What to do about money in Zante?

Gyle

My son is going to Zante and I am unsure about how he should take his money due to the current economic climate in Greece, keep getting conflicting opinions.

Should he take:

Travel moneycard from the travel agents - people saying that there is no money in the cash machines

Travellers cheques - people saying that you cannot get these exchanged

Cash - risk of safe/money being stolen

Money transfer - not sure about

Anyone got any ideas of what to do??

Thanks

richardw

When is he going?

Gyle

He is going in 2 weeks

Kathy535

I'm off to Greece in 4 weeks and am taking a mixture of sterling travellers cheques (no commission through my bank) and euros (but I won't get these until nearer the time, just in case...). I checked on a forum for the resort I'm going to and asked whether £cheque were accepted and several owners of apartments said they were. I also checked with my travel insurers whether I could increase the amount of cash I'd be insured for. They said no, but did point out that my house insurance (also with them) covered an additional amount of cash so I feel happier about taking some notes. I'll also be taking some sterling with me, just to be on the safe side.

richardw

Will he be back before the election? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18082552

markwilkinson

We are going to Greece on Sunday (Thassos, if anyone is interested). I'm not even slightly worried but then we will be back before the second round of elections take place. I'm taking Euros. Had I been going later I'd have been tempted to take some cash in Stirling.

mcfisco

It doesn't really matter

Even if they were to drop out of the Euro tomorrow or any time soon
The Euros will be widely accepted and probably preferred

bagand96

I went to Zante in 2005.... Before this financial mess, and even then those relying on cash machines had a hard time. There were few cash machines in the resort, and due to demand it was not unknown for them to run out of cash, and on a weekend this caused problems for people!

Granted, that was 7 years ago and the situation with ATMs may have changed. However common advice at the moment, due to the Greek meltdown, seems to be don't reply on the banking system (I.e. debit/credit/currency cards)

If you are taking cash, Euros will be fine. Even if Greece pull out of the euro, they can't resurrect the drachma overnight, and Euro notes will still have a value, probably more so than any new drachma. Greek people won't refuse them.

Only consideration with taking all your holiday money in cash is security.

Gyle

He is going on 17 June. I am just really concerned about him taking cash as he is only 17 and not too convinced of security at the apartments.

PennyMoney

Re' the security of taking cash - would you be able to convince him to keep with him just what he needs each day and store the rest in a safety deposit box? If he does agree to do that - check the terms of his travel insurance. For example - a policy that we had a few years ago specified that we weren't covered if the box was located within our apartment.

Gyle

PennyMoney wrote: »

Re' the security of taking cash - would you be able to convince him to keep with him just what he needs each day and store the rest in a safety deposit box? If he does agree to do that - check the terms of his travel insurance. For example - a policy that we had a few years ago specified that we weren't covered if the box was located within our apartment.

I had applied for one of these money cards from Thomas Cook but I will now look at the cash option. I will contact the hotel/apartment and find out about locations of safes etc.

Thank you very much for your help.