How to Plan a Trip to Greece

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

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From the ruins of the Parthenon to the archipelagos in the Aegean Sea, a trip to Greece can provide memories that will last a lifetime. Just get a passport, draw up an itinerary, find the best deal on airfare and you'll soon be on your way.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Passport
Travel itinerary
Travel agent
Plane and hotel reservations
Drachmas (currency exchange)

Step1

Get a passport, which should be available at your local post office, before you plan a trip to Greece. It generally takes 4 to 6 weeks to get your passport, but you can get a rush order if you pay a fee (which can double the price of the document). Bring your birth certificate (the original, not a copy), an additional form of identification and two small passport photos.

Step2

Choose the time of year you want to go to Greece when you plan your trip. Greece is a fairly temperate country, but it gets very hot in the middle of summer, and it can snow a little in February and March. Peak tourist seasons are generally April through June, and then September through November.

Step3

Do some research to develop a travel itinerary based upon the sights you want to see, and the length of your visit. This is where a knowledgeable travel agent comes in, since you can receive valuable tips on how to plan your visit, as well as obtain the best prices on airfare and hotel accommodations. Remember that the services of a travel agent are free to you, since the agent is subsidized by the airlines.

Step4

Get reservations for your flight to Greece well in advance of your trip in order to get the best prices. Your travel agent or an online airfare service can help you find the best deals as well. You may want to check out Olympic Airlines, which is one of the few carriers to fly directly from the United States into Greece (see Resources below).

Step5

Exchange your money into drachmas, the official currency of Greece, before you leave for your trip. Make the currency exchange at your local bank, as opposed to using services in Greece that may charge you substantial fees.

Tips & Warnings

If you plan on staying in Greece for more than 90 days, you will need to obtain a visa from your embassy. While the visa is affordable and easy to get, you will need to obtain it by the 70th day of your stay or you risk being deported.