Greek holiday prices plummet
Package holidays in Greece are being reduced in price by up to a third because of fears of forest fires. Last week, the Greek travel agents’ association assured visitors that hotels, museums and archeological sites have escaped the flames and are all operating as normal. However, operators say bookings have been hit.

In the northwest Peloponnese, Seafarer Cruises (0871 423 5547, www.seafarercruises.com ) has two weeks for the price of one at the Ionian Beach Club. “The fires are 40 miles away, but bookings have dried up,” it said. The £499pp deal includes half-board accommodation and flights from Gatwick on September 8 or 15.

Even resorts hundreds of miles from the fires are on offer. In Crete, Olympic Holidays (0870 429 4242, www.olympicholidays.com ) has an all-inclusive week at the four-star Fodele Beach Hotel, flying from Gatwick on September 14, down by £205 to £579pp.

The picture is markedly different in other parts of the Mediterranean, as sun-starved Brits scramble to escape the miserable weather at home. Reis de Mallorca, a group of 32 hotels in Mallorca, says that its occupancy rates this month have reached a record 90%. Lastminute.com last week said that bookings to Malaga were up 31% on the same time last year.