Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What to Wear
Athenians are well-groomed and the younger crowd
is trendy, so keep your smart clothes for the city.
Nevertheless, in Athens and other metropolises such
as Rhodes, Thessaloniki and Iraklio, you'll get away
with shorts or jeans and casual tops. Bars or fash-
ionable restaurants require more effort - the scene is
stylish rather than dressy. Think tops and trousers
rather than T-shirts and cut-offs. In out-of-the-way
places you can wear casual clothing; in summer, the
heat will make you want to run naked; bring quick-drying tank-tops and cool dresses.
Sturdy walking shoes are a must for the cobbled roads.
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Seasickness remedies
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Mosquito repellent
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Swimwear, snorkel and fins
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Clothes pegs and laundry
line
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Earplugs
Money
In cities and large hotels, restaurants and shops, you can usually use debit and credit
cards. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in Greece. American Express and Diners
Club are accepted in larger tourist areas but unheard of elsewhere. In smaller, family-run
places, particularly in out-of-the-way locations, cards won't be accepted and you'll need
to have cash. Most towns have ATMS but they can often be out-of-order for days at a
time. It's therefore wise (and necessary) to carry extra cash in a safe place like a money
belt. (Note, card companies often put an automatic block on cards after the first with-
drawal abroad as an antifraud mechanism. To avoid this happening, inform your bank of
your travel plans.)
For more information, see
Click here
.
Bargaining
Bargaining is acceptable in flea markets and markets, but elsewhere you are expected to
pay the stated price.
Tipping
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Restaurants
If a service charge is included, a small tip is appreciated. If there's no ser-
vice charge, leave 10% to 20%.
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Taxis
Round up the fare by a couple of euros. There's a small fee for handling bags;
this is an official charge, not a tip.
