GREECE: USEFUL INFORMATION

• Greeting someone in Athens
  
  Punctuality is considered very important. Shaking hands is the standard international business greeting.
  

• Tipping advice
  
  Service charge is 15 percent in Greece and is usually incorporated in bills. However, it is customary to leave a tip of up to 10 percent for waiters. Others, such as porters, should be tipped in proportion to the level of services rendered. Tip doormen and concierges between 2 -3 €. 
  

• Athens dress code
  
  In summer, due to the heat and the Greek's relaxed attitudes towards formality, dress code is informal and casual dress is acceptable except at official of gatherings. 

electronic, using electronic chips or circuits, such as a computer, printer or VCR? If you are using an electronic device, you need a transformer. When in doubt about the type of device, use a transformer. Both electric appliances and electronic devices work with a transformer, but only electric appliances work with a converter.

* Second, is your use continuous and long-term or is it sporadic and short term? Transformers are designed for long term, continuous use. Converters are designed to operate for only an hour or two at a time

The standard in Greece is 220V AC (50Hz). If you are bringing your own equipment please remember to bring the Converters or Transformer you will need. 
Electric devices that are designed for use with 110V systems require Greek 220V current to be 'stepped-down.' The choice between a converter or a transformer depends on several things. 

* First, is your device an electric appliance with a high power heating element or mechanical motor such as a hair dryer or iron? If you are using an electric appliance, you need a converter. Or is your device electronic, using electronic chips or circuits, such as a computer, printer or VCR? If you are using an electronic device, you need a transformer. When in doubt about the type of device, use a transformer. Both electric appliances and electronic devices work with a transformer, but only electric appliances work with a converter.

* Second, is your use continuous and long-term or is it sporadic and short term? Transformers are designed for long term, continuous use. Converters are designed to operate for only an hour or two at a time

• Time
  
  Greek time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, an hour ahead of Central European Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. 
  You can find out the exact time by calling 141 (Note: recorded message is in Greek Language). Click here for world time.
  

• Telephone
  
  Getting prepaid phone cards is the cheapest way to make intercity or international calls. Local and international calls can made from public card phone using these prepaid calling cards or from kiosks (periptera) equipped with meters. Prepaid calling cards can be purchased from kiosks and OTE offices. Tip: Use Vivodi Telecom Prepaid Calling Card as the cheapest way.
  

• Mobile Phones
  
  In Greece you can use all GSM mobile phones (system used in Europe and a few other countries) but, US cell phones do not work in Greece. I suggest you check InTouch Global http://intouchglobal.com to get more info about cell phones.  They have helped us a lot! 
  If you bring your own mobile phone with you, when you first switch it on in Greece, will be prompt of which mobile phone provider to use. We recommend you to choose the one recommended by your home mobile phone service provider (sometimes this will give you better rates). 
  Certain companies provide a fixed charge per minute when "roaming" outside the country your phone service is from. Where this does not apply, you will pay fairly high rates for outgoing calls. 
  Incoming calls are expensive, because you pay for the international part of the call (from your country, where your phone service is provided, to you, in Greece). 
  Tip: Check on rates and services with your phone service provider, before your travel. Currency converter 
  

• Internet and E-mails
  
  When traveling in Greece You want to have a look at your e-mails, or at your favorite news site using your Notebook, but don't have an Internet Connection or your provider don't offer roaming in Greece.
  Tip: Easiest way to "connect" your own notebook in Greece and on all your travels worldwide, is to set up an account with Net Roamer. They give you an ISP account that you can use worldwide without changing settings on your laptop. Click here to Sing Up today Save up to 75% on internet access WORLDWIDE with Netroamer!. 
  Choose one of internet cafes from our list, that will be available soon, if you don't have your computer.
  

• Postal Service
  
  If you need to send a letter there are stamp vending machines and post-boxes outside all central post offices. Parcels sent abroad must be inspected, so do not wrap and seal them beforehand. Brown paper, soft padded envelopes and cardboard boxes can be bought at the post offices themselves. Signs denoting post offices are usually bright yellow, as are post-boxes.
  

• Tourism Police
  
  Offers tourists information and help, whenever they have any problems.
  Solve minor differences between tourists and entreprises. 
  You can recognize them by the shoulder flash Tourism Police on their uniforms.
  171 is an emergency telephone line on a 24 hour basis from all over Greece.
  

• Visiting Churches and Monasteries
  
  You are expected to dress in a respectable manner when visiting churches and monasteries: long trousers for men, sleeved dresses and no miniskirts for women.
  

• For more information you can visit Greek National Tourism Organisation - G.N.T.O. (EOT in Greek) offices. The G.N.T.O. addresses in Athens are: 
  
  Head office 
  2, Amerikis Street, 105 64 Athens 
  Tel.: 010 3271300-2, 010 3272000 
  Working hours: Weekdays 08.00-15.00 
  
  Information desk 
  2, Amerikis Street, 105 64 Athens 
  Tel.: 010 3310565, 010 3310692 
  E-mail: eotda01@mail.otenet.gr 
  
  Information Desk at "Eletherios Venizelos" airport (arrivals hall) 
  Tel.: 010 3530445-448 
  Working hours: Monday-Sunday: 08.00-22.00
  

• Money
  
  Euro is the currency of Greece since 1 January 2001. The euro conversion rate of the Drachma is: 1 Euro=340.750 Drachma. One euro is subdivided into 100 euro cent. Click Here for to day exchange rate.
  

• Credit Cards
  
  All major Credit Cards are recognized and accepted in most of hotels, shops, travel agencies, car rental offices  and restaurants; if in doubt ask you bank or credit card company if your card will be acceptable in Greece. Stickers in the front doors will advise you about the acceptable credit cards. For one thing, Greek ATMs usually allow for only a four-digit password; you must get advice from your bank as to how deal with this if your password has more than four. Also note that the punch keys on the Greek ATMs do not use letters, so you must convert your password to numbers. 
  In case of loss or theft of your credit card call immediately:
  
  Access Card
  24 hour service
  Tel.: 010 9503673
  
  American Express Mon-Fri.:08:30-16:00 & Sat.: 08:00-13:00
  Tel.: 010 3244975
  24 hour service
  Tel.: 00 441273526840
  
  Citicard (Citibank)
  24 hour service
  Tel.: 010 9290000 
  
  Diners Card
  24 hour service
  Tel.: 010 9290200
  
  Eurocard / Mastercard
  24 hour service
  Tel.: 010 9503673
  
  Visa International
  24 hour service
  Tel.: 010 9503673 Tel.: 00 800 11 6380304
  

• TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES issued by all the major companies are widely recognized. You can cash your traveler's cheques in all Greek and foreign banks, exchange bureaus and big hotels. Identification is necessary for the transaction, so do not forget to have your passport with you.
  For more information please visit: Bank of Greece