We are planning a 12 day cruise of Turkey and Greece next summer and would like to do a short land tour of Greece after. The plan is to hire a private tour to Delphi and Meteora (3 day, 2 night) and then head back to Athens to go back to the USA. I am having a problem finding hotels for those 2 nights. The private guide (George the Famous Taxi Driver) does not take care of the hotels, just the transportation. I have tried all of the usual travel sites and I keep finding "No hotels available for those dates." I know there are also many big tour buses doing this same itinery and they are cheaper. They do include the hotels. I am wondering if they have every hotel room already tied up for my dates? Has anyone else done something similar? Does anyone have any suggestions on finding hotels in Delphi and Meteora. The dates are July 2 and 3 of 2007. Thanks.

If you are using travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity for hotel information I have never found that they have availability for the hotels you select. We are doing a Greece, Turkey trip next year and I only found one hotel I contact directly which was not available. It was only for the days I selected. I have found that there are lots and lots of tours that book up certain hotels. Usually those who cater to package tours. I would make sure that you are accessing the direct site rather than through a travel site.

Have a look at the Dilos hotel site. Hotels will not be all full for next year but the companies you have looked at may not have the info for next summer yet. You may find it easiest to contact the hotels directly.

Carolena

In Greece, travel agents have much more sway than in a lot of countries. You might actually do better by booking through a travel agent based in Greece, and you might even get a better rate as a bonus. Travel agents sometimes book blocks of rooms that they then disburse to their own clients. This was the case for me when I wanted to stay one night at the Sofitel Athens Airport; it was booked up according to the web site, but I was able to book through my travel agent. You're doing this far enough in advance that you shouldn't have problems.

I've learned from experience that sometimes the booking websites aren't programmed to function so far in advance. Chances are that the hotels you've chosen to consider are on those websites. Try again after the first of the year.