How to Enjoy Travel to Greece

Greece is composed of the mainland and 1,400 islands. Every day, tourists take hydrofoils to tour the island of Hydra, making the island one of the most visited tourist destinations in Greece. The island lures the rich and famous, as well as filmmakers and artists. The sunshine and mild temperatures of Greece make it ideal for outdoor activities such as viewing the ancient architecture that stands alongside modern structures. Follow these steps to enjoy travel to this small European country.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the letters in the Greek alphabet to help you find your way around. Realize that few areas have signs written in English.

2. Expect to see different words used to refer to the same place. Know that the English name is often different from the Greek name. Understand that some names were changed informally but not changed formally on the map.

3. Direct taxi drivers by naming nearby landmarks. Know which district you are going to. Realize that people call a street by a different name, and a city may have several streets with the same name. Understand that though streets have even-and-odd-numbers, numbers on buildings are not always sequential.

4. Read ferry schedules carefully. Calculate the number of stops and estimated arrival time. Realize that because of the number of stops, a later ferry can get you to your destination earlier than an early ferry.

5. Remain flexible when scheduling a boat ride because weather conditions frequently delay departure times.

6. Consider buying 24-hour transportation tickets. Realize that the pass may be a good purchase if you take the trolley, bus and metro several times daily while in Athens. Remember that you must use a new ticket for each part of the trip for each mode of transport. Understand that a 24-hour pass eliminates the hassle of getting your ticket validated several times.

7. Know that gestures sometimes convey their opposite message. Understand that the "no" gesture comes across as "yes" and the American gesture "goodbye" is interpreted "come here."

8. Get advice from the tourist police normally located near popular tourist sites. Ask questions about pharmacies or doctors, transportation, phone numbers of restaurants, hotels and rooms. Know that the tourist police can answer your questions in English.

9. Register your laptop with customs agents when you enter the country if you are not a EU citizen. Show the stamped page in your passport that lists the computer's serial number when you leave the country. Understand that the procedure proves that you did not buy the computer in Greece.

Tips & Warnings

• When Americans tip their heads back slightly, close their eyes and raise their eyebrows, they are gesturing "no." Greeks view that as "yes."
• Americans wave goodbye with their palms facing outward. Greeks view that as "come here." Greeks usually wave goodbye with their palms facing them. That looks like "come here" to Americans.
• Avoid boat travel around August 15 when crowded ferries make the area unpleasant.
• Avoid the lure to buy overpriced drinks near the Syntagma Square of Athens. Resist the invitations of strangers who ask you to go into a bar with them because the stranger is likely employed by the bar. The bar owners charge high prices on the cocktails. Contact the local police or the tourist police to settle problems.