Greek property news

We have been informed that the proprerty tax rate for Skopelos is 3 euro per square metre. Anyone who pays electric and has a Greek tax number will have to pay. However, the electric company have complained that they will effectively be unpaid tax collectors and are talking about boycotting it as there will be a lot of administration work for them to do. Incidentally, Volos is rated at 6 euro and Thessaloniki at 9 euro per square metre.

The new property tax in Greece will range from €0.50 cents to €20.00 and taxes each square metre of homes according to the age of the building (the older the building, the less tax pecentage), tax value and average house prices of the neighbourhood. This new tax will be in effect for a period of three years and will be collected in instalments through electricity bills. Those who will not pay or cannot pay will have their electricity cut off. It wil start from October 2011.

All property owners in Greece are required to pay this new tax whether you live in Greece or not.

Further updates to follow…

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This article is brought to you by: Holidaylettings and Angels Greek Island Homes

More than 80 per cent of Britons searching for a holiday home abroad are showing interest in the European countries that have been affected most by the global economic crisis as they hope to bag a bargain.

According to currencies.co.uk, Brits looking to buy abroad in the next 12 months have been considering well tried holiday destinations Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Italy with a recent surge in interest that it is thought will keep growing in the coming months. However, it is recognised that with present market conditions and despite the rising number of enquiries, it is unlikely that many of them will turn into purchases. For the most part, potential British buyers squeezed by the current austerity measures, remain unsure about the current economic climate and risk of buying abroad.

This will not have been helped by the increase in interest rates implemented by the European Central Bank in April, the first since 2008 to 1.25%, which has strengthened the euro against the pound. As a result, any major purchase in Europe has become much more expensive for British buyers, so most investors are tending to hold off for the time being.

It has been reported that the Greek economy is growing faster than the U.K. with a 0.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of 2011 (The UK. was 0.5%). Saying this, Greece still needs financial help from the Eurozone, so property prices may not be rising just yet.

The property market in Greece is currently quite depressed; prices achieved in Skopelos can be up to 30% lower than the equivalent three years ago. This means that canny buyers from around the world looking for long term investments and holiday homes are now taking advantage of the dip in the market. There are signs that things are moving as new buyers are coming in from the near and Far East, Africa and Russia.

As a holiday destination Greece remains popular, with more British people planning to go this year for a reliable break that delivers on expectations for a much needed ‘time-out’ of busy lives, days of sunshine and relaxation within the beautiful setting of the Mediterranean.

It is still possible to get a bargain holiday on the Internet. This year there are some good flight and holiday deals to be had as holiday companies realise they need to fill seats and holidaymakers just do not have the same levels of disposable income as before the credit crunch kicked in. This is good news for us holiday makers who don’t want to give up on our much needed week or two away but have to stick to a reduced budget, for this year, at least!

To take advantage of the current dip in the market and buy a home in Greece please see:

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This article is brought to you by Staysure

What is it about Greece and the Greek Islands that makes all who visit want to return again and again?

Could it be the people, beautiful coastline and crystal clear waters or maybe it’s down to the legend of Aphrodite casting her spell over the region?

Ancient Greece was the most advanced society of its time, so it’s ironic that the Greece of today is one of the few European countries intent on resisting change. That’s not to say that modern life has passed it by and the usual trappings of major tourist spots aren’t abundant, but what stands out is their determination to retain a sense of identity. It’s this national character, idyllic weather and some of the world’s impressive historic monuments that attract millions of tourists to the mainland and islands each year.

How to purchase property in Greece (northern Cyprus should be considered carefully to avoid getting involved with rows over disputed lands currently under Turkish control). There are restrictions for the purchase of property close to the Greek borders as an additional special permission is required. Such permission will be issued by the local Department Authorities. Permission to purchase of property close to the Greek borders is not granted to non EU citizens. Non EU citizens owning property does not confer EU citizenship, nor does it allow you to enter the EU without a normal visa.

Understandably for some the love affair with Greece means more than just a holiday destination, choosing to put down roots by purchasing property as an investment, holiday home and even a view to retirement. Before making the leap it’s advisable to rent a home within a chosen area and get to know what the village, town or even island is like to live in both in and out of season. Having made the decision to buy, the next step is to negotiate your way through bundles of red tape. Here are a few pointers on what to expect.

Greek tax number
Any foreigner intending to purchase property or do business in Greece is required to apply to for a Greek tax number.You must have a Greek Tax number to open a bank account. It’s not necessary to live in Greece or have a residency permit.

Bank account
All transactions are in Euros. You will need to set up a Greek bank account to pay for your legal advice, estate agent fees transfer money and pay bills. Payment of utility bills can be set up very easily by direct debit via the bank, and money can be transferred online. You will need to provide slips and receipts if you have transferred money into a different currency or bank account statements to show that the money is from a legitimate source.

Holiday Home insurance
If you intend to use your home only for holidays, insurance can be arranged through your Greek Bank for fire and storm damage. However insurance for theft may only available if you live in your property throughout the year. There are companies in the UK that can offer full insurance (3rd party for example), One of them is Staysure

Earthquakes
As Greece is prone to earthquakes, it’s vital to give any property the once over by a structural engineer, as no one wants to go to bed upstairs and wake up downstairs under a pile of rubble! Remember that some companies will not insure for earthquakes.

Utility connections
Some islands may have different requirments and regulations. – On Skopelos check that your chosen property is located inside or outside the town plan.  If your house is inside the town plan then utility connections should easily be available. If your house is outside the town plan then check what utilities, if any, are available. Remember it can very expensive  to bring these utilities in as you may have to buy the electricity poles that will go all the way to your house or, buy and install a water tank for example.  There are also other restrictions -  Please see the Buying a Home section from Angels Greek Island Homes for requirments and regulations.

Make it legal
All expenses for the conclusion of the final contract, including the tax on property transfer will be borne by the buyer. Each party will pay the fees of their legal representative who must be present at the signing of the contract, this is required by Greek Law.
To become the legal owner the sale or purchase must be authorised by a Public Notary. The contract won’t be legal until notarised. Make sure your lawyer ascertains the correct ownership of the property.
According to Greek law, the purchase contract, known also as a “Purchase Deed”, is signed by the buyer and the seller in the presence of :

A Public Notary
A lawyer appointed by the buyer
A lawyer appointed by the seller

Public Notary
Approximately 2.5% of the objective price or Tax Office estimation of the value or on the price declared in the purchase contract if this is higher.

Lawyer
Your Lawyer or Solicitor will normally charge between 1% and 2% of the sale value of the property. If he/she acts as a Power of Attorney on your behalf he/she may charge more.

Real Estate Agent
The Real Estate Agent’s fees are usually paid by the buyer.

For a Legal guide to buying property in Greece please see the Legal guide from Angels Greek Island Homes
Please remember that laws could be subject to change. Always consult a lawyer.

Insurance
Whilst we’re talking about the paperwork, it’s important to remember that once you have bought the property, you will need adequate building and contents insurance, particularly if unoccupied.

Why struggle in a foreign language or rely on costly translations, when you can save money and understand exactly what is and isn’t covered. Staysure holiday home insurance not only provides comprehensive building and contents cover, all policy documents are written in English, there is a 24-hour emergency helpline and English claims department.

Staysure.co.uk Ltd the over 50s experts specialise in providing low cost insurance solutions for over 50s living in the UK and expats living in Europe. Visit Staysure to get an instant online quote for Staysure.co.uk Ltd low cost Greek holiday home insurance.

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Tel: 0844 277 0844 (UK)

Tel: 952 899 532 (expats)

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News letter from Glossa Houses

Hello from Glossa, Skopelos

Whilst much of Europe and North America is in the grip of a cold winter, here on Skopelos the first signs of spring are visible. The wild anemones are putting out their pastel petals in the olive groves, the anthemis daisies are brightening up the footpaths and the sulphur-yellow Bermuda Buttercups shine above their astonishingly bright green trefoil leaves.

Between now and the end of March, there will be plenty of rain to keep our island green and perhaps even a touch of snow, but once the year has turned, the seasons turn too. By early February the spectacular display of the almond blossom will be starting. But some quieter advance guards are on the march. The scented flowers of the Mousmoulia (Loquat) tree appear before Christmas and many of the fruit-laden orange and lemon trees also have blossom in time to welcome the New Year.

Inevitably, perhaps, our first visitors of 2011 will be walkers. We have expanded our popular set of picture walking maps which were extensively road tested (and off-road tested) last season. Our guests find a spring walking break in Glossa can really shorten the winter and the amazing display of spring flowers can certainly lighten your step.

On a related subject, the island has a new mayor, Giorgos Michaelis. He seems to be very forward-thinking and has a particular interest in promoting the use of Skopelos’s forests – almost unique in the Greek islands – for trekking and sustainable traditional agriculture, both firmly linked to quality tourism. So our walking picture maps will doubtless support this enterprise, and come into wider use. But there are still going to be secluded forest paths and quiet beaches for many years to come!

As you may know, Therese and Iannis gave up the Astarti Café, by the school, at the end of the summer. (Their daughter Machi has had her baby – a little girl called Joanna).  The other good news is that a local young couple have taken on the Café and are planning to offer pizzas and speciality Greek dishes. We expect it to be open well in time for Easter, which this year is the same date in the Western and the Orthodox calendars.

Best wishes from Glossa in Skopelos

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This article is brought to you by holidaylettings

The Greek Islands have such an enduring appeal as a holiday home destination that Pamela Tomlinson, the South Oxfordshire councillor, is based on one.

Conservative Pamela Tomlinson last attended a South Oxfordshire District Council meeting five months ago, but has continued to claim her basic £2,900-a-year allowance – paid to all councillors.

She told the Oxford Mail she was still able to work on ward issues from her holiday home in Greece and that her offer to resign her seat had been rejected because the council’s leader did not want to call a by-election.

But Clifton Hampden Parish Council has complained to district council chief executive David Buckle – claiming residents rarely saw Mrs Tomlinson.

Parish council chairman Chris Dupond said Mrs Tomlinson, who represents Sandford ward, rarely attended their meetings to represent the district council. Berinsfield district councillor John Cotton has been appearing in her place.

“The parish council has been pretty horrified, and we think it’s quite wrong. We have been dissatisfied for a long time. Our meetings were rarely attended, or she used to turn up and read the district council newsletter to us,” said Mr Dupond. “The whole thing has been totally unacceptable,” he added.

Mrs Tomlinson said she had sold her house in Clifton Hampden in May but had another property in Oxfordshire. She insisted she was still performing her council duties and spent “less than half” her time abroad.

She said: “It’s a holiday home. Nobody would want to live on a small Greek island full-time. I’m still a member of South Oxfordshire District Council. I’m attending a group meeting tomorrow and had meetings in Wallingford and Reading today.

“Yes, I have got a place in Greece, and I have spent some time there over the summer, but it’s quite easy to deal with things by email and I have had another district councillor covering parish council meetings when I have not been there.”

Rent out your holiday home in Greece with Holidaylettings - CLICK HERE

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This update brought to you by staysure – Travel insurance

Air travel restrictions due to volcanic ash

You will be aware due to the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland all flights in and out of British airspace and northern Europe are grounded or severely restricted until further notice.

There is only one thing worse than a crisis and that is lack of information and if you’re one of the many clients affected by cancellation or delayed flights, you will want to know how your Staysure policy is affected;

1. Let us know if you have bought a single trip policy but haven’t yet travelled and your trip has been interrupted by volcanic ash, as we can change the travel dates on your policy.

2. If you have bought a single trip policy and are already in resort or your return travel is delayed, let us know and we will extend the travel dates on your policy.

To make these amendments call Customer Services on 0845 508 1318.

Due to the enormous amount of calls our telephone lines are extremely busy, so if you would like further information we request that you visit www.staysure.co.uk/ash to get the latest update on the situation and how it affects your cover.

Kind regards

Customer Services Manager
Staysure.co.uk Ltd – the over 50s experts

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Flying to Greece by Dealchecker

Greece has been a popular holiday destination for many years. The beautiful beaches and excellent holiday resorts on both the mainland and on Greece`s many islands are only part of the appeal that keeps visitors coming back year after year and attract the majority of visitors during the hot summer months.

During late spring and early autumn the temperatures are cooler and the beaches and resorts are quieter and many visitors are attracted by the beauty of the hills and wild flowers. There is always a warm welcome from local people and the traditional Greek culture and lifestyle is easy to find. The resorts vary depending on location and whether the holiday maker is looking for a lively night life, great cuisine, a deserted beach or beautiful mountain walks, Greece has it all.

Flights are available to most popular Greek holiday locations from the UK during the holiday season only and by the end of October the majority of holiday resorts have closed for the season. Flights to Athens are available throughout the year. Athens is fast becoming a popular holiday destination as well as a great location for a short break or long weekend. With its ancient sites such as the Acropolis and the famous Parthenon, Athens is steeped in history and myth, but is also a modern city where the visitor can enjoy designer shopping, boutique restaurants, exciting night life and local markets.

Greece`s national airline, Olympic, flies from Athens airport to many of the smaller islands that are not catered for by UK flight operators. In addition, visitors can reach the islands that do not have an airport by catching a ferry from the port of Piraeus in Athens or from Agios Constantinos in the north to Skiathos and Skopelos.

It is easy to fly from UK to Greek locations such as Athens, Volos, Thessaloniki and Skiathos. Easyjet flies from London Gatwick to Athens daily between mid-April and the end of October and from Manchester every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday during the same period. Easyjet also fly to Thessaloniki from London Gatwick each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday during late April and throughout May. From June to the end of October there is an additional flight available with Easyjet to Thessaloniki on Thursday. Thessaloniki has a large port from which there are many ferries to the islands in the Aegean. The beautiful holiday island of Skiathos is a popular holiday destination during the summer months and Thomas Cook provide flights from Birmingham and Newcastle once a week and fly from Manchester and Gatwick, providing 2 flights each week on Wednesday and Friday.

The city of Volos is the third largest in Greece after Athens and Thessaloniki and is located approximately 320 km from the capital. Many Greek islands can be reached via ferry from the port in Volos including the Sporades islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. Air Berlin fly to Volos from London Stansted, while Flybe and Monarch Charter fly from London Gatwick and Manchester. BMI fly to Volos from London Heathrow and Edinburgh, with SAS flying from Aberdeen.

Flights are available between mid-April and the end of October.

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How do you travel from London to Thessaloniki by train?

This is a pros and cons guide for travelling by train from London U.K. to Thessaloniki Greece.

We have done it and will tell you how.

Why travel to Greece by train?
When travelling by train, you can book months before or, buy your tickets and seat reservations just before the train departs.
You can arrive at the train station just a few minutes before departure.
Unlike airplane travel, there are no luggage restrictions. You can take as much luggage as you like as long as you can carry it on and off the train.
With train travel you get to see a lot of interesting places and changing countryside along the way.
You can choose where to hop off; decide what to see and how long to stay.
The best part is that most tickets can be refunded (some only up to 85%) if you decide not to travel.
If you don’t like flying, take the train, it can be an interesting and an enjoyable adventure.

The downside is
You can book the entire train journey from the U.K to Greece but you cannot book the return journey. Only when you reach the ticket office in Thessaloniki can you book the return journey and they will only book it to Belgrade. Once in Belgrade you have to book the next stages back to the U.K. yourself. (On hearing this, we chose a route from Volos, Greece to Brindisi, Italy by bus and ferry).
You need a lot of spare time and patience as train journeys can be long and tedious.
Connections can be late or cancelled and if you miss your connections, your seat reservations become invalid.
Overnight sleepers can cost as much as a hotel room and you get woken up constantly throughout the night by the train stopping at stations, noise and passport control.
Trains in Eastern Europe we travelled on often broke down due to old rolling stock. They did not have buffet cars and sometimes sleeper cars had no lights.
Stations in Eastern Europe were old and crumbling. Information was sparse
“Keep your doors locked” the Romanian guard shouted at us on the Bucharest to Thessaloniki night train. “There are bandits in Bulgaria who jump on the trains!” My wife quickly armed herself with a coat hanger. Maybe she wanted to politely ask the bandits to hang up their coats before they attacked us!
Hidden costs, reservations and small extras can make it more expensive than an economy airplane ticket.
Ferries from Italy to greece can be rough in bad weather and toilets can be disgusting.
Travelling by train is much, much slower than airplane travel.

How much time is needed to travel from London to Thessaloniki by train?
The shortest time from the U.K to Greece by train would be about 3 days.
The longest time is up to you.

Pre-planning is essential
Study maps and have a pretty good idea of your route before you travel.
It is very important to co-ordinate the planning of your route with train timetables and ferry schedules.
We chose to book through Eurostar: www.eurostar.com and DB Bhan: www.bhan.co.uk
Make sure that you leave enough time in-between connections. Half an hour is not enough, 2 hours is advisable.
Remember to find out if your next train connection starts from a different train station and if it does, leave enough time to get there.
Make sure you reserve seats on all the trains you travel on. (Compulsory on most trains) Journeys can be long and trains overcrowded. If you don’t reserve a seat you may have to stand and in some cases even if you have a ticket you may not be let on as the train may be full.
Take water, some food, mobile phones with spare batteries and a book to read.
Be prepared for delays, cancellations and missed connections.
Always have a plan B.

Train Tickets

Eurostar: www.eurostar.com
DB Bhan: www.bhan.co.uk

The best way to travel by train is to buy an InterRail Global Pass.
There are various types of tickets and they would work out cheaper and give you more freedom (Hop on-hop off) of travel than buying each ticket individually.
Remember this ticket does not include Eurostar, seat reservations or sleepers. Each seat reservation would have to be bought separately from the Global pass.
Prices for reservations can range from about Euro 3 per person to about Euro 10 per person per seat. Sleepers on the overnight trains can be around Euro 84 (entire 3 person compartment unless you want to share)
You must fill out the days you travel, destinations, connections and train numbers on the InterRail Global Pass before you board the trains you travel on in two places on the ticket. If you don’t the ticket inspectors will fine you Euro 50 every time.

So, how good are the trains?
Western European trains are fast, reliable, comfortable and mostly on time.
Eastern European trains are slow and frequently break down as rolling stock is old. The trains we travelled on were mostly delayed (some by 3 hours) and the toilets were terrible. There are no buffet cars, so bring your own food. I bought beer from the train guards and the price went up every hour! For some reason they also seem to like driving the trains with the carriage doors open. Stations can be chaotic with platforms crumbling. Information is sparse. Things seem to run on luck!

The best and worst trains we travelled on

The best
The French, German and Italian trains

The Worst
The Romanian (Old Rolling stock) and Greek trains. It is always better to travel by bus in Greece. (EG: Thessaloniki to Volos by train-5 hours – by bus 2.5 hours).

London to Thessaloniki Greece by train

Our route: London to Paris – Paris to Vienna – Vienna to Budapest – Budapest to Bucharest ( with stopovers in Sighisoara and Brashov) – Bucharest to Thessaloniki – Thessaloniki to Volos by bus – Volos to Skopelos by ferry.

Tickets: Eurostar, InterRail Global Pass and paid for seat reservations.
Eurostar: www.eurostar.com
DB Bhan: www.bhan.co.uk

Day 1
London to Paris by Eurostar:
(Eurostar is not included in InterRail Global Pass.)
Choose your travel time and best price – Frequent trains
Duration: About 2hr 30m
Ease and Comfort: 8 out of 10
Notes: On time.

Day 2
Paris to Vienna by ICE Trains (12:24 hours- 1 change)
Seat reservation: €4 per person
Departing Paris EST at 6:58am
Arrive: Vienna 19:22
Duration: 12hr 24m
Ease and Comfort: 7 out of 10
Notes: 5 min late. Dinner and sleep over in Vienna

Day 3
Vienna to Budapest by IC Trains
Seat reservation: €4 per person
Choose your departure time – Frequent trains
Duration: About 3 hours
Ease and Comfort: 7 out of 10
Notes: 15 min Late

Budapest to Bucharest, Romania by CFR Trains.
Seat reservation: €84 for a three berth sleeper
Choose your departure time: Trains every 2-4 hours or so.
Duration: 14hr 15m – depending on train
Notes: It is best to arrive in Bucharest by 10:30am to catch the 12:16 connection to Thessaloniki or by 18:00 to catch the 20:04 connection to Thessaloniki. (Only two trains a day)
We chose an over night sleeper to Sighisoara
Depart: 19:13
Arrive: 05:40 next day
Duration: 8hr 56m
Ease and Comfort: 2 out of 10. Old Sleeper car. Clean sheets. No lights. At 23:30 work was carried out to replace the train battery. Much noise and what a carry on!
Notes: We arrived 65 minutes late.

(Day 3&4)
2 days touring in Romania

Day 5
Brasov to Bucharest – (It is the same Budapest to Bucharest train)
Seat reservation: €4 per person
Choose your departure time carefully: Every two hours or so (Choose 07:14 train to catch connecting 12:16 train to Thessaloniki).
Duration: About 3:15 hours
Ease and Comfort: 1 out of 10 – Trains stink of unwashed backpackers – No opening windows. Stop and start journey.
Notes: 90 min Late – mechanical problems with train. We only had 13 min to catch our connection to Thessaloniki.

Bucharest Romania to Thessaloniki Greece by CFR Romanian trains
Seat reservation: €78 for a three berth sleeper
Choose your departure time: 2 trains a day – (Don’t miss it!)
Departs: 12:16 or 20:04
Arrive: Thessaloniki 5:40 or 12:50
Duration: 17hr 24m
Ease and Comfort: 3 out of 10 – Sleeper was cosy with clean sheets. We were told to lock our doors whist travelling through Bulgaria as bandits can jump on the trains. No buffet car. Buy beer/water from train guards. Much noise.
Notes: We arrived 2 hours late.

Day 6
Thessaloniki to Volos by bus – Volos to Skopelos by ferry
Make sure you check the Ferry schedules before you travel so you don’t arrive after the last boat departs. Please make sure you reserve and buy seats on the ferry/flying Dolphin before you travel.

Ferry schedules: www.ferries.gr
Hellenic seaways Volos –Tel: 0030 2421023415
www.hellenicseaways.gr

Take bus No.18 outside train station to the central bus station (20min). Then take the bus to Volos.
KTEL Bus Company  in Thessaloniki: www.ktel-thes.gr
Tel. 0030 2310 510-835

Bus from Thessaloniki to Volos
Price: €15.80 per person one way
Frequency: every 2 hours.
Duration: 2hr 30m
Ease and Comfort: 9 out of 10
Notes: On time. On arrival in Volos it is a 25min walk to the port or a 5min Taxi ride. If you have heavy baggage, take a taxi. (It costs around €6)

Ferries / flying Dolphins: Volos to Skopelos
Price: €40 per person one way
Frequency: Check schedules (times change during summer and winter) www.ferries.gr / or ticket offices. Hellenic seaways Volos – Tel: 0030 2421023415
Duration: 3 hours
Ease and comfort: 8 out of 10 in good weather – 2 out of 10 in bad weather (vomit commit)
Notes: On time, saw some dolphins

Skopelos to London by Train

We decided not to book a return journey from Thessaloniki via Belgrade.
We travelled from Skopelos Greece to Italy and France to London

Our route: Skopelos to Volos by Flying Dolphin – Volos to Ioannina by bus – Ioannina to Igoumensta by Bus – Igoumensta to Brindisi, Italy by ferry -  Brindisi to Rome by train (with stopover in Florence) – Rome to Paris by train – Paris by Eurostar to London.
We booked all the above as and when we travelled.

Day 1 – Return
Ferries / flying Dolphins: Skopelos to Volos
Price: €40 per person one way
Frequency: Check schedules (times change during summer and winter) www.ferries.gr / or ticket offices. Hellenic seaways Skopelos Tel: 0030 2424022767
Duration: 3 hours
Ease and comfort: 8 out of 10 in good weather – 2 out of 10 in bad weather (vomit commit)
Notes: Best to leave on the first ferry/flying dolphin of the day from Skopelos to make all connections.

Bus from Volos to Ioannina
Price: Around € 28 per person one way
Frequency: every 2 hours.
Duration: 4hr 30m
Ease and Comfort: 8 out of 10
Notes: Bus travels through Meteora, one of the largest and most important Eastern Orthodox Monasteries in Greece – A must see sight. The bus then travels around and through the tunnels in the mountains.
On arrival in Ioannina central bus station, run through the station building for the connecting bus to Igoumensta as it leaves on the hour every two hours. We arrived at 17:59 and our connecting bus left at 18:00. If you miss it, it is a two hour wait for the next bus.
A direct bus route operates on the newly opened highway from Thessaloniki to the port of Igoumensta cutting journey times by 2 hours.

Bus from Ioannina to Igoumensta
Price: Around €3 per person one way
Frequency: every 2 hours.
Duration: 90 minutes
Ease and Comfort: 6 out of 10
Notes: Igoumensta is a new Greek shipping port and it is still being built.
The terminal for international ferries to Brindisi Italy is on the far left (facing the sea)
We stayed over night in a hotel near the port.

Day 2 – Return
Ferry from Igoumensta Greece to Brindisi Italy
Price: €78 for two people on deck ( price included with an InterRail Global Pass)
Be aware, you will have to pay Port Tax:  €10 per person - not included in your ticket price
Time: 7:30am – make sure you are on the ferry by 7:00am
Duration: 8 hours
Ease and Comfort: 8 out of 10 if it is not cold and does not rain (0 out of ten for toilets.)
Notes: Take wet wipes/antibacterial hand wash
Arrived 45 min late.
On arrival in Brindisi don’t get ripped off by taxi’s wanting to charge €20. Pay around €5 or €10

Brindisi to Rome by train Eurostar Italia high speed trains
Seat reservation: €10 per person
Travel time: 17:30 – 23:38
Duration: 6hr 8m
Ease and Comfort: 9 out of 10
Notes: Eurostar Italia is not the same company as Eurostar.
Beware of people dressed to look like train or platform staff. If you ask them a question about your train they look at your ticket then grab your bags and run with them to your carriage and seats. They then demand payment.

Day 3&4 – Return
Touring in Italy

Day 5 – Return
Rome Italy to Paris France by train TGV France
Seat reservation: €10 per person
Travel time: 11:30 – 23:19 (11hr 49m)
Arrival: gaud de Lyon Paris
Ease and Comfort: 7 out of 10
Notes: 10 min late.
Hotels in Paris can be expensive and awful.
Paris Metro is fast and cheap. (€1.60 for a single ticket)

Day 6 – Return
Touring in Paris.

Euro star Paris France to London U.K
Pre-booked tickets (£140 for two people – return)
Travel time: 18:30 – 21:30 (2hr 30m)
Depart: Gaud De Nord
Ease and Comfort: 9 out of 10
Notes: On arrival into London St. Pancras we found out about the weekend’s engineering works, causing tube cancellations and train delays. Welcome home!

Useful info:

Eurostar: www.eurostar.com
Train bookings: DB Bhan: Tel: 08718 80 80 66 -  www.bhan.co.uk
Flying dolphins/ferries, international/Greek: – www.ferries.gr
Hellenic seaways Volos, Tel: 0030 2421023415 -  www.hellenicseaways.gr
Hellenic seaways Skopelos, Tel: 0030 24240 22767 – 003030 24240 23060
KTEL Bus Company in Thessaloniki: Tel. 0030 2310 510-835  www.ktel-thes.gr

The Man in Seat Sixty-One: www.seat61.com

Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the above article are subject to change. Train timetables and prices quoted are subject to change. Ferry prices and schedules are seasonal. We are not responsible for the companies that have links on our site. Our article is a guide and should be viewed as such. Other people may have very different experiences to ours.

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Buyers beware: Local Estate Agent trading under our name without agreement in Skopelos Greece

It has recently come to our attention that our copyrighted company logo ‘Angels’ has been reproduced and is being used to sell property and land on the island of Skopelos without our permission.

Angels Greek Island homes is a separate company and has no affiliation with ‘Angels’ For Sale – Homes and Land’ operating locally on the island of Skopelos by Angelo. We therefore can take no responsibility for any property sales or transactions carried out with this real estate agent.

Please see how our copied and reproduced Angels logo looks in the sign below. It does not contain the words ‘ Greek Island Homes’  like our logo

Warning: We do not work with the Estate Agent (Angelo) trading under this name

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Our Angels Greek Island Homes Logo looks like this:

N.B. Please be aware of the difference between the two logos as Angels Greek Island Homes can take no responsibility for any property sales or transactions carried out with ‘Angels’ FOR SALE HOMES & LAND. This is not our company and is not in anyway affiliated to us.  Please see: First report

If you need any further advice or have any queries please contact us

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Provided by holidaylettings.co.uk and angelsgreekislandhomes.com

Increase bookings on your Greek property with a special offer from holidaylettings.co.uk

For a limited time only, any new advertiser joining the holidaylettings.co.uk website quoting promotional code 45922 will be entitled to either Offer Credit bundles worth £50, a 3 week Spotlight worth £70, or 15 months for the price of 12 to use during their first 12 month subscription.

What’s an Offer Credit bundle?
Offer Credit bundles are two Late Deals and one Early Bargain, or two Early Bargains and one Late Deal. Advertisers can use Offer Credits to promote special offers to holidaymakers at which point their advert also appears on the relevant Late Deal or Early Bargain page on our site.

What’s a Late Deal?
Late Deals are a highly effective way for homeowners to fill last minute vacancies through a dedicated Late Deals search section, which attracts in excess of 100,000 searches per week in peak periods.

What’s an Early Bargain?
These are a great way for new advertisers to kick-start their first year’s letting income by promoting the offer of a discount to those who book early.

What’s a Spotlight?
Displayed on rotation, Spotlights are seen over 100,000 times a month on the left hand side of every search results page, providing an extra marketing boost

With Greek homeowners enjoying on average 37 booking enquiries each year from their Holiday Lettings advert, can you afford to miss out?

If you would like to take advantage of this special offer now:

Just register here and quote promotional code 45922.

Home 91126  |  Peloponnese, Greece June 2009  “We are very happy with the website. Thank you. Over all I am impressed with Holiday Lettings because so far we have received more enquiries from your site than from any other sites we advertise with. Keep up the good work!”

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