Sunvil’s biggest Greece programme to date

Jan. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Exciting new additions include a trio of remote islands in the Dodecanese, an expanded programme on eco-conscious Tilos and Ouranoupolis in Halkidiki, gateway to the Holy Mountain, where it will be possible to assist with arrangements for a visit to the Holy Mountain of Athos (for men only).

Dudley der Parthog, Programme Director, comments: “2011 promises to be a more fruitful year for UK tourism to Greece. Hoteliers have frozen room rates, cafés and tavernas in resort have realised they must lower prices to compete with rival destinations and there is an overall feeling of increased optimism throughout the Greek tourism industry.

“Our programme reflects all that is great about Greece: traditional, working villages that retain their authentic flavour; beautiful, mountainous island interiors; a wealth of ancient sites on the mainland, and small – often owner-managed – characterful apartments and hotels. We offer over 40 years of unrivalled experience in operating flexible holidays to Greece, carrying only a select number of clients every year. Our new 2011 programme is one of the best, and certainly the most varied, Greece offering in the UK.”

NEW HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2011
Three Dodecanese islands: wild, mountainous and starkly beautiful Karpathos, where the locals in the remote mountain village of Olymbos still wear traditional costume; atmospheric Nissyros with its two large volcanic craters, lush green interior and fantastic walking trails; remote Astypalea, fashionable among the Greeks, with its whitewashed main town crowned with a kastro (castle). Prices start at £501 pp (two sharing) for a seven-night stay at the two-star Porfyris Hotel on Nissyros. The price includes return flights (Gatwick), transfers (including ferry from Kos) and B&B accommodation.

An extended programme on tiny, eco-friendly Tilos, in response to customer demand. The mayor has revolutionised tourism here, banning hunting and ridding this emerald isle of a beach road, allowing flora and fauna to flourish and walking trails to be restored. Prices start at £603 pp (two sharing) for a seven-night stay at the two-star Irini Hotel. The price includes return flights (Gatwick), transfers (including ferry from Rhodes) and B&B accommodation.

The settlement of Ouranoupolis, known as ‘the gateway to Athos’ (the Holy Mountain) on Halkidiki. Here, monks and priests mix with tourists and small ferryboats service the Athos monasteries. Men need a permit to visit the Holy Mountain, a World Heritage Site, and for an admin fee of £50 Sunvil can help arrange this given three months’ notice. The Holy Mountain is an autonomous self-governed monastic province and applicants, if non-Orthodox, need a valid reason to visit (e.g. interest in religion, Byzantine art, sacred music etc.) – women are not allowed to visit!

Intimate small ship (mega-yacht) cruises departing Athens aboard the Galileo, a motor-sailer accommodating no more than 50 passengers, enabling quayside docking and visits to unusual islands. A seven-day Jewels of the Cyclades itinerary costs from £1,515 pp (two sharing – from £1,276 if booked before 31st January) including return flights (Heathrow), transfers and half-board on the ship (departs Fridays from April to end-October).

Painting holidays, including two-week courses in Samos or Kardamili in the south Peloponnese with renowned artist Muriel Owen, who has taught groups worldwide. The price is from £940 pp (two sharing) in Samos including return flights (Gatwick), B&B hotel, painting classes and an excursion or two.

This year, there are more early booking offers than ever before, with thousands of ‘two weeks for the price of one’ offers, and reductions of up to £40 per person on one week holidays, applicable to off-peak stays (book by 28 February 2011). One of the best offers available is two weeks for the price of one at the five-star Lemnos Village Hotel on Lemnos for just £928 pp (two sharing) departing in May and June, representing a saving of £455 pp (full price is £1,383 pp). The price includes 14 nights’ half board, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers.  

The brochure lead-in price is £465 pp (including early booking discount) for seven nights’ self-catering accommodation at the modern Anthi Apartments in Corfu, including return flights (Gatwick) and transfers, based on four sharing in May.

To request the new Sunvil Holidays real Greece brochure, call 020 8758 4747 or visit www.sunvil.co.uk.

Ends                                                                                                                                                           13 January 2011

Note to editors: Sunvil Holidays offers complete peace of mind. Unlike booking a holiday DIY-style on the web, your money is 100% safe, guaranteed by the company’s bonds with the Civil Aviation Authority and AITO Trust, and via its membership of both AITO and ABTA. In the event of a natural disaster (e.g. an ash cloud) Sunvil guarantees to look after all its guests, providing accommodation where necessary and travel back to the UK when possible – no fighting with an airline for out-of-pocket expenses.

Press: For more information on Sunvil’s real Greece programme, please contact Sarah Belcher at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email s.belcher@travelpr.co.uk.

Trade press: Brochure supplies will be distributed shortly and those with top agent status will have the facility to order additional packs on BP Tradegate at www.trade-gate.co.uk. Alternatively, visit www.sunvil.co.uk for a pdf copy downloadable by island/section. There is also an agents’ area on the website that contains product news and updates (passwords on request).

Sunvil’s Real Greece in a nutshell:
• Hand-picked accommodation in Alonissos, Amorgos, Andros, Astypalea, Corfu, Crete, Halki, Hydra, Ikaria, Ithaca, Karpathos, Kastellorizo, Kefalonia, Lefkas, Lemnos, Leros, Lipsi, Meganissi, Mykonos, Naxos, Nissyros, Paros, Patmos, Paxos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos, Symi, Tilos, Zakynthos and the mainland areas of Parga, Sivota, Epirus, Halkidiki, the Pelion and the Peloponnese (including Tolon, Nafplion and the south)
• Completely flexible, fly-drive itineraries to northern and central Greece, Epirus and the Peloponnese, including the monasteries at Meteora, classical sites such as Delphi and Olympia, the Vikos Gorge and much more
• Multi-centre holidays combining Patmos & Samos, Corfu & Albania, north & south Peloponnese, Mykonos & Andros, north & south Crete and many more
• Painting holidays on Alonissos, Ikaria, Samos, the Peloponnese and Crete
• Guided, full-day walks on Alonissos with the author of a local walking guide
• Flotilla, bare-boat charter and learn-to-sail holidays in the Ionian Sea (from Lefkas)
• Pre-bookable watersports and motorboat hire, including learn to windsurf, dinghy sail and waterski (from Lemnos and Tolon)
• Assistance with arranging an exclusive visit to Mount Athos on Halkidiki (men only)
• Private cultural sightseeing tours in Albania which can combine with a week on Corfu or Paxos
• City breaks to Athens and island cruises from Piraeus
• Tailor-made holidays for odd durations, unusual combinations and non-standard arrangements

# # #

Travel PR is one of the leading travel PR agencies in the UK with over 30 clients covering trade associations, hotels, tour operators and tourist boards.