Suddenly, Greece is becoming hot as a tourist destination again in the wake of a disappointing last year with politicians, travel agents and travel writers advising visitors to come back.
The latest is Rick Steves, writer of the American journal sfgate, who advised Greece is a must-see for many reasons, including its archaeological treasures, despite protests and strikes that occasionally keep them closed.
Steves wrote that, “Frankly, this is a great time to travel to Greece. The financial crisis – while making life difficult for most Greeks – is a boon for budget travelers. Hotel prices are down, the normally warm Greek hospitality has ratcheted up a few notches, and roads outside of Athens are essentially traffic-free, as higher gas prices have caused locals to cut down on unessential driving.”
He added that, “Despite the headlines, the major sights of this ancient land are open and relatively crowd-free. Athens, while sprawling and congested, has a compact, pleasant tourist zone capped by the famous Acropolis – the world’s top ancient site. With its central location, it’s also the perfect launch pad for farther-flung destinations. You can commune with ancient spirits at the center of the world – the oracle near the picturesque mountain hamlet of Delphi.”
He also recommended visiting the Peloponnese, the large peninsula that hangs from the rest of the Greek mainland, “and experience a wild, mountainous landscape dotted with the ruins of Mycenaean palaces, ancient temples, frescoed churches and countless medieval hilltop castles. Most travelers like to take a vacation from their vacation on one of the famous Greek isles, such as traffic-free Hydra, whitewashed Mykonos or volcanic Santorini.”
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