise line, is offering a number of cruise possibilities for 2010, including trips beginning or ending in Athens. These options include business or economy class air and $500 -$1000 in on-board spending credits, making the about $3800 per-person fee start to sound surprisingly affordable.

I like the looks of the Seaways of Antiquity option, which starts in Rome, makes a couple of Italian port calls, and then touches at Crete and Mykonos, plus the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in Turkey, before ultimately disembarking in Athens. The reverse route, ending in Rome, is also available as the "Parthenon to Pantheon" cruise.

And these cruises are not stuck in the off-season either, when weather can make the best of cruises a bit awkward. The cheapest May dates should assure good weather and position you perfectly to enjoy a nearly crowd-free, low-cost stay in Greece either before or after the cruise.

Crystal Cruises Discounts on Greece - incl. Air originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 15:15:43.

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Fertile Turtles

2009-11-08T20:58:05Z

Turtle watchers at the Marine Park of Zakynthos report a good year for the hatching of baby turtles - it's believed that over 60,000 babies from just 763 nests successfully hatched this year. The turtle moms were really working overtime this year. Unfortunately, a very high mortality rate for young turtles will pare that number down substantially, leaving only a few to grow up and breed.

More on Greek Loggerhead Turtles: Archelon
Volunteer your Vacation Helping Turtles

10 Things Tourists Can Do to Help Sea Turtles

Photo � Katelios Group; used by permission

Fertile Turtles originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 20:58:05.

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Mamma Mia! Blu-Ray Gift Set Hits the Stores

2009-11-08T03:00:54Z

Haven't got enough of Mamma Mia yet? The "Gimme Gimme Gimme More!" Gift Set will be available November 10th, not coincidentally just in time for holiday gift-giving. The video material will have already been seen by avid Mamma Mia fans already - what makes this set desirable is the special book produced for this edition.

Compare Prices

Mamma Mia! Blu-Ray Gift Set Hits the Stores originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 03:00:54.

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Two Die of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Thessaloniki

2009-11-08T00:00:21Z

Greece has been struck again by a carbon monoxide poisoning tragedy, with two young men in their 20s succumbing to the odorless, poisonous gas in separate incidents at the 4-star Hotel Nepheli in Thessaloniki.

The hotel was closed after the second death; an initial investigation of the first death did not turn up any carbon monoxide leaks, eKathimerini reports.

In October of 2006, two young children succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning at the Louis Corcyra Hotel on the Greek island of Corfu. Their parents were also sickened but survived.

While such incidents are very rare, they are more likely in the fall months when heating systems may be turned on again for the first time that season. Minor carbon monoxide leaks may cause symptoms similar to the flu; if you are feeling ill and find you temporarily feel much better outside or in another area of the building, inform the management and change your room - or your hotel. In some victims, the skin will turn a bright pink or be flushed red.

More from About.com First Aid: Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Two Die of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Thessaloniki originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 00:00:21.

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On this Day in Greece - November 8th

2009-11-07T20:05:08Z

Philip of Macedon's tomb was discovered on this date in 1977 by Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos. Some debate whether or not this is actually the tomb of Alexander the Great's father , but there's no doubt that the tomb site at Vergina is a popular one for visitors to Northern Greece.

On this Day in Greece - November 8th originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 20:05:08.

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On this Day in Greece - November 6th

2009-11-06T21:03:00Z

In 1915, during World War I, new Prime Minister Stephanos Skouloudis formed a new Greek government which supported the Allies. Some sources list him as "Sophokles" Skouloudis.

High Winds Sideline Ferries

2009-11-02T16:25:40Z

November is coming in like a lion with high winds keeping ferries at the docks. It's the risk of off-season travel in Greece, though Greece's legendary winds occasionally keep the ferries from embarking no matter what the season. While some days may still be blissfully calm, it's likely to be more lively in the fall and winter months.

So, what's an intrepid off-season traveler to do? You may be best off choosing to fly between the Greek mainland and the islands. With competition heating up in Greece, and fewer passengers, it can often be even cheaper to fly than to take a ferry.

While bad weather and high winds can sometimes idle the smaller planes serving the islands, it happens less frequently. And if you do get caught with a delay, it usually is measured in hours - but if your island is only served once or twice a week by ferry, the impact on your travel plans can be much worse.

Aegean Airlines Special Offers to Greece

Olympic Air Special Offers to the Islands

Athens Airways Flights in Greece

The waters in Greece are not always this calm in fall and winter. Photo � deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com

High Winds Sideline Ferries originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 16:25:40.

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Crete's "X-Files Village"

2009-10-30T02:27:59Z

The ancient island of Crete has no shortage of weird stories, yet most of them are safely set in the past. However, the village of Azogires seems to be keeping up its reputation for strange happenings, as Nancy Snipper discovered.

Crete Gazette: Azogires, the X-Files Village in Crete

Crete's "X-Files Village" originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 02:27:59.

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Halloween in Hellas - Does it Exist?

2009-10-26T14:41:58Z

Halloween isn't a Greek holiday, but it has all the right elements - costumed processions, an emphasis on food, and fun for children. So no wonder it's starting to catch on, though with a distinctly Greek flavor. Looking forward to have a chance to sample orange ouzo? If it's anything like the bright red raki I had once at a village in the mountains, it should be a legitimately scary night.

Photo of pumpkin patch on the Greek island of Milos. Copyright deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com

Halloween in Hellas - Does it Exist? originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 14:41:58.

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Greek Yogurt War Lands in Court

2009-10-21T23:02:20Z

I adore real Greek yogurt - the unashamedly high-fat form made with milk from sheep and sometimes including a bit from goats, with a totally different nutritional profile than standard yogurt. I admit I fall for the all-cow's milk strained yogurt versions sold in the States occasionally when I'm desperate ...but it's not the same thing. I rush to the shelf when I see a new brand to read the label, but I always end up asking, "Where's the sheep?"

Still, passions over kind-of-Greek yogurt are rising as it becomes more and more popular. This conflict below just landed in the courts.

From AP: Soured Greek Yogurt Relationship Prompts Lawsuits

Greek Yogurt War Lands in Court originally appeared on About.com Greece Travel on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 23:02:20.

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