Half-price holidays in Greece as euro exit looms

British holidaymakers are currently able to snap up a half-price holiday to Greece as the threat of an exit from the eurozone looms.

Tour operators are dropping their prices to shift unsold package holidays to the debt-hit country as some travel sites report online searches for Greek holidays has plunged.

Kayak.co.uk said it seen a 53 per cent decline in searches for Greek holidays.

The Sunday Times reported that Thomson Holidays is selling a self-catering week at the Nostos Studios on the island of Thassos for £384 per person, a drop of 45 per cent, while Ionian Island Holidays has slashed its flight-inclusive trips by up to 50 per cent, with a week-long stay in a one-bedroom flat in Corfu's Agios region available for £405 per person, down from the normal price of £809.

According to the Scotsman, Travelzoo is selling a week's self-catering holiday in July at Corfu's Elenitsa Studios for just £158 per person.

The site adds that Sunvil Holidays has also slashed the cost of a range of package holidays to Greece in July, with 176 pages of discounted offers advertised on its website.

Speaking to MailOnline, a spokesperson for Thomas Cook said it had not noticed interest waning, and added a Greek exit from the euro shouldn't impact on its existing bookings: "Greece continues to be an important destination for us and great value for our holidaymakers. We're working with our suppliers and closely monitoring the situation.

"To date, we have seen no drop-off in bookings so far as a consequence of a potential "Grexit". 'We expect an exit from the euro would have no impact on the holidays customers have already booked with us because we have existing contracts with hotels and airlines."

Holiday experts have warned tourists to take more cash to Greece, in case a currency crisis sees cash withdrawals restricted, as well as ensuring they take out travel insurance.

Abta said in a statement: "Speculation about a possible Greece debt default, and potential exit from the Euro, has been current for some time, but at present remains just speculation.

"Any changes would be highly unlikely to happen overnight, any switch to a new currency would take time and euros would likely be accepted in the interim."

It added: "We do not anticipate that there will be any need for tour operators to rebook their customers to a different destination.

"At present we have no indication that holidaymakers will be disrupted however, as with all destination matters, we will continue to monitor the situation and work with our members on any developments."

%VIRTUAL-TripAdvisorWidget%