Greece - Korina Miller [593]
Credit Cards
The great advantage of credit cards is that they allow you to pay for major items without carrying around great wads of cash. Credit cards are now an accepted part of the commercial scene in Greece, although they’re often not accepted on many of the smaller islands or in small villages. In larger places, credit cards can be used at top-end hotels, restaurants and shops. Some C-class hotels will accept credit cards, but D- and E-class hotels rarely do.
The main credit cards are MasterCard and Visa, both of which are widely accepted in Greece. They can also be used as cash cards to draw cash from the ATMs of affiliated Greek banks in the same way as at home. Daily withdrawal limits are set by the issuing bank and are given in local currency only. American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted in tourist areas but unheard of elsewhere.
Tipping
In restaurants a service charge is normally included in the bill, and while a tip is not expected (as it is in North America), it is always appreciated and should be left if the service has been good. Taxi drivers normally expect you to round up the fare, while bellhops who help you with your luggage to your hotel room or stewards on ferries who take you to your cabin normally expect a small gratuity of between €1 and €3.
Travellers Cheques
The main reason to carry travellers cheques rather than cash is the protection they offer against theft. They are, however, losing popularity as more and more travellers opt to put their money in a bank at home and withdraw it at ATMs as they go.
American Express, Visa and Thomas Cook cheques are available in euros and are all widely accepted and have efficient replacement policies. Maintaining a record of the cheque numbers and recording when you use them is vital when it comes to replacing lost cheques – keep this separate from the cheques themselves.
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PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Digital photography has taken over in a big way in Greece and a range of memory cards can now be bought from camera stores. Film is still widely available, although it can be expensive in smaller towns. You’ll find all the gear you need in the photography shops of Athens and major cities.
It is possible to obtain video cassettes in larger towns and cities, but be sure to buy the correct format. It is usually worth buying at least a few cassettes duty-free to start off your trip.
Restrictions & Etiquette
Never photograph a military installation or anything else that has a sign forbidding photography. Flash photography is not allowed inside churches, and it’s considered taboo to photograph the main altar.
Greeks usually love having their photos taken but always ask permission first. The same goes for video cameras, probably even more annoying and offensive for locals than a still camera.
At archaeological sites you will be stopped from using a tripod as it marks you as a ‘professional’.
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POST
Tahydromia (post offices) are easily identifiable by the yellow signs outside. Regular post boxes are also yellow and may be labelled esoteriko for domestic and exoteriko for overseas. The red boxes are for express mail only.
Postal Rates
The postal rate for postcards and airmail letters up to 20g is €0.60 to Europe and €0.80 to North America and Australasia. Post within Europe takes between three and seven days; to the USA, Australia and New Zealand it takes five to 12 days. Express service (katepiogonda) costs about €3 and shaves a couple of days off. Some tourist shops and kiosks also sell stamps, but with a 10% surcharge.
Parcels can often only be sent from main towns and cities. In Athens, parcels weighing over 2kg should be taken to the parcel post office Click here; elsewhere, take it to the parcel counter of a regular post office. You must leave the box open for inspection; bring your own tape to shut it as