Last October Eric and I took a secret trip to Greece.
I didn’t tell my friends, or my coworkers, and only a few family members were in on it. All for reasons of my own. However, it was one of the best holidays of my entire existence. And that was no secret.
Our trip began in Mykonos. We arrived in late October when all of the tourists and cruise ships were nonexistent. To be honest, it was empty to the point of it feeling like a ghost town.
Traveling during the off-peak season has benefits and its downsides.
For example, there was no crowd to mill through and no elbows being thrown in every which direction. The streets were quiet and the atmosphere was relaxed. You were not waiting in queues for restaurants and bars welcomed you with open arms to their best viewing decks.
One afternoon we hired an ATV for half the peak-season price and rode around the entire island, hopping from beach to beach. The first beach we visited was deserted. Literally. We had our own private beach. And it was incredible!
There were absolutely no one to photobomb your snaps which was a major plus for me! We could take our time with our photos and, because there were no tourists, your eyes were opened to the local lifestyle. Instead of loud and obnoxious distractions, your afternoon was filled with children running off to school and women hanging laundry out to dry. It felt as though you were stepping into the daily routine rather than invading upon it.
Although we found ourselves a private beach and the best seat in the house at any restaurant of our choice, there were downsides to traveling during the off-peak season.
I am the kind of person that enjoys crowds. Call me crazy. Most people avoid them at all costs! And I do understand why. But I am a fan of the New York City pace. And the hustle of London. Drop me in a city and I am usually quite happy. To me, crowds equal energy. Walking through, and with, crowds makes me feel alive. I just don’t always do well with too much serenity.
I know I sound like a lunatic. Moving on.
Another con about traveling during the off-peak season is the lack of business’s running. Many restaurants and shops are only open during the peak-season, or have very peculiar hours during off-peak season.
And finally, transportation. Probably the most crucial thing to think about when traveling to the Greek Islands during off-peak season.
The ferries will not run if there are not enough passengers. It’s as simple as that. They will tell you they are not running due to ‘bad weather conditions’, but we were told by our hotel receptionist that this is usually not the case. Economically, it doesn’t make sense for them to run a boat and lose money on the other end of it. So, if you’ve booked ferries from island to island, don’t be alarmed if you end up asking for a refund for every single one… Like myself.
Eric and I ended up on two different ferry boats, totaling 15 hours, in an attempt to get from Mykonos to Santorini {which usually takes 2 hours by ferry}. We had to find an alternative route in order to carry on with our travel plans and hotel bookings. We made the most of it though and hired a cabin to sleep in, which was very much worth it.
Just a tale of caution!
So it really depends on preference I suppose! For most people, the peacefulness of a town lacking tourists and having access to private beaches sounds ideal. Book your flights to Mykonos yesterday.
I hope to revisit Mykonos someday. Nah, I will visit Mykonos someday.
This might be a bold statement, but as of now, in this very moment, Greece is my number one travel destination in the world. But Rachel, you only visited for seven measly days. Sit down.
I’m claiming it now.
But ask me three months from now after I’ve visited France, or Italy, or even Croatia. At this point, nothing tops Greece.
Up next, Santorini!