|
Greece Travel Tips
Greece Hotels and Resorts - Best Price on Greece Hotels and Resorts
Selected Greece Hotels and Resorts for your preview with online hotel booking service!!! |
Here you will find the most important informations
about Greece
| Greece most important informations |
SHOPPING
Special purchases include lace, jewelry, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear, furs, rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits. Athens is the center for luxury goods and local handicrafts. The flea markets in Monastiraki and Plaka, below the Acropolis, are all crowded in high season. Regional specialties include silver from Ioannina, ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, embroidery and lace from Crete, the Ionian Islands, Rhodes and Skiros, fur from Kastoria, alabaster from Crete and flokati rugs from the Epirus region. Note: (a) Visitors should be aware that many ‘antiques’ sold to tourists are fake; it is illegal to export any item of real antiquity without a special permit from the Export Department of the Ministry of Culture. (b) Non-EU citizens can get a refund on Greek VAT (4 per cent on books and 18 per cent on nearly everything else); the process is fairly complex, but well worth it. Non-EU visitors may buy goods from certain shops bearing the sign ‘Member of the Tax-Free Club’ and have the VAT refunded, in cash, at special refund points at the airport. Ask store owners and tourist information offices for details.
Shopping hours
These vary according to the season, location and type of shop, but a rough guide follows: Mon, Wed, and Sat 0800-1430, Tues, Thurs and Fri 0800-1400 and 1730-2030.Note: Most holiday resort shops stay open late in the evening.
Currency Information:
Single European currency (Euro)
The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Greece). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Greek Drachma was in circulation until February 28 2002, when it was completely replaced by the Euro. Euro (&Euro;) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of &Euro;500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of &Euro;2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Currency exchange
Foreign currency can be exchanged at all banks, savings banks and bureaux de change. Exchange rates can fluctuate from one bank to another. Many UK banks offer differing exchange rates depending on the denominations of currency being bought or sold. Check with banks for details and current rates.
Credit & debit cards
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted (although less so in petrol stations), as well as Eurocheque cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travelers cheques
All major currencies are widely accepted and can be exchanged easily at banks. Generally, banks in Greece charge a commission of 2 per cent with a minimum of &Euro;0.15 and a maximum of &Euro;13.21 on the encashment of travelers cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Currency restrictions
The import of local and foreign currency is not restricted provided any amount exceeding &Euro;10,000 is declared on arrival. The export of local and foreign currency is allowed although amounts over &Euro;2000 require an Import Currency Declaration Form issued on arrival, and amounts over &Euro;10,000 require a Certificate of Tax Clearance or Currency Declaration Form (on import).
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Euro against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date |
May '04 |
Aug '04 |
Nov '04 |
Feb '05 |
| £1.00= |
1.50 |
1.49 |
1.42 |
1.46 |
| $1.00= |
0.84 |
0.81 |
0.75 |
0.77 |
Banking hours
Mon-Thurs 0800-1430, Fri 0800-1400. Banks on the larger islands tend to stay open in the afternoon and some during the evening to offer currency exchange facilities during the tourist season. The GNTO bureau in Athens can give full details. |
|
|
