Greece

1. Did you know that Greece has 16 international airports and has air links to every major city in Europe? In addition, there are direct flights to and from the USA, Canada, Australia and various Asian cities.

2. Greece is generally a safe country but you need to be aware that the tourist season attracts an increase in the incidents of theft of- wallets, handbags etc. particularly in areas and events where crowds gather.

3. Passports and other valuables should be left in safe custody at the hotel or apartment.

4. Maintain personal security awareness. Lone visitors, particularly women, are advised not to accept lifts from strangers or passing acquaintances at any time, especially at night or in the early hours of the morning.

5. Air travel and local transport facilities are likely to be affected in the event of a strike. You should check your travel arrangements with your airline or tour operator.

6. Generally there are no local travel restrictions, but certain areas near the Greek borders are militarily sensitive, and should be avoided.

7. Be cautious, as the incidence of road traffic accidents is high. Do not hire motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, as accidents involving these forms of transport are common and can often result in very serious or even fatal injury.

8. Say an emphatic "No" to drugs. Possession of even small quantities can lead to long terms of imprisonment.

9. Driving any vehicle whilst over the legal drinking limit is heavily penalized and can result in stiff fines and/or imprisonment.

10. Greece is a member of the European Union, For longer stays, application should be made to the appropriate office for a residence permit.

11. There are numerous Public and Private Hospitals and Medical Centres of varying standards in the country. Doctors and facilities are generally good on the mainland, but may be limited on the islands. The Public Ambulance Service, which will normally respond to any accident, is rudimentary.

12. Travel light. Since you will be responsible for carting your belongings, take as little as possible, leaving some room in your suitcase for purchases made along the way.

13. Diet tends to be both interesting and delicious-if you are a little adventurous. Ouzo and raki are the anise-flavored aperitifs in Greece; wines are very good, and so is the beer. (No one looks kindly at drug habits though).

14. Cotton is a good choice-in terms of the clothes that you are going to wear.

15. Sunday is the ideal day to shop. On Sunday, Monistiraki is truly a flea market, and Abyssinia Square is the most interesting area. The Olive Shop of Sabbas Psychogios is located in the section of the Agora meat market closest to Omonia square. Be sure to pay them a visit. The shop specializes in olives from all over Greece.

16. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you walk into a restaurant, you are permitted and encouraged to go to the kitchen to see what they have to offer...

17. Ancient Theatre performances are popular when it comes to entertainment. For a unique experience, The Theater of Irodion (Herod Atticus) at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens features concert and dance performances.

18. Codeine, which is commonly found in headache preparations, is banned in Greece and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.

19. Greece is not cheap. If you want a real vacation - comfortable rooms and good restaurants all the way - its going to be expensive. Hotel rates vary enormously according to season - you can save as much as 30% if you travel outside high season (mid-June till end of August).

20. Banks exchange all major currencies in cash, travelers' cheques or Eurocheques; the commission is lower for cash. Post offices exchange cash but not travelers' cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels change cash and travelers' cheques but usually charge higher commissions than banks. Banknote exchange machines can be found in most tourist areas. All upmarket shops, restaurants and hotels accept credit cards. Visa, MasterCard and Eurocard are the most widely accepted. Most banks have ATMs where you can access your debit or credit account.

 

In restaurants the service charge is included in the bill but it is the custom to leave a small amount; rounding up the bill is usually sufficient. Likewise for taxis - a small gratuity is appreciated. Bargaining is not as widespread in Greece. Prices in most shops are clearly marked and non-negotiable. It's always worth bargaining over the price of hotel rooms, especially if you are intending to stay a few days. And then there is the nightlife… Starting at around 6 p.m. the place undergoes the transformation from working class light industrial, to a mecca of cafes, bars, and restaurants.

Contacts-Greece

 

TIME ZONE

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September)

TELEPHONE SERVICES

Country Code: 30 + 1 for Athens; 31 Thessaloniki; 81 Heraklion; 661 Corfu.
IDD: International direct dialling is available throughout the mainland and islands.
Outgoing Code: 00

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers: -Police - 100; Ambulance - 166; Fire - 199.

LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION

Ellinikos Oragnismos Tourismou (EOT) (national Tourist Organisation of Greece); PO Box 1017; Odos Amerikis 2; 105 64 Athens; Greece Tel: (1) 322 3111/19 Fax: (1) 322 4148.

PASSPORT INFORMATION

Passports are required to be valid for at least 6 months required by all except: EU Nationals with a valid ID card who have sufficient funds for the length of their stay. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before traveling.

VISA INFORMATION

Visas required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain; Australia; Canada; USA; EU; Japan for a period of 3 months. Nationals of Andorra; Argentina; Chile; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Ecuador; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Israel; Liechtenstein; Malta; Mexico; Monaco; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Poland; San Marino; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; South Korea; Switzerland; St Christophe; Taiwan (China) for a period up to 3 months. Nationals of Brazil; El Salvador; and Uruguay for a period of up to 2 months. Nationals of Peru for a period up to 1 month. Nationals of Singapore for a period of up to 2 weeks.
NOTE: Visitors using chartered tickets; leaving Greece on an overnight trip to another country; may risk having their return ticket invalidated by the authorities.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Plants; one surf board per person (if entered in passport). The export of antiques is prohibited unless permission is obtained from the Archaeological Service in Athens. Those who fail to comply will be prosecuted.

AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX

Dr6;000 incl. of ticket price.

HEALTH MATTERS

Typhoid, Malaria, Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from visitors over 6 months of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies.

FOOD AND DRINK

Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

CURRENCY

Drachmar (Dr) Exchange: Currency can be changed at banks and money exchangers. NOTE: Import of local currency is limited to Dr100000 and export to Dr20000 for non-residents and Dr40000 for residents. All major credit cards are accepted. Travelers cheques are accepted in all major currencies; and can be easily changed at banks. ATM availability: Over 1500 locations.

MONEY WIRING SERVICES

MoneyGram: 00 800 11 293 0309 Western Union: 01 927 1010

CREDIT CARD EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Amex: +44 1273 696933
Diners Club: (30) (1) 9241345
Greece Visa: 00 800 11 481 0304

TRAVELERS CHEQUES EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Greece Thomas Cook: 00 800 4412 8366 Greece

BANKING HOURS

0800 - 1400 Mon. to Fri. Many of the banks of the larger islands stay open longer, especially during the tourist season.

COST OF LIVING

Tourist centres can be very cheap when compared to other European countries.

LANGUAGES

Most people connected with tourism will speak some English; German; Italian or French.

WEATHER

Warm Mediterranean climate. Nov - Mar is when most rain falls. Winters are mild in the South but much cooler in the North.

RELIGIONS

Mainly Greek Orthodox. Muslim and Roman Catholic minorities also exist.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

2000: Jan 01; 06. Mar 13; 25 Apr 28-May 01; 30. Aug 15. Oct 28. Dec 25; 26.
2001: Jan 01; 06. Feb 26; Mar 25; Apr 13-16; May 01; 30. Aug 15. Oct 28. Dec 25; 26.

POST

All postcards and letters for overseas will be sent by airmail. Poste Restante is available at the post office.

RADIO FREQUENCIES

BBC: 15.07 13.23 9.410 6.180 VOA: 15.20 9.760 6.040 5.995.

WOMEN IN SOCIETY

Usual precautions should be taken.

TRANSPORT

RAIL: Regular trains operate between Athens and the main cities. There is a 20% discount on return fares and other offers available.
ROAD: Good road network.
BUS: Link Athens and all the main towns in Attica; Northern Greece and Peloponnese.
TAXI: Run on a shared basis. Rates are reasonable. There is an extra charge on journeys from / to airports; ports; stations.
CAR HIRE: Most firms operate throughout Greece;