GREECE
PASSPORT/VISA: (It is recommended that your passport have at least six months of validity whenever you travel abroad to avoid unintended travel disruptions. Because rules and regulations frequently change, please inquire about passports validity and visas from the consulate of the foreign country you will visit. Participants with valid U.S. and Canadian passports do not require visas. If you hold a passport of a foreign country, please contact the Greek Consulate in your area for information on whether or not you need a visa.
Important: Passengers requiring a Schengen Visa must have a multi-entry Schengen Visa if visiting more than one country.)
CLIMATE: (The temperature in Athens ranges from 55F in January to 92F in July and August. Seasonal breezes called meltemia moderate the summer heat. The country averages more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.)
CLOTHING: (Dress tends to be casual, but there are limits. Sleeveless dresses and shorts may not be worn in monasteries and churches, and women should be sure that arms and shoulders are covered. Jackets for men and cocktail dresses for women are required in the posher of restaurants and in the casinos.)
EXCURSIONS: (Visiting the Greek ruins often means traversing over irregular stony terrain that can present a double hazard. Thus, shoes worn on such excursions should be sturdy and absolutely comfortable. Do not wear high heel shoes on these excursions.)
CURRENCY: (The unit of currency is the Euro. Coinage is available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents with 1 and 2 Euros. Bank notes come in units of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. It is not necessary to exchange your money prior to your arrival in Athens.
There are two banks open where you can exchange your money at the baggage claim area in Athens airport. There are also banks at the hotels.)
TIPPING: (The Greek restaurants automatically include a 15% service charge. If that is the case, the custom is to leave small change on the plate for the waiter and an equivalent amount on the table for the bus boy. In restaurants without a service charge or in the case of room service, 15% is the norm.)
SHOPPING: (The favorite buys in Athens are furs, leather goods (especially shoes), hand-woven and hand-embroidered clothing and linen, ceramics, handbags, jewelry and flokati rugs. The most elegant shopping area is the Kolonaki district where you will find the latest European styles.)
ELECTRICITY: (The standard electrical current throughout Greece is 220AC and the outlets are made for 2 round poles.)
BANKS & CREDIT CARDS: (All major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and cosmopolitan boutiques. However, they are not used as extensively as they are in the U.S. Traveler's checks are widely accepted throughout Greece. They can be exchanged easily at almost all banks and post offices.)
TIME: (There is a seven-hour (+7) difference when New York is on the Eastern Standard Time. Greece, along with the rest of the European Community, observes daylight savings time from April to October.)
