Paxos Holidays with Directline

Gaios Holidays

The holiday resort of Gaios, named after the saint who introduced Christianity to the island, is the capital of Paxos and the liveliest of all the three resorts found here. It still boasts some beautiful Venetian architecture and its' bustling harbour-front is lined with bars, shops and restaurants.

The busiest port on Paxos, Gaios welcomes a multitude of ferries, boats and luxury yachts and cruisers, which adds to the resorts' cosmopolitan atmosphere, and the upmarket clientele are well-catered for with plenty of souvenir shops selling high-end pottery and jewellery. A favourite with the Italians, the colourful Gaios is a lively and popular resort, attracting a sophisticated crowd to its' tiny bustling streets.

Holidays in Gaios - The majestic Venetian capital of Paxos

Gaios, located in the south-east of Paxos, has a crescent-shaped harbour-front, backed by an attractive Venetian main square, and is filled with busy bars and shops. Local whitewashed houses bedecked with flowers, and narrow cobbled streets in the compact town centre add to charm of Gaios. The harbour at Gaios is enclosed by two islets, providing protection for the village and offering great views. A Venetian fortress dating back to 1423 is positioned on the Isle of St Nicholas on one side, and a little white monastery on the Island of Panagia on the other. Away from the harbour, the countryside around Gaios offers scenic walks through the olive groves, and some small beaches. Travelling south, the closest beaches to Gaios are the tiny pebble beaches of Plakes, Defteri and Ballos, with the small sandy man-made beach at Moggonissi, which is ideally positioned in a sheltered bay, just 3km away. North of Gaios is the abandoned village of Geromonachus, and the sheltered beach at Kaki Langanda. All along the coastline are secluded bays and coves which can be reached by boat.

Holidays in Gaios - Take a boat trip and explore the secluded bays and coves

Accommodation in Gaios ranges from small studios in and around the town centre, which can get lively during the busy summer months, to luxury hillside villas set amongst the olive groves with stunning views. Gaios offers some of the liveliest nightlife on the island of Paxos, with three discos and a number of music-bars catering to the cosmopolitan crowd who pour into the resort, and a wide selection of cafes, tavernas and restaurants to see and be seen in. Excursions to enjoy whilst holidaying in Gaios include the Castle of St Nicholas, the Monastery of Panagia, the Church of Agios Apostoli and the town museum. One of the most popular day-trips is the 40-minute boat trip to neighbouring island of Anti Paxos.

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Meganissi Holidays with Directline

Meganissi Holidays – The romance of a small unspoilt island

Meganissi holidays are the choice for those seeking peace and quiet and the romance of a small island. Meganissi is a tiny island 4 miles north of the island of Lefkas, and is part of a cluster of little islands that include Skorpios, Thilia and Kyros. The three principal villages of the island are Vathi, Katomeri and Spartohori. Remember, the population of the entire island is just 2000! Each of these Meganissi holiday destinations is a real gem, full of character, colour and unspoilt picturesque charm. Spartohori is the highest village of the island and overlooks the lovely Spilia Bay. Katomeri is the quintessential traditional Greek village with its local shops and authentic taverna life. Vathi is a tiny fishing village and ferry port on the northeast coast.

Holidays in Meganissi – Enjoy a relaxed pace and the simple pleasures

Meganissi holidays soon fall into the relaxed pace of the locals. Holidays on Meganissi offer the simple pleasures of a small tranquil Greek island: traditional houses, countryside, nice quiet beaches with beautifully clear water, pretty fishing harbours, simple waterfront tavernas and lush green hilly countryside. Superb views are a feature of holidays on Meganissi, whether inland or across the sparkling sea to the mountains of the Greek mainland. Holidays on Meganissi have many fine beaches to choose from. The best Meganissi beaches include Ai Yiannis beach, Spilia beach, Fanari beach, Atherinos beach and Limonari beach, but with the island being so small you can easily reach all of the beaches on Meganissi during Meganissi holidays. More secluded bays can be reached by inland paths through the hills and olive grove terraces. The Giovanni and Papanikoli caves are worth a visit too.

Meganissi Holidays – Beautiful and tranquil

Meganissi holidays will appeal to walkers and cyclists, as this tiny island is criss-crossed with tracks and footpaths. However, you may find you spend your Meganissi holidays simply soaking up the relaxing atmosphere of the island’s picturesque villages and harbours in a simple taverna. Meganissi holidays can include gorgeous short ferry trips that weave through the tiny islets surrounding Meganissi to neighbouring islands like Lefkas, Ithaca and Kefalonia.


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Lesbos Holidays with Directline

Lesbos Holidays – A beautiful Greek island with character

Lesbos holidays offer exceptionally good value. Family Lesbos holidays in friendly, small resorts like Petra and Anaxos, offer all the tavernas and beach bars needed for a classic Greek island holiday while avoiding the excesses of the “livelier” islands. The popularity of family holidays on Lesbos is down to the pleasantly relaxed atmosphere of Lesbos resorts. Lesbos holiday dining is more varied than many Greek islands with plenty of authentic Greek and vegetarian food. Browsing attractive markets, crafts shops and artists studios is part of the pleasure of holidays in Lesbos. Lesbos holidays have always attracted artists and writers and many resorts on Lesbos feature an “alternative” spiritual scene. Lesbos holidays could include all manner of fascinating experiences, from tai chi and shiatsu, to thermal spas, astrology and meditation.

Lesbos Beach Holidays – Relaxation and crystal-clear water

An exceptionally sunny climate and calm, shallow, crystal-clear water at many holiday resorts on Lesbos ensure Lesbos holidays provide ideal swimming and sunbathing for families and couples. Really quiet Lesbos beaches are often found to each side of the main resorts on Lesbos. The Lesbos beach resort of Skala Kallonis is a long-established Lesbos holiday favourite. For a Lesbos holiday mixing tradition and culture with enjoyable nightlife, try picturesque Molyvos. Beach holidays in Lesbos are especially popular with gay women. Lesbos resorts like Skala Eressou feature businesses run by gay couples, and offer special women-only excursions. Lesbos holidays in Skala Eressou are also popular with families and honeymoon couples, drawn by the friendly relaxed atmosphere and a superb, wide, sandy Lesbos beach.

Lesbos Holidays – The joys of nature

Being a large island, Lesbos holidays offer a good opportunity to explore unspoilt traditional
villages and beautiful green farmland. Lesbos holidays are very popular with bird watchers and naturalists, especially around Skala Kalloni. Birdwathching holidays on Lesbos are particularly spectacular in spring when Lesbos is carpeted in wild flowers. Lesbos holidays also offer very rewarding horse riding, walking, cycling and watersports. Boat trips to deserted beaches are another Lesbos holiday highlight.


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Lefkas Holidays with Directline

Lefkas Holidays - Traditional atmosphere and scenic countryside

Those looking for traditional atmosphere and rural Greek island life will enjoy holidays in Lefkas. Lefkas holidays feature a relatively little-visited island that still retains a lot of charm. The beautiful countryside is a delight to explore on foot or by bicycle, with charming traditional villages, green farmland and beautiful forested mountains.

Lefkas is attached to the mainland by a swing bridge, allowing Lefkas holidays plenty of scope for exploring the Greek coast up to Parga. Lefkas holidays could also include scenic boat trips and great excursions to the islands of Sparti, Madouri, Skorpios or Meganissi.

Lefkas Holidays – Beaches offer outstanding variety

Despite the scenic countryside, most Lefkas holidays centre on Lefkas beaches. Popular Lefkas holiday resorts are found on the flatter east coast. There are also superb Lefkas beaches on the west coast, like Kathisma and Athani. Explore quiet Lefkas beaches on the less accessible south coast. There are plenty of beautifully secluded bays and coves along this part of the coast or you could rent a little boat to explore the sparkle islets off the coast of Lefkas. Lefkas holidays are very popular with sailing and watersports enthusiasts. Windsurfers on holiday in Lefkas congregate at Vassiliki. Lefkas holidays could also include rewarding water skiing, diving and fishing.

Lefkas Holidays – A nice choice of resorts

Nidri, with its beach bars and nightclubs, provides by far the liveliest Lefkas holiday scene. Lefkas Town has the island’s best shopping and a few clubs, but holidays on Lefkas generally appeal to couples looking to relax rather than partying youngsters. All Lefkas holidays should include a visit to the charming, picturesque capital, Lefkas Town: an idiosyncratic, car-free town full of tiny churches and brightly painted wooden houses.

For a Lefkas holiday in a spectacular setting try Vassiliki on the south coast. Those seeking simple, relaxed Lefkas holidays could head for the little fishing village of Perigiali. Lefkas holidays offer enjoyable low-key hotels, smart resort hotels and plenty of upmarket villas.


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Kalymnos Holidays with Directline

Kalymnos Holidays – Scenic island with relaxed small-scale resorts

Kalymnos holidays offer a relaxing, picturesque Greek Island with relatively low-key tourism. Holidays on Kalymnos are based on a scenic, mountainous, comparatively undeveloped island off the west coast of Turkey, 60 miles northwest of Rhodes. Kalymnos holidays offer small beach resorts like Myrties, Telendos and Emborio, where enjoyably modest collections of cafes and tavernas cluster around ferry jetties, fishing harbours and Kalymnos beaches. Kalymnos holidays offer small, relaxed, straightforward resorts and typically Greek evenings based around small bars and tavernas. Kalymnos holidays are a world away from the lively, young scene that predominates on neighbouring Kos.

Kalymnos Beach Holidays – Beautifully clear water and unpretentious tavernas

Most holidays are based in small-scale resorts like Myrties and Massourri on the west coast or villages like Vathi, Emborio and Armeos. Most of the best Kalymnos beaches have a pleasantly small-scale resort attached. Kalymnos beaches are good for unpretentious seafront restaurants, cafes and bars. West coast Kalymnos beaches also enjoy superbly romantic sunsets. Kalymnos holidays attract snorkelling enthusiasts, thanks to the wonderfully clear water on Kalymnos beaches. Kalymnos holidays also offer diving, windsurfing, sailing and fishing. Kalymnos holidays should include the water taxi trip to the tiny island of Telendos, where the Byzantine monastery looks down on quiet, pebbly beaches and a cluster of charming tavernas.

Kalymnos Holidays – Popular with walkers and climbers

Kalymnos holidays in spring and autumn offer ideal conditions for exploring the surprisingly
scenic interior. Kalymnos holidays are popular with walkers and keen rock climbers all year round. Rock climbing holidays on Kalymnos focus on rocky hills and dramatic cliff locations, while walkers on holiday in Kalymnos enjoy the surprising splendidly lush, green valleys of the interior. The renowned donkey track walk from Pothia to Vathi should feature in any Kalymnos holiday. Worthwhile Kalymnos holiday excursions include the mountain fortress at Hora, the picturesque capital of Pothia, and the ferry trip from Myrties beach to the island of Leros.


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Rhodes Holidays with Directline

Rhodes Holidays – Ever-popular Greek island holiday choice

Holidays in Rhodes feature a large Greek island with an exceptionally sunny climate. Rhodes holidays are a consistently popular Greek island holiday choice. Rhodes holidays owe their popularity to good, well-equipped beaches, superb weather, plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants and a wide choice of resorts.

With so many beach holiday resorts on Rhodes it’s not hard to find a Rhodes holiday to suit your requirements. While lively Rhodes resorts like Faliraki often grab the headlines, there are plenty of relatively quiet Rhodes family holidays in smaller resorts centred on the Rhodes beaches of the east coast. Despite the popularity of Rhodes holidays, it is still possible to find immense beaches or small coves free of big crowds. Quieter Rhodes beaches can be found on the less-developed south of the island.

Rhodes Holidays – A wide choice of resorts
Good family resorts like Ixia offer classic Rhodes holidays with every beach facility and plenty of watersports. Those looking for a Rhodes family holiday might also consider modest village resorts like Kremasti and Pastida. Rhodes holidays with Greek village character can be found in friendly villages like Afandou.

The liveliest Rhodes holidays are found in Faliraki, a Rhodes beach resort famous for its partying and its immense waterpark. Quieter Rhodes holiday resorts like Haraki or Kalathos can easily include a night out in livelier neighbouring resorts while remaining apart from the crowds. Rhodes beaches attract watersports fans with good scuba diving at Kallithea and windsurfing at Trianda.

Holidays in Rhodes – Visit fascinating Rhodes Town
While Rhodes holidays very much centre on sunbathing, beaches and nightlife, visitors should try to include a little sightseeing. Rhodes holidays offer plenty of ancient sites, outstanding medieval castles and boat trips to fascinating islands like Symi.

Walkers on holiday in Rhodes will appreciate the forested mountains of the interior. All Rhodes holidays should include the beautifully preserved, medieval city of Rhodes Town. Nor should Rhodes holidays miss out on Lindos, the island’s prettiest village.


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Kos Holidays with Directline

Kos Holidays – An established British favourite with great beaches

Holidays on Kos feature a long narrow island close to the coast of Turkey with 25 miles of fine beaches and a typically Greek hot sunny climate. Kos holidays are particularly popular with British holidaymakers looking for a package holiday to the Greek Islands.

Many Kos holidays are based in the two major Kos resorts of Kardamaena and Kos Town. Kos hotels are concentrated in beach resorts like Lambi and Psalidi on the popular east coast.

Quieter Kos holidays are offered in the smaller resorts of the north coast. Kos holidays owe their popularity to plentiful sandy Kos beaches. Many Kos beaches offer exciting watersports and professional scuba diving courses.

Kos Holidays – Lively nightlife in Kardamena and Kos Town
Most Kos holidays offer an enjoyable mix of beach bars, Greek dancing, live music and discos. Kos holidays feature animated bars and tavernas serving Greek food and local wine alongside staple tourist favourites. Kos holidays are known for the lively clubbing scene. The liveliest Kos holiday nightlife is found at Kardamena, with Kos Town a close second.

Kos holiday nightlife in resorts like Kefalos will more likely revolve around quieter waterfront tavernas. All Kos holidays should include a trip to Kos Town for its attractive old town, charming cafes and smarter, more cosmopolitan atmosphere. Away from Kos beaches, Kos holidays offer plenty of ancient remains and history, like the 14th century Castle of the Knights in Kos Town.

Kos Holidays – Day trips to Turkey
The humble bicycle has become a uniquely important part of holidays in Kos, with thousands of bikes for hire and plenty of cycle lanes and flat countryside. Holidays on Kos offer plenty of excursions through olive groves and mountains to visit hot springs and charming small villages like Lagoudi and Zia.

Kos holidays could include boat trips to the neighbouring islands of Kalymnos, Patmos and unspoilt Nissyros. And to make your holidays in Kos truly memorable, there are popular day excursions to Turkey.

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Thassos Holidays with Directline

Holidays on Thassos attract visitors looking for a quiet, relaxing Greek island holiday on a relatively unspoilt island. Thassos holidays feature a small, circular island just south of the Greek mainland with excellent beaches to suit all tastes. Thassos holidays soon fall in to the delightfully relaxed slow pace of the locals. Despite its growing popularity Thassos holidays still offer traditional Greek atmosphere and culture.

Thassos holidays feature outstanding beaches like Golden Beach, Alyki and Paradise beach. There are excellent long sandy beaches at Skala Potamias. Some of the most popular Thassos beaches are on the east and south coasts. Quieter Thassos beaches are found on the west coast. With a little effort Thassos holidays can still include quiet, semi-deserted coves. Thassos holidays offer excellent conditions for swimming and watersports.

Holidays on Thassos – Delightful mountain villages
Attractive green farmland, gentle hills and rugged, forested mountains mean Thassos holidays offer excellent walking, mountain biking, horse riding and fishing. All Thassos holidays should devote some time to getting off the beaten track to visit Mount Ipsaron and picturesque mountain villages like Potamia, Panagia, Paries and Sotira. Thassos holidays are particularly attractive in spring when wild flowers cover the island.

Thassos Holidays – Relaxed romantic waterfront tavernas
Thassos holiday accommodation is predominantly small comfortable hotels and apartments. Holidays in Thassos offer a good selection of beach bars and typical Greek tavernas with plenty of fresh fish and convivial atmosphere. Thassos Town has the best selection of clubs and bars on the island. Thassos holidays in Limenaria also offer a little nightlife but Thassos holidays in smaller resorts like Skala Prinos and Potos Pefkari tend to revolve around quiet, atmospheric, beachside tavernas, laid-back bars and Thassos hotels. Popular Thassos holiday excursions include monasteries and the ancient amphitheatre and acropolis at Limenas (Thassos Town). Thassos holidays could include cruises and trips to islands like Thassopoula or Kinira. Holidays on Thassos could even include excursions to the ancient city of Philippi in Macedonia, and amazing Istanbul in Turkey.


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