Finding wintertime rentals in certain parts of Greece during the off-tourist season can be challenging. Most homes are closed for the winter, and their owners are away. How do you find a rental property, where to look, what are the normal prices, and what should you keep in mind? What is unusual in local homes for a Northern European, and what must you be prepared for?
When we arrived in Neos Marmaras, our destination in Greece, and opened Booking and Airbnb, we were greeted with the typical few accommodation options at insane prices. There seemed to be demand but very little supply, and the prices were sky-high. Having spent several nights in the bus already, we were desperate for a refresh.
We were shocked when we arrived at one of our previously considered accommodations—it was completely under construction! No doors, no windows—full renovation. Another familiar spot seemed abandoned, and we couldn’t reach anyone by phone. The lady in the third place wasn’t in town. We booked an apartment on Airbnb—the money was deducted, but moments later we found out it was overbooked. Shit! What now? We gradually came to terms with the idea of spending another night in the bus, delaying our long-awaited shower.
