Anemos Luxury Grand Resort with 4 TUI Awards

TUI company, one of the biggest tourism organizations in the world, honored Anemos Luxury Grand Resort in Chania with 4 TUI Awards: the TUI Holly 2019 Award, the TUI Top Quality 2019 Award, the Family Champion 2019 Award and the TUI Environmental Champion 2019 Award.

The TUI Holly is the highest accolade that can be accorded a TUI Hotel. It stands for everything that makes a TUI holiday perfect: Great attention to detail, superb service and outstanding cuisine. The hotel’s guests are the jury. The TUI Holly is the premium prize for the 100 most popular TUI hotels worldwide.

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Greece second in the world for blue flag awards

FOR a second consecutive year, Anemos Luxury Grand Resort beach has been accredited with the “BLUE FLAG”, a symbol of excellence awarded when high standards of water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety are achieved. Anemos Luxury Grand Resort is a unique luxury resort and Spa in the magnificent location of Georgioupolis, Chania, on the island of #Crete.

More than 45 countries around the globe have joined the Blue Flag programme. Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature is the national operator of the programme in #Greece. In 2018, Greece ranked on the second place in the world, with 519 Greek beaches, 15 marinas and 1 sustainable tourism boat receiving the Blue Flag award.

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'Handy' services at Santa Marina Beach in Crete

THE Santa Marina Beach in Crete recently introduced the new ‘Handy’ smartphone service for a revolutionary guest experience. With the ‘Handy’ services in-house guests of the Hotel will have unlimited mobile Internet access, free local & IDD calls, an informative ‘digital Island Guide’ as well as the latest offers of the Hotel. All of this is totally free of charge.

In each guest room, a smartphone named “Handy” can be found. This smartphone, which in-house guests can take outside the Hotel during their stay, provides several services -such as unlimited 3G Internet access- allowing them to stay connected with their relatives, friends and clients while abroad.

In-house guests can also make local and IDD calls to specified regions, including the EU, USA, Canada, Israel; share updates of their trip on social media anytime, have access to destination-specific content, exclusive hotel offers and promotions, comprehensive city guides and recommended shops, bars, restaurants and places to visit.

Santa Marina Beach is one of the first hotels in Crete to introduce this communication service, used by over 10 million hotel guests globally.

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Greek Villa chic

GIC THE VILLA COLLECTION enters its 48th season with a range of #villas which the company says will suit every possible type of guest: single travellers, couples, multi-generation families, or groups of friends. On the Ionian Islands, the Sporades, Crete, and in mainland #Greece and #Cyprus, most of the houses have private swimming pools, and all of them have been chosen for privacy and high standards of comfort. 

New for 2016 is Costa Navarino’s high-end villas on the coast of the Western Peloponnese on the Greek mainland. They come with a butler service, private chefs, a spa and a golf course a mere buggy ride away. The Costa Navarino Ithomi & Sapientza villas (each sleeps four) cost from £5,741 pp (four sharing) including seven nights’ self-catering, return flights (Gatwick), private transfers and full use of the resort’s exclusive facilities.

For total seclusion, there’s Villa Boukari (sleeping six) on Corfu’s south-east coast. Close to a 13th century village with its low-key taverna, it has views down to the sea. Rates start from £632 pp (four sharing) for seven nights’ self-catering, flights (Gatwick) and car hire. 

Call GIC The Villa Collection on 020 8232 9780 or go to www.gicthevillacollection.com

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Greece is the word for BA

BRITISH AIRWAYS has added two destinations to its 2016 summer schedule: Chania on #Crete and Kalamata, Mainland #Greece. The flights start on April 30. 

BA will also be increasing its frequency to Corfu for the summer 2016 season, bringing the total number of flights to the island to six per week, and Santorini flights will also increase from three to four per week.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10629535@N00/8071593741">Temple of Apollo</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)

Brits flock to Greece despite economic warnings

WITH overall sales to #Greece up 40 percent on the same time last year across its 400-plus contingent of independent travel agents, The Global Travel Group reports that bookings show no signs of slowing down.

The average sales value of package holidays has risen by more than £300, with Rhodes, Crete, and Corfu topping the list as the most booked destinations, the company says.

The Global Travel Group’s managing director, Andy Stark, commented: ‘It’s encouraging to hear that the ongoing economic turmoil in Greece is not deterring British holidaymakers from booking trips to the country. Enquiries and bookings are on the up, showcasing once again that we Brits are savvy when it comes to a good deal, informed, and will travel this summer regardless of the country’s economic problems.

‘Our agents are reporting some stand-out deals to Greece and its islands. I would encourage people travelling to Greece to keep abreast of the situation and ensure they take the relevant measures with cash to ensure they are well prepared, but I firmly believe that a holiday to Greece right now is a good idea all round.’

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Picture Credit: "Oia in Santorini, Greece 003" by Moonik - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Greek Islands last-minute bookings surge

GREEK euro crisis or no Greek euro crisis, online travel agent On The Beach reports a sharp rise in last-minute bookings for holidays on the country’s most popular islands. 

#Zante (also known as Zakynthos) leads the way, with sales up 115% on the previous year. Other islands performing particularly well include Crete (+62%), Corfu (+47%), Kos, (+42%), and Rhodes (+30%). 

Last-minute holiday bookings to #Spain are also performing well, up 54% on the previous year. The Costa Brava region looks like being the overall Spanish winner, with bookings up by almost 200% on 2014. 

Other destinations proving popular for #last-minuteholidays include the Turkish resort of Bodrum, the Balearic island of Menorca, and Paphos in Cyprus.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/105314487@N06/10527292125">Patmos bells</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Greek ferry fares cut

THE price of tickets on many Greek ferry routes has been cut – on government orders – by 2.6 percent.

The cut applies to state-subsidized ferry lines with fewer than 300,000 passengers a year.

The maximum economy class fare for the 197-mile Piraeus–Crete journey – one of the longest in the Aegean – is now €28.42 (£20.38).

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Picture Credit: KERAMOTI HARBOUR. GREECE. The ferry which takes you to and from Thassos Island.by Ronald Saunders from Warrington, UK Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Thomson, First Choice increase regional options

MORE regional flying in 2016 is to be introduced by Thomson and First Choice, including a new route to Aruba from Manchester. Additional 10- and 11-night durations to Chania, Crete, are also being made available from Manchester.

Catania in Italy, Hurghada in Egypt, and Sal in Cape Verde are being introduced as new routes from Bristol Airport, together with 10- and 11-night durations to Rhodes.

The move is part of a strategy to ensure customers across the UK can fly from their local airport.

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Picture Credit: Firstchoice b757-200 g-cpep arp by Adrian Pingstone Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

AEGEAN increase UK flights to Cyprus and Crete

GREEK airline AEGEAN is to launch a new direct route from the UK to Larnaca, Cyprus and Heraklion, Crete.

The flights to Larnaca will depart from Heathrow airport daily as of March 29, while the Heraklion flights will be from Gatwick in June, with up to six departures a week. 

The airline - www.aegeanair.com - will also renew its summer flight schedule to Athens from Birmingham, and the once seasonal flights from Manchester to Athens is to be an all-year service.

AEGEAN’s summer 2015 timetable includes a network of 134 destinations; 100 international in 42 countries and 34 domestic, with 15 million available seats.

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Crete in focus

CRETE’S tourism chiefs have launched the island's latest tourist campaign … 

Crete – The Island Inside You. 

The campaign comprises six short films that showcase aspects and experiences that make Crete an ideal tourist destination. It features the stories of tourists who have made Crete their home away from home. 

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Picture Credit: "Crete Heraklion" by Tango7174 - Own work via Wikimedia Commons

Aegean boosts summer schedules

AEGEAN Airlines has announced new flights between Gatwick and Heraklion, Crete, next summer as part of an improved summer schedule.

The new service will start on June 21 with up to six flights a week.


Flights between Athens and Manchester have now been made into year-round services, operating twice a week.

Its seasonal summer route between Athens and Birmingham will also operate again next summer, also running twice a week.

AEGEAN also operates flights between Heathrow and Gatwick to Athens.

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Picture Credit: Aegean Airlines

Crete in focus

THE wonders of Crete – from the island’s gastronomy to the hidden ‘insider’ spots –will be on display at the National Geographic London Store (November 3-9).

Catering for a range of visitors, from families to independent travellers, the aim of the promotion is to showcase every aspect of Greece’s largest island. It will feature:

· A photo exhibition of never-before-seen-in-the-UK shots of landscapes and indigenous animals

· Daily talks by experts

· Food tastings 

The store is at 102 Brompton Rd., Knightsbridge, London. 

www.nglondonstore.co.uk/london

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Picture Credit: David Kernek / GoHoliday

Crete price cuts

HOLIDAY villa company Crete Escapes is offering discounts for bookings in April, May, June, September and October. 

The discounts apply to most of the agency’s two-bedroom and larger villas. Many of the villas have private pools.

To see more, go to; http://govillasandcottages.co.uk/property/9077106085120/crete-escapes-chania-north-west-crete.html
For full details, go to;
 www.crete-escapes.com/crete-escapes-special-offers.htm

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