6 Reasons to Support Small Local Companies and Car Rentals in Greece

Supporting small local companies like car rentals, hotels, shops, or family tavernas is a traveller’s best choice. Beyond getting a better experience, you’re making a real difference to the communities you visit. Here are six reasons why going local matters — and how it makes your holiday better too.

1. It’s Personal

From car rentals to tavernas and rooms to let, small local companies treat you in a more friendly, personal way. The owner often handles your booking directly, customises the service to your needs, and goes out of their way to help. Need a car seat for your toddler? A late checkout? A restaurant recommendation in a village off the tourist trail? A small local business will make it happen — often with a phone call and a smile.

This personal touch also means accountability. The owner’s name and reputation within the community are on the line. If something goes wrong, they’ll fix it quickly because their livelihood depends on word of mouth — not on a call centre in another country.

2. Be Treated as a Guest, Not a Number

Small, family-owned accommodation businesses are more likely to follow the local architecture and style than larger box-like hotel chains. A stone-built guesthouse in a Cretan village, a restored Venetian house in Corfu’s old town, or a whitewashed cave hotel in Santorini — these are the experiences that make Greek holidays memorable.

More importantly, small company owners will treat you as their guest, not a client. They’ll share local tips, invite you to taste their olive oil, and remember your name when you come back. This is the difference between a holiday and a real travel experience.

3. Local Groceries for Quality Products

Local groceries provide a wider variety of local products than larger supermarket chains. Cretan olive oil, Thessaloniki’s sesame koulouri, island honey, village cheese — these are the flavours of Greece at their freshest. Acquiring supplies from local producers reduces transportation costs (and carbon footprint) and keeps prices competitive while maintaining small-scale production quality.

Shopping at village stores and farmers’ markets is also a way to discover products you won’t find in a supermarket: mountain herbs gathered by hand, traditional pastries baked that morning, and local wines from small vineyards. These make the best souvenirs too.

4. Local Restaurants for Authentic Tastes

A traveller’s golden rule for eating out: “Eat where the locals eat.” The locals always know where to find authentic flavours, fresh local ingredients, and the warmth of family service. A seafood taverna in a fishing village, a mountain grill in Sfakia, a souvlaki shop in Thessaloniki — these are where the real food is. Read our souvlaki guide to discover the king of Greek street food.

Local restaurant owners have a deep sense of responsibility towards their customers. Their restaurants are often open all year round and serve as essential community gathering points — not just seasonal tourist operations.

5. Sustaining the Local Economy

In busy tourist areas, it’s common for people outside the community to operate businesses only during the summer season, taking their income with them when they leave for winter. When you support small local companies, a significant portion of the tourism income stays within the community. It pays local wages, supports local families, and funds schools, infrastructure, and year-round services.

Studies consistently show that locally owned businesses recirculate a much larger share of their revenue in the local economy compared to chain operations. Every euro you spend at a family-run car rental or a village taverna has a multiplier effect that benefits the entire community.

6. Keeping the Local Character Alive

The products and services of an area reveal a great deal about the place you are visiting. Rent your holiday car at the small local agency, meet the locals at the family taverna, and stay in the smaller, more authentic hotel. Help keep the local character alive instead of letting it be replaced by chain stores. International brands might feel more predictable, but they steal away part of a traveller’s discovery.

Every tourist destination in the world faces this tension between convenience and character. By choosing local, you’re voting with your wallet for the kind of travel experience you want to have — and for the kind of Greece you want to come back to.

How SimplyBook Supports Local Businesses

SimplyBook was built specifically to connect travellers with small and mid-size car rental agencies across Greece. Instead of booking through a multinational brand, you compare prices from family businesses in Chania, Heraklion, Santorini, Corfu, Thessaloniki, and more. These are the agencies that know their roads, care about their reputation, and will go the extra mile for you.

With Simplybook, you can rent a car, a scooter, or an ATV in Greece from small and mid-size car rentals and support the family businesses of your favourite holiday destinations.

Featured photo by Heather Cowper, licensed.