greek flag animated.gif (8697 bytes)     TRAVEL TIPS    greek flag animated.gif (8697 bytes)

These notes are not in any particular order but we recommend that you read them all.  These notes pertain not only to Karpenisi but to Greece in general.

Travel attitude.  If you are a first time visitor to Greece, the first point to note is that your mind-frame must change.  Skip the modern-life mind-frame, skip the American or Western ways, skip efficiencies.   Things are much simpler in Greece.  People are not in a rush and are slow at everything.  Service is not always the best but their friendliness will win you over.   It is an imperative that you be willing to adapt and if you have the attitude "do as the natives do", your experience in Greece will be unforgettable.  If however you come over looking for the McDonald's and Hiltons you will be in for a rude and nasty awakening.  Try to be in an adventurous mode.

Service.  Hate to say it but non-existent!  This is the downside of Greece.  If you want to make this an enjoyable trip, mentally prepare yourself for mostly poor service.  Just keep telling yourself that these people are real lazy in Greece (once out of Greece they work like dogs - go figure).

Luggage.  This is probably one of the most important tips we can offer you and the one that can make your travel all the more enjoyable.  PACK LIGHT.  Let us say it again: PACK  LIGHT.  How about a third time: pack light pretty please.   The weather is hot, no need to be carrying a hundred items.   Carry a duffel or travel bag, preferably one with wheels.

Dictionary.  Buy yourself a small Greek-English dictionary.  Many signs are in English, but with so many different ways to spell a Greek word in English, its recommended that you have a Greek dictionary with you.  English is widely spoken in the main tourist areas, but in remote interior regions expect to use sign language quite a bit or try to talk to the younger generation who know English best.

Travel guides.   Buy yourself two or three travel guides to Greece.  Highly thought of are Frommer's Guide to Athens, Frommer's Guide to Greece, and Eyewitness Travel Guides: The Greek Islands.

Map names.   When looking at maps of Greece you must be very careful with the spelling of names.  Most maps have translated names,  written in either English, French or even German phonetics.  But these these can be so confusing because you must wonder who did the translating and how: was it a Greek translating to English phonetics or say a Brit doing so?  Adding to this confusion is the fact that several locations in Greece have multiple names -- remnants of former occupiers of Greece. For example, Santorini is the Venetian name for the island of Thira in the Cyclades. Furthermore, other areas like Evritania in Central Greece is known by its central town, Karpenisi (sometimes incorrectly spelled Karpenissi), and not the provincial name Evritania. To alleviate this confusion, its recommended that you buy two maps when you arrive in Greece, one in Greek and the other in English.

Basic Regions of Greece:

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Karpenisi is in Central Greece.


Distances.   When looking at a map of Greece don't misjudge distances.  For example, the distance between Athens and Karpenisi is 300 kilometers (188 miles).  You would then think oh that should only take 2 3/4 hours or 3.  Well most of it is mountainous and the only way to make it in 3 hours is to travel at 150 kph (94 mph) on the straight stretches.  The same applies for example to getting to Porto Rafti from Athens, the distance is only 35 kilometers (22 miles) but you have summer time traffic and MAJOR road construction for the new airport.  So give yourself lots of time for all your travel plans - do NOT base travel time on distance.

Metric system.   This brings up another point.  Everything is in metric.  Americans, coming from the last country in the world that doesn't use metric, should use the following approximate rules to convert:  1.6 kilometers per mile, 4 liters per gallon, 2.5 cms per inch and about 1.1 yards per meter.

Driving.   When driving in Europe do note that gas is expensive.  Usually 2 to 2.5 times USA gas prices.  Also note that Greek drivers are like Manhattan taxicab drivers.  Do NOT be a defensive driver in Greece, you must be OFFENSIVE.  Make sure to have an International Drivers permit with you. Almost all cars are manual drive (stick-shift), therefore if you cannot drive with such a car make sure when you rent to ask if they have an automatic.  There is also one more important point for those who decide to drive in Greece to consider.  On most older one-lane highways you will see a white solid line on the right side of the lane you are driving in that looks like a breakdown lane.  Well here is the surprise.  When you drive you usually stay IN the "breakdown lane" or over it!  When someone is passing you, you should move into the "breakdown lane".  When you want to pass someone then you turn on your left turn signal, get into the regular lane and pass them.  If the car you are trying to pass doesn't move, high beam them.   WE RECOMMEND that everyone not speed or drive wildly --  Greece has a very high road fatality rate and we do not want any of our guests or friends injured.

Island Transport.   We believe that for those that can handle it, its best to travel on the islands using mopeds, "Vespas" or motorcycles.  Bargain for a good rate, your passport will be required.  This is the best way to truly discover the islands.  You will APPRECIATE this advice, trust us.  For those with children or those who prefer not to be that adventurous, look to rent a small open top jeep.  We do however emphasize that you should be cautious in driving on any island because the roads are narrow, crowded and have steep drops.

Cost.  Very important to remember that you will "get what you paid for".  This means if you want to get the cheapest accommodations, then expect cheap conditions.  If you pay top notch you get top notch.

Airfares.   For airfares, check out the online travel services.  Try to use a major airline.  A warning about using charter flights, particularly Tower Air & World Airways: it is very normal to have delays ranging from 3 to 18 hours on these airlines.  Although there is no guarantee this won't happen on a major airline, the likelihood increases when you use the popular summer charter flights that are advertised.  The cheaper airfares are usually connecting flights through London, Paris, Brussels or Frankfurt, and best purchased in the spring.  Peak airfares are usually found around July 4th period and the first week in September.  It is also recommended that you try to use your frequent flyer miles, but they need to be booked a year in advance. The only airlines from the US providing direct service (therefore priced more expensively) are: delta airlines.gif (801 bytes) and

Airports.  At last Greece has entered the modern world.  In 2001 it opened a huge new international airport just east of Athens in an area called Spata. (http://www.aia.gr/ )   It has been ranked as one of the top airports in Europe and the world.  However three down sides.  First, depending at which gate you land at, be prepared for long walks to get to baggage claim (their are moving conveyor belts for the lazy.)  Second negative is that you no longer land over beautiful marinas, beaches and homes -- rather you land in the middle of vineyards and lots of dry dirt.  And finally, the airport is no longer close to the city.   Depending on traffic the ride to the city in a taxi or car can be anywhere from 30 to 70 minutes.  However the good news is that an direct city to airport link is being built and will be ready in time for the Olympics.

Ferry Boats.   The most affordable and popular way to get around during the summer.  These boats usually take a long time to get where they are going because they also ferry cars, buses and trucks.  A quick solution is to take a hydrofoil (you must book it in advance), but if the seas get rough service is usually suspended, so be warned not to book your schedule with a tight time line.  Most boats leave from the ancient port of Pireaus.  Be warned that Pireaus is very old and run down.  The other bad news is that if you want to go from the airport to the port, it is no longer close.  An alternative is to find a ferry boat leaving from either Rafina (north east from airport, about 20 minutes away and you can travel to the islands of Andros, Tinos, Paros and Mykonos from here) or take transport to Lavrio (which will eventually take over from Pireaus as the main ferry hub. 

Taxis.   Now a talk about taxicab rides in Greece.  First lets start with the only good news: they are DIRT cheap!  Now all the bad news.  Because the cabs are cheap, they are allowed to take on additional passengers, so don't be offended if this happens.   Now this brings up the first major problem tourists have in hailing a cab.   Tourists sit there waiting for an empty cab -- good luck!  When a cab approaches you, raise your hand to flag it and yell out where you want to go.  For example yell: "airport", or "Acropolis", or "Hilton Hotel".   So assume you get lucky and you get a cab, the next issue to contend with is with a cab driver who tries to take advantage of you.  Make sure they put the meter on, many try to keep it off and overcharge.  Secondly, during the day time hours make sure the meter is set to the number one "1".  At night, usually between 12am and 5am, they have the right to put it at "2", which basically doubles your fare.  Tipping is usually very small, just enough to round off.  There is minimum cab fare on all rides and there is also a surcharge to and from the ports and airport, with an additional charge per 10kg bag (see rate charts in the taxi you take).

Buses.  Very cheap but always crowded during the summer.

Trains.  Compared to Western Europe underdeveloped.  Part of this is due to the rough terrain.  Major segments are the Patra/Athens and Athens/Thessaloniki links.

Metro.  At last in 2000 the Metro was opened up.  While it was being built Athens was a city under dirt for almost a decade.   Although you will find many squares still under construction, the hub of the system is up and running.   Please use it, you do not want to deal with traffic jams and the heat.

Tipping.  Make sure to look at the bottom of your menus for whether the tip is included or not.  Tips are usually built into the prices.  Most Greeks leave a small tip, something on the order of about 3%.  Do not leave the 15-20% tips usual in America.

VAT.  Most non-Europeans will be in shock to see that the sales tax is about 18%.   Most items have it built into their sticker prices.  Before you commit, make sure to ask.  If you buy jewelry or other expensive items and are from outside the Euro zone then you are entitled to a refund on the VAT tax -- ask your merchant for instructions.

Shopping.  At any shop that looks like a tourist trap, haggle like crazy.   Many times the prices are doubled or tripled for the suckers out there.  In fact, at any establishment that doesn't look professional ask for a lower price.  No haggling at department stores or restaurants.

Rooms for rent.  For those that will wing it and come with no reservations (and for those who do here is an explanation of what you will see), expect when you arrive on an island to be greeted by tens of people looking to give you housing.  Shop around among these people and ask them to take you to their rooms so you may inspect them.  On average, you get excellent rooms at dirt cheap prices.

Hotels.  Caution should be exercised when a hotel says double beds.  This actually means two single beds are put together to form a double size bed.

ellada.gif (2584 bytes) The actual word "Greek" is a derogatory term.  A decade ago there was a large effort by the "Greeks" to change the term but given that most of the international community is engrained with this term, nothing has come of this movement.  However, where ever you go in "Greece" you will see the real terms.  "Greece" is written as "Hellas" or "Ellada".  "Greeks" is "Hellenes" and "Greek" is Elliniko.  Throughout Hellas, on official notices and stamps you will see these terms used.

Language.  If you truly want to learn some Greek, learn how to pronounce the Greek alphabet and when we say pronounce we mean as the Greeks do.   For example B is in English "beta".  In Greek it is also "beta" but actually pronounced  like "vita".   If you can't manage learning the whole alphabet, just learn some key Greek words like:  (if you cannot view the Greek characters change the "Encoding" of your browser to Greek):

Food.  Eat your heart out in Greece.  The food is affordable and excellent.   There are many fish platters to choose from.   The traditional dishes of mousaka or pastichio are incredible. The pastries are out of control.  Heck, since you are swimming and walking all day, splurge!  A warning though for first timers, stay away from foods containing bacon as they undercook it in Greece.  To wash down all that food we highly recommend the wines of Greece (stay away from the older styled retsina wines).  Now for the shocker, do not book any dinner engagements before 10pm.  Dinner during the summer is between 10pm and 1am.   Now the pleasant news: you will rarely find an indoor restaurant during the summer in Greece!  Also do not be bashful, walk into the kitchens to see what they have, in fact if you are eating fish ask to go in to see their fish collections they have on ice.  Select them yourself.

Water.  Safe all over Greece,  However, many islands do not have natural water sources and must tanker their supplies in.  We recommend on the islands that you only drink bottled water.  Bottled water is cheap.  WE EMPHASIΖΕ TO EVERYONE: DRINK PLENTY OF WATER ALL DAY.  The dry weather means your body loses its water content fast.

Sun.  The sun is hot and because during the summer time there are rarely any clouds around it means sun all day (particularly in July).  Please make sure to bring a covering for your head like a  baseball cap.  Also bring several sunglasses, sun screen and beach towels.

Mosquitoes and flies. On the islands very few flies, but in the interior just get use to them!  As for mosquitoes, we recommend that once you arrive you immediately go and buy an electrical mosquito propellant device.  They usually look like small tennis balls that fit into an outlet.  Make sure to get one per room that you will be using and to buy enough of a supply of mosquito pads to put in these devices. All of these should be pretty cheap.   Buy yourself a mosquito propellant like Johnson Wax's OFF! Skintastic Unscented -- this product seems to be the best as it doesn't smell.

Electricity.  This is continental Europe.  Only 220V devices work here.   If you need to use a 120v appliance like a hair dryer, make sure to purchase two converters (try to get two different brands because if one burns out you have the other.)

Worry Beads.   Whether its old men sitting at cafes playing cards or Yuppies trying to be hip, you will see in the hands of many men worry beads.  These are not Rosemary beads and they have no religious significance.  In this part of the world they are nothing more than a relaxing habit.  Buy one and try them out, they are available everywhere!

Body language.  Be careful how you say yes and no with your head. Shaking your head in the Western expression of yes is usually a "no" in Greek.  A Greek "yes" is actually a sudden lifting of the eyebrows and sometimes a nod of the head to the side, that incorrectly seems like a Western "no". So as you can tell its much better to just SAY no or yes, or in Greek respectfully "oxi" or "nai".

Churches.  Whether you are of the Christian faith or not, the Churches in side are absolutely breath taking and worthy of your exploration.  However,  when entering any Church men must wear long pants and women are not permitted in if wearing pants, so go with a skirt.

Weather.  DRY.  We will say that again, dry.  During the day it can be 33C to 40C (92F to 104F), but if you go in the shade you will appreciate the dry weather. Unlike humidity, you can escape and find coolness in the shade.  During the hot days the evening's temperatures will be spectacular but sometimes it can cool down quite a bit, so it is not a bad idea to bring a pullover or sweater or sweatshirt.  During the windy period (July 15th to August 15th) its definitely recommended to have something for the evening.

Greek habits.  Lunch between 2-4pm, siesta (afternoon nap) 4-6pm and dinner between 10pm to 1am.  These are probably much different timings that you are accustom to.  Its not unusual to find Americans hunting for food at 12 noon, the English wandering around in deserted streets at siesta time and famished Japanese at 7pm.   If you wish to enjoy your stay adapt the Greek timings.

Greek walks.  Voltes means walks in Greek.  In the evening you will find throughout Greece, the number one pastime is to take strolls around the town or the beach or the mountains.  Do not be surprised to find dozens if not hundreds of people loosely following the same path.

Greek men.   Ladies be warned: the men are aggressive.   Whether you are single or attached, the men will not be embarrassed to woe you.   For women from societies not accustom to this, it can be quite upsetting.   Best to just ignore them, any smile from you will be interpreted as an invitation to continue the "pursuit".

Swimming.  The water is very salty.  This means you float easy and it will be a comfort to parents with kids along.  The salty condition also means you have to take a shower afterwards.  The water warms up starting in June and by September is heavenly.  The water will not be as warm as Miami nor as cold as New York.; once you put your head in you will be find.    Some good news: there are hardly any sharks to contend with. The only thing to be careful about are jellyfish, usually found in cave areas.  The seas surrounding Greece are the cleanest in  Europe, with over 97% of the beaches certified as safe to swim in.  However we have found an increasing littering of Greek beaches and we would like to remind travelers to Greece to respect the delicacy of the environment.

Snorkel.   Bring your gear along.

Diving.   Restricted due to all the antiquities that exist underwater.   You can dive but only in designated areas.  Please consult your travel book or search the web for more info.

Beaches.   Vary.  Some are soft as powder, some all rocks, others all black or red or white.  Each island is different.  However, we recommend bringing along sandals and better yet swimming shoes.  If you end up on a rocky beach, at least you will be prepared.  There is also another adjustment for those from the conservative American society.   In Greece, as elsewhere in Europe, topless sun bathers are common and don't be surprised to see some nudity (particularly Mykonos).  At traditional "Greek" beaches you will usually not see this, but on the whole be prepared for this -- especially those with children (please explain to your children that this is normal and nothing to be ashamed of).  If this offends you don't worry.  Trust us, there are plenty of other beaches for you to go to.

Safety.  Greece is the safest nation in Europe.  However,  its smart to always be super cautious and vigilant over safety especially with the recent instability of Eastern Europe.  Be on guard against Slavic looking characters, particularly the Albanians.  In American they have propagandized an image of the Albanian as helpless.  Unfortunately (although there are hard working Albanians who come to Greece to work as migrant workers), many are of the bad element.  Greece rarely ever had crime but with the influx of Albanians things have changed.  Avoid them, also stay away from the gypsies at all costs, they are terrific pick-pocketers.  Due to the Bosnian and Kosovo conflicts, many of their war injured have come to Greece to pan handle.  Please avoid them also.  We hope we have scared you enough to be cautious but as you will find out, women can walk unaccompanied safely at 3am in most of Greece.  Only in the big cities, particularly in run down neighborhoods, does one need to be cautious.  In Athens that area is called Omonia.  For the islands it is the safest you will ever feel in all your life but you should still remain cautious. The most sought after items are passports and money.  Always hide your passports or leave them at the front desk (most hotel will require anyway for you to leave your passport when you check in).   With money, use travelers cheques, but most establishments, aside from banks, do not accept them.  It is best when you arrive to cash some of them and for safety keep the rest in cheque form.

Telephones.  Buy a telecard as soon as you arrive.   You can use these all over the place.  If however you need to make a very long call overseas, you can go to the OTE (the telephone company office) and use one of their phones.  At OTE you will make your call and afterwards pay them for the cost.   The country code for Greece is 30, so that is 011-30 from USA and 001-30 from most other countries.  City codes come in the format: (210) for Athens and (22370) in Karpenisi.  When you are in Greece and wish to call a city or island you will dial that full extension, for example 22370-12345, if family is trying to reach you from overseas they should call 011-30 (22370) 12345.  

Mobiles.  US mobile phones do not work in Europe, you will need a GSM 900 Mhz phone and a mobile phone card.  If you do not have one, you will need to buy a GSM 900 Mhz phone.  Alternatively, you can buy one at the airport when you land.  At the moment the cheapest models they are offering run for about $100 to $120 USA. The good part is that if you ever travel again you will be able to use the phone (you must get a new prepaid card) all over Europe, Australia, and Asia.  After buying the mobile, you will need to purchase the prepaid card ("COSMOKARTA") to insert into the phone. The pricing details for the phones are available at http://www.cosmote.gr/en/home/index.htm  as well as information on COSMOKARTA - the prepaid card. You will find Cosmote (which is actually part of the state owned telephone company: OTE) at the airport when you land. 

Exchange rates.  The drachma held its own for 3000 years but its now been pushed over by the Euro.  The Euro is the only currency used in Greece.  As long as the Euro/USD rate ranges between 0.9000 dollars to the euro, to 1.1000 dollars to the euro, you might as well as consider it at parity -- this means when you see a price in Euros just think US dollars and you have the price.  If the Euro/USD is at 0.9000 take the Greek price and deduct 10% off it to get a rough US dollar price.  If the Euro/USD is at 1.1000 take the Greek price and add 10% to it to get a rough US dollar price .

Flashlights.   Not a bad idea to carry a small flash light in your bag.  Whenever there is a moonless night and you are away from the towns, it becomes pitch black so you will need a flashlight to get around. 

Terrain.  Rocky, mountainous and olive trees in every possible corner.

Blue is the Greek national color.   It is also the color of the Aegean and Ionian Seas.  You will have a better understanding of this once you have visited Greece.

Apartment Buildings.  Greece is plagued with seismic activity, therefore you will not find many skyscrapers here.  You will however find many flat top apartment buildings in the cities.  There are two reasons why many of these homes lack traditional slanted roofs.  The first being that snow is rare in the low altitudes.   The second is that families tend to live together, so the parents will build one floor for themselves and then two to three additional floors for their children.  Because it is expensive to go build the whole apartment structure at once the parents build just the skeletal structures and leave the rest for when their children get married -- this will explain why you will see so many unfinished buildings in Greece.  In many other instances, people will just build up all the cemented floors to avoid the risk that zoning or building codes will change when they are ready to finish their homes.

Balconies.  Rich or poor, all Greeks must have a huge balcony in their apartments or homes.  The balcony during the summer effectively becomes the home's living room.  You will find many Greeks eating dinners, playing cards or backgammon, watching TV or even sleeping on their balconies.

Wood / Marble.  In America having marble in your home is a luxury, therefore US houses are mostly wooden.  In Greece the reverse is true.   Wood is scarce so it is a luxury in a home.  You will find mostly marble, stone and cement in most homes.

Summer Fires.  With very hot temperatures during the summer and a DRY climate, forest fires are common place.  Whether you are on the islands or in the mountains, we ask that you be very careful.  Do not be surprised if you see these fires, but try to stay clear of them.  Although many fires are accidental, quite a few are started by arsonist.  A few of these are actually from Greece's foe looking to disrupt summer tourism, while many others are caused by shepherds trying to circumvent grazing rules (which are alleviated if an accidental fire burns out crops or sections of land).  Another reason is that in Greece landowners are prohibited from clearing their land of trees to build -- but if a "real" fire burns away those trees, you can build!  So you can imagine with all these factors what has happened to Greece in the last 40 years.  If you look at photos of areas from 30 to 40 years ago and you will be in shock to now see the massive deforestation of Greece.  So remember, the ancient Greeks lived in a greener world, not the "bald" landscape that it has become.

Earthquakes.  Until September, 1999's deadly earthquake in Athens (the worse in 85 years), Greece had been untouched by a major quake since 1981. No guarantees can be made that you won't feel a tremor, the seismic activity is similar to California. So don't be surprised to see cracks in the wall.  

Politics.   Best tip we can give you is to avoid discussing politics.   Its the blind leading the blind here, so if you wish to avoid misery talk about the weather or the ruins and skip anything political.

Pharmacies.  You will be shocked to find that you can walk into a pharmacy in Greece and ask for antibiotics or other medicines without a doctor's prescription!