dixiedee

I am new to this forum and have spent several hours reading the various posts...they are all so interesting! My husband and I (middle-aged, good health) are traveling in Sept/Oct for 3 weeks to Athens - several days Hotel Grand Bretagne and Electra Palace; then Island cruise - 4 days aboard the Ocean Countess to Myconos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Crete, Santorini then Pireaus; next we go to Hydra to stay in a private home for 3 days; then to Cairo via Egypt Air and stay at Mena House Oberoi for several days; then off to Istanbul for several days staying in the Four Seasons, then back to Athens and stay at Hotel Astir Vouliagmeni for 2 days until departure. All of this was arranged through a local travel agency in Athens - the Travel Store. The agent was VERY helpful in planning this trip. My questions to all who are familiar with these locations, etc. are:
1. Will the weather be similar in all three countries? What will the weather actually be like? Are shorts really frowned upon? Are light weight capris the best for women? Are tennis shoes the best for my husband and me both to wear when we are sight-seeing?
2. With the hotels listed should my husband bring a sports coat/dinner jacket for dinner in the hotels or possibly on the cruise ship?
3. Is anyone familiar with the ship "Ocean Countess", I believe it went by another name in another life.
4. Will we be safe drinking the water in the aforementioned hotels and/or on the cruise ship?
5. Should we just skip ALL salads, milk products and anything uncooked or not washed by bottled water by us for our entire trip??? What about breads, pastries, etc. in local cafes?
6. Will we be allowed to bring in any and all prescription meds prescribed by our physicians in the US?
7. Is it difficult to exchange travelers checques or should we just plan on using AMEX or VISA? What about debit cards for ATM?
8. How likley are we to be able to use a computer in our hotels (that is, a computer furnished by the hotel in their business area?) We will not be bringing our own lap top.
9. If we buy a cell phone in Athens to use just while we are on this trip, will it work in Istanbul and Cairo as well? If we call someone in the states on their cell phones are they charged as well???

Finally, I know that this is a lot for someone to take the time to answer so we would appreciate any amount of information anyone can give us!! Also, is anyone familiar with the travel agency I mentioned?

Thanks so much!

repete

<i>5. Should we just skip ALL salads, milk products and anything uncooked or not washed by bottled water by us for our entire trip??? What about breads, pastries, etc. in local cafes?</i>

For heaven's sake, who sold you this bill of goods? Only if you want to miss some great bread, salads, fruit, veggies, dairy products and pastries -- at least in Greece. Bottled water, maybe.

<i>6. Will we be allowed to bring in any and all prescription meds prescribed by our physicians in the US?</i>

Never had a problem. Keep 'em in the prescription bottle and if you want, bring copies of the prescription but it's never been necessary for us.

<i>7. Is it difficult to exchange travelers checques or should we just plan on using AMEX or VISA? What about debit cards for ATM?</i>

Never had a problem with ATMs in Greece. Travelers checks rarely make much sense IMHO.

<i>8. How likely are we to be able to use a computer in our hotels (that is, a computer furnished by the hotel in their business area?) We will not be bringing our own lap top.</i>

Depends very much on the property. I'd e-mail the hotels to check. Otherwise there are plenty of internet cafes around.

<i>9. If we buy a cell phone in Athens to use just while we are on this trip, will it work in Istanbul and Cairo as well?</i>

Not sure, but you'd likely need a separate SIM for each country or there's a chance the Greek SIM might work but have an international rate. If I recall, the folks you call in the U.S. will be charged their usual incoming rate for international calls. Not sure of this.

Usually the cheapest way, however, for family at least ... is to do a call back. Call them on your cell and have them call back -- assuming they have a good international plan. Your incoming minutes are free.

While it isn't practical for everyone, if you have friends with Vonage it's dirt cheap.

Just wondering, are you staying at both the GB AND the Electra Palace? Seems a bit strange.

Hotel dining rooms? Sure, wear a coat, but while the GB is nice, there is so much great dining out there it almost seems a shame. Roof dining is nice there, however.

Shorts are not that big of a deal but I'd look for comfortable walkers (ecco, etc ...) over tennies.

travelerjan

What is this #5 thing -- &quot;skip all salads, uncooked food, stuff not washed by bottled water&quot; ... this is EUROPE, not Equitorial africa or the backcounry of central america. EUROPE has more stringent hygiene rules than USA -- look recently at all the recalls we're having for tainted canned food, lettuce etc. This is NOT a primitive country. I hope no one from Greece read your (rather insulting)trepidations. You are more in danger eating an unwashed strawberry in Dixie than the entire contents of a fruit stand in Crete.

Sorry to rant, but as someone who's been to Greece 7 times and seen the farming and fresh food there, compared to the stuff we get at Acme... well, you are very ill-informed to think the US is more advanced in food prep &amp; safety.

mish42

Just returned from several weeks in Greece and, yes, ATM's are the best way to go to access cash. As for using a cell phone, I found the best arrangement thru a company called Travelcell (travelcell.com). I got a good rental rate on a phone that worked in all different European countries and they shipped to my home address in the US before I left and provided me with the phone no. for people to reach me on (it was a UK no.) and provided me with a charger as well. We used the phone in England, Greece and Switzerland with no problem and then upon return to the US, sent it back. To make calls is not cheap, but incoming were free and it was a great convenience to have it with us at all times.

Gaspard

Europe For Dummies
ISBN: 978-0-470-06933-2

propertravel

Hi Dixiedee;
I am a valunteer poster in Fodors doing it joy and am a certified travel agent as well.

Will try to give you more information for Turkey &amp; Greece only as I know both countries but not Egypt (yet)
The hotels you mention for Greece and Turkey are the top quality hotels.
I have been all 3 and stayed at Astir Palace couple of times.(now its starwood hotels and W hotels as there are 3 properties at the private peninsula called Astir Palace. They have interactive Tv sets with wireless keyboard and internet connection with a charge.
I do not remember Grande B.and Electra Palace's internet facilities but I am sure they have wireless access and a pc or laptop for guests use. These two are close to each other and centrally located in Athens Syntagma SQ.
Four seasons in Istanbul has a corner for that purpose as well.

Weather: Will be in general similar but in October Istanbul will be cooler.Egypt must be warmer.
You will like Hydra. Try to go to Spetses as well for fun and for a nice meal if you fancy. Next to Hydra.

Clothing: Shorts, capris are the best but for the hotels you are using some smart casual clothing is recommended.
Also for the evening a light jacket or similar is nice even at Greek Islands.
October might be a day or two rain could be expected as well but still pleasent weather.

Please do not skip the local foods at nice restaurants and caffees and definately not at the hotels you are staying. Bottle of water plenty at everywhere if you are making your mind busy with that issue use bottle water, otherwise still no problem.
I am not sure of the cruise ship part of water issue but they will advice you once aboard.

You are allowed to bring your medicines. Maybe for motion sickness and pills for diarrhoe just in case.

ATM's are plenty in both countries.

Visa is better credit card especially in Turkey. Your hotel and rug stores will not mind accepting Amex but smaller merchants and vendors will not accept or try not to accept Amex.

Travellers cheques are fine but expect to change at Post offices in Turkey and banks at each country and bigger hotels do accept as well.

You can buy a cell phone in Greece at airport after arrival hall at your left end of the corridor before leaving the airport about 25 Euros and top up with credit. You can give it as tip to your taxi driver later if you do not want to keep it. Same story in Turkey.
Calling from Europe to States to a mobile I belive will not result charge to receiver.
If you try to use the same phone in Turkey and Cairo you will have to top up and units will be spend faster as roaming concerns. But you can use the same mobile by changing the sim card. In this case your taxi driver will not have it as his tip

Happy travelling and enjoy your holiday.

Regards from Cappadocia,
Murat

thanos_GR

Kalisp&eacute;ra dixiedee

I cannot answer all of your questions but I try with some.

Late September and first weeks in October is nice weather daytime here on Mykonos but in the evenings it can be colder. It is a special time to visit when the island is quieter and, I think, the best times.

The last 2 years we have had windy times in October with many ferry cancels so if you are on this island at that time you should bring light jackets for evenings. It is possible you may have to eat inside restaurants not outside.

Also, some restaurants in early October begin to reduce there menu for food, as the season is closing soon.

We have very high food standrds as we have many visitors and inspectors are very strict. So, you will not have a problem. Water is safe to drink from tap but many peoples prefer bottled water which is everywhere and cheap.

Local island water is high in some minerals but they are not dangeros only they do flavour water a little and it may not be to your preference. It is what I drink all my life but when we have visitors from other parts of europe as guests they say the water does taste different. But, they do drink it and have no problems with it.

There are now six pharmacia in Mykonos and they will help you with medications if you have problems. Also, we have health centres and a small local hospital. One thing you must do is find real name of drug and not the name on packet as in Greece the drug may be sold under different name. And of course, you can bring your medicines with you. We have an excellant cardiologist on the island and other specialists plus doctors. So, medicines and medical care is not a problem here.

We had an American Express agency until 2 years ago when it closed. Some shops here will accept travel checks but we have many ATM's so you can esily use them. They operate only if your personal digits are 4 numbers long. I try to help a young american boy last week and he was without money because his card had more than four numbers to enter.

Unfortunately I cannot comment about cellphones. I have one, and most Greek also and every visitor almost but I never understand how it can work in another country. If you need to call home from here we have many public telephone that accept small cheap cards you can by everywhere. Insert them in public telephone and make your call.

thanos

dixiedee

Many thanks to all who responded to my lengthy post!! Also, I did NOT intend to offend anyone who lives in any of the countries I had questions about. Many of the posts that I read earlier led me to believe that for someone from the U.S. it would be unsafe to drink tap water; eat uncooked food, etc. as I mentioned in my first post, so thank you for clearing up that area of interest! I LOVE to cook and am very much interested in sampling the cuisine of Greece, Turkey and Eqypt so I am thrilled to learn that we will be safe in doing so, just to use good common sense as we do with eating establishments in the States!

Yes, we will be staying at both the GB and the Electra Palace. Someone suggested that we must spend at least one night at the GB so we are doing that but will move to the Electra Palace as it is not quite as expensive.

Again, thanks to everyone who took the time to reply! I'm sure as time draws closer my husband and I will have more questions.

Until then, does anyone have any other suggestions of places to eat, tourist traps to avoid, etc???

Also, in Turkey we would like to purchase a rug...any suggestions of exceptional vendors (and ones to avoid)?

Thanks in advance!

DixieDee (and yes with the food recalls we've had as of late I can understand the comment about our food here!)

Weadles

dixiedee,

I just got back tonight from Turkey and Greece. In both Athens and Istanbul, we wore capris, or summer dresses and skirts, but no shorts. Many women in Istanbul esp. dress very conservatively, so I would definitely skip the shorts or anything too revealing for city sightseeing.

In both Athens and Istanbul, we drank only bottled water and stayed away from street food. We sampled many delicious salads and fruits in Turkey, and only had a problem for a day or two when we ate at a tiny restaurant outside Ephesus, which will remain nameless!

We bought a few rugs in Turkey at a shop in The Grand Bazaar after spending part of a day researching rug prices at one of the government-sponsored shops in Istanbul. I have the name in my luggage, and will post it as soon as I unpack.

About wireless: Most of the hotels we stayed in, incl. The Grand Bretagne had wireless available in the guest rooms.

Oh, and I definitely agree with the other posters who suggest eating at local establishments, rather than the hotels. The Grand Bretagne does have a gorgeous bar/ restaurant on the 8th floor with outstanding views of The Acropolis, but for the four of us, lunch was almost half the cost of our hotel room!

marginal_margiela

I can't understand why in the name of Jackie O you are staying at both the Grande Bretagne and the Elektra Palace when they are about one city block away from each other.

I just returned from Greece and I ate everything I wanted and drank water straight from the spigot. Bottled water is a waste of money.

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus

dixiedee

We were told that the GB would be a great place to stay for at least one night (very expensive) so we decided to stay one night there then move to a more moderately priced hotel - the Electra Palace, even though they are relatively close in proximity.

Again, thanks for all of the great responses!

DixieDee

GBC

Hi Dixiedee,
The Grand Bretagne is, well, grand. However, we have stayed at the Electra Palace and it is an entirely comfortable hotel. You might find it easier to stay at the Electra and visit the Grand Bretagne. Have an evening stroll when the lights are on the Acropolis. When you are asleep they will all (hopefully) seem much the same.

Speaking only for Greece, including the islands, be sure to eat the local foods, and when you get comfortable with that try some of the house wine. (This will also reduce any concern about the local water.)

Tere

With all those questions I wonder if you ever got out of the USA??? Or what posts have you been reading here in Fodors, mailnly in what concerns food hygiene in Europe???

dixiedee

Yes, I have traveled to Europe before but it has been about 10 years and it was to Germany, Switzerland and Amsterdam. Many of the posts that I read on this forum (particularly regarding Istanbul and Cairo) prompted my questions/concerns regarding drinking tap water, etc(there was even one that suggest getting a typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccination). That's why I wrote in the first place, also for any helpful tips I could get. I like to be as well versed as I can be when traveling to other destinations, especially out of my country. Everyone that has responded to my posts has very helpful. We look forward to enjoying our stays in all 3 countries!

Heimdall

Dixiedee, most of the answers you have received apply to Europe, but one shouldn't generalize and assume that they apply to Turkey and Egypt as well. A good source of information on travelers' health can be found in http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.htm. You can also get information form the US State Dept Consular Information Sheets at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/c.../cis_1765.html.

marginal_margiela

I drank water from the spigot in Istanbul as well, and on the island of Buyukada, and never got sick or had diarrhea. And I am not one to take chances and I have gotten very ill in India and Nepal.

dixiedee

Thanks for the websites, Heimdall. I will check into these regarding shots. Also, Margiela I will be careful with the water!

DixieDee