Arranging a Greek island holiday online has never been easier. The internet has cut out the 'middle man' agent and let holidaymakers to deal direct.
The rise in cheap flights to the Greek islands by 'no frill's airlines means a wider choice at a lower cost. Personally, I no longer book from a holiday brochure. Nowadays, I book a cheap flight to the Greek island group I want, check out the ferries then search the net for cheap rooms. A few emails later and the whole holiday can be booked.
Sometimes I don't even bother to book rooms - I check out what is available on arrival. It is so easy it has become part of the fun of the holiday itself.
Of course, precautions are needed. I always prefer ATOL bonded deals to be sure the holiday is safe even if the travel firm goes bust.
If I book rooms ahead I only ever offer a 20% deposit and pay the balance arrival. I look for encryption logos such as Verisign when I post credit card details online and always ask for printed receipts and written confirmation of booking.
With these few safeguards in place I am confident of enjoying the Greek island holiday I want at the cheapest price.
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing is part of the Civil Aviation Authority and protects your holiday so you don't get stranded abroad. You do not lose money, you can finish your holiday and they fly you home.
Association of British Travel Agents represents over 5,000 travel agents and 900 tour operators. ABTA’s main aims are to maintain high standards of trading practice.
International Air Transport Association has been an international trade body for over 60 years and represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic.
Federation of Tour Operators has been proactive in holiday health, safety and hygiene and promotes tour safety, security, food hygiene, health and transportation.
Global Travel Group was formed in 1992 to offer financial protection against insolvency of your travel provider. If a member fails you can switch to another and get a refund so your holiday is unaffected.
A VeriSign SSL Certificate enables online encryption of information — such as bank account or credit card numbers — making it secure and unreadable and to help prevent interception.
The travel companies advertised on this site are mainly registered with Affiliate Marketing companies so I get a small commission on each confirmed sale. I select the firms that appear to offer the best deals and the most appropriate holidays for lovers of the Greek islands. Most of these firms offer a 10% discount and other benefits for holidays booked online and those that do not belong to the holiday protection schemes outlined above usually have their own schemes in place. Click on the logo to go to the company website.
Supported by two Manchester-based travel agencies, both part of The Co-operative Travel Group and members of Freedom Travel Group consortium of independent travel agents.ATOL | ABTA | VeriSign
alpharooms.com is one of the UK's leading websites for discount worldwide travel. You can now build your own holidays and add a wide variety of holiday extras including car hire.ATOL | ABTA
Part of Priceline.com and launched in 1996 this is now Europe’s leading online hotel reservations agency with over 73,000 hotels in 71 countries and over 30 million visitors each month via the internet.
A trading name of Thomas Cook Tour Operations Ltd, this is one of the UK’s leading direct selling package holiday tour operators. They offer deals up to 15% less than high street or online travel agents. ATOL | ABTA
ebookers.com is a leading pan-European online travel company. Products include discount air fares with over 200 airlines, accommodation at 95,000 hotels and car hire from leading suppliers.ATOL | IATA | VeriSign
Part of the TUI Travel PLC Group – one of the UK’s leading travel companies specialising in sun holidays and charter flights. It operates a network of high street travel shops.ATOL | ABTA
Part of the OnHolidayGroup in operation since 2003 which is now number two player in the B2B beach accommodation-only market. Fresh Holidays offer over 6,500 hotels and apartments across Mediterranean resorts.
Part of the On Holiday Group since 2003 which has grown to number two player in the beach accommodation-only market with over 15,000 hotels and apartments in Mediterranean resorts and beyond.ATOL | ABTA
Online travel agent specialising in cheap holidays abroad, including dynamically built holidays from leading flight and hotel suppliers, plus traditional package holidays from major operators. ATOL | IATA | GTG
Launched in 2003 and now employs over 80 people. HostelBookers is an independent hostel booking site with no booking fees. Youth hostels and cheap accommodation in over 2,500 destinations worldwide.
Founded in 2002 Hostelworld.com is a world recognised brand and for booking hostels online. It now employs 70 people through offices in Dublin, Ireland; Sydney, Australia and the United States.
Established in 1984 and the leading villa tour operator in the UK. They offer hand-picked, quality accommodation around the Mediterranean and across Europe at an affordable price. ATOL | ABTA
Part of the Lowcost travel group and around since 2005. Over 300,000 people travelled with them in 2008. It was voted the best tour operator-agent website in 2009 by Travolution.ATOL | ABTA
The UK’s largest independent tour operator, owned by Globus Group which encompasses Monarch Holidays, Monarch Hotels, Cosmos Holidays, Tourama, Avro, Somewhere2stay and other major brands.ATOL | ABTA
Leading specialists to Cyprus and Greek Islands for over 40 years. Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal, Tunisia, Red Sea and Goa have been added to the range of hotels, villas and apartments. ABTA | ATOL | IATA | VeriSign
Founded in 1995 and now carrying over 500,000 every year to Spain, Balearics, Canaries, Egypt, Greece, Turkey and the Caribbean. One of the most popular sites in the UK. ABTA | VeriSign
Online division of Medinland Ltd part of the Co-operative group. Trading since 1998 they have holiday packages offering flexible durations and an unbiased choice of airlines and hotels. ATOL | ABTA
Specialise in Greek Island holidays with villas, apartments and hotels on 20 lesser known islands. Sister company, Vivid Holidays, covers the Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Malta and Morocco.
Started in 2007 with emphasis on cheap holidays and a lowest price guarantee - find a cheaper deal and they refund the difference. Nominated in the 2010 Agent Achievement Awards.ABTA
Part of The Co-operative Group since 1920. Now a diverse multi-channel operation with two million passengers every year. They won the BTA Large Travel Retailer award in 2009. ATOL | ABTA | VeriSign
A major travel operator with 163 years' experience and over four million customers every year. Thomas Cook Airlines is now the second biggest Leisure Airline in the UK. ATOL | ABTA | IATA | VeriSign
A division of TUI UK Ltd and the largest tourism and services group in the world, employing 80,000 people in 500 companies around the world. This is the market leader in the UK. ATOL | ABTA
Established in 2002 offering quality accommodation in the Algarve. By 2008 the portfolio had grown to 800 properties in 14 destinations all around Europe and Florida.
Partly owned by Barclays Bank and launched in 2006 it offers more than 3,000 quality hotels, apartments and villas in Mediterranean beach resorts, the Caribbean, Florida and Dubai.
