Well- Should I holiday in Greece??!!

CountDrakma

I guess with a username like mine I shouldn't be asking the question!! But with all the turmoil around Greece at the moment I'm wondering whether a holiday there may be more hassle than it's worth.
If I cancel now I lose my deposit of £350. If the country and its economy go pear shaped just before September, and I cancel then, I lose £2000+.
But should I be worrying at all? Some people say the Greeks will welcome our custom, and money (whatever denomination it is), others say play safe and travel elsewhere until the country is fixed.
All views welcome!
Count Drakma

bcl999

Come September they'll be grateful for Monopoly money.

budgetflyer

The only thing which may affect your holiday to Greece is civil war. Otherwise it shouldn't matter too much from a tourist point of view. Most of Asia + Africa + South + Central America, they are living day to day + we still go there and they are greatfull for our tourist pounds

Bob_the_Saver

budgetflyer wrote: »

The only thing which may affect your holiday to Greece is civil war. Otherwise it shouldn't matter too much from a tourist point of view. Most of Asia + Africa + South + Central America, they are living day to day + we still go there and they are greatfull for our tourist pounds

+ Merseyside

sophieschoice

I've booked (and paid for!) a holiday to Greece and am not worrying about it! It's on one of the islands not the mainland and nowhere near Athens.

timbo58

I doubt Greece will descend too much into chaos, they are generally underneath too sensible for that.

They did invent democracy after all.

If you have bought currency already the Greeks will accept it whether it is Euros or not, it's just if they do default it's likely in the short term the euro will be devalued, hence at the very worst you'll lose a few quid in the exchange rate.
Greece will still have the people, the culture, the great food and fantastic beaches its always had.

markwilkinson

I'm going to Greece in 3 weeks and I can't wait!

peachyprice

Go, enjoy. It's the man in the street that needs your help, the little hotelier, restauranteur, taxi driver, mimi-mart owner. They are the people who will welcome tourists with open arms, they know that if tourism dies so does their livelihood.

bcl999

timbo58 wrote: »

I doubt Greece will descend too much into chaos, they are generally underneath too sensible for that.

They did invent democracy after all.

Egypt is called the Mother of Civilisation but what's been happening there recently isn't terribly civilised!

shudd1967

I am off in 4 weeks and not bothered at all about it. I am just wondering what to do about currency. I get paid tomorrow and was going to buy couple of hundred euro's to start me off but really not sure what to do about it.

Sure there must be a thread on here with some advice and what to do if it changes while you are away on holiday in greece. Will have to search although I am sure someone will point me in the right direction.

I know there is a feature on Jeremy Vine Radio 2 on what to do if they pull out of the euro while on holiday there this lunchtime, sadly I will miss it!

sophieschoice

I'm listening to it. The expert advises to go as the restaurants, bars, tavernas are desperate for custom.
A warm welcome awaits any visitor to Greece.
Vine is talking about what happens if the Euro ceases to exist and Drachma's start to be used at a very poor exchange rate, say 1 euro to 1 drachma.
He advises to take more cash (sterling) than you normally would. The Greeks would be happy to take a strong currency.
He says the Greeks are desperate and know Tourism is their trump card so they won't be upsetting the tourist trade.
As he points out, it is all speculation at the moment.