![]() ![]() Based on the largest international tourist accommodation rental platforms, for the period from the second 15th of July until the 13th of August, 80% of the accommodation of all types listed on them has no availability! Also, for the week of August 15th – public holiday in the country and the peak of summer vacations for Greeks – there are only a few available rooms (1 in 10).Īcross the country, available room rates for July and August typically start at €70 a night for a family of four to squeeze into one room. Hotels are recording unprecedented demand, while other tourist accommodations, such as holiday homes and short-term rental apartments, show high occupancy for the period from July 15 to August 27. Tourism market players are already warning that this summer will be “prohibitive” for Greek travelers and this is because the demand from abroad is explosive (it is similar to that of 2019 and in some island destinations exceeds it), while the prices in general remain high. Most hotel rooms (over 80%) have been bought early (from autumn) by tour operators, while the remaining rooms (20%) are available directly from hoteliers at “door prices”, which can be up to double compared to what the tour operators have paid! I wondered when, or if, we had to go home.Greeks, who traditionally wait until the last minute to decide where to go on vacation, this year find it more difficult than ever not only to find a destination but, above all, to afford the cost of the vacation. Relaxing under the shade of a tamarisk tree, we dozed off to the sounds of waves lapping the shores and children playing in the distance. We jumped in and splashed around, then spread our towels on the sand. There were only a handful of other people there, and the waters were as clear and inviting as any we’d seen on the island. Instead, we followed a young Greek family to the pebble-and-sand Piso Aliki beach, located a short stroll from the center of the village. With bellies full, we contemplated driving back to our Airbnb and lounging by the pool. We opted for a table in the sand at the Apoplous Taverna & Ouzeri, a local spot that feels like it’s been there forever, where we ordered a Greek salad with oregano-dusted triangles of fresh feta, and grilled fish with lemon wedges and a pile of salty French fries. Ultimately, we didn’t go to any of the new restaurants in Aliki. To dine on the sea-facing patio of seafood restaurant Sayini, or on the lively sidewalk patio of Pela Luz? We were also tempted by Kima, an elevated Greek tavern with a soaring, all-white dining room, serving Greek octopus and mezze. In recent years, the area has seen an uptick in beautiful new restaurants-and when it came to finding a spot for lunch, we had our pick. Most people were conversing in Greek and the village still had a traditional feel. But unlike northern ports like Parikia, it was clear that Aliki hadn’t lost its soul. ![]() The U-shaped enclave features a smattering of traditional whitewashed buildings, situated around a boat-strewn port. The following day-our last before flying home-we climbed on our scooter and drove even farther south, with no destination in mind, eventually stumbling on the fishing village of Aliki. While the cocktails at the pool bar looked delicious, someone at the kitesurf café had told us about another local spot called Les Amis, a wine bar and restaurant that had recently relocated from Naoussa to a serene perch on the port of Pounta. ![]() ![]() Each of the 11 rooms face the sea and are furnished with low-slung beds, rattan pendants, and coastal tones, and the pool deck is one of the sleekest and sexiest I’ve ever seen. With its chilled-out atmosphere and daily roster of wellness activities like yoga and hiking, it’s the go-to spot of style-conscious kite surfers and other active travelers. A short walk north brought us to the chic waterfront hotel Seesoo, which swung open its doors in 2020. There, we discovered the Paros we’d envisioned-a still-secret isle, with craggy coves and unspoiled beaches, and locals mingling with visitors.Īfter our kite surf adventure, Philippe and I set out to discover other gems in the area. Then we started exploring the island’s southern corridor, a sleepier but no less alluring side of Paros. ![]()
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