Greeks Booking Early for the Holidays, Occupancy Levels High

Kastoria, northern Greece. Photo © GTP

Greek travelers are booking early for this year’s Christmas and New Year’s holidays, with hotels and short-term tourist rentals seeing high occupancy levels for the season, said the Panhellenic Network of E-Real Estates.

Most popular winter destinations including Arachova, Metsovo, Ioannina, Karpenisi, Kalavryta and mountain villages in Arcadia are fully booked.

According to Panhellenic Network of E-Real Estates data, the number of prebookings for Airbnb-style rentals at Greece’s most popular winter destinations has exceeded 80 percent and is expected to reach 100 percent in the coming days.

Indicatively, prebookings in Arachova for New Year’s (December 29 – January 2) are at around 78-89% with a four-night stay costing around 1,147 euros. The price in Metsovo is at 1,050 euros and 564 euros in Ioannina for the same number of days.

Photo source: Visit Meteora

At Kalavryta, a popular skiers’ holiday choice, reservations are at 90 percent with a four-night stay in a three-bedroom home going on average from 823 euros to 1,175 euros.

A number of small mountain villages in Arcadia in the Peloponnese are currently at full capacity with rates ranging from 460 euros to 1,400 euros.

Other popular winter destinations in Greece include Kalabaka at Meteora, Edessa, Florina, Veria, Grevena, Trikala and Kastoria all very close to full capacity.

According to E-Real Estates, many destinations have increased in popularity and demand thanks to easy access via improved road networks.