Greece - anyone back recently?

Beenie

and can advise about the current situation re. ATMs, paying for meals, drinks, bus travel etc??

We are due to fly out to Santorini in 5 weeks and we're a bit worried about the situation over there. Heard that petrol is getting difficult as it comes from foreign suppliers and the Greeks can't pay them properly.

Blue264

Got back on 11 days ago and am flying back on Tuesday to Santorini, then Athens and Istanbul.

Greece is open for business!!!!

Now that Greeks can withdraw more than €60 a day, there won't be the queues that I saw the last few weeks, which were never more than 20 people long, and less on the islands.

Everything should be getting back to normal very soon, and what you will see is a welcome better than most places in Europe. It will be interesting to see how the tax rises will be passed on to tourists, as I know many people are loathe to raise their prices...but they still have to keep their businesses running.

Greeks are phenomenally proud people and will do their absolute best to not let the changes show to tourists, but if you do ask Greek about the situation, be prepared to get a couple of drinks and listen to the whole story.

I've answered the concern r.e. car hire in another post. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/68780110#Comment_68780110

I'd stick to Eko and Aegean for petrol, and it's not true that the suppliers are all foreign. I think it's more a case of certain companies refusing to deliver half tanks, and garage owners being unable to do anything about this with the banks being closed.,,,like any business. No garage is going to keep a 5 figure sum on the premises to pay for a delivery.

Kernow666

i have been asking people who have been returning the odd euros they have left to me as i get asked by people buying euros whats it like so good to get an idea
from what i have been told this week everything is fine on the islands and usual resorts , no reports of gangs of muggers targeting tourists as they have 1000s of euros on there person as reported in some newspapers and the people at the resorts and people in shops do give a toss

Rambosmum

I've got a friend out their at the moment and 2 just returned - they've all said that on the Islands it's as though there is nothing wrong, they are really keen to look after the tourists and keep them going back.

All three couples took most of their Euros out with them though did pay for some things on debit credit cards and withdrew some money too.

Moto2

Beenie wrote: »

Heard that petrol is getting difficult as it comes from foreign suppliers and the Greeks can't pay them properly.

Pretty much everything in Greece is imported
As long as the traders can pay, they'll get supplies, if they can't, they won't.

simplydevine05

We're in Skiathos and no problems other than paying by card. Cash is preferred. All cash machines without queues and contain cash so we can always get more if required. There is however a shortage of change as everyone is paying in cash. No food or petrol shortages, just business as usual.

richt99

Just back after a week in Rhodes. For eating out there was only one restaurant that refused to accept my MasterCard, all the other places I tried were fine & accepted credit cards. Didn't use an ATM so can't comment on them. No problem with public transport etc, buses were operating normally, although they did raise the bus fares while I was there.

Pollycat

Just back from 2 weeks on mainland Greece.

Everything was exactly the same as it was when we went to the same place last year.

ATMs working OK, bars and restaurants open for business, fresh produce available in supermarkets.

We only paid by cash so don't know about credit cards being accepted.

No problems with getting change.

Blue264

Just got back tonight and everything is back to normal. VAT has gone up slightly on the islands, but there were no petrol shortages, as there had been earlier in the month.

luker

Use your credit card to fight tax evasion, Greek tourism chief urges visitors.
I think thats a good idea from a number of standpoints.