Greece
Travel Tips. Just for you.
You’ve put so much thought, energy, and time into picking your destination and finalizing your itinerary. Just as important as the big picture, the small details can make or break a trip. Select your destination and discover great tips, tricks, and hacks for making travel smooth and hassle-free.
Everything You Need to Know
Before You GO!
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VISA AND PASSPORTS +
- U.S. citizens do not need a tourist visa.
- US citizens’ passports should have six months of remaining validity.
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CONSULAR INFORMATION +
The US State Department provides Country Specific Information sheets for every country in the world as well as Travel Alerts and Warnings. For this information, call 888 407 4747 or 202 501 4444 or visit travel.state.gov.
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HEALTH +
- Insurance: Travelers should make sure their health insurance plan covers them when outside of the United States. The U.S Embassy cannot pay medical bills.
- U.S. Medicare does not pay overseas.
- Private hospitals usually require proof of adequate insurance or cash before admitting a patient.
- Medical care is adequate although service and hospital facilities may differ from the US.
- Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO), which contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
- If you received any vaccinations in preparation for your journey, pack your vaccination certificates in your personal carry-on baggage in case you are asked to show them on arrival.
- Special meals and allergies: If you require special meals for health or dietary reasons, please let your J2 operator know at least 60 days prior to your departure.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE CURRENCY AND BANK INFORMATION +
- Greece uses the Euro.
- Click here to obtain the most current exchange rates.
- While traveling in Greece, we suggest you carry around – in addition to credit cards – small amounts of cash in Euro for small purchases or emergencies.
- ATM facilities can be found at Greek banks, commercial centers, airports, hotels, restaurants, and even on the street. If you plan on withdrawing money or using your credit card while traveling, don’t forget to notify your bank before you go for security purposes.
- If you don’t have a credit card, consider a debit card that allows you to access your savings account and the local currency from ATMs and wherever credit cards are accepted.
- For more information about money in Greece, click here.
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ELECTRICITY +
- In Greece, the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Most hotels provide hairdryers.
- Make sure to bring a travel adapter so you can safely use electric shavers, traveling irons, phone rechargers, and other small appliances.
- For more information, visit worldstandards.eu.
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TIME ZONE +
Greece is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, US. To determine current time in major cities around the world, visit timeanddate.com.
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CELL PHONES +
Tips to avoid international roaming charges:
- Use your existing plan – contact your local carrier to find out plans and prices for data roaming.
- Rent a device – rent a phone, download your information, and use the borrowed device as if it were your own.
- Get a local SIM card – Make sure your phone is “unlocked” before purchasing a local SIM card in your destination and using your phone on the local network.
- Wi-Fi only – Turn off your cellular data, switch your phone to airplane mode, and enable a Wi-Fi connection to access Internet hotspots in your destination.
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INTERNATIONAL CALLS +
Because of the time difference between the United States and Greece some advance planning is in order so you can call at a convenient time and when calling charges are lowest.
For international calls from Greece to US:
Dial 00 + 1 + the area code and phone number.
For example, to dial a number in Atlanta, Georgia, you would dial 00 + 1 +404 (Atlanta area code) + your party’s phone number. -
CUISINE +
Greek cuisine makes wide use of vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, wine, and meat. lt shares similarities with Middle Eastern food. Here’s a recommended restaurant list to help you decide which of Greece’s many restaurants might suit you best.
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FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED +
- Many destinations around Greece are not yet disabled-friendly. For those who use wheelchairs, the narrow sidewalks and uneven terrain can cause problems.
- Improvements have been made over recent years, and some important archaeological sites now have ramps.
- Should you require handicapped facilities, please contact our office.
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LANGUAGE +
The official language of Greece is Greek, spoken by 99% of the population. It is always worthwhile to speak a little of the local lingo so we recommend you click here for some useful Greek words and phrases.
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WEATHER +
The climate of Greece is Mediterranean with summers that are usually very hot and dry, and winters that are cold or wet. The upper part of Greece can be very cold during the winter and snow is not uncommon. However, in the south of Greece, the winters are milder.
Use a website such as weather.com to find average temperatures and rainfall during your travel times.
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BAGGAGE +
Confirm baggage limitations with your international carrier before packing. Remember that airlines can change their baggage restrictions at any time.
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ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TRANSFERS +
- If your package includes arrival and departure transfers, this will be detailed in your travel documents which will be e-mailed to you up to one week prior to your trip.
- If you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates and time as specified in your travel documents, you will need to arrange your own transfers. Alternatively, you may request a transfer service up to three working days prior to your arrival and the cost of the transfer service will be added to your invoice.
- When requesting a transfer service, please provide us with your flight information. Your arrival transfer is guaranteed for up to one hour from your scheduled arrival time in order to compensate for minor delays.
- J2 Adventures or the transfer company will not be responsible for delays, for any reason, beyond one hour from your originally scheduled arrival time. In case of a delay, it will be your responsibility to contact us directly and/or to make other transfer arrangements, such as by taxi.
- Transfer costs are not refundable and any additional expenses will be your responsibility.
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CHECKING IN AT YOUR HOTEL +
If you arrive at your hotel before the customary 3:00 p.m. check-in time, your room may not be available. Store your luggage with the concierge and take the time to walk around and get a feel for your new city.
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PROTECTING VALUABLE ITEMS +
- Hotel safes are usually provided and can be used to protect valuables such as passports, medications, jewelry, money, and electronics. If you must carry valuables, keep them on your person at all times, be mindful of your surroundings, and take extra caution in crowds.
- We recommend photocopying the personal information pages of your passport and leaving one copy with a family member or friend and packing another in a place separate from the passport itself. You can also scan your passport and email a copy to yourself for easy online access. This will help you to secure a replacement quickly should the need arise.
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SHOPPING +
Where and whether to shop while traveling with us is a personal choice and shopping is never compulsory. If at any point during your journey you feel pressured to shop or make purchases, please discuss the matter immediately with your tour educator.
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TIPPING GUIDELINES +
We recommend the following for tipping (amounts in US dollars):
- Groups of 20 participants or more:
J2 educator $8, local guide $5, and driver $3 per participant per day - Groups of 10-19 participants:
J2 educator $10, local guide $6, and driver $3 per participant per day - Hostess (when included):
$4 per participant per day or a minimum of $100 per group per day - Security guard and/or a youth counselor (when included):
$1 per participant per day to each security guard or youth counselor - Recommended restaurant tipping when lunch or dinner is on your own:
10%-15% depending on your satisfaction.
- Groups of 20 participants or more:
J2 STUFF.
We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.
START PLANNING LET’S EXPLORE.
Whether you have a journey in mind, want to join a featured trip, or simply want to explore, drop us a note. We work really hard to be a loved travel company that delivers amazing and memorable experiences. So please do not be surprised when we say “yes” to every reasonable request you make!