Tourist names one Greek island that's 'dead' – so now's a good time for bargain holiday
If you're seeking a last-minute European getaway in the sunshine, one traveller reckons he's discovered the perfect destination after revealing it's brimming with available accommodation. Travel blogger, Robert Sherman maintains that renowned Greek islands are "dead" as he provided insight into his experience in Santorini. "Did Euro summers get cancelled this year?" he questioned in a TikTok clip.
"I'm in Santorini right now and this island is dead - there is availability all over the island," he claimed. Robert proceeded to voice his astonishment as he revealed that despite it being a weekend in mid-July during peak season - rates are "low" owing to insufficient demand.
"I don't even have a hotel booked tonight," he added. "I'm about to walk into town and pick out my hotel at a discounted rate."
In a subsequent video, Robert demonstrated the "one thing" visitors should do if they fancy joining him on the seemingly abandoned island, however.
"If you do one thing in Santorini, see the island by boat," he advised whilst participating in an excursion alongside a small group of fellow tourists.
Hundreds of TikTok users shared their opinions on Santorini's seeming drop in appeal. One speculated: "Santorini and Mykonos have priced themselves out due to pure greed."
Some are attributing the quietness to recent seismic activity, with one TikTok user exclaiming: "Why do people have an opinion when there is no knowledge? Santorini this summer has low prices and availability cause there were earthquakes in the winter so many people chose this summer to avoid Santorini. All the other islands are fully booked."
A Greek expat chimed in: "As a Greek living abroad who has visited the islands every summer for the past 15 years, I made the decision last year not to return this year. Prices have skyrocketed, and overtourism has made the experience overwhelming. What should have been a holiday ended up feeling more like a stressful ordeal."
Whilst a fourth TikTok user suggested: "I believe the fully booked islands are different ones. People are tired of Santorini and Mykonos: they're not authentic, they're overcrowded, and they offer a very touristy experience. Try other islands like Milos, Paros, Amorgos - those are packed.
"Moreover, I think hotel availability is linked to the fact that they have overbuilt: there are hospitality structures everywhere, and they outnumber the homes of people who live on the island year-round. The locals now even rent out their garages."
Another holidaymaker has reported that the situation in nearby Crete is similarly dire, meanwhile. They commented: "Here in Crete and the locals saying it's the worst season since Covid - cost of living in Europe - flights have gone up massively so people cancelling or if they come are being frugal and not spending money.
"It's a shame for the locals who are the most friendly, warm, hospitable and genuine people I have ever come across."
As the British school summer holidays kick off next week, temperatures in several beloved holiday destinations are expected to skyrocket, with some areas bracing for extreme highs of 44C.
Weather maps from WXCharts have turned volcanic red, signalling intense heat, while Greece is peppered with patches of deathly white and grey.
The forecasts for Monday, July 21, show relentless heat with temperatures seldom dipping below 36C on the Greek and Italian mainland, and soaring into the 40Cs on Sicily. Near the scenic Greek city of Larissa, tourists hoping to explore its ancient ruins may find themselves thwarted by the scorching 44C heat predicted for 3pm on Monday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
3 minutes ago
- Metro
Antiques Roadshow expert reluctantly values rare spoon and discovers it's worth
A man has been left shocked after being told a set of silver spoons that once belonged to Captain James Cook are worth £20,000. On last night's episode of the long-running BBC series Antiques Roadshow, the experts were at Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool. It was there that expert Gordon Foster met a descendant of the explorer, who came along with a 'humble' set of items he was keen to get valued. As Gordon explained: 'Eagle-eyed viewers of the roadshow would know we don't often feature silver spoons unless they are something special…and these are.' He went on to share that the spoons were a Georgian pair from 1750 that had Cook's initials engraved on them. On the episode, a repeat from 2022, the man explained that he was the 'fifth grand nephew' of Cook. With one of the spoons passed down as a family heirloom, he obtained the other in an auction after discovering that his item had once been part of a set. He recalled how there'd been 'no limit' on how much he'd spend to have the set in his possession. The items were used by Cook during his journey navigating and claiming Australia in 1770. But as said on the show, while he was celebrated in his day for mapping 'uncharted lands', he now remains a controversial figure for his 'colonial exploits and violent encounters with Indigenous peoples'. When it came time to share his valuation, Gordon said that similar spoons could usually be purchased for around £40. 'But the question is, how much does the provenance add to the spoon? And I can tell you this provenance is like gold dust. This takes this spoon in a completely different stratosphere of value,' he said. 'It is quite incredible. I can say with a lot of confidence that one spoon is worth £10,000.' As the crowd gathered around them gasped, the man's eyebrows raised, and he nodded while taking in the extraordinary value of his items. After briefly being left speechless, he exclaimed: 'That's extraordinary.' Gordon then thanked the man for bringing the items and 'sharing them with us'. More Trending Captain Cook was a British Royal Navy officer, explorer and cartographer who led three important voyages of exploration to the Pacific and Southern Oceans between 1768 and 1779. He was also the first European to visit the east coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. However, he was killed in 1779 during his second visit to Hawaii when a dispute with the native Hawaiians turned violent. View More » Antiques Roadshow is streaming on BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
South Wales Argus
8 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Is it safe to travel to Greece? Tourist advice amid wildfires
More than 50 wildfires have erupted in the country in the last 24 hours, leading to a request to the EU for six firefighting planes. Residents of Kryoneri, 12.5 miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS messages to evacuate to safe areas yesterday (July 26). This comes as Greek authorities battle separate fires on Euboea and Crete, its two largest islands, as well as on the island of Kythera and in the south-west of the mainland. Firefighters battled wildfires across Greece and the Western Balkans as the south of Europe sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer — Reuters (@Reuters) July 26, 2025 Both areas are popular holiday destinations for Brits who are looking to fly out this summer. However, if you've got a trip booked over the coming weeks, the extreme weather could impact your plans. Is it safe to travel to Greece? As of July 27, the UK Foreign Office has not issued any "do not travel" notices for Greece. Although it does highlight safety advice due to a 'high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October'. The website recommends travellers register for the Greek government's national emergency alerts, stating: 'Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.' Tourists are also urged to 'be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires,' and to call the emergency services on 112 if you're in danger. Greece experiences wildfires every year, but they are becoming more intense and frequent. Last year, Greece experienced its hottest June and July on record. What to do if your holiday is affected If you find yourself at the site of a wildfire while on holiday, follow instructions from local authorities and keep essentials with you at all times. If you're set to head out to Greece on holiday, then it's best to check with your tour operator or airline. For those preparing to travel, it may be possible to cancel your trip for a refund, but only under specific circumstances. 'For tourists concerned about travel disruptions due to wildfires, it's essential to understand the options available in terms of insurance and refunds," Travel and Tour World states. Recommended reading: 'In cases where the wildfire threat directly impacts the region you are visiting, travellers may be eligible for a refund or rebooking. 'However, if the situation is not deemed dangerous enough by authorities, or if no official travel advisory is issued, airlines and tour operators are generally not obligated to offer full refunds.' As it stands, there is no Foreign Office warning against travel, so it's best to continue to check for regular updates in case the situation changes in the coming hours and days.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Crete issues urgent warning for TODAY in Brit holiday hotspot
Brits in the popular holiday location of Crete, Greece, have been warned of a "very high risk" of wildfires today with emergency services mobilised and a list of banned activities Brit holidaymakers have been warned that there is a 'very high risk' of fires in Crete today with emergency services mobilised. Greece has been grappling with massive wildfires following a week-long heatwave that saw temperatures skyrocket above 45C, leading to thousands being forced to abandon their homes as flames engulfed villages near Athens and several Greek islands. Now a map has been issued by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection showing the areas of Greece which are most at danger. And Crete has been marked in orange which is category four and means that there is a forecast of a very high risk of fire. Under this category it means that a special civil protection mechanism has been put in place while there is a list of banned activities. The action plan means that all resources will be diverted to tackling the risk and there is a list of six banned actions. the burning and use of fire on crop residues, grasslands or other of smoking in beehives the performance of hot work (welding, cutting wheel, etc.) the use of outdoor barbecues the use of "Sky Lanterns" (airborne flying lanterns or balloons) the use of pyrotechnics Meanwhile, a significant fire ripped through a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, triggering urgent evacuation orders, as confirmed by the country's Fire Service. Residents in Kryoneri, situated about 12 miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS alerts urging them to relocate to safer areas, while the nearby village of Drosopigi was shrouded in smoke as explosions reverberated from factories storing combustible materials. Helicopters were dispatched to douse the area with water as a team of 65 firefighters, supported by 26 vehicles and two aircraft, battled the blaze. A spokesperson for the fire department revealed that at least 52 wildfires had erupted across the nation in the past 24 hours, with strong winds exacerbating the situation and necessitating further evacuations. On Evia, a force of 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles, aided by six aircraft and seven helicopters, strived to get the fires under control. Residents in the Triada region were put on alert for potential evacuation as wind conditions deteriorated. While the villages of Aroniadika, Pitsinades and Aryoi on the island of Kythera were evacuated, alongside Kryoneri and Sellas in Messinia, to the west of Athens. Areas in Crete affected by fires Azilakodasos, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Vathi, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Thriptis, Municipality of Ierapetra Kalo Chorio, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos – Meseleri, Municipality of Ierapetra Selakano, Municipality of Ierapetra Cypress forest of Kritsa, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Krousta Forest, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos. Symi, Municipality of Viannos Rouva-Zaros, Municipality of Gortyna and Municipality of Phaistos Koudouma, Municipality of Gortyna Keris, Municipality of Malevizi, Fourni, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Yuuchta, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Reconstruction, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Evligia suburban forest Suburban forest of Prof. Elias Agios Ioannis suburban forest Reforestation area south of the Arkadi Monastery Alsilio area of Paradisos Armenoi Mills Gorge Kissos suburban forest Periurban forest of Agouseliana Periurban forest of Agios Ioannis
