Not Had A Holiday For Years...and Years

anoneemouse

Its been so many years since I had the money for a holiday that I'm far from au fait with how things are these days. I'm off to Crete tomorrow for a weeks half-board with a travel company - and they are making various mistakes with what they tell me + I have how-to queries of my own.

1. How much money do I need to take with me - I have £200 worth of Euros and am taking credit and debit cards in case - bearing in mind £106 will be going on trips I plan to have.

2. Last time I went anywhere was so long ago that I used travellers cheques - I'm new to credit and debit card use even in this country! Its Nationwide Visa debit card and Nationwide credit card I have - and I've never used a credit card at all yet.

Can I readily get further Euros if I require with my debit card - if so, where?

I guess I would only use the credit card for purchasing meals out/goods? Do I have to use my PIN number if I use a credit card?

3. With my travel firm I am going with not being that efficient - one bit of their literature says check-in on outbound flight is 2 hours beforehand - but the ticket says a time 3 hours beforehand. Bearing in mind that I am going from a regional airport - which time do I go by?

4. Ditto inefficient firm - they are using an airline (Air Malta) that says one thing for size of handluggage (too small!) on the one hand, but the travelfirm I am using says "oh well - its Excel Airways we have booked this through and their max size is (bigger)". Which one do I go by?

All other advice welcome - as I feel so new to this and really need to have a good holiday (so much awful stuff has happened in my life since the last one.....and it aint over yet..)

anoneemouse

Anyone?

ManAtHome

Well, you have the right cards - Nationwide Flex will work in any ATM and no "currency" charges when you buy stuff with the credit card. Best to use a bank ATM (they are in many places, not just outsid banks) - Emporiki, Alpha, and Bank of Greece probably the most widespread. Worth asking the rep where the nearest ATM is, although I suspect your off to a larger resort at this time of year.

On half-board, you're likely to just need booze and nibbles. In supermarkets/mini-markets, beer about the same price as supermarkets over here, as are branded spirits, but there are 'own brand' type substitutes (same as over here). ating/drinking out around same price as Weatherspoons or similar chains.

Check-in desks will probably open 2 hours before the flight - I normally aim for between 2 and 3, depends on how far to the airport, likely traffic, how reliable your transport.

Can't help with the cabin baggage, maybe safest to go for the smaller one?

Whereabouts you going - back last week after 2 weeks in Gournes.

anoneemouse

Hi

Thanks for replying. I'm going to Gouves and Heraklion.

ManAtHome

Ok - Gouves is the next one east from Gournes...

Fair size beach-type resort, plenty of eating/drinking houses, shops etc, not too mad, transfer around 45 mins from Heraklion. ATM I found was outside a supermarket at the top of the 'main street' (signposted 'Centre') - good bar just over the road while you wait for the queue to go down (lol).

Handy hints:
You don't drop paper down the bog, it goes in the handily-provided bin (most of Greece has very small-bore sewage system which blocks easily).

Beware of the Raki..!! Lots of bars will give you the occasional shot of the stuff - cross between tequila and windolene, but strangely addictive... It's the Cretan version of moonshine - you can buy the official stuff in proper bottles at 40% alcohol, the not quite so official normally dispensed from 2 litre pop bottles can be a fair bit stronger. After lots of research, it goes quite well with grapefruit juice.

If you buy ciggies on credit card, they normally add 2.5% so cheaper with Nationwide debit to draw and pay cash.

The ATMs are multi-language and don't default to English for UK cards so your first choice is the English button. After you enter your pin, it'll ask which system to use - I always use something like Bank-Dia, not Visa (dunno if there's a difference, but the Dia one definitely doesn't charge extra). Then it asks whether your taking from "checking" or "savings" - I use checking. Final choice is how many euros - couple of weeks ago 150 euros was around £105.

Credit card PIN is a bit hit and miss - most of the smaller shops aren't geared up for it so you get to sign instead.

Heraklion airport is quite small and (as usual for Greece) a bit chaotic - no guarantee you'll have much if any time in duty-free (ciggie prices are the same in airport as in resort by the way). Same restrictions as the UK as regards liquids etc, and usual mark-up once your through to departures...

Anyway it's all very friendly and laid-back - hope you have a great time (grrr jealous now).

luci

If the ATM asks whether you want the transaction calculated in euros or GPB (sterling) make sure you select euros, otherwise you will get a poor exchange rate.

It may be a good idea, if you have time, to call the Nationwide and tell them you are going to Greece to make sure they don't put a stop on your cards with them being used abroad, especially if it is the first time you will be using them.

Make sure you don't use the credit card in the ATM as the interest for withdrawing cash is high and charged from the minute you take it out.

When using your credit card, check the amounts carefully before entering your PIN or signing the slip.

anoneemouse

Thanks very much both - you've been very helpful to a relative travel "virgin" like myself.

The comment from ManAtHome re "lots of research" with the raki - sounds like a cue for a smiley going "hic" - me with visions of you doing some research, then doing some more research and - then just to be sure - doing some more research (thats a new name for what your right arm is for!:beer: ). Might give the grapefruit juice with it a go. Me - I'm looking forward to some retsina. Planning also to go on various trips and take myself off for a walk round Heraklion.