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-   -   how early to book air? hotel? for 08/07? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/how-early-to-book-air-hotel-for-08-07-a-658701/)

abigailm Nov 14th, 2006 01:50 AM

how early to book air? hotel? for 08/07?
 
I've been reading about how places in Greece fill up fast in July/August.. How early do I need to book hotels (probably 3 nights at Esperas in Santorini, 3 nights at Villas Notos or Limeri Apartments in Milos) for next July 28 thru Aug 3, 2007? And how early should we book our intra-island flights -- on Olympic and/or Aegean? (By the way, The Aegean air website keeps crashing on me, which stinks because they are offering a 19 Euro deal each way right now, but I can't use the system! Has this happened to anyone else? What to do?)

And finally, when's the best time to catch good prices on flights out of the US? I've heard fares often come down in January. Is this too long to wait? Thanks for the help!

cristine27 Nov 14th, 2006 02:02 AM

If you find fares with Aegean at 19€ and you're sure for your itinerary book them even now!! (these fares are not refundable)
I can't understand why the site doesn't work properly for you.. i don't seem to have any problem with it!

Now about hotels start booking them in early spring. Of course if you want one specific hotel only (Esperas for example) and it's very popular why don't you send an email as soon as possible?


ira Nov 14th, 2006 04:46 AM

Hi ab,

Book hotels as early as possible.

You should see lowest airfares between mid-Dec and Feb.

((I))

Dukey Nov 14th, 2006 05:18 AM

Ira, is that a guarantee or a simple speculation or hearsay?

brotherleelove2004 Nov 14th, 2006 07:26 AM

Book hotels for August now.

It's possible that the Aegean website is busy when you're trying to book, or perhaps your internet security settings are too strong. If you have a 'pop-up blocker' try disabling it while you try to book.

I agree that in the past prices got lower after the first of the year, but I bought my tickets to Greece from Oregon last month because they were the same price as 2005, and with the fluxuation in fuel prices I was concerned that they might not go down this time.

abigailm Nov 14th, 2006 07:45 AM

Thanks for the advice -- guess it's NOT too early!

I worked around the problem on the Aegean Air site -- for some reason it crashed everytime I clicked on "roundtrip". But the fare is the same when I do 2 one-way legs. Just in case anyone was having the same problem...



brotherleelove2004 Nov 14th, 2006 09:02 AM

Actually, I've noticed that sometimes the fare is even cheaper when you book one leg at a time. I'm glad you discovered a way to get yours.

Tere Nov 14th, 2006 12:16 PM

I booked a flight from Athens to Santorini this morning for 19 euros with Aegean for June and had no problems with the site

seeall Nov 14th, 2006 02:14 PM

I booked with Agean Airline online (for first week of April)and after I typed in all my info, credit card # and all, it froze and didn't get confirmation. I called the contact number they have on their website and they booked the same flights all over again. Only my 1st ticket was given to me for 19 Euro, the rest of us were charged 10 Euro more, so 19, 29, 39, 49 Euro for all 4 of us. THE PROBLEM is this happened last week and my credit card hasn't been charged yet. So I still don't know if I have the tickets for the 2 flights I booked for all 4 of us. I will call them again.

stanbr Nov 14th, 2006 04:53 PM

Just a samll comment for those of you trying to book hotels right now. I agree with the advice to do it as soon as possible however the 2006 tourist season has just ended and many hotels are closed and their owners are off having their own vacations. Don't be frustrated by a lack of immediate response from the hotels, they will get back to you, however they will be on Greek time which is slightly faster than Caribbean time.

susiedq Nov 14th, 2006 09:41 PM

brotherleelove,
I'm from the left coast too, california. would you mind sharing the cost of your airfare and who you are flying ? thanks

brotherleelove2004 Nov 14th, 2006 10:44 PM

This time I'm flying out of Portland, first with a domestic flight from Eugene, Oregon, then on Lufthansa to Athens and Aegean to Santorini. Total cost is just over $1400.


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