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| Our Agency, Windmills Travel & Tourism is a full
service Inbound Tour Operator Established in 1979.
It is accredited by the Greek National Tourism
Organisation (GNTO) and is a member of HATTA, the
Hellenic Association of Travel Agents as well as
ASTA (American Association of Travel Agents). We are
also proud to be exclusive partners of such
reputable companies, as Hertz International and
Western Union International Money Transfers on the
islands of Mykonos and Tinos, were long ago our
agency was established. Through the last years, our
services extended from the Cyclades to Crete,
Rhodes, Corfu, Peloponnese, and the mainland as
well, and at this point we're in the actual position
to handle requests for any destination in Greece.
Apart from the individual reservations, which occupy
a great part of our business activities, we also
deal with Tours Operators providing all land
arrangements. We have dealt in the past and still
dealing with some of the most important Tour
Operators. Netherlands (Island World/Rent-a-casa,
Olympia International), Austria (RuefaReisen /
Reiseladen), Finland (Aurinkomatkat), and Italy (I
vostri viaggi,visual viaggi, gay.it) each with their
own weekly charter flight, as well as Tour Operators
from Spain (Iberosol, Tierra Joven), the USA, Great
Britain (Man Around),Germany, Scandinavia, Hungary
and Poland, to mention but a few. We work closely
with them to assist them in producing a successful
tailor-made marketplace. We contract the Hotels on
their behalf, or invite them to make use of the
allocations that we ourselves take in most Hotels,
Self-Catering Apartments and Villas. |
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| Our agency provides a wide range of services including:
accommodation -from deluxe hotels to basic self-catering
rooms-, transportation -from anywhere to any place
within Greece, and at anytime-, ticketing, guided
tours & excursions, cruises, car rentals and
lots of other activities, like horseback riding,
scuba diving, etc. |
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| We can actually cover, more or less, every need
or request from any type of client. However, due
to the fact that the below mentioned types of clientele
are simply the ones that will generally book their
holiday with a travel agent through the Internet
more often than others, we have accumulated special
experience in honeymooners and gay/lesbian travelers.
Please don't misunderstand this: if you do not belong
to either one of these groups, you will be taken
care of and spoiled in exactly the same style! |
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Because we're simply the best!
- 25 years of experience and thousands of satisfied
clients, many of whom, year after year, trust Windmills
for the organizing of their vacation, can guarantee
that the provided services are of the highest possible
standards.
- Any e-mail message that arrives to our reservation
office is quickly -within 24 hours at the latest-
and efficiently replied, offering advice and information
about any destination requested.
- Our relationships with the hoteliers and the other
businessmen at each destination allow us to achieve
the best rates on accommodation and the other services
that we provide.
- Our long activity in tourism guarantees that from
the moment a visitor arrives at his destination,
we are able to deal with any kind of problem and
solve it as quickly as possible.
- Finally, we may be dealing with hundreds of clients
daily, but we are particularly careful to acknowledge
that every visitor has an individual personality.
Please let us know of your special needs and wishes,
and we'll be glad to form a tailor-made vacation
package especially suiting requirements |
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| A very important aspect of our activities has
to do with the Gay Market, which comprises a large
portion of the clientele on the island of Mykonos.
Through the hard work of our specialized Gay Department
in this field we have established ourselves as the
leading Gay Travel Specialist in Greece. Our agency
is a member of IGLTA (we're actually the first Greek
agency that joined the Organization) and our office
is responsible for the annual updates for Greece
in the Ferrari and Frommer's Guides, widely-acclaimed
gay travel books. Our clients include specialised
Gay travel tour operators/travel agents from Italy
(Arcoturismo), Spain, the USA (Above and Beyond
tours, Club Exotika), Germany (Jornada, Teddy Travel,
Reisebuero am Hellkamp), France (Eurogays), the
UK (Man Around/Sensations, Galeria Travel) and Switzerland,
to mention a few, as well as numerous direct clients
who call us from all over the world. For these,
we provide accommodation in carefully selected gay
friendly establishments and services such as transfers
and expert advice on where to go and what to do.
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| Some of our accommodation is "Gay Friendly"
- this term refers to hotels which are located close
to gay facilities (gay bars etc.) and where the
management and staff welcome gay guests. This accommodation
is carefully selected and seldom, if ever, poses
problems for our gay clients. However, you should
be aware that, while we do not envisage any problems
and while the overwhelmingly vast majority of holidays
pass without incident, we cannot be held responsible
for the behaviour of other guests booked with other
holiday companies. You may find that some "Gay
Friendly" properties will have their fair share
of families with children, especially during school
holidays. If you feel that this may adversely affect
the enjoyment of your holiday, please seek our advice
before you book. |
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It's easy as it sounds: In 3 simple steps!
Step One: Send us an e-mail with your request.
We'll need the dates when you've decided to travel,
the destination you wish to visit, your approximate
budget and the type of accommodation where you'd
prefer to stay - what type of room you'd need and
2-3 preferred hotels which you can choose from the
ones listed in our site.
You can send this email to the address info@windmills-travel.com
After we receive it, we'll check out availability
at the requested accommodation for the specific
dates, and reply back to you with an availability
confirmation email, or with any alternative suggestions
(if the requested hotels are fully booked). Attached
to that message, you will usually find a charge
authorisation form for the payment of your deposit.
Step Two: Print out and send us by fax the
Charge Authorisation form, filled in with the needed
information and the requested deposit amount, along
with a copy of your identification card or passport
and a copy of both sides of your credit card.
The requested deposit amount is usually 50% of the
total reservation cost, with the balance due 4 weeks
prior to your arrival. If the reservation is made
less then a month prior to the arrival, the total
reservation cost is required at once. Our fax number
is +30 2109916383 in Athens and +30 22890 22066
on Mykonos. After we receive the requested documentation,
we will proceed with booking your room, charging
your credit card for the agreed amount, and issuing
your e-vouchers. Our amendment and cancellation
policy is explicitly mentioned in that form.
Step Three: Receive your e-vouchers through
our second mail and print them out. You're ready!
Of course, the first step takes usually the longest
time, as most of the travellers need a lot of information
and advice before they decide about the specific
accommodation they'll choose and the destinations
they'll visit. A useful tip, so as to lessen the
time needed for the reservation, would be to visit
our official site at www.windmills-travel.com, take
a look at the information given on each destination
and study well the list of hotels to find which
would be closest to your style and budget. |
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| Throughout all the years that our agency has operated,
not one single case of misuse of personal information
was reported to us by any client. However, for additional
safety, you can use alternative ways of sending
the information: for example, you can leave the
last 4 digits of your credit card number uncompleted
on the charge authorisation form, and send them
to us through an e-mail, or even by giving us a
call. |
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A good piece of advice would be to book your vacation
as early as possible. The rooms that offer a good
quality of standards for a fair price are not as
many as you'd imagine. Especially if you're planning
to visit the island during July or August, it would
be hopeless to search for a good deal after the
summer has begun. If you're interested in the low
or middle season, the possibilities are better,
but then again it would be wise to book at least
a couple of months before your arrival.
Don't worry if you're not yet sure about the destination
you wish to visit or the hotels you wish to stay
at. Send us an email with your general request,
and we'll be glad to give you all the needed information,
organize your holidays and guide you further through
the reservation process. |
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| Of course you can book your tickets in advance!
You will then receive them upon your arrival at
the destination for which these tickets are to be
used. For example, if your package includes ferry
tickets from Tinos to Paros, you won't receive them
at your arrival in Athens, but at your arrival on
Tinos. |
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When you arrive to your destination, our representative
will be waiting for you with a welcome envelope
that will also include your pickup time from the
hotel. Otherwise, you will be called at your hotel
24 hours prior to your departure, in order to be
told the exact pickup time. If you are not in your
room at that time, we will leave a message at the
reception desk.
General rules for pickups are the following:
- If you are departing by ship or domestic flight
from one Greek destination to another, then the
pickup will roughly be one hour or one hour and
15 min. prior to departure time.
- If you are taking an international flight, pickup
will be two hours before departure (if you are on
an island) or three hours before departure (if you
are in Athens or on a very big island like Crete,
where you need quite a bit of time to get from your
accommodation to the airport).
Due to the fact that most of the ferry companies
publish their monthly schedules at the last moment,
it is possible that in some cases, you will not
know the exact time of your departure, even before
your very arrival! |
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| Finding your way to a foreign country is not a
simple thing, especially if we're talking about
Greece -a place not famous for its organisational
virtues-, and especially if it is your first visit
there. Why let the anxiety of finding a way to reach
your hotel or catch your flight ruin your holidays,
since you can have everything arranged by people
who do that for hundreds of other visitors? Our
colleagues will be glad to welcome you on the airport
or the port at your arrival, solve any kind of problems
you may have, answer your questions, and provide
you with all the necessary information about the
destination. Moreover, a vehicle, especially waiting
for you, will transport you and your luggage safely
and quickly to your accommodation (or back to the
airport/port) without any effort on your part. So
simply book your transfers together with your accommodation:
It doesn't cost much, and it can save you a lot
of trouble. |
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If you wish to cancel a confirmed booking for
any reason and at any time, a sum of 45 €
will be charged to cover administration costs. In
the event of cancellation the following cancellation
charges will be applied:
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Cancellation Period before beginning of
services |
Charge as a Proportion of Total Invoiced
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30 days - 20 days |
60% |
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20 days - 10 days |
80% |
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10 days - 0 days |
100% |
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In case a cancellation is made more than 30 days
prior to your arrival, a charge of 10% of the total
reservation cost plus the administrative fee of
45 € will be applied. |
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| Any major amendment such as hotel or flight booking
changes (at any time) to a confirmed booking, will
incur an administrative cost of 45 €, in addition
to the cost this amendment involves. Unforeseeable
circumstances, such as weather conditions may force
changes to your itinerary. While our agency will
do its best to minimize the extra costs this may
involve, any such costs are to be covered by the
traveller. Of course, in such cases the 45 €
fee does not apply. |
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If for any reason you have missed the flight or
boat that would carry you to your destination, please
call and let us know of the new date or time of
your arrival at the soonest possible moment, so
that we can inform the hotelier and rearrange your
arrival transfer. That way, major misunderstandings
will be avoided, and any extra costs can be minimized.
In case you've missed your departure boat or flight,
again let us know as soon as possible, and our agency
will do whatever it can to arrange your accommodation
or transfers, until you'll be able to depart. |
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Visitors from the European Union need only their
Identification Card to enter Greece.
For visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and
Japan, a Passport is required. A visa is not required
for tourist/business stays of up to 90 days. However,
if you travel on an official or diplomatic U.S.
passport, you will need a visa issued through the
U.S. State Department. Similar restrictions exist
for other official and diplomatic passport holders
from other nations. More importantly, your U.S.
or Canadian passport must be valid for a minimum
of three months beyond the end of your projected
stay. This is true for many countries, not just
Greece, and it is a good idea to never travel on
a passport with less than six month's validity.
For additional information consult the Consular
Section of the Embassy of Greece, 2221 Massachusetts
Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 (202/939-5818
or 5800).
Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, Israel, South Korea (the Republic
of Korea), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia,
Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway,
Panama, Paraguay, Poland, St Kitts & Nevis,
San Marino, the Slovak Republic, Switzerland and
Vatican City, also do not need a visa.
For the citizens of Brazil, El Salvador and Uruguay
a visa is also not required, but the visa-free period
is for 60 days only.
Requirements for other countries vary substantially
and should be verified with the local Greek Embassy
or Consulate in that country.
Technically, Greek officials may ask to see travel
tickets for your return home or for additional destinations
beyond Greece. In practice, this rarely occurs and
usually will only be asked for if there is a suspicion
that the visitor intends to attempt to work in Greece
illegally. It is more likely to occur prior to a
one-way flight or other transportation into Greece
rather than once you've arrived on Greek soil.
No vaccinations are required for Greece. |
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The following chart shows the time difference
between Greece and :
ALBANIA (-1)
ALGERIA (-1)
ARGENTINA (-5)
AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE (+8)
SYDNEY (+6)
AUSTRIA (-1)
BAHRAIN (+1)
BELGIUM (-1)
BRAZIL
BRAZIL (-6)
RIO DE JANEIRO (-5)
SAO PAOLO (-5)
BULGARIA (0)
CAMEROON (-1)
CANADA (-7)
CHILE (-6)
CHINA (+6)
CROATIA (-1)
CYPRUS (0)
CZECH (-1)
DENMARK (-1)
EGYPT (0)
FINLAND (+1)
FRANCE (-1)
F.Y.R.O.M. (0)
GERMANY (-1)
HONG KONG (+6)
HUNGARY (-1)
INDIA (+3)
INDONESIA (+5) |
IRAN (+1)
IRAQ (+1)
IRELAND (-2)
ISRAEL (0)
ITALY (-1)
IVORY COAST (-2)
JAPAN (-7)
JORDAN (0)
KENYA (+1)
KUWAIT (+1)
LEBANON (0)
LIBYA (-1)
LUXEMBOURG (-1)
MALAYSIA (+6)
MALTA (-1)
MEXICO (-8)
MOROCCO (-2)
NETHERLANDS (-1)
NEW ZELAND (+10)
NIGERIA (-1)
NORWAY (-1)
PAKISTAN (-1)
PANAMA (+3)
PERU (-7)
PHILIPPINES (-7)
POLAND (+6)
PORTUGAL (-1)
QATAR (+2)
ROMANIA (0)
ST. PETERSURG (+1)
MOSCOW (+1) |
ODESSA (0)
SOUTH AFRICA (0)
SOUTH KOREA (+7)
SAUDI ARABIA (+1)
SENEGAL (-2)
SINGAPORE (+6)
SLOVENIA (-1)
SPAIN (-1)
SUDAN (0)
SWEDEN (-1)
SWITZERLAND (-1)
SYRIA (0)
TAIWAN (+6)
TANZANIA (+1)
THAILAND (+5)
TUNISIA (-1)
TURKEY (0)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (+2)
UNITED KINGDOM (-2)
U.S.A
ATLANTA (-7)
BOSTON (-7)
CHICAGO (-8)
LOS ANGELES (-10)
MIAMI (-7)
NEW YORK (-7)
PHILADELPHIA (-7)
PITSBURGH, PA (-7)
SAN FRANCISCO (-10)
WASHINGTON D.C. (-7)
VENEZUELA (-6) |
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| Greece has 220 volt electricity, meaning that,
unless your computer or appliance is dual voltage
or designed for 220 volts, you will need a converter
or transformer. The cycles (Hz) are 50 per second.
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But of course you don't... Fortunately, Greece
is a country with a very long tradition in tourism
and Mykonos itself the most cosmopolitan island
in the Aegean. Therefore, all the people who are
working in the tourism industry have a good knowledge
of the English language. But, even the local people
living on the island have a basic understanding
of the English language and are usually happy to
give you any kind of information you wish. Especially
among the young, you will find most of the people
speaking Italian in addition to English and Greek,
as the island gets crowded with visitors from Italy
during the high season.
So speaking Greek is not necessary...however, visitors
who attempt to speak Greek are thoroughly encouraged
by the locals. Even if it's just a phrase or a few
words, the gesture is always appreciated. Indeed,
Greek is a language of gestures and to speak it
also entails a lot of gesticulation. One point of
confusion however, is the slight jerk of the head
or eyebrows upward which indicate "no."
So, here are some tips in Greek that you might find
useful during your stay:
-Don't confuse 'yes' and 'no.' Yes is ne - which
sounds like 'no' or 'nah' to English speakers. No
is okhi - which sounds like 'okay' to English speakers.
-Need something? Remember to say 'Please!' - parakalo
- par-ah-kah-LO.
-And always say 'Thank you!' - efkharisto- eff-car-ee-STOH
-A general affirmative is entaksi en-tahk-see -
right, okay, uh-huh.
-Greece greets differently depending on the time
of day.
-In the morning, say kalimera - kah-lee-MARE-ah
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-and in the afternoon, say kalomesimeri - kah-lo-messy-mary-
-In the evening, say kalispera - kah-lee-spare-ah
-To say good night, say kalinikta - kah-lee-neek-tah.
-You can also just say 'Hello' anytime - yia sas
or yiassou or giasou - yah-sooo - this can also
be said in parting, or as a toast.
-Think you're really mangling your Greek pronunciation?
Smile wider - this will completely compensate for
any mistakes you may make |
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Greek food is considered to be both delicious
and most nutritious at the same time, so don't be
afraid to try it out: Find a nice restaurant with
a great view, open the menu, and let the party begin!
In case you're completely confused with what you
read in it, this is a small useful guide for you:
Soup - Avgolemono. This is a pleasant chicken soup
with lemon and rice.
Mezedes - Assorted appetizers, such as a selection
of olives, and some taramosalata (caviar spread,
generally pretty mild flavored), tzatziki (a cool,
creamy cucumber and garlic dip), and/or hummous
(flavorful mashed garbanzo bean dip). You may also
find cold dolmadakia, stuffed grape leaves filled
with rice and tomato, which as meat-filled dolmades
do double-duty as an entree. Tyropita and spanakopita
are cheese and spinach pies.
Souvlaki - Skewers of chicken, lamb, beef, or, most
commonly, pork, grilled and often served with tzaziki
sauce. Simple fare, generally delicious, occasionally
tough.
Moussaka - A layered primarily vegetable casserole,
often made with eggplant, sometimes with the addition
or substitution of squash or potatoes or other vegetables.
Topped with Bechamel sauce, a rich fluffy cheese
flavored custardy sauce usually forming a high-calorie
layer about an inch thick. But it is delicious.
Pastitsio - Similar to the above, only made with
macaroni and ground beef, vaguely similar to lasagna,
but without the tomatoes. Usually a safe bet for
kids.
Stuffed Tomatoes or Stuffed Bell Peppers - Nearly
universal dish, especially savory in Greece, great
for the timid eater. It will taste pretty much like
home no matter where you come from. The plain little
cafes directly across from the gate to Knossos offer
excellent examples of this simple standby.
Coffee - If you want something like American coffee,
ask for a filtered coffee or Nescafe. Nescafe is
greatly respected in Greece, and finer restaurants
will ceremoniously bring out an empty cup, a small
silver pot of water, and the precious single packet
of Nescafe in response to a request for a cup of
coffee. Now, genuine Greek coffee is delicious and
can be ordered in a variety of ways - give it a
try!
Baklava - honey drenched pastry with nuts. Delicious
if a bit sticky and chewy. Not good for those with
sensitive teeth!
Note: If you are a vegetarian travelling in Greece,
you may be surprised at the relative scarcity of
vegetarian restaurant meals in Greece except at
specifically vegetarian restaurants. With wonderfully
abundant fresh vegetables available, more choices
might be expected. But in Greece, people go to restaurants
largely to dine on cooked meats that they may not
get every day. Worse, vegetables are often cooked
in chicken broth, and it is very difficult to get
trustworthy information on this point from the restaurant
staff. Salads are a safe bet, but cooked vegetable
dishes will often contain meat or animal products.
Many restaurants still allow diners to wander into
the kitchen to see what's cooking. Bring your camera
for a great "action shot" you'll treasure.
Enjoy your exploration of Greek cuisine! |
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a) Tipping for Tourist-type restaurants: Ask for
the bill - usually, it will not be brought until
you request it. Check over the bill for obvious
errors, and bring any substantial errors to the
attention of your waiter. Minor error? Decide if
it's worth trying to sort it out. Confirm that a
'service charge' has been included. If it has, follow
suggestion below.
Pay the bill.
To reward warm service from the waiter, leave 1-2
Euro on the tray. If service has been poor, skip
this step, as the waiter generally shares in the
revenues from the meal and from the service charge.
Regardless of the general service, unless it has
been memorably abysmal, ease the burden of the busboy,
who often receives virtually nothing for his work,
by leaving 1-2 Euro on the table.
If appropriate, thank the owner or person in charge
for the great meal.
The 'cover charge' on the bill is literally the
cost to cover the table when you sit down, and includes
your bread and non-bottled water. It's generally
50-100 cents per person. The cover charge is cannot
be removed, even if you don't drink the water or
eat the bread. Don't argue it.
Had a horrible experience and feel ripped off? Contact
the local 'Tourist Police' office. They exist to
handle complaints and assist tourists - not to arrest
them!
b) Tipping for Traditional Eating Places: Ask for
the bill. Check for obvious errors, and bring any
to the attention of your waiter. If it's a few cents,
forget it.
Note if a 'service charge' has been included - it
probably won't be.
Tip your waiter between 10 and 20 percent of the
total. Leave this on the tray, or give it to him
directly.
Leave some small change totaling 1-2 Euro on the
table for the busboy.
Thank the owner or person in charge for the great
meal.
c) Tipping Taxi Drivers: Generally, they don't expect
tips (but won't turn them down). There is a 50 cent
charge by the taxi driver for handling each piece
of luggage - this is not a tip, but an official
charge.
d) Tipping Public Toilet Attendants: Tip 50 cents
and bless them, since without them, there would
be no toilet paper or soap there.
Don't stress over tipping - get it close to the
guidelines above, but don't break out your calculators.
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| The new currency of Greece, in effect since the
1st January 2002, is the Euro. The euro conversion
rate of the drachma is: 1 euro=340.750 drachma.
One euro is subdivided into 100 euro cents. To convert
drachmas into euro we divide the drachma amount
by 340.750, and then we round to the nearest euro
cent. Alternatively, to convert euro into drachmas,
we multiply the euro amount by 340.750, and then
round to the nearest drachma. US Dollars are also
widely accepted at lots of tourist destinations.
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All major Credit Cards as well as Euro-cheques
are recognized and accepted in most hotels, shops,
travel and car rental agencies and restaurants.
Stickers in the front windows will advise you as
to which cards are accepted.
Traveller's Cheques issued by all the major companies
are widely recognized. You can cash your traveller's
cheques in all Greek and foreign banks, exchange
bureaus and big hotels, but do not forget to have
your passport with you. Identification is necessary
for the transaction. |
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If you want to use your mobile abroad, you may
need to get permission from your network operator
before travelling. This involves calling customer
service and asking for your phone to be enabled
for international use. This function can be switched
on remotely. But you should also check to see that
the specification of your phone is compatible with
networks abroad. The GSM Association's website has
a full list.
Once you arrive in Greece, your phone will lock
onto the network with the strongest signal. The
active networks specifically on Mykonos are Vodafone,
Stet and Cosmote. While some devices will let you
choose which one you can use, you will have to reset
it each time you switch on the phone.
Frequent travellers often purchase a mobile phone
for Greece, or purchase another Sim card which they
swap when they arrive in the country. |
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Yes, you can. For drivers bringing their own cars
to Greece, no special documents are required for
limited stays of up to four months. However, international
third-party insurance is required.
The vehicle's details are entered into the driver's
passport on entering the country. This helps with
respect to possible theft and prevents the car from
being left in the country.
For stays exceeding three months, drivers should
contact the Greek Automobile Touring Club (ELPA),
Athens Tower, Messogion 2-4, Athens 115 27. Telephone
+ 30 210 779 1615. |
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