Latest on the travel and dates

Though the timing remains an issue, you will see that we have an excellent partner!

Dear James

I have been checking flights to come 24th April for 7 nights, flying from London via Athens and then travelling on to Zakynthos. In terms of cost, the cost of tickets per person cost about the same (in some cases) as a direct flight from the UK to the island in May. But in terms of travel time and connections, it is a bit of a nightmare.

For example:
Travelling EasyJet from LGW, there is a flight to Athens on 24 April, leaving at 06.30am, currently priced at £75.28 pp. The return leg from Athens to LGW is currently showing at £105.23. (Grand total so far of £180.51). Then you have to add on the cost of either a bus journey from Athens to Zakynthos, which is @ 20 Euros pp each way including the ferry, or an internal Olympic Airways flight from 60 Euros pp each way. A total of @ £294, which is about the same as the price of a return ticket for 7 nights in May.

The bus journey from Athens takes 6.5 hours with a ferry crossing of 1.5 hours. The buses leave Athens every few hours- 6:00am, 8:00am, 12:45pm and 17:00pm, which don't match your arrival times at Athens airport, and you still have to get to the bus station either by taxi or a bus from the airport.

So it will probably easier to adjust the timing of your visit. As I said yesterday, we would be happy for all of you to come our @ 1st May. We have few people staying with us then (some come on 1st and 2nd May), but most guests don't start arriving until after you would have gone, so we would have time with you.

Accommodation would be almost the same as before, except 2 apartments are already booked for guests, so I can offer you the following:

Yannis-Marina 1
Yannis-Marina 2
Ilios Lower
Ourano Upper
Ourano Lower
all the above sleep 1 person

Homa Villa (2 separate bedrooms and bathrooms), so would sleep 2.

The cost per studio apartment for 1 person is : £250 for 7 nights. = £500 for 2 people in 2 apartments
The cost per one-bed apartment for 1 person is : £290 for 7 nights. = £870 for 3 people in 3 apartments
The cost for the villa for 2 people for 7 nights is: £ 550

Grand total:£ 1,920. I've had to increase prices slightly because the visit would be in May and not April, so I hope that's okay.
We also have a bit of flexibility in terms of arrival dates (2-3 days), if you couldn't get a flight until say, 3rd May, we can move your accommodation forward without clashing with other bookings.

I have also checked flights on Flightline for 1st May to give you an indication of costs. There is a flight from London Gatwick at £273 pp return, with all taxes and security levies. If you didn't want to travel all the way Down South, there is also a flight from Doncaster on 1st May, at £301pp, all in, departing at 07.20 and arriving Zak at 12.50.

I hope this helps!!

Best wishes
Maddy