Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and up are available in many resorts for around €20
per day.
Quads
are also increasingly offered -
without doubt the most stupid-looking and imprac-
tical conveyance yet devised, and very unstable on
turns - make sure helmets are supplied.
Reputable establishments demand a full
motor-
cycle driving licence
(Class B) for any engine over
80cc (Greek law actually stipulates “over 50cc”). You
will usually have to leave your passport as a
deposit. Failure to carry the correct licence on your
person also attracts a stiff fine, though some
agencies still demand this rather than a passport as
security.
Many rental outfits will offer you (an often
ill-fitting)
crash helmet
(
krános
), and some will
make you sign a waiver of liability if you refuse it.
Helmet-wearing is required by law, with a €185 fine
levied for failure to do so; on some smaller islands
the rule is laxly enforced, on others random police
roadblocks do a brisk commerce in citations, to
foreigners and locals alike.
Before riding off, always check the
brakes
and
electrics
; dealers often keep the front brakes far too
loose, with the commendable intention of
preventing you going over the handlebars. Make
sure also that there's a kick-start as backup to the
battery, since ignition switches commonly fail. If you
break
down
on a scooter or motorcycle you're often
responsible for returning the machine, although the
better outlets offer a free retrieval service.
By bike
Cycling
in Greece is not such hard going as you
might imagine (except in summer), especially on one
of the mountain bikes that are now the rule at rental
outfits; they rarely cost more than €8 a day. You do,
however, need steady nerves, as roads are generally
narrow with no verges or bike lanes and Greek
drivers are notoriously inconsiderate to cyclists.
If you have your own bike, consider taking it
along by
train
or
plane
(it's free if within your
20-23kg international air allowance, but arrange it
in writing with the airline beforehand to avoid
huge charges at check-in). Once in Greece you can
take a bike for free on most ferries, in the guard's
van on most trains (for a small fee), and in the
luggage bays of buses. Bring any small spare parts
since specialist shops are rare.
Accommodation
There are vast numbers of tourist beds in
Greece, and most of the year you can rely
on simply turning up and finding
something. At Easter and in July and
August, however, you can run into
problems unless you've booked in
advance. The economic crisis and subse-
quent loss of domestic tourism has
tended to depress prices, and what you
pay may depend on how far you are
willing to bargain.
In cities and mainland towns you'll probably stay
in
hotels
, but in the resorts and islands the big
hotels and self-catering complexes are mostly
pre-booked by package-holiday companies for
the whole season. Although they may have
vacancies if you just turn up, non-package visitors
are far more likely to find themselves staying in
smaller, simpler places which usually describe
themselves simply as “
rooms
”, or as apartments or
studios. Standards here can vary from spartan
(though invariably clean) to luxurious, but the vast
majority are purpose-built blocks where every
room is en suite, and where the minimal furnish-
ings are well adapted to the local climate - at least
in summer.
Taxis
Greek
taxis
are among the cheapest in the Mediter-
ranean - so long as you get an honest driver who
switches the meter on and doesn't use high-tech
devices to doctor the reading. Use of the meter is
mandatory within city or town limits, where Tariff 1
applies, while in rural areas or between midnight
and 5am Tariff 2 is in effect. On certain islands, set
rates apply on specific fixed routes - these might
only depart when full. Otherwise, throughout
Greece the meter starts at €0.85, though the
minimum
fare
is €1.75; baggage in the boot is
charged at €0.35 per piece. Additionally, there are
surcharges of €2 for leaving or entering an airport
(€3 for Athens), and €0.80 for leaving a harbour area.
If you summon a taxi by phone on spec, there's a
€1.50 charge; the meter starts running from the
moment the driver begins heading towards you. All
categories of supplemental charges must be set
out on a card a
xed to the dashboard. For a week
or so before and after Orthodox Easter, and
Christmas, a
filodhórima
or gratuity of about ten
percent is levied.
Seasons
There are
typically
three
seasons
which affect
prices: October to April (low), May, June and
September (mid) and July and August (high) -
