Holidaying in Greece - any thoughts about how the crisis will change things ?

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stevewestern

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The ongoing crisis in Greece is hitting the local people very hard, and the next few days may make it even worse.

We have booked our first holiday for several years on a Greek island (Alikanos in Zante) so I am naturally (and selfishly) curious as to how it may affect tourists.
I assume taking cash instead of credit cards may be a good idea, but does anyone have any tips or suggestions ?

Also, if anyone knows the actual area of Alikanos and can recommend places to eat proper Greek food then please do !
 
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/Greece

In addition, definitely take cash plenty of it...The banks are running dry and you can't guarantee you'll be able to get cash in the country.

I wouldn't feel too comfortable at the moment, we went a few years ago when there was also a crisis but it was nothing like it is currently. I'd be aware of how I dress, what jewellery and watches I ware, how I behave etc. People can do funny things when they are hungry and angry.
 
We have just got back from touring parts of Northern Greece. We had a fabulous holiday, people were friendly and welcoming as usual and just getting on with their lives best they can with the present squeeze on their economy. Cash is certainly king, that said, we did use our credit card when staying in hotels. The few guesthouses we used did prefer cash.
The exchange rate (we got our Euros from M&S) was the best we've had for the last 8-9 years, so for us the value of eating and drinking was very good.

Never been to Zante, so can't comment about this island, but I'm sure you'll have a great time.
 
Just got back from an excellent time on Crete with the kids. Super friendly as always. Restaurants giving little extras every time.

One local pointed out that the all-inclusive resorts, with their own entertainment, didn't bring much money to the local towns, compared to normal hotel guests who go out eat in restaurants. Highlighting the divide between big business and the working population. Which is why they'd tend to vote for anti-austerity Syriza.
 
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Thanks for all the replies - we are not a jewellery or watch wearing family but I was hoping to take my camera.
We like to eat in quiet family places, spend money in local shops and do not do late nights, though we may stay up and play cards till dark (wild things that we are..)

Sounds like we have nothing to worry about and that we will find the Greeks to be much as last time we were there, when my 11 yr old was a toddler.
 
Been to Zante many times- you will be fine and unlikely to see any of the immigrant issues.
We are going to mainland Greece in August and the only thing I'm worried about is if public workers strike- affecting airports etc.
 
Take cash especially UK currency as you will get cracking rates locally as people know the value of the £ is guarenteed.
The resorts are generally all ok as they know trouble will drive folk away.
 
ST4 said:
Lots of migrants sleeping rough according to some news reports so watch yourself in case you become an easy target. Otherwise I doubt the crisis will effect you.
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Why would this be an issue? There are homeless people everywhere and the overwhelming majority are pleasant people.
 
norters said:
Why would this be an issue? There are homeless people everywhere and the overwhelming majority are pleasant people.
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I don't want to go on holiday, and I am sure many others are the same, and run into lots of people dossing on benches and people begging whilst I try get about.

It doesn't matter how many are pleasant or not, it will increase the risks of crime and petty robbery/theft and its a factor to consider. Like when you go to Rome its well known there are pickpockets there, so you are careful and tbh its not that pleasant compared to somewhere less pickpockety.
 
We saw zero immigrants on Crete. The closest Greek Island to the north African coastline.
 
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I would be very wary about taking cash on holiday, we had our hotel room in Rhodes burgled and the safe broken into last year they got away with £650 in cash, an engagement ring, 2 other gold rings a watch and an ankle bracelet, about £2500 in total. There were another 12 or 13 rooms in our hotel done at the same time and the police said the same thing had happened at a hotel on the other side of the island.
 
chris954 said:
I would be very wary about taking cash on holiday, we had our hotel room in Rhodes burgled and the safe broken into last year they got away with £650 in cash, an engagement ring, 2 other gold rings a watch and an ankle bracelet, about £2500 in total. There were another 12 or 13 rooms in our hotel done at the same time and the police said the same thing had happened at a hotel on the other side of the island.
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blimey you left all that in a room safe are you nuts?
We leave everything of value at home, take a £30 watch
 
Mr Bump said:
blimey you left all that in a room safe are you nuts?
We leave everything of value at home, take a £30 watch
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What's the point in having a nice watch and not wearing it. I always take mine, it's insured.
 
dejongj said:
What's the point in having a nice watch and not wearing it. I always take mine, it's insured.
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Let just say i have quite a few soldiers in some countries with rather big guns,point and ask to have a look at my watch at checkpoints,because i wear a cheap one i usually got to keep it
 
Mr Bump said:
blimey you left all that in a room safe are you nuts?
We leave everything of value at home, take a £30 watch
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The cash was taken as insurance in case there was a problem using atm's and the jewellery was the Mrs's she doesn't wear it during the day to avoid getting white bands. And you would hope that a safe in your room was a fairly erm safe place to leave stuff.
 
ianp5a said:
Just got back from an excellent time on Crete with the kids. Super friendly as always. Restaurants giving little extras every time.
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I've not been there in many years, but I'm glad to hear its not changed :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
I've not been there in many years, but I'm glad to hear its not changed (y)
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My sons just got back from Crete and no problems at all. just in New York and there are homeless people everywhere- one of those things wherever you go in the world
 
ST4 said:
Here. Greece and the Greeks will be fine. Take cash and keep it secure

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33205269

I'd be more worried about this tbh

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3103162/SUE-REID-went-investigate-Kos-shocked-found.html
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That's a shame. We were in Kos last spring and it's a lovely island. I was surprised how expensive everything was though, Greece used to be fantastic value for money. I guess the financials crisis at the time had jacked the prices up, we were paying London prices for coffee, drinks and meals. Sounds like it a lot more reasonable now.
 
dejongj said:
What's the point in having a nice watch and not wearing it. I always take mine, it's insured.
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each to there own bud, I wear a rolex GMT II but it goes in the safe on hols and out comes the Seiko Dive type jobby.
i defo don't want to worry about things like that on holiday. my wife leaves all but her weading ring behind and I do to, dont get me wrong i like my stuff.
but on holiday its all about relaxaion and peace of mind.
 
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Mr Bump said:
each to there own bud, I wear a rolex GMT II but it goes in the safe on hols and out comes the Seiko Dive type jobby.
i defo don't want to worry about things like that on holiday. my wife leaves all but her weading ring behind and I do to, dont get me wrong i like my stuff.
but on holiday its all about relaxaion and peace of mind.
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I don't take my Rolex Seadweller on holiday. Criminals prey on tourists and know what expensive watches look like, why make yourself stand out more than you have to or make you attractive to a knife yielding/gun yielding nutter.
 
A relative has just come back from Kos and said its a nightmare, migrants have camped themselves in hotel foyers and are even taking over rooms when the cleaners open them up to clean them, theft on the beaches is very high, cant speak for every resort but it was where she stayed and was apparently in all resorts close to her in the south
 
boogie man said:
That's a shame. We were in Kos last spring and it's a lovely island. I was surprised how expensive everything was though, Greece used to be fantastic value for money. I guess the financials crisis at the time had jacked the prices up, we were paying London prices for coffee, drinks and meals. Sounds like it a lot more reasonable now.
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The Euro killed Greece as being good value, though I've never seen London prices there.
 
Wonder what the situation will be like (if it worsens) for tourists trying to use cash machines to withdraw euro's?
 
ancient_mariner said:
The Euro killed Greece as being good value, though I've never seen London prices there.
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Average prices in Kos Town last year. €4 for a coffee. €70 for a meal for two with a couple of beers. Biggest surprise for us was how dear fish was.... considering it's a fishing port.
 
boogie man said:
Average prices in Kos Town last year. €4 for a coffee. €70 for a meal for two with a couple of beers. Biggest surprise for us was how dear fish was.... considering it's a fishing port.
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Just wow. But fish has always been expensive, as though there were a big markup for tourists trying to eat local specialities instead of stifado.
 
ST4 said:
make you attractive to a knife yielding/gun yielding nutter.
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If they were knife/gun yielding you woudn't have any problems as they would yield their weapon. Wielding on the other hand could result in facial ballistic trauma
 
Me and the missus went for a month back packing to Santorini, Naxos and PAro (I think) about a year ago.
We found loads of cheap places to eat, its like everywhere in Europe there are allways expensive places to eat and off the grid places.

70 euros for a meal for 2 with drinks isn't all that bad
@boogie man when you convert to pounds is only £50.
 
dejongj said:
What's the point in having a nice watch and not wearing it. I always take mine, it's insured.
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So is mine but only for its monetary value, not it's sentimental value (it was Mum's wedding present to Dad so irreplaceable.) I wear a relatively cheap Citizen on holiday.

OldCarlos said:
Wonder what the situation will be like (if it worsens) for tourists trying to use cash machines to withdraw euro's?
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Rumours that ATMs would run dry were much exaggerated, although there was apparently a €300/day limit at some.

OldCarlos said:
Euro's ........ or good old Sterling? ;)
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Yes!

boogie man said:
Average prices in Kos Town last year. €4 for a coffee. €70 for a meal for two with a couple of beers. Biggest surprise for us was how dear fish was.... considering it's a fishing port.
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They saw you coming! On the Old Harbour in Chania, Crete (very touristy but an excellent place to people watch!), we paid just under €30 for Saturday's dinner including plonk etc. Had fish yesterday for lunch and supper - both dishes were under €10.

Didn't see any more beggars than we did 15+ years ago and many of those are (and were) war widows rather than immigrants. Don't believe what the press are saying, very little of it is based on more than rumour.
 
Nod said:
Rumours that ATMs would run dry were much exaggerated, although there was apparently a €300/day limit at some.

.
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Many ATMs here limit withdrawals to GBP300 per day too.
 
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