The bottom line on Greece
Greece, buffeted by financial difficulties, is also a popular vacation destination. About 20 million people visit the peninsular nation that also has 2,000 islands.
It’s not clear how the most recent upheaval will affect tourism. But veteran traveler Arthur Frommer offered this perspective on a recent blog post: “I say that the Greek people deserve our support. And one of the best ways of giving it is to include Greece in our European vacations.
“Tourism and shipping are Greece’s major industries, and their prosperity can contribute to a better life for all the Greek people.”
If you are forging ahead, here are some considerations:
Taking cash, meaning euros, is a good idea, said Odysseas Papadimitriou, chief executive of personal finance websites CardHub and WalletHub. There’s no limit on the amount of money foreign tourists can withdraw from ATM machines in Greece (though there’s a 60-euro limit for locals).
That’s not to say there won’t be long ATM lines or that some will be closed. Jeremy Saum, executive editor of Afar magazine, returned Sunday from a 16day vacation in Greece in which he visited the Peloponnese as well as Mykonos and Santorini. He used his debit card to withdraw euros from ATMs to pay hotel bills, meals, etc.
Saum said some ATMs were closed, but he found others that were easily available.
Credit cards are important too.
“I would say use your credit card for everything if you can just because of the protections that it offers,” said Matt Schulz, a senior industry analyst with Cred- itCards.com
One caveat: Make sure you use one that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, Papadimitriou advises.
The U.S. State Department suggests carrying more than one means of payment while traveling in Greece, which means having a mix of cash, debit and credit cards handy. See also www.lat.ms/1M2kOj0.
The State Department advises Americans to be extra vigilant about their own safety and to beware of pickpockets, particularly if they’re carrying more cash than usual. It also recommends avoiding rallies and demonstrations that may become dangerous. The agency maintains a website of planned activities that you can consult during your visit ( www.lat.ms/1HrkKUE).
Stay on top of the news too to gauge whether you need to take any steps to withdraw money or avoid trouble spots the State Department may not yet know about.
The department urges visitors to enroll in its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP (step.state.gov/step), to receive updates and security messages from the agency.
What if you don’t want to go until the economic craziness dies down?
The good news: If you have booked a trip to Greece in the last 30 days, you generally have the option of buying pricey cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance in case the crisis deepens and you want to stay home. That advice comes from travel insurance comparison website Squaremouth.
The not-so-good news: If you reserved your trip more than 30 days in advance, standard travel insurance offers little relief if you decide to bail.