Flights to Crete

beggars_bush

Hello

I cannot believe how much more expensive flights to Crete are in 2017 than in 2016 for the end of june - from Dublin or any UK airport

Was just looking into our annual holiday over there

Is there a chance the likes of Ryanair will reduce prices?
we might have to reconsider Crete due to cost

flights into Athens are also very expensive in June/July

coylemj

Bigger demand because of improved economic conditions and further shrinkage of the list of destinations - nobody going to Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia etc. So the other destinations are creaking at the seams.

BTW, beware of anyone reducing air fares, that can be a symptom of a lack of hotel accommodation in European resorts. When the word goes out that the hotels in resort xxx are filling up fast and room prices are going through the roof, the airfares can start tumbling.

beggars_bush

coylemj wrote: »

Bigger demand because of improved economic conditions and further shrinkage of the list of destinations - nobody going to Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia etc. So the other destinations are creaking at the seams.

BTW, beware of anyone reducing air fares, that can be a symptom of a lack of hotel accommodation in European resorts. When the word goes out that the hotels in resort xxx are filling up fast and room prices are going through the roof, the airfares can start tumbling.

ok

I've looked up accommodation in Crete and they are not gone up much from last year
I think Ryanair actually have cut their flights to Crete in 2017

VG31

Two other options from Dublin to Crete that are worth a try:

1. Thomson Airways weekly charter flights to Heraklion. I checked some dates in late June and they were €530 per person return! They can be booked as flight only options at: http://www.falconholidays.ie/flight/ (though I doubt you will be interested at those prices!)

2. The best option for you is probably Aegean Airlines to Heraklion or Chania via Athens. I checked dates in late June and there are plenty of options for €150 return. This is excellent value compared to Ryanair's €250 since Aegean Airlines is a full service airline. The stopover times are also quite good. I don't think you will get any better or cheaper option than that. Aegean fly from Dublin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can book flights here: https://en.aegeanair.com/

beggars_bush

VG31 wrote: »

Two other options from Dublin to Crete that are worth a try:

1. Thomson Airways weekly charter flights to Heraklion. I checked some dates in late June and they were €530 per person return! They can be booked as flight only options at: http://www.falconholidays.ie/flight/ (though I doubt you will be interested at those prices!)

2. The best option for you is probably Aegean Airlines to Heraklion or Chania via Athens. I checked dates in late June and there are plenty of options for €150 return. This is excellent value compared to Ryanair's €250 since Aegean Airlines is a full service airline. The stopover times are also quite good. I don't think you will get any better or cheaper option than that. Aegean fly from Dublin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can book flights here: https://en.aegeanair.com/

Aegean have terrible baggage allowance
8Kg cabin baggage with the basic fare - €30 extra for checked in baggage from Ireland

I've tried loads of combinations through UK airports, including switching between Easy jet and Ryanair

76544567

I was listening to one of the travel pundits on the radio before Christmas saying that a lot of the Greek Islands are not in demand this year.
Also Egypt, Tunisia etc.
He then went on to say that he had just returned from Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and it was perfectly fine and safe.
He said he had just booked a family holiday there in July for €250 per person because the demand isnt there this year.
So if you ignore the fear factor you are on to a winner.
Remember living in Ireland in the 70s and 80s when people in England and the US were afraid to come to Ireland in case they got blown up? But it was perfectly safe here. The news made it sound like Ireland was a war zone. Same thing in Egypt according to yer man.

beggars_bush

76544567 wrote: »

I was listening to one of the travel pundits on the radio before Christmas saying that a lot of the Greek Islands are not in demand this year.
Also Egypt, Tunisia etc.
He then went on to say that he had just returned from Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and it was perfectly fine and safe.
He said he had just booked a family holiday there in July for €250 per person because the demand isnt there this year.
So if you ignore the fear factor you are on to a winner.
Remember living in Ireland in the 70s and 80s when people in England and the US were afraid to come to Ireland in case they got blown up? But it was perfectly safe here. The news made it sound like Ireland was a war zone. Same thing in Egypt according to yer man.

Ok.
I am trying to get over to Crete or other Greek island for 9/10 days.
Booking flights, hotels, transfers separately.
The weather is usually ideal for us

I'll check out Egypt. It'll probably be scorching in July

76544567

beggars_bush wrote: »

Ok.
I am trying to get over to Crete or other Greek island for 9/10 days.
Booking flights, hotels, transfers separately.
The weather is usually ideal for us

I'll check out Egypt. It'll probably be scorching in July

What about one of the other Greek Islands, stay for a few days and then ferry to Crete? Or the opposite way depending on which flights are cheapest.
I have been often and I love Crete, so I understand why you want to go there.
Trying to decide on my own holiday at the moment too.
I'll probably wit til March to book it because sometimes there are great deals to be got for the summer then.
I really hate that the price doubles or tripples when you have no choice but to travel in Jul and Aug. Very annoying.

beggars_bush

76544567 wrote: »

What about one of the other Greek Islands, stay for a few days and then ferry to Crete? Or the opposite way depending on which flights are cheapest.
I have been often and I love Crete, so I understand why you want to go there.
Trying to decide on my own holiday at the moment too.
I'll probably wit til March to book it because sometimes there are great deals to be got for the summer then.
I really hate that the price doubles or tripples when you have no choice but to travel in Jul and Aug. Very annoying.

ok. what island could we fly into and then ferry to Crete?

I would fly into Athens and then go to Skiathos and Skopelos if the flights to Athens we're go damn expensive, same with the return flights

We booked a holiday to Crete last year 6 days before we travelled (with Ryanair!) and it was very good value

76544567

beggars_bush wrote: »

ok. what island could we fly into and then ferry to Crete?

I would fly into Athens and then go to Skiathos and Skopelos if the flights to Athens we're go damn expensive, same with the return flights

We booked a holiday to Crete last year 6 days before we travelled (with Ryanair!) and it was very good value

If you wait it out you can get great deals on flights in the few weeks before going alright. IF you arent fussy where to go its a good way to do it, but if you have your heart set on somewhere particular its dangerous because you might not get it.
Ive got the ferry from Santorini to crete. I would imagine most islands have them via other islands or direct. Some are further than others.
Island hopping by ferry is a big thing there.