Greece

[Nick]

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Furious at not having discovered the Ionian and the Peleponese earlier before I got so old.

Just had a week as a guest on a 46ft Bav followed by a week skippering a Sun Od 33

Not just the best holiday I have ever had, but the best by a considerable margin. Will post some photos later.

[cpedw]

Sorry Nick, I would have told you if I'd known of this gap in your knowledge base.

We first went on a flotilla in the Ionian with the in-laws in about 1980. I was the most experienced sailor - 2 weeks on the Norfolk Broads and a Day Skipper theory course behind me. We had a fantastic time and learned a lot (about each other as well as about sailing without tides).

We went back in 2014. What a change! It's now quite crowded on the town quays and even the small villages have a choice of tavernas. Still good fun in the sunshine though.

Nothing to match the west coast of Scotland though (that's the 2018 version).

Derek

[Silkie]

Pretty sure I've sung the praises of the Ionian to you a few times. Wall to wall sunshine (with the odd thunderstorm) and fairly predictable breezes, no tides, almost no rocks to hit, nearly as many harbours and anchorages (and more pubs) as the West and much cheapness - what's not to like?

[cpedw]

I could mention that following our pleasant experience in the Ionian in the early 1980's, we went on to enjoy a Lycian coast cruise in Turkey. That was a bit too hot for me but otherwise enjoyable. We tried repeating that in 2015 but it was hugely overcrowded with ebullient Russians. I think that has changed but I think also many of the big charter cos have left the area.

Also in the 1980's, we spent a week in Yugoslavia (remember that?). It was good too; I especially enjoyed the wide range of offal that was readily available. Not everyone concurred about the offal menu. I think it's now Croatia but we've not been back lately.

Derek

[Nick]

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A sample

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[aquaplane]

I have had 3 flotilla holidays in the Sporades and one in the Ionian.
I won't be going back to the Ionian, not that I have sailed the Solent, but the Ionian seems just as busy.
The Saronic and Argolic gulfs have been recommended too.
HTH.

[Nick]

Pretty quiet at the end of October, and the weather is still mostly lovely.

[Nick]

.......

[Telo]

We caught the cruising bug in the Ionian with a two week flotilla holiday. First week with another couple and an instructor, second week on our own with flotilla. That led to bareboat charters in later years in the Ionian, the Aegean and Croatia, before buying Shard and, later, Telo.

Great place to learn. That was in the 90s; probably a lot busier, and hotter, these days.