ABOUT US
We are a small independent specialist tour operator offering exclusive holidays to the beautiful Greek Islands, our properties range from villas by the sea to villas with private swimming pools, apartments by the sea, apartments with swimming pools, boutique hotels, deluxe spa hotels and also family run pensions. We operate entirely to Greece & more specifically the Ionian Islands of Kefalonia, Ithaka, Lefkada, Meganisi, Paxos, Corfu and to the mainland Epiros coastline. In the Aegean we feature Skopelos, Alonissos, Skiathos, Mykonos and Santorini, the mainland Pelion Peninsula and the Greek capital, Athens.
The quintessential Greek Islands; hot sun, warm sea,
shaded olive groves, historic monuments, ancient vine terraces,
dramatic cliffs, the hum of cicadas and perhaps, most important
of all, that timeless quality, uniquely Greek that is ‘Filoxenia’
or Friendship to Visitors.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
As a specialist and totally independent tour operator,
we have a simple philosophy - “To provide quality holidays
to the Greek Islands, backed by solid experience and a high level
of customer care”.
Ionian and Aegean Island Holidays are part of that heritage.
We love our islands, and are determined that their beauty,
culture and tradition should not be changed irreversibly by inappropriate
development. To this end, we have encouraged the sympathetic restoration
of many of the old houses and villas and to fully support all initiatives
that maintain this tradition.
It is equally important to us that the company should be
very much a part of and contribute to the local economy to the benefit
of all the islanders.
OUR OWNERS
The directors have many years experience in the travel
industry, with all three totally committed to the development of
sustainable tourism in these beautiful islands.
Tassos Matsukis, together with family Rowena, Anna and Alexandros,
are known to hundreds of regular visitors to Fiskardo, Kefalonia. A Kefalonian,
Tassos has run the Captain’s Cabin restaurant on the waterfront since 1977.
Dimitri Patrikios, also from an old Kefalonian
family, established the popular Fiskardo travel agency, Pama Travel with
Tassos in 1995, managing holiday accommodation and
as local agent for British and European tour companies.
Barrie Neilson, a New Zealander by birth, but Greek
by adoption, has run Sailing Holidays, operating flotilla and bareboat sailing based in and around the Greek
Islands, for 30 years.
OUR SERVICE
We believe that people who book with Ionian Island Holidays
will benefit from our experience, knowledge and the personal attention
that we, as a small independent tour operator, can offer. When you contact our office in London, you will be speaking to an
experienced and knowledgeable team who know the islands and the
accommodation intimately.
To all our friends we thank you for your continued support, and,
to all our new friends we thank you for the faith and trust that
you have placed in us. We look forward to welcoming many of you
back, and, for those who are choosing to travel with us for the
first time, we hope that this brochure will be the start of a wonderful
holiday.
AITO QUALITY CHARTER - Ionian and Aegean Island Holidays are members of AITO.
THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUR OPERATORS - AITO is the Association for
independent and specialist holiday
companies. Our members are usually owner-managed, strive to
create high levels of professionalism and a
shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association
encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP
AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must
be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All
members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which
encourages high operational standards and conduct.
FINANCIAL SECURITY
AITO members are required to protect money paid by customers to the
member for any holiday sold under the AITO logo and to comply with
UK Government Regulations in this respect. Members submit details of
their bonding and guarantee arrangements to the Association on a
regular basis.
ACCURATE BROCHURES and WEB SITES
All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other
publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the
holidays and services offered.
ACCURATE BROCHURES and WEB SITES
All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in
regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek
to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and
always welcome suggestions for improving standards.
MONITORING STANDARDS
AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers
should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are
scrutinised by the Association.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
All members acknowledge the importance of AITO's Responsible
Tourism guidelines, which recognise the social, economic and
environmental responsibilities of tour operating.
Those demonstrating
their achievements beyond the pure acceptance of this principle are
recognised by the award of a star. Ionian and Aegean Island Holidays have achieved 2 Star Responcible Tourism Status.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their
customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an
AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO's
Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either
side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion.
To contact the Association visit www.aito.co.uk or call 020 8744 9280.
YOUR SECURITY
ATOL (Air Travel Organisers License 5853)
Ionian and Aegean Island Holidays are protected by the Air Travel Organisers
License through the Civil Aviation Authority. This means that Ionian and Aegean Island Holidays provides you with complete financial protection. For further info visit www.atol.org.uk or phone 020 7453 6424.
ABTA (The Association of British Travel Agents, ABTA W5804)
We are a Member of ABTA with membership number W5804. ABTA
and ABTA members help holidaymakers to get the most from their
travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We
are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTAs
Code of Conduct.
For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the
arbitration scheme available to you, or If you have a complaint,
contact: ABTA, 30 Park Street,London, SE1 9EQ or www.abta.com.