Let's take a look at rest and shopping in Greece, prices for popular goods, where to buy them and which hotel to choose near shopping centers. We will learn about the secrets of independent travel, the cost of planning a separate vacation or buying a tour.
Why not combine business with pleasure - relax at the resort and renew your wardrobe? The most suitable time for such a trip is from mid-January. The winter discount season runs until the end of February.
Here you can buy both local brands and international brands. The question - where in Greece the cheapest shopping will be answered for you - in the Athens region Agia Varvara... Here you can find several shops where high-quality fakes of clothes and shoes of famous world brands are presented.
What goods are being brought from the country?
First of all, these are fur coats and leather goods. Leather jackets, bags, various leather accessories. For fur coats, it is customary to book even special tours to Greece, which are sold out 2-3 months before the main sales season in boutiques.
Collections of fur coats in stores are very diverse, and prices are several times lower than Russian ones. Greek olives and olive oil, pistachios and spices, herbal teas, cheeses and wine are popular all over the world. Due to the fact that the products are produced in small enterprises that compete in the Greek markets, their quality is excellent.
The largest selection, of course, is in the capital, but all of the listed goods are present in all Greek cities. In resort towns, shops do not close even on weekends and work much longer than in the capital.
For those who travel to the country for just a few days, it is important that you have enough time to walk around the malls.
Where in Rethymno or Heraklion to buy a fur coat? This question arises for those who want to combine shopping with a decent rest. The cost of a tour, for example, to Heraklion will be slightly different from the cost to Kastoria or Athens (selection of housing), the prices for a fur coat are about the same.
Where to buy a fur coat in Greece?
There are several places in Greece where you can buy a fur coat and leather. It doesn't have to be Kastoria – center of the fur coat industry. Both Athens and the lesser-known ones: Rethymno, Heraklion or Thessaloniki are suitable for tour fur coats. These are beautiful resort towns where you can combine shopping with relaxation on the seashore and interesting excursions.
Most popular cities for shopaholics:
- Athens... Shopping tour to the capital of Greece is very popular. A huge number of fur shops, markets and souvenir shops will delight the most picky gourmets. Prices for goods here are slightly higher than the national average. But tourists have the opportunity to visit the Acropolis or the Parthenon, stroll along the souvenir district of Monastiraki and the pedestrian Ermou street, where boutiques of world brands and a lot of clothing stores are located. We have collected all the best attractions in a separate article.
The cost of a 5-day tour for two with accommodation at the Achillion Hotel 3 * in Athens and lunch is 35,552 rubles. The hotel is located in the city center near shopping centers. Convenient transport links, proximity to attractions.
- Thessaloniki... Shopping tours to Thessaloniki include visits to the largest shopping center in the entire Balkan Peninsula - Mediterranean Cosmos and walks along Tsimiski and Mitropoleus streets – a real paradise for lovers of walking through branded boutiques. In addition to the tour program, it is worth setting aside time to visit the temple or basilica, take a short boat trip along the Termeisky Gulf of the Aegean Sea and dine at a local tavern, or maybe visit a nightclub.
The cost of a 5-day tour for two with accommodation at the Porto Palace 5 * hotel in Thessaloniki and breakfast is 43009 rubles. The hotel is located in the city center in a historic building from 1913. Awarded the title of Traditional Deluxe Hotel. Mediterranean Kitchen. Buffet. More accommodation options for travel on your own.
- Kastoria... Shopping tours to Kastoria are an indispensable visit to the EDIKA exhibition - sales, where the best of the best products from almost 1000 local fur factories are exhibited. The city itself is located in a very picturesque area.
The cost of a 5-day tour with accommodation at the Esperos Palace 4 * hotel in Kastoria and breakfast is 41466 rubles. The stylish spa hotel is suitable for a shopping tour and relaxation on Lake Orestiada. The hotel has an indoor heated pool, 2 saunas, a steam bath, a fitness center. The hotel overlooks the lake.
- Choose a tour to Greece →
Prices for fur coats and other clothes?
- The price of fur coats in Greece varies from 500 to 4000 euros. Mink fur models are the most expensive. The cost of a mink coat in the resorts of Greece is from 2000 euros and more. The price depends on the length, size, model and quality of the fur. A fur coat made of pieces of mink fur will cost a little cheaper: from 1000 to 1600 euros. Experts distinguish between several basic colors of mink coats in descending order of price:
- "black brilliant"
- "tourmaline"
- black
- beige
- gray
- blue
- dark brown
- red shades
Otter or beaver fur coats are lower in cost, but more durable. They can last up to 20 seasons. For comparison, a mink coat will last you 10 seasons.
From astrakhan, blue fox or marten - only 7 seasons, from nutria and fox - 5, and a rabbit coat is worn no more than two seasons. The warmest will be coats made from the fur of a polar fox, a raccoon dog, a fox, a beaver and a sable.
While in Greece, you can order individual tailoring, then the cost will slightly increase in comparison with a similar model, tailoring time from three working days.
Leather jackets from local brands Carla Mosse, Agora Leather and Konstsntinos Saltsidis cost an average of 50-60 euros. Bags can be purchased for an average of 10-25 euros. The rest of the clothes, taking into account the VAT refund at the customs of Greece: the purchase of a skirt will cost 10-20 euros, a jacket 20-30 euros. The cost of shoes - from 25 euros for sandals about 8 euros, from 45 euros for boots.
Prices for shopping tours to Greece
The cost of shopping tours to Greece start from one euro for two. These are the so-called "must" tours. Before leaving on such a tour, you need to sign an agreement with the tour operator that each of you will purchase at least 1 fur coat worth at least 1000 - 1400 euros.
Otherwise, you will have to pay a fine of 200-400 euros, which covers the travel expenses of the tour organizers. Tour cost "no obligation" - from 400 to 600 euros. In this case, you have the right to purchase goods not at an exhibition or an elite boutique, but in any store you like, or even refuse to purchase.
- Choose a voucher yourself:
Travel to Greece on your own
For an independent trip, you will need to personally book a hotel on the website and purchase air tickets to Greece. Transfer and food, finding a store - all this will also become your concern. If you are planning shopping, then it is wiser to transfer all technical concerns to the hands of a travel agent. This will save you valuable time and shift possible risks onto the shoulders of the manager.
If you have made a firm decision to do everything yourself, then you should pay special attention to a few points:
- We recommend looking for hotels only through RoomGuru, the search engine searches among all hotel bases and compares prices when booking a room, so you can be sure that you will not overpay.
- the cheapest flights:
- You can book a transfer to the hotel using Kiwitaxi, which is good for this method - they will be waiting for you with a sign at the airport without delay, they will be delivered directly to the hotel without overpayments, tested on my own experience.
- As for life insurance, this item must be considered without fail, we recommend contacting Tripinsurance, the service cooperates only with trusted insurance companies and has flexible conditions.
It should be noted that you can only pay in cash for expensive goods in Greek stores. Thus, the Greeks try to avoid taxes. Cash can be withdrawn from an ATM or a check can be cashed at a bank, by the way, ask about the interest when withdrawing abroad.
A bonus for solo travelers. Unlike the cities whose names appear in the advertisements for fur coats tours, you can visit Siatista, a small town near Kastoria. And buy a fur product at one of the local factories at the lowest prices.
You also need to take into account the customs rules of Russia for the import of goods by weight and value. You will not have any problems with customs if you bring one fur coat and jewelry with a total value of up to 1500 euros from the tour's fur coats. So be sure to keep your receipts for your items. When buying expensive things, 2 checks are issued: the white check is given at the Greek customs, and the colored one is left to you.
Valuables themselves can be stored in the store until departure. It is safe.
You can take out no more than three fur coats from Greece.
And finally, be sure to read the separate material, at the end of which you will find the addresses of the best stores.
More information on where to relax in Greece can be found in a separate section of our project for planning a profitable trip.
