|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Our Agency, Windmills
Travel & Tourism is a full service Inbound Tour
Operator Established in 1979. It is accredited by
the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) and
is a member of HATTA, the Hellenic Association of
Travel Agents as well as ASTA (American
Association of Travel Agents). We are also proud
to be exclusive partners of such reputable
companies, as Hertz International and Western
Union International Money Transfers on the islands
of Mykonos and Tinos, were long ago our agency was
established. Through the last years, our services
extended from the Cyclades to Crete, Rhodes,
Corfu, Peloponnese, and the mainland as well, and
at this point we're in the actual position to
handle requests for any destination in Greece.
Apart from the individual reservations, which
occupy a great part of our business activities, we
also deal with Tours Operators providing all land
arrangements. We have dealt in the past and still
dealing with some of the most important Tour
Operators. Netherlands (Island World/Rent-a-casa,
Olympia International), Austria (RuefaReisen /
Reiseladen), Finland (Aurinkomatkat), and Italy (I
vostri viaggi,visual viaggi, gay.it) each with
their own weekly charter flight, as well as Tour
Operators from Spain (Iberosol, Tierra Joven), the
USA, Great Britain (Man Around),Germany,
Scandinavia, Hungary and Poland, to mention but a
few. We work closely with them to assist them in
producing a successful tailor-made marketplace. We
contract the Hotels on their behalf, or invite
them to make use of the allocations that we
ourselves take in most Hotels, Self-Catering
Apartments and Villas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Our agency provides a wide
range of services including: accommodation -from
deluxe hotels to basic self-catering rooms-, transportation
-from anywhere to any place within Greece, and
at anytime-, ticketing, guided tours & excursions,
cruises, car rentals and lots of other activities,
like horseback riding, scuba diving, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
We can actually cover, more
or less, every need or request from any type of
client. However, due to the fact that the below
mentioned types of clientele are simply the ones
that will generally book their holiday with a
travel agent through the Internet more often than
others, we have accumulated special experience
in honeymooners and gay/lesbian travelers. Please
don't misunderstand this: if you do not belong
to either one of these groups, you will be taken
care of and spoiled in exactly the same style!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Because we're simply the
best!
- 25 years of experience and thousands of satisfied
clients, many of whom, year after year, trust
Windmills for the organizing of their vacation,
can guarantee that the provided services are of
the highest possible standards.
- Any e-mail message that arrives to our reservation
office is quickly -within 24 hours at the latest-
and efficiently replied, offering advice and information
about any destination requested.
- Our relationships with the hoteliers and the
other businessmen at each destination allow us
to achieve the best rates on accommodation and
the other services that we provide.
- Our long activity in tourism guarantees that
from the moment a visitor arrives at his destination,
we are able to deal with any kind of problem and
solve it as quickly as possible.
- Finally, we may be dealing with hundreds of
clients daily, but we are particularly careful
to acknowledge that every visitor has an individual
personality. Please let us know of your special
needs and wishes, and we'll be glad to form a
tailor-made vacation package especially suiting
requirements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
A very important aspect of
our activities has to do with the Gay Market,
which comprises a large portion of the clientele
on the island of Mykonos. Through the hard work
of our specialized Gay Department in this field
we have established ourselves as the leading Gay
Travel Specialist in Greece. Our agency is a member
of IGLTA (we're actually the first Greek agency
that joined the Organization) and our office is
responsible for the annual updates for Greece
in the Ferrari and Frommer's Guides, widely-acclaimed
gay travel books. Our clients include specialised
Gay travel tour operators/travel agents from Italy
(Arcoturismo), Spain, the USA (Above and Beyond
tours, Club Exotika), Germany (Jornada, Teddy
Travel, Reisebuero am Hellkamp), France (Eurogays),
the UK (Man Around/Sensations, Galeria Travel)
and Switzerland, to mention a few, as well as
numerous direct clients who call us from all over
the world. For these, we provide accommodation
in carefully selected gay friendly establishments
and services such as transfers and expert advice
on where to go and what to do.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Some of our accommodation
is "Gay Friendly" - this term refers
to hotels which are located close to gay facilities
(gay bars etc.) and where the management and staff
welcome gay guests. This accommodation is carefully
selected and seldom, if ever, poses problems for
our gay clients. However, you should be aware
that, while we do not envisage any problems and
while the overwhelmingly vast majority of holidays
pass without incident, we cannot be held responsible
for the behaviour of other guests booked with
other holiday companies. You may find that some
"Gay Friendly" properties will have
their fair share of families with children, especially
during school holidays. If you feel that this
may adversely affect the enjoyment of your holiday,
please seek our advice before you book.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
It's easy as it sounds: In
3 simple steps!
Step One: Send us an e-mail with your request.
We'll need the dates when you've decided to travel,
the destination you wish to visit, your approximate
budget and the type of accommodation where you'd
prefer to stay - what type of room you'd need
and 2-3 preferred hotels which you can choose
from the ones listed in our site.
You can send this email to the address info@windmills-travel.com
After we receive it, we'll check out availability
at the requested accommodation for the specific
dates, and reply back to you with an availability
confirmation email, or with any alternative suggestions
(if the requested hotels are fully booked). Attached
to that message, you will usually find a charge
authorisation form for the payment of your deposit.
Step Two: Print out and send us by fax
the Charge Authorisation form, filled in with
the needed information and the requested deposit
amount, along with a copy of your identification
card or passport and a copy of both sides of your
credit card.
The requested deposit amount is usually 50% of
the total reservation cost, with the balance due
4 weeks prior to your arrival. If the reservation
is made less then a month prior to the arrival,
the total reservation cost is required at once.
Our fax number is +30 2109916383 in Athens and
+30 22890 22066 on Mykonos. After we receive the
requested documentation, we will proceed with
booking your room, charging your credit card for
the agreed amount, and issuing your e-vouchers.
Our amendment and cancellation policy is explicitly
mentioned in that form.
Step Three: Receive your e-vouchers through
our second mail and print them out. You're ready!
Of course, the first step takes usually the longest
time, as most of the travellers need a lot of
information and advice before they decide about
the specific accommodation they'll choose and
the destinations they'll visit. A useful tip,
so as to lessen the time needed for the reservation,
would be to visit our official site at www.windmills-travel.com,
take a look at the information given on each destination
and study well the list of hotels to find which
would be closest to your style and budget.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Throughout all the years
that our agency has operated, not one single case
of misuse of personal information was reported
to us by any client. However, for additional safety,
you can use alternative ways of sending the information:
for example, you can leave the last 4 digits of
your credit card number uncompleted on the charge
authorisation form, and send them to us through
an e-mail, or even by giving us a call.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
A good piece of advice would
be to book your vacation as early as possible.
The rooms that offer a good quality of standards
for a fair price are not as many as you'd imagine.
Especially if you're planning to visit the island
during July or August, it would be hopeless to
search for a good deal after the summer has begun.
If you're interested in the low or middle season,
the possibilities are better, but then again it
would be wise to book at least a couple of months
before your arrival.
Don't worry if you're not yet sure about the destination
you wish to visit or the hotels you wish to stay
at. Send us an email with your general request,
and we'll be glad to give you all the needed information,
organize your holidays and guide you further through
the reservation process.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Of course you can book your
tickets in advance! You will then receive them
upon your arrival at the destination for which
these tickets are to be used. For example, if
your package includes ferry tickets from Tinos
to Patras, you won't receive them at your arrival
in Athens, but at your arrival on Tinos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
When you arrive to your destination,
our representative will be waiting for you with
a welcome envelope that will also include your
pickup time from the hotel. Otherwise, you will
be called at your hotel 24 hours prior to your
departure, in order to be told the exact pickup
time. If you are not in your room at that time,
we will leave a message at the reception desk.
General rules for pickups are the following:
- If you are departing by ship or domestic flight
from one Greek destination to another, then the
pickup will roughly be one hour or one hour and
15 min. prior to departure time.
- If you are taking an international flight, pickup
will be two hours before departure (if you are
on an island) or three hours before departure
(if you are in Athens or on a very big island
like Crete, where you need quite a bit of time
to get from your accommodation to the airport).
Due to the fact that most of the ferry companies
publish their monthly schedules at the last moment,
it is possible that in some cases, you will not
know the exact time of your departure, even before
your very arrival!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Finding your way to a foreign
country is not a simple thing, especially if we're
talking about Greece -a place not famous for its
organisational virtues-, and especially if it
is your first visit there. Why let the anxiety
of finding a way to reach your hotel or catch
your flight ruin your holidays, since you can
have everything arranged by people who do that
for hundreds of other visitors? Our colleagues
will be glad to welcome you on the airport or
the port at your arrival, solve any kind of problems
you may have, answer your questions, and provide
you with all the necessary information about the
destination. Moreover, a vehicle, especially waiting
for you, will transport you and your luggage safely
and quickly to your accommodation (or back to
the airport/port) without any effort on your part.
So simply book your transfers together with your
accommodation: It doesn't cost much, and it can
save you a lot of trouble.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
If you wish to cancel a
confirmed booking for any reason and at any time,
a sum of 45 € will be charged to cover administration
costs. In the event of cancellation the following
cancellation charges will be applied:
|
|
30 days - 20 days |
|
20 days - 10 days |
|
10 days - 0 days |
|
In case a cancellation is made more than 30 days
prior to your arrival, a charge of 10% of the
total reservation cost plus the administrative
fee of 45 € will be applied.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Any major amendment such
as hotel or flight booking changes (at any time)
to a confirmed booking, will incur an administrative
cost of 45 €, in addition to the cost this
amendment involves. Unforeseeable circumstances,
such as weather conditions may force changes to
your itinerary. While our agency will do its best
to minimize the extra costs this may involve,
any such costs are to be covered by the traveller.
Of course, in such cases the 45 € fee does
not apply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
If for any reason you have
missed the flight or boat that would carry you
to your destination, please call and let us know
of the new date or time of your arrival at the
soonest possible moment, so that we can inform
the hotelier and rearrange your arrival transfer.
That way, major misunderstandings will be avoided,
and any extra costs can be minimized.
In case you've missed your departure boat or flight,
again let us know as soon as possible, and our
agency will do whatever it can to arrange your
accommodation or transfers, until you'll be able
to depart.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Visitors from the European
Union need only their Identification Card to enter
Greece.
For visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and
Japan, a Passport is required. A visa is not required
for tourist/business stays of up to 90 days. However,
if you travel on an official or diplomatic U.S.
passport, you will need a visa issued through
the U.S. State Department. Similar restrictions
exist for other official and diplomatic passport
holders from other nations. More importantly,
your U.S. or Canadian passport must be valid for
a minimum of three months beyond the end of your
projected stay. This is true for many countries,
not just Greece, and it is a good idea to never
travel on a passport with less than six month's
validity. For additional information consult the
Consular Section of the Embassy of Greece, 2221
Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008
(202/939-5818 or 5800).
Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, Israel, South Korea (the Republic
of Korea), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia,
Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua,
Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, St Kitts &
Nevis, San Marino, the Slovak Republic, Switzerland
and Vatican City, also do not need a visa.
For the citizens of Brazil, El Salvador and Uruguay
a visa is also not required, but the visa-free
period is for 60 days only.
Requirements for other countries vary substantially
and should be verified with the local Greek Embassy
or Consulate in that country.
Technically, Greek officials may ask to see travel
tickets for your return home or for additional
destinations beyond Greece. In practice, this
rarely occurs and usually will only be asked for
if there is a suspicion that the visitor intends
to attempt to work in Greece illegally. It is
more likely to occur prior to a one-way flight
or other transportation into Greece rather than
once you've arrived on Greek soil.
No vaccinations are required for Greece.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The following chart shows
the time difference between Greece and :
ALBANIA (-1)
ALGERIA (-1)
ARGENTINA (-5)
AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE (+8)
SYDNEY (+6)
AUSTRIA (-1)
BAHRAIN (+1)
BELGIUM (-1)
BRAZIL
BRAZIL (-6)
RIO DE JANEIRO (-5)
SAO PAOLO (-5)
BULGARIA (0)
CAMEROON (-1)
CANADA (-7)
CHILE (-6)
CHINA (+6)
CROATIA (-1)
CYPRUS (0)
CZECH (-1)
DENMARK (-1)
EGYPT (0)
FINLAND (+1)
FRANCE (-1)
F.Y.R.O.M. (0)
GERMANY (-1)
HONG KONG (+6)
HUNGARY (-1)
INDIA (+3)
INDONESIA (+5) |
IRAN (+1)
IRAQ (+1)
IRELAND (-2)
ISRAEL (0)
ITALY (-1)
IVORY COAST (-2)
JAPAN (-7)
JORDAN (0)
KENYA (+1)
KUWAIT (+1)
LEBANON (0)
LIBYA (-1)
LUXEMBOURG (-1)
MALAYSIA (+6)
MALTA (-1)
MEXICO (-8)
MOROCCO (-2)
NETHERLANDS (-1)
NEW ZELAND (+10)
NIGERIA (-1)
NORWAY (-1)
PAKISTAN (-1)
PANAMA (+3)
PERU (-7)
PHILIPPINES (-7)
POLAND (+6)
PORTUGAL (-1)
QATAR (+2)
ROMANIA (0)
ST. PETERSURG (+1)
MOSCOW (+1) |
ODESSA (0)
SOUTH AFRICA (0)
SOUTH KOREA (+7)
SAUDI ARABIA (+1)
SENEGAL (-2)
SINGAPORE (+6)
SLOVENIA (-1)
SPAIN (-1)
SUDAN (0)
SWEDEN (-1)
SWITZERLAND (-1)
SYRIA (0)
TAIWAN (+6)
TANZANIA (+1)
THAILAND (+5)
TUNISIA (-1)
TURKEY (0)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (+2)
UNITED KINGDOM (-2)
U.S.A
ATLANTA (-7)
BOSTON (-7)
CHICAGO (-8)
LOS ANGELES (-10)
MIAMI (-7)
NEW YORK (-7)
PHILADELPHIA (-7)
PITSBURGH, PA (-7)
SAN FRANCISCO (-10)
WASHINGTON D.C. (-7)
VENEZUELA (-6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Greece has 220 volt electricity,
meaning that, unless your computer or appliance
is dual voltage or designed for 220 volts, you
will need a converter or transformer. The cycles
(Hz) are 50 per second.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
But of course you don't...
Fortunately, Greece is a country with a very long
tradition in tourism and Mykonos itself the most
cosmopolitan island in the Aegean. Therefore,
all the people who are working in the tourism
industry have a good knowledge of the English
language. But, even the local people living on
the island have a basic understanding of the English
language and are usually happy to give you any
kind of information you wish. Especially among
the young, you will find most of the people speaking
Italian in addition to English and Greek, as the
island gets crowded with visitors from Italy during
the high season.
So speaking Greek is not necessary...however,
visitors who attempt to speak Greek are thoroughly
encouraged by the locals. Even if it's just a
phrase or a few words, the gesture is always appreciated.
Indeed, Greek is a language of gestures and to
speak it also entails a lot of gesticulation.
One point of confusion however, is the slight
jerk of the head or eyebrows upward which indicate
"no."
So, here are some tips in Greek that you might
find useful during your stay:
-Don't confuse 'yes' and 'no.' Yes is ne - which
sounds like 'no' or 'nah' to English speakers.
No is okhi - which sounds like 'okay' to English
speakers.
-Need something? Remember to say 'Please!' - parakalo
- par-ah-kah-LO.
-And always say 'Thank you!' - efkharisto- eff-car-ee-STOH
-A general affirmative is entaksi en-tahk-see
- right, okay, uh-huh.
-Greece greets differently depending on the time
of day.
-In the morning, say kalimera - kah-lee-MARE-ah
-
-and in the afternoon, say kalomesimeri - kah-lo-messy-mary-
-In the evening, say kalispera - kah-lee-spare-ah
-To say good night, say kalinikta - kah-lee-neek-tah.
-You can also just say 'Hello' anytime - yia sas
or yiassou or giasou - yah-sooo - this can also
be said in parting, or as a toast.
-Think you're really mangling your Greek pronunciation?
Smile wider - this will completely compensate
for any mistakes you may make
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Greek food is considered
to be both delicious and most nutritious at the
same time, so don't be afraid to try it out: Find
a nice restaurant with a great view, open the
menu, and let the party begin!
In case you're completely confused with what you
read in it, this is a small useful guide for you:
Soup - Avgolemono. This is a pleasant chicken
soup with lemon and rice.
Mezedes - Assorted appetizers, such as a selection
of olives, and some taramosalata (caviar spread,
generally pretty mild flavored), tzatziki (a cool,
creamy cucumber and garlic dip), and/or hummous
(flavorful mashed garbanzo bean dip). You may
also find cold dolmadakia, stuffed grape leaves
filled with rice and tomato, which as meat-filled
dolmades do double-duty as an entree. Tyropita
and spanakopita are cheese and spinach pies.
Souvlaki - Skewers of chicken, lamb, beef, or,
most commonly, pork, grilled and often served
with tzaziki sauce. Simple fare, generally delicious,
occasionally tough.
Moussaka - A layered primarily vegetable casserole,
often made with eggplant, sometimes with the addition
or substitution of squash or potatoes or other
vegetables. Topped with Bechamel sauce, a rich
fluffy cheese flavored custardy sauce usually
forming a high-calorie layer about an inch thick.
But it is delicious.
Pastitsio - Similar to the above, only made with
macaroni and ground beef, vaguely similar to lasagna,
but without the tomatoes. Usually a safe bet for
kids.
Stuffed Tomatoes or Stuffed Bell Peppers - Nearly
universal dish, especially savory in Greece, great
for the timid eater. It will taste pretty much
like home no matter where you come from. The plain
little cafes directly across from the gate to
Knossos offer excellent examples of this simple
standby.
Coffee - If you want something like American coffee,
ask for a filtered coffee or Nescafe. Nescafe
is greatly respected in Greece, and finer restaurants
will ceremoniously bring out an empty cup, a small
silver pot of water, and the precious single packet
of Nescafe in response to a request for a cup
of coffee. Now, genuine Greek coffee is delicious
and can be ordered in a variety of ways - give
it a try!
Baklava - honey drenched pastry with nuts. Delicious
if a bit sticky and chewy. Not good for those
with sensitive teeth!
Note: If you are a vegetarian travelling in Greece,
you may be surprised at the relative scarcity
of vegetarian restaurant meals in Greece except
at specifically vegetarian restaurants. With wonderfully
abundant fresh vegetables available, more choices
might be expected. But in Greece, people go to
restaurants largely to dine on cooked meats that
they may not get every day. Worse, vegetables
are often cooked in chicken broth, and it is very
difficult to get trustworthy information on this
point from the restaurant staff. Salads are a
safe bet, but cooked vegetable dishes will often
contain meat or animal products.
Many restaurants still allow diners to wander
into the kitchen to see what's cooking. Bring
your camera for a great "action shot"
you'll treasure.
Enjoy your exploration of Greek cuisine!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
a) Tipping for Tourist-type
restaurants: Ask for the bill - usually, it will
not be brought until you request it. Check over
the bill for obvious errors, and bring any substantial
errors to the attention of your waiter. Minor
error? Decide if it's worth trying to sort it
out. Confirm that a 'service charge' has been
included. If it has, follow suggestion below.
Pay the bill.
To reward warm service from the waiter, leave
1-2 Euro on the tray. If service has been poor,
skip this step, as the waiter generally shares
in the revenues from the meal and from the service
charge.
Regardless of the general service, unless it has
been memorably abysmal, ease the burden of the
busboy, who often receives virtually nothing for
his work, by leaving 1-2 Euro on the table.
If appropriate, thank the owner or person in charge
for the great meal.
The 'cover charge' on the bill is literally the
cost to cover the table when you sit down, and
includes your bread and non-bottled water. It's
generally 50-100 cents per person. The cover charge
is cannot be removed, even if you don't drink
the water or eat the bread. Don't argue it.
Had a horrible experience and feel ripped off?
Contact the local 'Tourist Police' office. They
exist to handle complaints and assist tourists
- not to arrest them!
b) Tipping for Traditional Eating Places: Ask
for the bill. Check for obvious errors, and bring
any to the attention of your waiter. If it's a
few cents, forget it.
Note if a 'service charge' has been included -
it probably won't be.
Tip your waiter between 10 and 20 percent of the
total. Leave this on the tray, or give it to him
directly.
Leave some small change totaling 1-2 Euro on the
table for the busboy.
Thank the owner or person in charge for the great
meal.
c) Tipping Taxi Drivers: Generally, they don't
expect tips (but won't turn them down). There
is a 50 cent charge by the taxi driver for handling
each piece of luggage - this is not a tip, but
an official charge.
d) Tipping Public Toilet Attendants: Tip 50 cents
and bless them, since without them, there would
be no toilet paper or soap there.
Don't stress over tipping - get it close to the
guidelines above, but don't break out your calculators.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The new currency of Greece,
in effect since the 1st January 2002, is the Euro.
The euro conversion rate of the drachma is: 1
euro=340.750 drachma. One euro is subdivided into
100 euro cents. To convert drachmas into euro
we divide the drachma amount by 340.750, and then
we round to the nearest euro cent. Alternatively,
to convert euro into drachmas, we multiply the
euro amount by 340.750, and then round to the
nearest drachma. US Dollars are also widely accepted
at lots of tourist destinations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
All major Credit Cards as
well as Euro-cheques are recognized and accepted
in most hotels, shops, travel and car rental agencies
and restaurants. Stickers in the front windows
will advise you as to which cards are accepted.
Traveller's Cheques issued by all the major companies
are widely recognized. You can cash your traveller's
cheques in all Greek and foreign banks, exchange
bureaus and big hotels, but do not forget to have
your passport with you. Identification is necessary
for the transaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
If you want to use your
mobile abroad, you may need to get permission
from your network operator before travelling.
This involves calling customer service and asking
for your phone to be enabled for international
use. This function can be switched on remotely.
But you should also check to see that the specification
of your phone is compatible with networks abroad.
The GSM Association's website has a full list.
Once you arrive in Greece, your phone will lock
onto the network with the strongest signal. The
active networks specifically on Mykonos are Vodafone,
Stet and Cosmote. While some devices will let
you choose which one you can use, you will have
to reset it each time you switch on the phone.
Frequent travellers often purchase a mobile phone
for Greece, or purchase another Sim card which
they swap when they arrive in the country.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Yes, you can. For drivers
bringing their own cars to Greece, no special
documents are required for limited stays of up
to four months. However, international third-party
insurance is required.
The vehicle's details are entered into the driver's
passport on entering the country. This helps with
respect to possible theft and prevents the car
from being left in the country.
For stays exceeding three months, drivers should
contact the Greek Automobile Touring Club (ELPA),
Athens Tower, Messogion 2-4, Athens 115 27. Telephone
+ 30 210 779 1615.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
