Aleria
Considered by many as the most romantic restaurant of the city centre, Aleria benefits from a unique combo of a forward thinking owner and a low key but very talented chef. Deconstructing traditional recipes is the name of the game here and boy do they do it well!

Cookoovaya
The talk of the town since it first opened in late 2014 as it brought together 5 of the most impressive chefs of their generation. They’ve managed the perfect balance between a high end restaurant setting and service to match with unpretentious food made with great locally sourced ingredients.

Travolta
Travolta is the only one of the restaurants in this list which is outwith the city centre.  Located in the working class area of Peristeri, this may look like a traditional fish taverna but don’t let the surroundings fool you.  A paradise for fish and seafood lovers which will win you over with its unique charm.

48 Urban Garden
One of the funkiest places in the city, tucked behind Ileanta Tounta gallery with an impressive Airstream trailer turned into a kitchen as its focal point. Known for its brunch, funky cocktails and lovely urban garden, this is not what you’d expect from one of the world’s oldest cities.

Athens Was
Benefiting from a stunning view of the Acropolis and across the rest of the city to Lykavitos hill, this is a hotel restaurant that is a destination in itself.  Greek ingredients meet French and Japanese fusion techniques.  A multinational take on food to suit its international clientele.

Vezene
Ari Vezene’s restaurant might look like a luxurious steakhouse but it offers so much more.  An incredible array of high end meat cuts, seafood and some pretty impressive flatbreads all made in the wood fired oven.  Dishes like their Waguy and foie gras burgers and the infamous Deal Closer dessert will make you beg for more!

The Gin Joint
Celebrating its 6th birthday, The Gin Joint was at the forefront of the recent downtown renaissance. Boasting over 150 labels of gin, this is a drinker’s bar. No over analysing of hard to pronounce ingredients, just popular drinks, classic cocktails with a twist and the fanciest G&Ts in town. Or as the bar motto would attest to: Real drinks for genuine people.

Rehab
The most recent arrival in this group, this stunning like nook has quickly become a favourite. Tucked away in a typical Athenian arcade and next door to its much louder sister establishment (Drunk Athens), Rehab feels like a tropical hideaway with this wallpaper and colourful fish tank. Dedicated to all things rum and with a young, vibrant team behind the bar, it’s definitely worth a pit stop when you’re in town.

CV Distiller
This is a shrine to whisky that would make even Edinburgh jealous. A beautiful space, with luxurious wood accents and warm lighting setting the tone and the most impressive cellar anywhere in Athens. We were happy to see that they’re now further showcasing this stunning cellar by hosting live music events there.

Zonars
The talk of the town since the moment it was re-launched only a few months ago. The well respected Panas group restored this aristocratic bar-restaurant to its former glory, bringing back memories of Athens most of us have only seen in 1960s movies. Open from early morning, it’s just as impressive when the city is waking up as it is when the beautiful people fill its inside and outside areas later in the day.

Bar de Theatre
Part of the same group as Zonars, Bar de Theatre is part of the most popular arcade in the city centre (Stoa Spirou Miliou). Promoted as a coffee, wine and spirit bar, this beautiful space lives up to its name and fits in with the long history of infamous European theatre land bars.

This article first appeared in Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos on 14th May 2016. Reproduced with kind permission, all rights reserved.

We started our journey in the area surrounding the city of Drama where some of the most well known wine producers in the country are based. Château Nico Lazaridi was our first stop. We couldn’t have hoped for a warmer welcome in this family run winery, which benefits from the most stunning countryside and mountain views. They have a great combination of modern facilities and love for what they do, with a special nod to the arts in their gallery which houses the works that inspire their unique labels. Nico Lazaridi wines are made from grapes grown in local villages, which include international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot among many others, while they also experiment with the cultivation of Greek varieties like Greco di Tufo, Aglianico and Grecanico. They produce a range of wines to suit a variety of palates and budgets, so you’re bound to find something that suits you. We loved labels from both ends of the spectrum, ‘Mavro Provato’ and ‘Magic Mountain’ being two that really stood out, which is proof of the hard work that goes into every wine they make. An example of the kind of business established here is the fact that their 25-year anniversary packaging listed every member of staff; a true testament to their family values. They are in the midst of constructing a great space for visitors and wine tastings so a stop here is an absolute must.

Next on our list was Domaine Costa Lazaridi, one of the most impressive production facilities we’ve come across anywhere in Greece. Another warm welcome awaited us here and a tour of the facilities and wine cellars, which was a real treat. Domaine Costa Lazaridi also has a long tradition of collaborating with artists for their unique labels, both for the mainstream production and their unique Magnum bottles. What particularly intrigued us here is the range of additional products, which include incredible aged balsamic vinegar (the Botanico Gold Seal especially), ouzo, tsipouro and ‘Methexis’, a stunning Eau de Vie made with aged Sauvignon Blanc grapes. There is a marble time capsule, which sits in the centre of their wine tasting area, filled with bottles signed by various staff members that will lie there for another generation to discover its treasures in the future. A lovely touch. Lets not forget the wine though. Domaine Costa Lazaridi is primarily known for its Amethystos label, which quickly became a staple in Greece and many overseas territories when it was first released. We were lucky enough to take a bottle of Amethystos Cava away with us, which was thoroughly enjoyed that very evening! Costa Lazaridi also have a facility in Attica so there really is no excuse for not sampling these wines the next time you’re in Greece, is there?

Before leaving Drama we took a drive to Kokkinogia village in order to visit Ktima Pavlidis. Situated in a narrow valley surrounded by three mountains (Falakro, Menikio, and Pangeo) its geographical position provides the vineyards with a special microclimate and cool winds that prolong the ripening period. The grapes here are picked at night in order to achieve the least amount of heat damage and their two meteorological stations help form part of this state of the art facility. Stunning location and technological expertise aside, we loved their single variety offerings with their Emphasis Assyrtiko being an absolute gem.

Kavala was our next stop and it really didn’t disappoint. A vibrant city, built around a picturesque port, steeped in Greek, Roman and Ottoman history and offering a multitude of restaurants to keep any foodie happy. Well known for its seafood but also showing a clear link to Middle Eastern cuisine in its more carnivorous options, you could happily eat your way around the city. It’s a great place to people watch, especially on the weekend when the seaside bars and cafes really come alive.

Just around the corner though, whether by car or ferry, the options are endless. About 10kms away from Kavala airport is the port of Keramoti, where you can jump on a ferry to Thassos. Very much an up and coming island judging by the numbers of attractive hotels being built, this place is a real discovery. Very green with a stunning coastline peppered with white sandy bays. Can’t imagine you’d have trouble finding a secluded spot here even in high season.

If a ferry seems too much of a chore, all you have to do is drive out of Kavala city itself in order to find kilometres of white sandy beaches. There are some basic hotels along the coast and some lovely holiday homes but, unlike other parts of Greece, the locals have built back from the shore in order to provide an amazing feeling of space and endless seafront.

For a little dose of history, apart from walking around the old part of Kavala, Filippoi is a must see. First inhabited in the neolithic period, then by islanders from Thassos, it was named after Alexander the Great’s father, Filippos the 2nd. It became a strategic site during Roman times and was also where the first Christian church in Europe was established by the Apostle Paul.

Getting off the usual tourist beaten track really paid off on this trip. Wine and more wine, beaches, good food, vibrant nightlife and a little dose of culture to round it all off. Eastern Macedonia, we will be back.

This article was first published in Neos Kosmos on 23rd April 2016. Reproduced with kind permission, all rights reserved.

Neos Kosmos 23/4/16

NeosKosmos 23/4/16

Προερχόμενοι από το χώρο της μουσικής και μόνιμοι κάτοικοι Γλασκώβης, η Ελληνo-Aγγλίδα Αλεξ (μάνατζερ καλλιτεχνών) και ο Σκωτσέζος Stephen (μουσικός και μέλος της μπάντας Cosmic Rough Riders) ξεκίνησαν να οργανώνουν τις διακοπές των φίλων τους που επιθυμούσαν να επισκεφτούν την Ελλάδα από… χόμπι, για να βρεθούν σήμερα να απασχολούνται σχεδόν αποκλειστικά στο Everymatic.com. Ετσι ονόμασαν το online ταξιδιωτικό τους γραφείο, το οποίο εδρεύει στη Βρετανία («όπου ανοίγεις εταιρεία μέσα σε μία μέρα», οι ίδιοι είναι φορολογούμενοι εκεί, ενώ «σώθηκαν» το καλοκαίρι με τα capital controls). Τι ακριβώς προσφέρουν; Διαμορφώνουν εξατομικευμένα πακέτα διακοπών σε όσους αποζητούν αυθεντικές ελληνικές εμπειρίες. Για όλα αυτά μιλήσαμε με την Αλεξ.

Πώς προέκυψε η ιδέα του Everymatic.com;

Ζούσαμε στη Γλασκώβη και ασχολούμασταν με τη μουσική, σε διαφορετικά πόστα ο καθένας. Μας αρέσει πολύ η Ελλάδα, εμένα λόγω καταγωγής και του Stephen, που είναι κλασικός Σκωτσέζος, λόγω καιρού – ίσως μάλιστα ο Stephen να θέλει περισσότερο από μένα να περνάει το χρόνο του στη χώρα. Ως είθισται, λοιπόν, όταν έχεις σχέση με έναν τόπο, διευκολύναμε πάντοτε τους φίλους μας να οργανώνουν τις διακοπές τους, μέχρι που κάποια στιγμή οι ίδιοι συνειδητοποίησαν ότι κάθε φορά που ήθελαν να έρθουν στην Ελλάδα το μόνο που έκαναν ήταν να κλείνουν εισιτήρια. Ολα τα υπόλοιπα τα αναλαμβάναμε εμείς. «Αν μας ζητούσατε λεφτά γι’ αυτό, θα σας πληρώναμε», είπαν. Ηταν καλοκαίρι, ήμασταν σε κάποιο νησί και σκεφτήκαμε «γιατί όχι;». Δύο χρόνια πριν, τον Φεβρουάριο του 2014, ξεκίνησε επίσημα η λειτουργία του Everymatic.com.

Σε ποιους απευθύνεστε;

Αρχικά απευθυνθήκαμε στον κύκλο μας, που αποτελούνταν από μουσικούς και ανθρώπους των μίντια και της μόδας. Σήμερα, εκτός από τους Βρετανούς, που είναι οι περισσότεροι πελάτες μας, εξυπηρετούμε επίσης Αμερικανούς, Αυστραλούς, expats στα Εμιράτα (Ντόχα και Ντουμπάι) και τον τελευταίο καιρό Γάλλους. Οι πιο πολλοί δεν έρχονται πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα. Επίσης, οι περισσότεροι έχουν περάσει τη φάση εκείνη που ταξίδευαν με backpack και πήγαιναν στην Ιο ή στη Μύκονο για πάρτι και αναζητούν άλλου είδους διακοπές και εμπειρίες, λιγότερο γνωστές ή, όπως θα τις χαρακτηρίζαμε, αυθεντικές.

Τι ακριβώς προσφέρετε μέσω του Everymatic;

Από το πιο εύκολο, που είναι να κλείσουμε ένα δωμάτιο ξενοδοχείου ή αυτοκίνητο που να ανταποκρίνεται στις συγκεκριμένες ανάγκες του πελάτη, μέχρι να δημιουργήσουμε γι’ αυτόν και την παρέα ή την οικογένειά του έναν προσωπικό οδηγό διακοπών για τον προορισμό που έχει επιλέξει και βάσει όλων αυτών που θα ήθελε να δει και να κάνει, όπως έχει προκύψει από την κουβέντα μας μαζί του. Εχουμε ταξιδέψει πολύ, έχουμε πολλούς συνεργάτες και καλούς φίλους σχεδόν σε ολόκληρη τη χώρα -συνεργαζόμαστε με περισσότερους από 100 ξενοδόχους των οποίων εκτιμάμε το κατάλυμα και τη φιλοξενία- και έχουμε τη δυνατότητα να κανονίσουμε και την παραμικρή λεπτομέρεια αν μας ζητηθεί, όπως σε ποια παραλία να κολυμπήσουν, σε ποιο μονοπάτι να περπατήσουν, πού να δουν το ηλιοβασίλεμα, αλλά και σπορ, δραστηριότητες για παιδιά, προτάσεις για φαγητό, ποτό – τα πάντα. Είμαστε, σαν να λέμε, οι φίλοι από την Ελλάδα!

Ποιοι προορισμοί έχουν μεγαλύτερη ζήτηση;

Αν και δική μας επιδίωξη είναι να προωθήσουμε και λιγότερο γνωστούς προορισμούς, οι περισσότεροι επιθυμούν να γνωρίσουν τα νησιά -όσοι είναι ζευγάρια ή νιόπαντροι επιλέγουν ασφαλώς τη Σαντορίνη-, ενώ έχει πολύ μεγάλη ζήτηση τόσο η Πελοπόννησος όσο και η Αθήνα. Αναφορικά με την Πελοπόννησο, φέτος φαίνεται πως θα είναι η χρονιά της, καθώς από το καλοκαίρι θα πετάει στο αεροδρόμιο της Καλαμάτας μέχρι και η British Airways απευθείας από Λονδίνο, ενώ και η Αθήνα έχει γίνει πλέον must. Και δεν είναι καθόλου τυχαίο αυτό. Τελευταία έχει παρουσιαστεί πολύ θετικά από τον διεθνή Τύπο, και αυτό φαίνεται από το γεγονός ότι σχεδόν όλοι οι πελάτες μας ζητούν και δύο με τρεις διανυκτερεύσεις μίνιμουμ στην πρωτεύουσα. Υπάρχουν και άλλα μέρη που προσελκύουν τους ταξιδιώτες, πάντως, όπως η Νάξος, που, εκτός από ωραίες παραλίες, έχει και πολύ καλό φαγητό, η Σαμοθράκη, που απευθύνεται σε ένα πιο αλτέρνατιβ κοινό, ή η Ικαρία, που έγινε ιδιαίτερα γνωστή στους Βρετανούς από τον διάσημο σεφ Jamie Oliver, ο οποίος βρέθηκε και μαγείρεψε στο νησί τον περασμένο Μάιο.

Πόσο καιρό πριν πρέπει να απευθυνθεί κανείς σ’ εσάς;

Δεν υπάρχει κανόνας. Συνήθως όσοι ταξιδεύουν με παιδιά ξέρουν ακριβώς τις ημερομηνίες των διακοπών τους και επικοινωνούν μαζί μας αρκετούς μήνες πριν: ήδη έχουμε κρατήσεις για το ερχόμενο καλοκαίρι από τον Δεκέμβριο και τον Ιανουάριο. Υπάρχουν και πολλοί πελάτες μας όμως που μαθαίνουν για την άδειά τους τελευταία στιγμή. Πέρυσι τον Σεπτέμβριο, για παράδειγμα, είχαμε μόνο δύο μέρες για να διαμορφώσουμε ένα πλήρες πακέτο. Τα καταφέραμε! Ο Αύγουστος είναι ένας μήνας που μας δυσκολεύει αρκετά, αλλά πάντα υπάρχουν λύσεις.

Εχετε πέσει έξω σε κάποια από τις προτάσεις σας;

Μιλάμε πολύ με τους πελάτες μας πριν προχωρήσουμε στη διαμόρφωση του εκάστοτε οδηγού και δεν ξέρω αν είμαστε απλώς τυχεροί, αλλά ευτυχώς μέχρι τώρα δεν είχαμε κάποια αστοχία. Εχοντας, άλλωστε, την εμπειρία της συναναστροφής για πολλά χρόνια με μουσικούς, οι οποίοι είναι κατεξοχήν «ιδιότροποι», εγώ ειδικά, ως μάνατζερ, νομίζω ότι μπορούμε να καταλάβουμε ακριβώς τι θέλει ο πελάτης. Βασική προϋπόθεση, πάντως, είναι να έχει ξεκαθαριστεί από την αρχή το μπάτζετ που διαθέτει, το είδος των διακοπών που προτιμά, καθώς και πόσο μπορεί να τον ενοχλούν ορισμένα πράγματα. Υπάρχει κόσμος, ας πούμε, για τον οποίο είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό το δωμάτιο του ξενοδοχείου του να υπηρετεί συγκεκριμένη αισθητική. Εμείς πρέπει να το λάβουμε υπόψη μας αυτό. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, οι ξένοι είναι αρκετά εξοικειωμένοι με υπηρεσίες όπως η δική μας σε αντίθεση με τους Ελληνες, για τους οποίους αυτό που προσφέρουμε είναι κάτι καινούργιο και διαθέτουν επίσης σαφώς μικρότερο μπάτζετ.

Εχει μέλλον ο τουρισμός στην Ελλάδα;

Πάει κάθε χρόνο και καλύτερα και γι’ αυτό η πολιτεία θα έπρεπε να ενισχύει με κάθε τρόπο το επιχειρείν στον τουρισμό, όχι να ανακοινώνει μέτρα που μοιάζουν περισσότερο εκδικητικά, όπως ο ΦΠΑ στα νησιά για παράδειγμα. Ξέρετε κάτι; Από τα ταξίδια που έχουμε κάνει όλο αυτό το διάστημα για να επιλέξουμε τους συνεργάτες μας έχουμε γνωρίσει πολλούς ανεξάρτητους επαγγελματίες που κάνουν εξαιρετική δουλειά, με μεράκι και προσωπικό κόπο. Ε, αυτούς πρέπει το κράτος να τους ενθαρρύνει και να τους επιβραβεύει. Οχι να τους τιμωρεί.

Info: Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στο everymatic.com και στο www.facebook.com/everymatic/

This article was published in Kathemerini on 8th February 2016. Reproduced with kind permission, all rights reserved.

Early morning in Agios Nikitas on Lefkada island and all the scare stories couldn’t seem further away. Here it’s business as usual. The sun comes up, the beaches are gorgeous, there are no queues at ATMs and the locals greet you with a warm ‘kalimera’. There are tourists everywhere, from all corners of the world, who look as happy as can be.

Here’s what you can count on when you visit Greece: there will be sun, endless beaches, hundreds of destinations on the islands and the less talked about mainland, countless accommodation options – from budget to boutique to 5* plus- and fantastic, locally produced, raw ingredients used as the basis for honest Greek cooking. Foodies can enjoy amazing meals for no more than £10 per head. You will be hard pushed to find a more child-friendly country. Whether you’re a history or a wine buff, an amateur photographer or painter, a hill walker or sun worshipper, this is the place for you. This is exactly why we set up our business, Everymatic, right in the middle of this crisis. What better place to use as a backdrop for someone’s ideal, made to measure, holiday?

On the flipside, Greece is facing the biggest challenges in its recent history. There are pensioners queuing up for 120 euros per week and young people staring down the barrel of a gun that is absolute unemployment or immigration. Greeks, the people behind those numbers, have lived with this dark cloud over their heads for the last five years. They’ve soldiered on through some really dark times and have kept ‘filoxenia’, the art of welcoming visitors, very much alive. This is what keeps us here and continues to inspire us every day.

Despite a background in the British music industry, it’s in Athens that we’ve met some of the most creative minds we’ve ever come across: photographers, graffiti artists, graphic and fashion designers, brilliant tech innovators, musicians, chefs and everything in between. This is what is at the heart of Athenian life and why we encourage our clients to visit. The scars the crisis has left on this city are evident everywhere you look but if you find a more buzzing city centre anywhere in Europe, we’d be surprised.

I guess what we’re saying is visit Greece, keep coming like you always have. If anything, this country and its remarkable people need you more than ever. People are calling it solidarity holidays. We’ll just say that you can have some of the best experiences of your life while helping to keep a proud country on its feet. Despite the heavy burden it’s been carrying for years, Greece is still one of the most welcoming places on earth. People are warm and would do anything to make sure you enjoy your time here.

Don’t believe the hype, just bring some extra cash with you and a smile. Tell your friends about your visit and tell the world through social media. As Simon Calder wrote yesterday: “While life is very tough for the Greeks, for travellers it’s another good summer”. You can help ease these tough times and we’d say a huge ‘efharisto’ for that.

This article was first published in The Huffington Post 8th July 2015. 

Crete is probably the biggest Greek holiday destination. Its three airports and innumerable direct flights from all over Europe mean that thousands of people get to visit its beaches and popular landmarks like Knossos and Spinalonga on a daily basis. The Cretan diet and its benefits are now well known the world over so being able to enjoy the island’s bounties, with a bottle or raki as a necessary ‘digéstif’, is one of the main reasons people come back year after year. Whether you like all-inclusive resorts, rental villas or boutique hotels, this island can provide for all your needs. From all-nighters in Hersonissos to 5* living in the Venetian mansions of Chania, from walking the Samaria gorge to absolute isolation in Gavdos, you can make what you will of your time off here.

My snapshot of Crete is a very personal one and I’m sure yours will be too. Therein lies the beauty of this place. After falling in love with the mountains here, which seemed so imposing when I first visited as a child, I have returned time and time again and discovered something new every time. What I always yearn for though is Cretan hospitality. The welcoming smiles, a yummy treat at the end of a meal and the stories of outlaw living regaled to me in village cafes. This past autumn I revisited some of my favourite corners of the island with some of our clients and was won over by an infamous village in the mountains south of Rethymno.

The South East part of Crete has always been a favourite. It takes that extra bit longer to get there and you can only really enjoy it by car so not everyone has the time or wants to get all Indiana Jones on their annual two weeks off. The journey to the village of Xerokabos, right on the corner of the island, is just stunning. After driving through what seems like a lunar landscape, you hit the top of the hill and what lies ahead is the most wonderful blue, as far as the eye can see. There isn’t much to the village other than beautiful sandy coves and some tavernas with rooms to let. The welcome you will receive though is the warmest it can be, the vegetables and meat grown and reared by the person serving you.

On the way back to Ierapetra, make sure you have enough time to stop in Koutsouras, a small village with a couple of the most well known tavernas in the Sitia region. Taverna Rovinsonas is probably in my top five in the whole of Greece. Situated in a picture postcard setting right on the water and decorated in a quirky but 100% Greek fashion, the food here is to die for and they simply can’t do enough for you. Absolute bliss.

The best part of my trip was finally visiting the infamous village of Anogia. A place of myth due to its male population being wiped out three times in recent history, most recently during the Second World War. Greeks know this place because of the ‘special’ relationship locals have with the police. What we wanted to see though was the monument to the fallen, a truly heartbreaking list of young men wiped out in their prime in the defence of their country’s freedom. What we got though was much more than that. We arrived on a warm, sleepy September afternoon and were the only tourists about. We got greeted by an eagle on our approach to the village, who kept entertaining us out of the window of the aptly name ‘Aetos’ taverna. Our lunch was cooked by the owner and his little grand son; both a perfect picture of the handsome Cretan men you expect to see in a place like this and what they cooked was just as special. We wandered further into the village and bumped into a group of older women coming out of church and some of their husbands who had opted for a coffee in the pretty square instead. So many amazing stories to tell, we could have stayed there for days just listening to them. We probably would have if we weren’t so keen to get a kilo or two of the amazing local cheese before the shopkeepers closed for the day!

As Greeks we spend so much time complaining about each other, about our politicians and the state of the world. It’s trips like this though that remind us why this place feels blessed in so many ways. What was wonderful to see though was that our guests from the UK felt just the same about what we had witnessed. In fact, they probably appreciated it more than we did because they came to it with open hearts and less baggage.

For trips like this in Crete or other parts of Greece, contact
www.everymatic.com / www.facebook.com/everymatic

This article was first published in Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos on 18th May 2015. Reproduced with kind permission, all rights reserved.

Why did you choose the term “Everymatic”?
We can’t take credit for that, it was my brother’s idea. It stems from the Greek word ‘ευρηματικος’ as we aim to deal with every issue that comes up in a resourceful and creative way.
What makes Everymatic different as a bespoke travel holiday? What exactly do you offer? What more can a client expect?
The client can expect a service 100% tailor made to their needs. We listen to who is travelling (a group of friends, a couple, a family), what they enjoy doing whether at home or on holiday, their preferred budget, if it’s a special event like a homecoming, birthday etc. What makes us special is our local knowledge, our extensive contacts’ book and our background which means that we happily veer off the beaten track to provide a one of a kind experience.

Do you ‘experience’ everything beforehand yourselves?
Between the two company directors and our various colleagues, we don’t recommend anything without one of us having seen it first hand. It’s important to us that we treat our clients like family so we want the people we work with (hotels, restaurants etc) to have the same ethos we do.

Which of the experiences you offer is your favourite and why?
We definitely have places in Greece that we have a soft spot for, mainly because of the people. Crete would be the prime example of that. We are discovering new places all the time though, especially on the mainland as we want to show all parts of the country, not just the postcard white-washed island type. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

Is your target market financially upscale clients/ middle class? Do you think the cost is discouraging for the majority of the working class?
No, not at all. We cater for all types of holidays and budgets, from ultimate 5* to spartan and remote. We listen to our potential clients and their available budget is one of our first questions so we can offer them something they can afford.

Are the majority of people accessing your service Greek locals or from abroad?
The majority are definitely from abroad, although they all seem to share a real love for Greece. It’s been harder for locals recently due to the ongoing economic crisis.

What sets Greece apart as a holiday destination?
It’s a cliché but it’s the people that make Greece. Despite what’s been going on here in recent years, people are still warm, supportive of each other and are finding a new creative streak in them that we hope will be the little spark the leads the younger generations out of the crisis. After all our years in the music business in the UK, we have to say that we have never come across the creative talent we have seen here. From photographers, to graphic designers to jewellery makers and everything in between.

Given that the summer season is fast approaching (and not counting your current packages), where’s a good holiday destination beyond the usual hotspots in Greece?
There is so much to choose from and we don’t want to give too much away!! For a quick escape from Athens, islands like Kea and Hydra are a great choice. The South Eastern part of Crete is real gem too. Just getting in a car and exploring is our real advice, whether it’s Northern Greece or the Peloponnese. You can be on the beach one minute and in the middle of wonderful ancient ruins the next.
Although we are all aware of certain parts of Greece being in the limelight, your photos depict another side of Greece, places most likely unknown to the masses…why have you chosen to highlight this side of Greece?
It’s simple really. It’s the Greece that we love and the one we want to support. The places where you’re not treated as a number but a friend. Places where the accommodation is great but not extortionate, where the food is great and where you can actually find a beach with nothing but the waves for company.

You’ve only been around for a year. How has the landscape of the bespoke travel industry changed during that time in Greece in the midst of a Grexit and the crisis?
We’ve found that businesses like ours or those opened by similarly minded entrepreneurs (offering bespoke walking tours, funky pads in Athens city centre to name but a few) are flourishing in the crisis. Visitors are voting with their feet, they’re not forgetting Greece and if anything are coming in the millions and looking for different propositions, not just the mass tourism options of years gone by.

Describe your own personal travel style.
We’re hotel freaks. We love them so when we travel ourselves, we spend a lot of time researching them. Food definitely plays a big part in our holidays. Whether it’s a small Greek island or NYC, finding out the best places to eat is big on our agenda!

And now Athens. Most Greek Australians and Australians spend very little time in Athens – it’s mostly some kind of springboard for island hopping. Is there anything they might be missing?
Athens is a great city. Full of history, ancient and modern, with great restaurants and bars and above all, amazing people. People who are weathering the crisis and opening interesting businesses making clothes, leather goods, promoting artisan products from all over the country etc. A lot of visitors also forget the amazing coastline just outside Athens. The temple at Sounio is one of our favourite places in the world.

This interview was first published in Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos’s travel supplement on 21st March 2015. Reproduced by kind permission, all rights reserved.

The team at Everymatic towers has been travelling back and forth from the UK to Greece for 40 years now. It used to be London to Athens and anything more adventurous required very early morning dashes to Piraeus and long ferry rides. There is something special about the early morning sun as you hit the Aegean but we’re all used to things happening quicker and easier these days. This summer the airline industry has given Greece a seal of approval by expanding its network and options for budgets big and small. Chania airport in Crete seems to be the new hot favourite with both Ryanair choosing it as one of its main hubs and Easyjet adding it to its existing Heraklion route. That’s not all though:

• BA now flies direct to Mykonos and Santorini.
• Ryanair finally offers direct flights from airports across the UK (from Bournemouth and Bristol to Glasgow and Edinburgh) to islands in the Aegean and Ionian, as well as Athens and Thessaloniki.
• Easyjet has added even more Greek destinations, including Kalamata, a great way to experience the South West of the Peloponnese.
• The national Greek carrier, Aegean, is now flying out of London, Birmingham and Manchester and connects via Athens to a whole list of destinations across Greece.

This current list doesn’t even include package tour operators who fly to amazing islands like Lesvos and whose flights you can buy tickets on, whether you choose your own accommodation or not.

Things are looking up all around as the same route expansion is taking place in most European countries towards Greece. Furthermore, what is really exciting is the new Hellenic Sea Planes venture, a company with a plan to allow easier access to many harder to reach destinations. This is something we will follow closely as it will appeal to many Everymatic customers as a really unique way to experience the Greek coastline.

Tempted? Email us at info@everymatic.com so we can start putting together your dream holiday.

A.P.

Greece has a vast and rich sea of possibilities from which the prospective traveler can trawl; voyages of discovery for everyone, from all walks of life. Breath-taking archaeological sites and museums abound for those with an appetite for Greece’s incredible history. Tranquil beaches and rustic hideaways aplenty for those souls seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. Adventurists are spoiled for choice with every option imaginable: gorge walking, mountain climbing, base-jumping, white water rafting, horse trekking, skiing, scuba diving and every other conceivable watersport. Yacht and pleasure cruiser lovers are offered every possible option of charter boats to explore the coastline or experience an exhilarating alternative to ferry services for island hopping. Culture hunters will find in Athens and Thessaloniki, the same vibrant array of galleries, theatres and music venues any other European capital city has to offer, while foodies will not be disappointed at the choice of first class eateries around the country, from traditional to contemporary and Michelin Star. And for those on a voyage of self discovery, retreats for yoga, writing, dance, music and art are almost too numerous to count.

The purpose of any one person’s journey to Greece is, of course, a very personal one but with the broad tapestry of travel experiences available in this sun-drenched corner of southern Europe, everyone has, with a little imagination, all the necessary ingredients from which to author their own personal odyssey.

S.F.

Walter F. Howe, “The Homeric Gods,” 1924.

What makes light here in Greece so unique, how it enhances and enriches certain colours and reliefs at certain times of the day, has been the subject of much artistic discourse for centuries. The mechanisms can, I’m sure, be described more than adequately in the cold language of physics, but in no way does this even begin to scratch the surface of how it affects the human condition. The light, the sun, and it’s lazy parade across the summer sky, draws world-weary travelers in their hordes to this ancient land over and over again.

Ironically, summer wasn’t always an enthusiastically anticipated season in Greece, nor was it in other nearby regions. In antiquity, Aristotle’s ‘dog days’, marked by the rising of Sirius (the dog star, and the brightest star in the night sky) with the sun, heralded the beginning of drought, mad dogs, sour wine and lethargy. Perhaps it’s the last of these however, that chimes so harmoniously with the modern holiday-maker who keeps to an otherwise insane schedule throughout the rest of the working year: Greece, with her laid back summer attitude, is a picture perfect place to make that rejuvenating pilgrimage.

Her shores in summer months become an ashram of sorts, lined with devotees unknowingly worshiping at the altar of long forgotten sun gods, quietly meditating, silently basking in glorious hues that bring tranquility and peace. And outwith the small enclaves of mass tourism, is to be found a whole world of unspoilt coastline; secluded beaches, secret coves and picturesque rocky bays. A quiet place can always be found here, places of breath-taking natural beauty where turquoise waters gently caress the shore and that magical light glistens on the sea. The traveler almost owes it to himself to seek out these priceless gems, for they are everywhere on Greece’s rugged coastline.

A short walk around a nearby headland can often reveal an otherwise hidden paradise, a small serene bay where you can be alone with your thoughts or your loved ones. There, you are almost guaranteed to find the markings of other devoted pilgrims who came before you: rock and pebble formations arranged in totemic symbols of kinship, driftwood shrines, a faint echo of a mysterious and ancient past; zen beach art created by travelers compelled to make their mark, urged to speak in some way to their brethren. This is the art of sunbathing.

S.F.