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This Greece Travel Tips page will help you book your trip to Greece and avoid many of the problems that people e-mail me about, therefore reducing the number of desperate emails I will receive and allowing me time to do the things I truly enjoy, of which answering e-mail is not one of.
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 1. The earlier you book your flight
the more inexpensive seats will be available.
2. When
airlines are short of cash they offer discounted fares, usually
in January-February so look for bargains then. They say Tuesday is the best day. Don't ask me why or whether or not this is even true. But try it.
3. Automated
On-line Booking sites are useful for researching hotel prices and seeing reviews from people who have actually stayed in the hotel, but
they give you little support. A reliable Greek travel agency can give
you competitive prices while helping you plan your trip to make
the most of your time and money. That being said I have an automated on-line booking site at HotelsofGreece.com and it is an easy way to research and book your hotels. In fact I use it myself.
4. Booking hotels individually
means you are responsible for getting there and to do that you need
reliable ferry information often before the ferry companies have
even released them. With last-minute cancellation fees for popular hotels as
high as 90 to 100% this is risky. However many hotels at HotelsofGreece.com do offer free cancellation so if you have concerns book one of those. The people who had to cancel their trips in 2020 due to covid were very happy they did.
5. Hotel websites are
not objective. The website will tell you the hotel is the best.
A travel agency that knows the hotels will tell you the pros and
cons of each.
6. Travel agents make deals with specific
hotels for extra low rates in return for the promise of bookings.
The rooms are paid for before the season and these are the hotels
the agency will have the best prices for.
7. If you come
to an agent with a specific hotel you saw that looked good on a website
ask if there are hotels of the same category or better for less.
8. The most popular hotels are not always the best but
they are generally the most expensive.
9. A good travel
agency knows that return customers are his bread and butter and
will go out of his way to make sure you are satisfied. When planning
your trip express any doubts and don't be afraid to ask questions.
If you have problems during your trip, whether it is dissatisfaction
with your room or problems with the ferries or a change in the weather
contact the agency. Part of their job is solving any problems that
may occur for their clients and making sure they return home singing
praises of Greece and the agency and return again and again. See Matt's Recommended Greek Travel Agencies.
10.
ATM's are everywhere. Use your credit/debit card to get money but for
restaurants and shops it is better to use cash. In fact when you
buy from a shop ask if there is a difference in price if you pay
in cash instead of with your credit cards.
11. When booking
on-line a travel agency will sometimes ask you for proof that the
credit card is yours by having you fax a signed photo-copy. This
is to prove that you made the purchase and not someone who has your
card number. It is standard procedure.
12. Beware of hustlers.
If you are booking as you go and someone approaches you on the street
or in your hotel and takes you or sends you to a travel agency to
buy ferry tickets to Amorgos and you walk out of the agency with
five days on Mykonos and a cruise because they told you the Amorgos
ferry was cancelled, then you were just hustled. That does not mean
you won't have a good time. It just means someone took advantage
of you. See Matt's Crime in Athens page.
13. You can take the metro or a taxi from your
hotel to the port. The hotel concierge can arrange the taxi or point
the way to the metro.
14. You can take the metro
or a taxi from the port back to the hotel. There is usually a line of taxis waiting for every arriving ferry.
15.
If you have an early morning flight you don't have to stay at the
airport or near the airport because the roads are clear of traffic
in the morning and you can be at the airport in less than half an
hour by taxi.
16. Don't try to see too much. Five islands
in ten days is a lot of traveling and waiting around for ferries
and flights. Two islands in ten days is sensible. If you want to
see a lot of islands take a cruise. See Matt's Greek Itinerary Suggestions and Matt's Greek Cruise Page
17. Packages and Programs
on travel agency websites serve two purposes. They make it easy
for the customer and the agent to create the itinerary because all
the pieces of the puzzle are already in place. But a good travel
agency excels at putting together custom itineraries that suit the
individual so don't be afraid to give the agent a list of islands,
a time-frame and a budget and ask them to come up with something
and then don't be embarrassed if you want to fine-tune it. This
is what they do. At the same time don't put an agent through hours
of work and then take the itinerary to someone else and ask for
a better price. This is bad karma. See Matt's Recommended Greek Travel Agencies.
18. Taxi drivers are
not criminals. They are generally some of the most interesting people
you will meet. There are some low-lifes among them but this is true
of any profession. If you like a taxi driver tip him 10%. If you
really liked him take his card and use him again.
19. A pre-arranged taxi
transfer from the airport usually costs twice as much as a
regular street taxi. This is because the transfer taxi is going
empty to the airport to pick you up and waiting as long as it takes
for you to arrive. A regular taxi is at the airport because someone
paid for him to be there and someone will pay for him to go back.
Plus when you have a pre-arranged taxi it is usually an English
speaking, non-smoking, informative driver in a new Mercedes. See www.greecetravel.com/taxi
20.
Greece is the safest country in Europe, Athens the safest city and
women should not be worried about traveling alone. Chances are also
good you will meet someone else who is also traveling alone. As for terrorism there is more of a
chance that you will drown or have a heart attack in the shower
than be killed by a terrorist. Not that the showers are dangerous
either. See also Is Greece Safe for Women
21. Travel agencies book
flights and ferries as a service to their customers since there
is no profit in them. If you book with an automated system or the
hotel trying to save money you are pretty much on your own. You
can buy economy tickets in the port usually on the day of departure
unless there is a big holiday or it is August or a weekend in July. If you want a cabin, have a car or
are going by highspeed it is best to book at least a week or two in advance. Earlier if you are going to Mykonos, Santorini or any island that you have ever heard of in the summer. For ferry schedules and tickets see Ferryhopper.com
22.
Most people you will come in contact with will speak English since
most people you come in contact with will be waiters, hotel employees,
travel agents, shop owners and people involved in the tourist trade.
But even in non-touristy places the number of people who speak English
is remarkable.
23. Anti-US Government is
not the same as Anti-American. The Greeks love Americans. They are just not crazy about our leaders. If you like your political leaders that is fine. But it may be best not to dig in and try to convince your taxi driver of this regardless of what side of the political spectrum you come from since you probably don't know what side he comes from. I just agree with whatever the taxi driver says. If you are in a taverna drinking with friends then it is a different story. You can be passionate and they
probably will too and hopefully you will still be friends later.
24. Many people who come
to Greece have a profound experience, like coming home or feeling
like themselves for the first time in years If this happens
to you don't be surprised. It is normal and when you go home
you may see life differently. Many people want to return to Greece
as soon as possible.
OK. Now memorize this and there will be a
quiz tomorrow
Questions? e-mail me (Actually don't)
If you want to make it easy on yourself use my Create-an-itinerary Form and you can click what you want to do, how many days, what islands you want to visit, and in less than 24 hours you will get a suggested itinerary and a price, which you are under no obligation to buy.
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