AboutDenny Expertise Greece on a budget, The Islands, Mainland, Athens and its burbs. For the basics on getting around...maybe I can help...I go there yearly and you can`t be as cheap as me .
Experience Worked & lived in Athens area for 5 years. (78-83 Was AFRS Radio Announcer (Denny West)at the time. Last visit: Mar/Sep 2005. Last time in Europe, June
2008 (Spain & Germany).
Organizations Janesville Library (I have a card)
Publications Stars & Stripes
Education/Credentials I have a BS degree from UTSA, guess that means I can expound on just about anything ?
Awards and Honors USAF Broadcasting's 'Thomas Jefferson Award'
Past/Present Clients I am NOT a travel salesperson.
Question Will be travelling to Athens July 18-28, 2002.
Athens Gate Hotel (10 Syngrou Ave., Athens)
1. What is the legal age for alcohol consumption in Greece? (Does it at all vary by the area you stay in?)
2. Any idea of where we can find information for Athens: bus routes, general ideas on food prices (grocery stores and restaurants), tourist sites that are a "must see" within city limits, tourist sites within walking distance of hotel.
This information may be online, your personal thoughts or simply an address to which we may write.
3. Information on Athens nightclubs: popular clubs; club prices (admission, general idea of drink prices)
4. Cheapest way to get from Airport to hotel.
5. If you can think of any places near our hotel area where it is not safe for tourists to be.
6. Is there certain etiquette in general we should know about? (ie. no hats worn in a restaraunt, etc.)
Answer Yassou Lesley & Ryan, Thanks for the Q's
Will try to answer the quickies and then let YOU find the more extensive ones that would take me too long to write about:
1) Their is NO drinking age in Athens ... seems that the only drunks are a few tourists...the ones that find drinking a whole lot cheaper in Athens then say in the Scandinavian countries or Finland or places like that.
Wine (Retsina) is very inexpensive and can be purchased in almost any store. And the same goes for OUZO (the Anisant like drink that is best consumed mixed with a bit of H2O.
Beer is also easy to come by (Amstel, Miller, Bud,
Heinekin are the favorites) sold in any store that sells
beverages.
Bottled water is still the most popular drink in July.
Like the USA in price.
You will find the drinks skyrocket in price in the (so-called) 'Chic' or 'in' Clubs.
Sometimes the cover charge to get in covers your first drink, most cases it doesn't. And the covers in these clubs have climbed. My advice...don't go to any unless you like to throw money around ... Or if you are looking to score some Drugs...that is where the tourist usually will find "the Man".
Drinks in tavernas & restaurants are moderately higher then in the store...just like in States.
About $2 or $3 for a Beer or litre of Retsina.
Hard stuff is expensive anywhere in Greece, sold mainly in clubs & after hours pubs.
Best way to get from the Airport to Plaka in downtown Athens is to take the bus. They run every 15-20 minutes and
get you there in under an hour depending on Athens Traffic.
Airport is located to the N-N-E of the city central by 27-kliks. NOT far from the Northern outskirts. Taxi will cost you about $10 dollars for one, $12 for two, but IF you have LOTS of baggage it is better to go this way...Backpackers: take the bus or try to go four in a Cab. Bus cost you about a dollar.
Most of Athens is very safe, however IF I had to pick a spot to stay away from it would be Amonia Square, in the evening and late at nite. Course if you are looking for trouble (in the way of per-or-di-versions)that is a good place to find some.
The beaches of Athens are to the south of town...in July this will be good to know... take the bus (or taxi) to Glyfada ...to Voula or Vari OTE beaches. These are the 'pay' beaches but they are alot nicer then the free local beaches and don't cost that much to get in (about $5) Glyfada is another Athens Nite spot SPA and
is quite popular, replete with clubs & tavernas and rocks ALL nite..EVERY nite. Sometime in the past (until 1990) it was little America as the troops from the nearby base RULED !
But now it is a free zone for fun & frolic ...
It is not totally safe as is the case anywhere that loud music, liquor and mopeds and younger crowds tend to gather.
Best to go with a friend or two or a group, then YOU can be the loudest & wildest people there ! (LOL)
Reference Ediquette: Don't walk down the street with a liquor bottle, Don't litter.
Suggest you still bring your own toilet paper.
and alot of tavernas where you might go to eat have a policy or tradition that you go into the kitchen and check out whats to eat instead of a menu ... Just go in and
point to what you want. Kind of a cool idea.
From your hotel you are within 500 metres of the Plaka and are well within walking distance of most of the traditional sites...IE: Acropolis, Flee market, Changing of guard in Syndagma square area, Lycabettus Hill (walk to the base and then take the finicula [cable car] to the top for a great view and so-so icecream or ice coffee.)
It will be VERY hot when you are there, you may wish to bring a little hand-held battery operated fan with you!
Great fish food (albeit $$$) can be found in the Turkolimano
area (take a taxi)
DAFNI WINE FESTIVAL going on all summer ... go in the evening on an empty stomach and pig out ! (Taxi will take you there)
If you have a hotel in Athens in July you can afford the luxury of CAB ! Just ask your hotel desk person to get you one. Cost you an extra $2 but well worth the convenience.
All the places I have mentioned are accessible by bus...
and you do save money...but you will find it a hassle to find the bus stop from your hotel. Then you have to get your bus tickets in advance at any of the little kiosks you see...yes , the ones selling magazines & cigarettes.
and then you have to get on the correct bus.
Difficult to explain to someone who has never been there.
Oh one other spot to get away from the caos of downtone Athens in July...go the the Kesariani Monastery in the morning...have a picnic and just stroll the grounds or lay in the shade...serene is the word that comes to mind...
(Yes, a bus will take you there too)
Here is where I invite you to go to your library and check out a book entitled "LETS GO GREECE - 2002" .
The book is also available on-line from Amazon and in book stores like Barnes & Noble (but the price will be about $20).
Instead of the cost...check it out at the library for free
then turn it back in (NOW) ... then when you get close to leaving check it out again and take it with you on your trip. It is simply the best book on traveling in Greece
out there ... and no, I do not get a commission.
If the 2002 edition is not in stock they usually have 2001 or 2000 available ...now much difference.
