not just kefalonia, not just Greece but all of the euro zone i put this down to 3 main reasons

1] with the recent mergers of Thomson/first choice & thos cook/ airtours competition in the UK has been slashed in half

less competition= higher prices

2] with the above mergers many flights have been canceled/amalgamated = less flights which in turn make flights more expensive [supply & demand]

3] the current euro-sterling exchange rate its about 6 yrs since it was so low for the last 3/4 yrs it has been very good but it has fallen around 20%

yes all true, but individual hoteliers, especially in Kefalonia, are really taking the .... in regards to the prices they are charging for accommodation, I have had quite a few quotes and they are all ott, don`t they realise we have to pay for flights too which, as you say, have gone through the roof, and all these quotes are only for accommodation and maybe breakfast (which is not worth having in most places). Perhaps we should all stop going there and teach them that if they dont stop this greediness, they`ll have no livelihood!!

I'm off to Greece in may not DIY i always book through agents but even then prices this year are at least 40% more than last..., i have had similar complaints on the Portugal forum and similar questions have been asked of other European destinations forums... it seems to be feit de comple

Direct Greece have got some good prices for Stoupa (Spring Bank Weeek). I can only assume since the merger between Airtours and Thomas Cook they have put on an additional flight because when we looked a couple of months ago there was no availability but now it's cheap and free child places

Hi Mezza and all,

We are doing a DIY holiday to Chania (Crete) this year and have found it pretty reasonable. The flights booked in Jan with Thomsonfly were £400 return for 2 adults. I booked a week in a studio on Paleohora harbour with Freelance Holidays for £205 and a week in Kalives in and apartment overlooking the beach for €45 per night. This has been booked direct with the Greek owner at http://www.kalives.net. He has studios from €28 per night. This is for travel in mid June.
The only problem is I need to book a car for 2 weeks and as the exchange rate is rubbish it will cost at least £250.

Hope you manage to find something more reasonable.
Yiamass, Jean

Hi all

we booked with Olympic on the internet and saved about £150 pp. Not ideal but cost effective even though we had our accomodation changed. I priced a DIY and couldn't touch the price we paid with Olympic. We plan to do Bali in Crete next year (2009) diy but will adjust our thoughts if the price is prohibitive. The problem with diy is matching up accomodation wth flights but if you can get cheap flights and car hire it's worth the risk iν my book especially if you are able to be flexible with times and dates.
καλή τύχη

Hi Greekofile
Don't think you will have any problems getting flights and accommodation to tie in in Crete as all flights from the UK seem to be on Tuesdays and the hoteliers go with this. I don't know where you live but more carriers are now going to Iraklio. Jet2. are going from Leeds/Bradford but times are not good.
As regards Thomsonfly I think you are better booking flights in early Jan. We booked on 9th as they had started going up and are now over £100 dearer each.

Good luck
Yiamass, Jean

thanks for that. I am waiting for easy jet to move their flights 'up north' now they have bought GB. your info is encouraging.

I agree Mezza, I noticed this last year. The hubby and I went Agia Efimia 3 years ago and paid £500 for 2 weeks SC. I liked it so much that last year I went for a week on my own whilst he was in France and ended up paying £500 for 1 week SC!!! OK, I know I had pay a single occupancy premium, but even so.....

The tour operators have really hiked their prices this year. For the middle of September flying from Newcastle, the cheapest 2 week package i could find was in a small twin room in Skala for £466. After that, the prices went from £511 upwards. The choice of accommodation is much more limited too.
The solution to the problem ( i think) is to look for accommodation which the tour operators do not use, or pick accommodation in smaller places where there is not the demand.
I have been staying in Poros (Kefalonia) since 2002, sometimes going twice a year and have been going independant since 2004 after Golden Sun went bust.
I stay in the Dionysos studios in the port area and my room costs only 30 euros a night for June. It rises to a maximum of 45 euros in July and August.
The Oceanis hotel, an excellent hotel overlooking the port is 40 euros per night per room for bed and breakfast in June. This hotel has an excellent swimming pool.
A new hotel, the Dioni, opened a couple of years ago and offers luxurious spacious accommodation with mosquito screens over the doors and windows. This hotel is only 60 euros a night.
The truth is, while there will always be some places which really hike up their prices, there is a lot of quality accommodation out there at excellent prices and a lot of the owners of these places offer free transfers to and from the airport!
This year, for the first time, i have actually been able to travel independantly for at least £100pp cheaper than any tour operator could give me from my local airport!
John

Think September has become very expensive immaterial of whether you want to go to Greece, Spain, Turkey etc.

Visited Gran Canaria in March 08 an couldn't believe how expensive that had got. Have booked for Kos in June but it may be my last visit to a Euro destination. Thought Kos prices were ok last year albeit not cheap, however not looking to having to find another 20%+ spending money for my weeks stay.

Guys...all of you probably know the rules of competition....Thanks god Kefalonia has many hotels, appartments, studios etc...The best solution to find cheap accommodation on the island is to contact the hotels personally (either per phone or per e-mail) and also look for family runned studios...Prices are at least 25% cheaper than those the Uk travel agents give....Searching is the key...

Actually, it works out no cheaper doing diy, not for June anyway, I emailed 9muses and they worked out more expensive than a package (they wanted 200-210 euro per night per room and thats excluding flights!)There are no cheap flights to Kefalonia, unless, perhaps you book VERY early and are prepared to go early or late season (May or October).

Hi miziros, apologies, I think I may have found quite cheapish flights now, so, your probably right, it does pay to just keep searching and searching. Oh the trials and tribulations of holiday planning!!!

As I said.....searching is the key...The best tip I can give (apart from the flights) is to go onto any search machine and search for websites of any type of accommodation, car rentals even bars and restaurants...You will find amazing things...For example there is a quite famous restaurante in Scala which has on it website a part where you can print sth like coupons and you get either a 5% discount on your meal or a free glass of wine...Guys trust the locals and book (as far as possible) on your own...

Went to Scala a few years ago [2 years on the trot] and stayed in Paspalis which we loved but when I look at prices now it scares me.

If it helps anyone Thomas Cook have some cheap deals 7th June Gatwick flight. Hotel Cite in Lixouri coming out at just over £100 each including flight. If you wanted a different hotel it would be cheap for just the flight.
Unfortunately we booked our flight a couple of weeks ago and got what we thought was a good price at the time. Oh well that's the way it goes, if I'd left it they would have sold out!

We have now actually booked separate flights and accommodation, which has worked out quite reasonable. Some of the accommodation in Kefalonia is very expensive (certain hotels are overhyped and overpriced in my opinion) but there are some good deals out there. We have booked the San Georgio in Scala, which has some great reviews, really looking forward to it.