How tourists are deceived in Greece. Is it worth going to Greece now? First-hand information

Greece is famous throughout the world primarily for its beautiful beaches, wonderful nature and rich history. Here you can bask in the sun and swim, then go sightseeing, and then go shopping, all of which can be found in every resort town in Greece. The prices will please anyone; in Europe this is one of the most inexpensive countries, but the level of comfort and safety is high. This is a real paradise for relaxation, which is why more and more people are traveling to Greece on their own, without travel agencies.

The season in Greece begins in mid-May and ends at the end of October, with the peak influx of tourists occurring in July-August. During these months, most hotels here are packed to capacity, the beaches are crowded, and prices for everything rise significantly. But if you carefully approach the choice of a vacation spot, you can find a picturesque town or urban village with a minimum of vacationers, low prices and clean beaches even in the most popular months.

If you want to relax in Greece on your own at minimal prices and without the ubiquitous crowds of tourists, then it is better to go to this country from the beginning of September to mid-October. At this time, prices drop significantly, hotels are half empty, shops offer goods at huge discounts, and the sea is still warm and comfortable for swimming. You can also go from May to mid-June, although the sea water will be quite cool, but this will not prevent you from seeing the sights and going shopping.

Independent holiday in Greece compares favorably with travel agency offers in the following ways::

• I travel independently, only you decide when and where to go on vacation
• You can create your own interesting and memorable sightseeing program, which will not be like the boring standard excursions “for everyone”
• You can save a lot by going on an independent trip to Greece, however, to do this you need to follow certain rules for a budget holiday
• You can drive all over Greece by car and see the most beautiful places that have not yet been trampled by millions of tourists.
• It is independent travelers who receive much more positive emotions and interesting acquaintances, and they also have an amazing opportunity to better understand the mentality of the Greek people, which in itself is exciting and promises many adventures that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Flights

It is better to buy air tickets to Greece in advance, this way you will save a lot of money, because 3-6 months before the flight date prices are minimal. Of course, you can wait for last-minute tickets, but they don’t always happen, and the chance of being left without any rest at all is very high, because... During the season, tickets to Greece sell like hotcakes.

You can buy tickets at. I myself am looking for air tickets only on Aviasales, the functionality of the site is completely satisfactory, the purchasing process is as simplified as possible, and the prices are low. Thanks to this site, I have already saved so much money that I could afford to fly on another trip around the world.

Most flights to Greece depart from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kyiv. The most popular route is Moscow - Athens; the plane will fly to its destination in just 3 hours 15 minutes (the fastest direct flight). The price of a round-trip air ticket from Moscow starts from 200 €. It is cheapest to take tickets with transfers, but then the travel time will increase by several hours.

Some travelers will find it useful to learn how to travel to Greece by car on their own. You can find out about traveling by car in Europe at. Please note that such a vacation requires much more time and effort to organize, and in terms of money it is more expensive than an airplane vacation.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

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Hotels

Prices for hotels in Greece depend on the month (in July and August they are highest) and on the popularity of the resort (in Athens and Thessaloniki they are highest). But everyone who wants to get to Hellas (this is the “indigenous” name of Greece) can find housing according to their wallet. The most expensive rooms are in coastal apartments.

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Once again, an attempt to reach an agreement between the Eurogroup and Athens regarding the conditions for providing financial assistance to Greece failed.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras proposed holding a referendum. The vote, which is due to take place on July 5, will include the question of whether or not to accept the draft agreement developed by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Tsipras hopes the Greeks will say no. Then Greece will face a default.

A Russian tourist has several questions: is it worth vacationing in this country; what to do if you have already bought a ticket; Should I take more cash with me or rely on local banks? "MK" tried to understand this situation and give advice to potential vacationers.

Back on June 26, information appeared that Greek Prime Minister Tsipras had presented a compromise plan that included concessions from both Athens and Brussels. First of all, the Greeks are not ready to cut pensions, increase taxes, and even less agree to virtually free privatization of state property in favor of Western creditors.

It is no coincidence that on the night of June 27, the Greek authorities announced that they considered the demands of the Eurogroup ultimatum, and instead of new negotiations they intended to hold a referendum.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde immediately warned that the vote would not have legal force. The Athens financial assistance program, which could not be extended, expires on June 30. This means that an issue that has lost relevance by the time it is held will be put to a referendum. At a meeting of the Eurogroup, in the absence of Greek representatives, it was decided that after June 30, the country will only be provided with “technical” assistance in overcoming economic problems.

However, as French Finance Minister Michel Sapin noted at the end, we are not talking about Greece leaving the eurozone: “Representatives of 18 countries besides Greece made it clear that it was and should remain in the eurozone.”

It is not simple. “In order to follow the path of Greece's exit from the eurozone, someone from the European Union must take responsibility. Now, given that this hits many sore spots in the EU, it is unlikely that anyone is ready to take on such a destroyer role,” notes Dmitry Danilov, head of the European Security Department at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Nevertheless, many predict an imminent default for Greece. How will Athens earn money and which investors will help it in such a situation?

Until recently, Greece provided the lion's share of its budget from the flow of tourists. In 2013, 25 million holidaymakers visited Greece. Of these, about 1.4 million were Russian citizens.

But already in 2014, the flow of Russian tourists decreased to 1.15 million. In February 2015, the drop was approximately 50%, primarily due to the depreciation of the ruble. According to Russian statistics, which are also confirmed by statistics from the airports of Heraklion and Rhodes, during the May holidays the drop in outbound tourism in Russia was 41%, for Greece - 66%. The number of Russians arriving in Heraklion decreased by 61%, in Rhodes - by 65%.

In total, according to the managing director of one large travel company, the drop in the flow of tourists from Russia to Greece this year could be about 35–40%. According to him, air travel will also decrease by 35-40%. “Rosaviatsiya stated that 50% fewer charters have been reserved for the summer of 2015 than last year. Someone will switch to regular flights, but there will be a drop of 35–40%,” the expert believes.

What should a potential Russian tourist who wants to spend his holidays in Greece do?

1. Is it worth going to Greece?

More likely no than yes.

2. If you have already bought a ticket?

You must definitely call the specific hotel where you wanted to stay and find out whether your payment has actually been received from the tour operator.

3. Should I take currency with me and how much (euros or dollars)?

According to Greek media, local residents, as well as visitors, have taken up to 30% of the euro cash available in Greece from ATMs. It is no coincidence that a third of Greek ATMs have already closed. Therefore, a trip to this country may cost much more than you planned. With any “Greek” tour, it is better to play it safe and stock up on at least $3 thousand (2.68 thousand euros) - this, in extreme cases, will be enough for food and inexpensive souvenirs. If you want to relax to the fullest, then in Russia, buy up to $10 thousand (8.95 thousand euros) at an exchange office. Be sure to keep the purchase document - according to the law on currency control and foreign exchange regulation, without such a certificate, you can only carry $3 thousand through customs, if up to $10 thousand, then you need a certificate from the exchanger for an additional $7 thousand. Then you won’t have to worry about ATMs , and for cash you can get both “quality and quantity”.

4. Will prices in Greece decrease?

Yes, but not everywhere. In inexpensive restaurants, the price reduction may be 10–15% (they have already reached the peak of profitability), in expensive ones it is unlikely (they already gave discounts). Hotels that are experiencing losses due to the outflow of tourists will try to get out of the situation: prices for accommodation may be reduced, but the cost of other services will increase.

Renat Abdullin, Nikolai Makeev, Moskovsky Komsomolets

TOURISTS' ANSWERS:

Why Greece?

Yes, simply because it is - cradle of civilization(or at least one of them). As an old Greek said to an American in one film: “When your relatives were climbing trees, Homer was already writing his priceless creations.”

In Greece, everything breathes history. Here, every city, every village has at its disposal certain attractions. Well, at least, excavations or ruins of something historically important...

Athens, Delphi, Mycenae, Crete, Thermopylae, Meteora, Athos. And this is not a complete list, just the first thing that came to mind. Whatever the name, it’s a milestone in world history. Few countries can boast such an abundance of centers of ancient culture. Greece doesn’t just need to be seen, it needs to be studied, it needs to be lived. She's worth it.

And also Hellas - the birthplace of Zeus. However, like other Olympic Gods. Accordingly, the world famous Mount Olympus also stands in Greece. It is clearly visible from the Athens - Thessaloniki highway. But, when we were already returning back, Mount Olympus was completely covered in clouds. That's why we didn't get a good photograph. But we knew that somewhere out there, in the veil of clouds, maybe at that very moment the Greek Gods were gathering for a “meeting.” And maybe they don’t want anyone to see them...

Regarding beach holidays, it is worth noting that Greece has the world's longest coastline. This is due to the fact that this state has several hundred islands, and almost each of them has its own beach. And the mainland, given its geographical location, also has countless beaches. Most Greek beaches are sandy or made of small pebbles. The most important thing is that near the sea it is very clean and beautiful. The water is very clear and simply magical. The only thing that should be taken into account is the presence of a rather large number of sea urchins in the water. Moreover, very close to the shore. So be careful, watch your step.

There are many advantages of a holiday in Greece: magnificent nature, high standard of hotels, good roads, a fairly large selection of goods in stores. Very tasty local cuisine, especially seafood. As they say, Greece has everything.

Perhaps the only one The downside is the Greek language. Or rather, the lack of information in English in many places and on road signs. And the Greek language, I note, is not the best for understanding. This is especially noticeable in small resort towns and causes some discomfort in small grocery and department store stores, where absolutely everything is written only in Greek. And trying to buy something by weight leads to an unimaginable pantomime. But, by the way, it is precisely the difficulty in understanding Greek writing that adds some zest to the holiday.

As for children, it all depends on the purpose of your trip. If you prioritize sightseeing, it is unlikely that children under 10 years of age will be able to appreciate it. Wherever you vacation, all excursions will involve long journeys, since Greece is a rather large country. And you will have to walk around a lot, since most historical complexes are located over a large area. Children will find it difficult to travel these distances, which can lead to dissatisfaction with sightseeing.

If you just want to spend time on the beach or near the hotel pool, then the kids will really like this vacation. Children love the beach and sea, swimming and clean air. You'll be especially lucky if your hotel pool has one or more water slides. The children will be delighted.

But in general, I think that going to Greece is a must!

Is the answer helpful?

Greece is a wonderful country for a holiday. It’s not for nothing that the saying goes: “Greece has everything.” A wide variety of resorts, attractions, hotels of different star ratings cannot but interest the curious, capricious tourist.

When going to Greece, you need to decide what you expect from your vacation. For fun, nightlife and entertainment, the islands of Crete or Rhodes are worth a look. People fly to Corfu to relax for a quiet, relaxing holiday. The nature there is excellent, the chic air smelling of pine needles has a healing effect on vacationers.

Various tourists vacation on mainland Greece. Usually these places are either Kassandra or Sithonia. Men from there will be able to travel to the Saint Athos peninsula and visit a real monastery. Women are not allowed here, the guides say this applies to everyone, both people and animals.

Greece map

The locals are very hospitable, which is a big plus for me. They always smile and love to excite tourists with their fiery dances. They serve local wines, very tasty and of high quality.

Greece is perfect for tourists who want to relax at the seaside and buy a fur coat for the new winter season. The best place is to go to Kastoria, there are a large number of factories there, sellers actively bargain, so you can become the owner of a fashionable mink for relatively little money. Prices fluctuate a little due to the exchange rate; a full fur coat will cost from 1000 euros. You can manage to find cheaper ones from pieces.

When it comes to holidays with children, there are a lot of opportunities here. Hotels with their own playgrounds, animations and other infrastructure. Water parks. It is no longer uncommon to find an all-inclusive type of food in Greece, including a children's menu. The meaning is the same as in Turkey, but in my opinion, the food is much tastier.

The pricing policy for tours to Greece is different. There are also not expensive ones, but in this case the hotels will be simple, but there are also expensive luxury hotels, as they say, according to color and wallet. But inside the prices are not high, you can eat in a restaurant for 15-20 euros, excursions from 30-40 euros. Not cheap of course, but reasonable.

I would also like to point out that the food in Greece is very tasty. The lamb and beef are amazingly cooked. Fish and seafood dishes are especially popular. Be sure to try the Greek salad, olives, sweets, honey, dolma, and moussaka. I really liked the Greek yogurt, more delicate and airy than ours.

Greek salad

In addition to the sun, sea, and delicious food, Greece has a large number of attractions, mostly located on the mainland. The most famous of them: the Acropolis - the symbol of Athens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Mount Olympus, the labyrinth of the Minotaur, the Theater of Dionysus and many others, you can list them for a very long time. Greece will give lovers of history and antiquities a lot of impressions that will be remembered for a long time.

Acropolis in Athens

Should you fly to Greece on vacation?! Of course, fly. And more than once, Greece will be completely different on every trip.

• Tours for May to Greece
• Last minute tours to Greece

From this article you will learn what safety rules should be followed when visiting Greece, the pearl of the Mediterranean and the historical birthplace of democracy.

Crime

Petty theft is common in Greece. Be especially vigilant in places where tourists gather: near the hotel, at the airport, at the train station, and when visiting historical places. Beware of pickpockets on public transport.

As in any capital, Athens has unfavorable areas: these include the red light district near Omonia Square, as well as Vathi and Kolokotroni squares.

Cases of rape during dates or among acquaintances have become more frequent. Women should not walk alone at night or get into cars with unfamiliar drivers. Single women may be subject to intrusive advances from Greek kamaki (from the Greek kamakis - “harpooner”), whose ultimate goal is to find a companion for one season.

Dangers of nature

The Greek mainland, as well as its islands, is a seismically active zone, which means there is an increased risk of earthquakes. Small tremors are considered common, while major earthquakes are rare but do occur.

Due to the hot climate in Greece, forest fires sometimes occur. In case of fire, contact the rescue service by calling 112 or directly the fire department - 199.

But this is unnecessary

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Protests

The Greek population has a long tradition of expressing their protest actively and en masse. Usually, the aggression of the local population is directed not at people, but at things, but it is still better not to go out into the street during a demonstration.

Greek police routinely fire tear gas at protesters, which can cause serious breathing problems for people with asthma and those who wear contact lenses.

The most popular location for public protest marches is the city's business center. In Athens, for example, this is Syntagma Square, Panepistimou Street and Ambassadorial Row. Unfortunately, the best hotels in Athens are also located there.

A strike is another type of protest popular in Greece. Due to frequent strikes in the transport sector (which are usually short-lived and known in advance), travelers are advised to obtain additional confirmation for their international and domestic flight bookings. If you bought a tour from an agency, then you have a choice: change the date of your air ticket, cancel the trip and collect the money, or join a tourist group (collective tours are usually serviced by domestic charters and in this case tourists can suffer from a strike only if everything is closed Greek airport As for other forms of transport, groups usually travel around the country by tourist buses, which are not affected by the strikes).

Terrorism

Since the September 11 attacks, Greek authorities have taken a number of steps to reduce crime and domestic terrorism. There are several terrorist groups within the country (for example, the revolutionary organization “November 17”), which continually disturb the world community with actions directed against Western politicians and companies, but these groups do not cause direct harm to tourists. However, citizens visiting Greece need to be careful and report suspicious items to the police by calling 100.

It would seem that the clear time when it is better to go to Greece should be considered summer. After all, Greece is a country of three seas and countless beaches. But it was not there. You can safely go to Greece at any time of the year, and you are guaranteed to enjoy your trip. The main thing is to decide why you are going on the road. Then the question of when to go to Greece will no longer be a problem.

The high season in Greece lasts from June to September. It is at this time that most tourists come here. But this does not mean at all that the summer months are the best time to relax in Greece. In July and August, the country is too hot, there are a lot of tourists on the beaches and on excursions, and prices are rising rapidly. So such a vacation can hardly be called ideal.

But a trip in late May - early June and in September - October guarantees you a wonderful beach holiday. And from November to April you can safely storm the ski resorts. And of course, excursions and walks through museums in Greece are good at any time of the year. And thermal resorts welcome guests who want to improve their health all year round.

There seems to be no winter in the understanding of the inhabitants of cold latitudes in Greece. The weather in Greece in winter is warm and rainy. In different regions of the country, the air temperature ranges from +5 to +13°C. In winter, quite strong winds arise. But even with such unkind weather, the landscapes of Greece look very romantic and even gain additional charm. Well, no weather will interfere with a walk through museums and relaxation at spa resorts.

Winter in Greece also means skiing. From November to April, there are many ski resorts in the Greek mountains to suit every taste. You can read more about this in the section “Ski holidays in Greece”. And of course, in winter comes the time for Christmas holidays, noisy and cheerful, as the Greeks love. Winter is also a time of sales, so the cold season in Greece is great for shopping.

Holidays in Greece in spring

The weather in Greece in spring is very warm. Already in March, the air temperature sometimes reaches +19°C. And May here already looks like a real summer, but without the excruciating heat. The flowering period lasts throughout the spring in Greece. Wild flowers are blooming and even the driest regions are becoming green. Fruit trees are in full bloom. The peak of flowering occurs in April. Spring is the best time for a romantic trip to Greece for two. You can admire flowering trees while visiting ancient temples and Byzantine churches. Spring in Greece is suitable for both sightseeing tours and relaxation at spa resorts. And in March and April the ski season still continues in the mountains. At the same time, in May you can already start swimming.

You can read more in the sections:

Holidays in Greece in summer

The best time to fly to Greece in the summer is the first half of June. It is already warm, even hot, from +25 to +30°C, the sea has warmed up to a comfortable temperature, and the beaches of the Peloponnese, the islands of Crete, the Ionian Islands and many others are waiting for tourists. But the heat does not yet reach the highest points, as in July and August, when the weather in Greece becomes extremely hot in the summer. At a temperature of +45°C, even the sea can no longer save you, and excursions at this time cause more fatigue than interest. Even the sea is a poor rescue.

Therefore, in the summer it is better to go to Greece in July, this way you will avoid crowds, high prices, and heat. But if you do go on vacation in the second half of summer, then it is better to go to the north of the country. It’s cooler here, and traditional summer sales are no less active. You can also go to one of the thermal resorts of the country, where you can relax perfectly at any time of the year.