Get him to the Greek! As bookings plummet, holiday boss reveals Brits could bag discounts of up to 30 per cent in the troubled country

  • Victor Camhis who owns mygreek-villa.com says life continues as normal
  • 'Services are excellent, tavernas and bars are always open' he says
  • The country's future in the Eurozone plunged into jeopardy
  • 'Tourists will enjoy the same feeling they always have,' promises Camhis

By Catherine Eade for MailOnline

Published: 04:34 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 11:22 EST, 7 July 2015

As the future of Greece hangs in the balance, the owner of a Greek holiday firm says British travellers wanting a last-minute bargain could save up to 30 per cent on holidays if they book now.

Greek national Victor Camhis said fears over the Grexit had seen last-minute bookings in the hotel industry plummet by 5,000-a-day for July and August.

On Sunday Greece overwhelmingly rejected Europe's latest bailout package, plunging the country's future in the eurozone into jeopardy. 

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As the future of Greece hangs in the balance, the owner of a Greek holiday firm boss says British travellers wanting a last-minute bargain could save up to 30 per cent on holidays if they book now

As the future of Greece hangs in the balance, the owner of a Greek holiday firm boss says British travellers wanting a last-minute bargain could save up to 30 per cent on holidays if they book now

Holiday firm owner Victor Camhis said fears over the Grexit had seen last-minute bookings in the hotel industry plummet by 5,000-a-day for July and August. Pictured are people queueing outside a Greek bank to withdraw cash from an ATM

Holiday firm owner Victor Camhis said fears over the Grexit had seen last-minute bookings in the hotel industry plummet by 5,000-a-day for July and August. Pictured are people queueing outside a Greek bank to withdraw cash from an ATM

Fears over queues at cash points, banking and security are putting many off travelling to the country.

Camhis, whose company www.mygreek-villa.com has more than 250 villas for rent, said long-term bookings were not being cancelled but in the last three weeks new bookings had dried up.

But speaking from Greece last night he said fears were unfounded and life in the Greek islands remained as normal with cash machines working, petrol available and no change to normal life.

Victor Camhis, owner of www.mygreek-villa.com, says fears over the Grexit were unfounded

Victor Camhis, owner of www.mygreek-villa.com, says fears over the Grexit were unfounded

He said people booking last minute could cash in on savings of up to 30 percent.

'It's crazy but we still have availability in August. There are offers now and promotions and this is the best time to get a last-minute booking.

'I had someone say to me they didn't want to go to Greece because they felt bad for the people.

'But that's exactly why you should go, tourism provides about 20 percent of Greece's GDP so this is exactly the wrong time for us to be affected.

'The overall hotel industry in Greece is losing last-minute bookings up to 5,000 a day for the months of July and August

'Greece and the Greek islands are still an ideal place to make your last minute bookings in luxury villas with swimming pools or by the sea, with superb sea views, at affordable prices.

'Despite the difficult economic situation, services are excellent, the tavernas and bars are always open, the antiquities are there and the sea is still the best in the Mediterranean.

'The only advice one can give to tourists is to have some cash available with them, but most establishments, supermarkets, shops and the majority of restaurants accept credit cards.

'Tourists can withdraw money from the automatic bank machines, as much as their bank card allows.

'The only problem they might encounter is that the machine might not have banknotes available, especially in the evening. Most probably this particular problem will be resolved during the next week. We will keep our clients informed.

'There are no problems of safety whatsoever. Tourists will enjoy the same feeling as they always had in the peaceful Greek islands.

'We will get a solution to this problem, 75 percent of Greeks want to stay in the eurozone, we voted no against austerity.'

Yesterday Chancellor George Osborne warned that tourists should take enough medical supplies to last them for their holiday. 

 

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