Easter 2024: more expensive than travel, more modest table

Faced with rising prices for food, fuel, tolls, ferry and plane tickets, and hotel accommodations, those in the country who choose to spend Easter away from where they live will have to dig deep into their pockets.

Compared to the corresponding period in 2023, the cost of traveling a family of four to a popular destination is skyrocketing. The price of traditional lamb has risen above 10 euros per kilogram. There is also a significant increase in prices for other products for the Easter table – sweets and vegetables.

In Corfu
Regarding transport, for example, on the island of Corfu, the place most associated with the Greek Easter, according to the President of the Island Tourist Accommodation Federation Periklis Katsaros, hotel occupancy reaches 100%, this applies to all types of accommodation: from hotels and rooms for rent to short-term rental housing. “On average, one can find accommodation from 70, 80 or even 90 euros, all the way up to expensive villas of the order of 470-480 euros per night, depending on the desired options,” he notes. The expert says that despite rising prices, the capital of Corfu is already in a festive mood. “Easter for us is something incredible, because preparations begin on Holy Wednesday: Epitaph, street orchestras, etc. There is no housing in Corfu, but there are still options in areas located 20-25 kilometers from the capital” .

A family of four who wants to spend these days on the Ionian island will need 117 euros in gasoline for travel alone. At the same time, the cost of travel on the return route Athens – Igoumenitsa is 87.4 euros, and on local ferries – 105 euros. If someone decides to travel by plane, they will pay around 950 euros, and finally, a six-night stay with half board will cost around 1,700 euros. Regarding price comparisons in relation to Easter 2023, the President of the Corfu Tourist Accommodation Federation emphasizes that “They haven’t grown to the point where they’re unavailable.” “There was an average increase of 10-15 euros, but it is worth noting that prices should be much… higher”he assesses.

In Monemvasia
Monemvasia is an equally popular destination, with pre-booking rates for tourist accommodation already reaching 100%. A similar picture is observed in the short-term rental sector, which, according to the corresponding registration platform AirDNA, has about 220 properties, recording a growth of 29% compared to last year. Costs are lower there, but rising fuel costs are crucial to the final bill: the weighted average price across Greece for 95 octane unleaded petrol reaches €1,983 per liter. In fact, a characteristic of the rise in prices is the fact that in 21 prefectures of Greece the cost of unleaded gasoline has exceeded the psychological limit of 2 euros per liter, creating a particularly heavy burden for those who want to travel by car.

For example, to go to Monemvasia, you need to pay 80 euros for gasoline and 14.75 euros for travel, while the cost of an overnight stay for four people is estimated at 300-350 euros per day. Thus, for six nights with half board in Kastropolitia, a total of 1800-2100 euros will result. Of course, there are also lower cost housing options. The President of the Laconia Hotel Association, Dimitris Pollalis, notes that the occupancy rate in Laconia is about 80%, and especially in Monemvasia during Easter, despite the fact that many hotels did not open due to lack of staff. Regarding the increase in citizens' expenses for the Easter holidays, the president of the hoteliers notes that although operating costs have increased by 25% since last year, there has not been a corresponding increase in prices overall.

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