Hi,

I've been planning on doing some Greek island hopping with my wife and 2 adult daughters right in the peak season (my wife and one of my daughters both work in education so they can't get time off at any other time). However, as my finger was poised over the mouse button to book the flights, a couple of family members started to voice some fears. They can be summarised as follows...

Fear 1.
That we will get stranded in an unknown place without anywhere to sleep the night.
How likely is this in peak season? We will need 2 twin/double rooms. Preferably at the same place, but could could split into 2 parties if needs be. If we couldn't find anywhere what would we do? Would it be prudent to bring a light sleeping bag to sleep on the beach in an emergency? Is that legal? If not, what would we do?

Fear 2.
That we will have to settle for a really dirty, expensive, rip-off places because everywhere else is full.
About 25 years ago I stayed in some really dodgy rooms with no windows and you could hear rats crawling about inside the walls / under the floorboards. Mind you, it cost about £2 a night. Whilst that was ok for me I wouldn't wish it upon the rest of my family. Do these kind of places still exist? What's the minimum standard we would be likely to have to settle for?

Fear 3.
That we will get ripped off.
Either by extortionate room rates or some other scam. If rooms are short on the ground will the locals know that and take the piss? In our vulnerability will we be subjected to any other scams? How much would we expect to reasonably pay for a double/twin room at the height of the season if we kept away from the really really touristy islands?

Fear 4.
That we will be unsafe (or at least feel insecure).
My daughters are attractive pickings to sexual predators. From what I understand - and from my own experience years ago, our room keys will fit a number of rooms within the same building and vice versa. Is that still the case? Will we be able to go about our business and sleep relatively undisturbed or will drunken revellers be shouting in the hallways in the early hours of the morning? Ok so that isn't unsafe but it can feel unnerving.

Fear 5.
That there are other dangers or concerns we haven't thought of!
Are there any really?

This is probably coming over as one massive great hysterical paranoia trip - and I hope it is just that, a paranoia trip. However this has got me all paranoid too so I was wondering how real these concerns really are. Our basic needs like anyone else are a feeling of security, objective personal safety and cleanliness. The Greek Island Hopping book doesn't really address these concerns - but then again why would it if it was negative publicity?! Any advice to help us put these issues into perspective would be very much appreciated. All we want is a fun, relaxing, carefree holiday.

Many thanks,

Chris