Calling Greece experts - is anyone worried about strikes this summer?
Apr 29th, 2010, 03:36 AM
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Calling Greece experts - is anyone worried about strikes this summer?
DH and I are thinking of returning to Greece this summer - flying into Athens for a couple of nights and then staying in Santorini, Paros, and then back to Athens before flying home.
However, those of us living in Europe have been bombarded with details about the current Greek financial crisis and I'm just wondering whether it will spill over into strikes.
Having once been stranded on Paxos due to a ferry strike with rising panic over missing our flights home, I'm worried whether there is a real danger of the country being similarly paralysed again.
Is there any word on the ground in Greece about the oncoming Summer? Last Summer I thought that the Greek people were genuinely worried about the downturn in tourism numbers and it's unlikely that they would want to jeopardise their tourist season - but I'm worried at the same time about strikes ruining our holiday.
Any opinions from anyone on the ground in Greece? What are the chances of strikes this summer?
However, those of us living in Europe have been bombarded with details about the current Greek financial crisis and I'm just wondering whether it will spill over into strikes.
Having once been stranded on Paxos due to a ferry strike with rising panic over missing our flights home, I'm worried whether there is a real danger of the country being similarly paralysed again.
Is there any word on the ground in Greece about the oncoming Summer? Last Summer I thought that the Greek people were genuinely worried about the downturn in tourism numbers and it's unlikely that they would want to jeopardise their tourist season - but I'm worried at the same time about strikes ruining our holiday.
Any opinions from anyone on the ground in Greece? What are the chances of strikes this summer?
Apr 29th, 2010, 05:09 AM
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Hi ter2000,
I live in Greece so hope I can help with some guidelines to help anyone planning a trip.
First of all I will repeat the constant recommendation to do the Athens part of any trip as the last few days, that way if there are any flight or ferry problems getting from the islands you are not risking missing that return flight. Ferry & flight cancelleations or delays can be due to weather or technical problems as well as strikes, so it always an advisable way to arrange your itinerary.
There is a large strike on May 5th, details as to what will & won't be affected are not out yet (I'm supposed to be travelling internally myself on that day!).
Future strikes are impossible to predict, but a few guidelines to minimise any disruption to your holiday plans:
The only affect on tourists will be site closures or transport disruptions involved in the strikes. Many of the strikes are not going to affect tourism at all.
Most strikes are held mid week, so arranging travel on or close to a weekend is going to give you the best chance of no disruption. Peak season historically has no strikes as the Greeks themselves are taking their holidays, particularly between mid July & 20th August.
Even though the transport strikes are the ones that will mostly concern tourists you have to break it down. The ferries may have a strike day which could potentially affect all islands, although mostly the ones arriving & leaving Piraeus, some inter island ferries may still run. Air traffic control strike is another possibilty (not happened often so far), again, weekends are usually a safer bet.
A more general transport strike usually affects Athens only, the buses have never been on strike in my area at any time so far.
Last, but not least, Greece will certainly welcome the tourism, many businesses are swallowing the tax increase & not raising prices, the main difference you will see is the large increase in fuel costs.
I can't offer any guarantees, but I hope these tips help you arrange a trouble free holiday. Just remember that there are thousands of tourists to Greece every year & inevitably a few will be affected at some point, as much a risk as in any country at the moment. Having a flexible attitude to your itinerary if need be is a great way to travel anyway, but certainly helps if one leg of your trip has to be altered by one day! I'm sure the majority will still come & have no aspect of their trip affected.
If there is advance notice of any major or longer term disruptions (most are 24 hrs or less) I'm sure myself or someone else will post on here.
I live in Greece so hope I can help with some guidelines to help anyone planning a trip.
First of all I will repeat the constant recommendation to do the Athens part of any trip as the last few days, that way if there are any flight or ferry problems getting from the islands you are not risking missing that return flight. Ferry & flight cancelleations or delays can be due to weather or technical problems as well as strikes, so it always an advisable way to arrange your itinerary.
There is a large strike on May 5th, details as to what will & won't be affected are not out yet (I'm supposed to be travelling internally myself on that day!).
Future strikes are impossible to predict, but a few guidelines to minimise any disruption to your holiday plans:
The only affect on tourists will be site closures or transport disruptions involved in the strikes. Many of the strikes are not going to affect tourism at all.
Most strikes are held mid week, so arranging travel on or close to a weekend is going to give you the best chance of no disruption. Peak season historically has no strikes as the Greeks themselves are taking their holidays, particularly between mid July & 20th August.
Even though the transport strikes are the ones that will mostly concern tourists you have to break it down. The ferries may have a strike day which could potentially affect all islands, although mostly the ones arriving & leaving Piraeus, some inter island ferries may still run. Air traffic control strike is another possibilty (not happened often so far), again, weekends are usually a safer bet.
A more general transport strike usually affects Athens only, the buses have never been on strike in my area at any time so far.
Last, but not least, Greece will certainly welcome the tourism, many businesses are swallowing the tax increase & not raising prices, the main difference you will see is the large increase in fuel costs.
I can't offer any guarantees, but I hope these tips help you arrange a trouble free holiday. Just remember that there are thousands of tourists to Greece every year & inevitably a few will be affected at some point, as much a risk as in any country at the moment. Having a flexible attitude to your itinerary if need be is a great way to travel anyway, but certainly helps if one leg of your trip has to be altered by one day! I'm sure the majority will still come & have no aspect of their trip affected.
If there is advance notice of any major or longer term disruptions (most are 24 hrs or less) I'm sure myself or someone else will post on here.
Apr 29th, 2010, 05:14 AM
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Thank you, Yiassas! I was in the midst of trying to explain the same thing, but you have done it so much better. Fodor's is lucky you have become a participant here, since there are so many fewer Fodorites who actually live and work in GReece. And I wish you good luck, in getting back home on May 5. Since I arrive with my little bunch on May 11, I"m just hoping that the strike-caller will take enough of a breather to let us arrive in Athens and depart for Crete May 14. Lots of fingers crossed.
Apr 29th, 2010, 09:16 AM
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I will also be going to Greece in May. I appreciate your insight Yiassas and that you took the time to explain. I will be arriving on May 13 so the May 5 strike will not effect me. Two ferry rides and one plane ride are in the plans. Hopefully they won't be effected. If so, I'll just rethink my plans. I've had to do that twice while in Greece before. A ferry strike one year and an airline strike another. If you hear of any other strikes planned, please let us know. Good luck to you and I hope your travels work out on May 5.
Apr 29th, 2010, 09:32 AM
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Yiassas-sorry to add onto this thread but wanted to ask you a quick question?
I work for the airlines and have a 48 hour layover in Athens next weekend.I have been to Athens numerous times and have done most of the tourist things.I have also been on a driving vacation over to Napflion(sp?),etc.
I am trying to figure out what would be a good one daytrip out of Athens for Sunday the 9th? Any suggestions? Thanks!
I work for the airlines and have a 48 hour layover in Athens next weekend.I have been to Athens numerous times and have done most of the tourist things.I have also been on a driving vacation over to Napflion(sp?),etc.
I am trying to figure out what would be a good one daytrip out of Athens for Sunday the 9th? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Apr 29th, 2010, 11:01 AM
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Thankyou all for taking the time to read some of my explanations & I hope you all have a great time! I will be fine, if the 5th is a problem for me travelling I'll just have an extra day in Athens!
wug, you have the right attitude, when in Greece you have to go with the flow, strikes or not! A willingness to be flexible & have a 'Plan B' is the secret to a stress free time.
dutyfree, do you mean May 1/2nd weekend? If so I hope you are aware that May 1st is a holiday & will mean some places closed & opportunities for overnight stays outside Athens limited as they may well be heavily booked already. How about a relaxing time down at the coastal areas of Athens, Voula/Glyfada/Vouliagmeni, even Loutraki(1 hr away) near the Corinth canal? Alternatively the island of Aegina if ferry tix are available, that can easily be done without an overnight stay.
If it's the following weekend you mean, then the same advice applies, but also means Delphi is more of an option. It can be done on a day trip, but much better & more relaxed if you stay over. There's also the option of a visit to Marathon, not too far north of Athens & often overlooked as an easy trip to do.
Whatever any of you decide to do I wish you a happy stay, at least the sun doesn't go on strike!
wug, you have the right attitude, when in Greece you have to go with the flow, strikes or not! A willingness to be flexible & have a 'Plan B' is the secret to a stress free time.
dutyfree, do you mean May 1/2nd weekend? If so I hope you are aware that May 1st is a holiday & will mean some places closed & opportunities for overnight stays outside Athens limited as they may well be heavily booked already. How about a relaxing time down at the coastal areas of Athens, Voula/Glyfada/Vouliagmeni, even Loutraki(1 hr away) near the Corinth canal? Alternatively the island of Aegina if ferry tix are available, that can easily be done without an overnight stay.
If it's the following weekend you mean, then the same advice applies, but also means Delphi is more of an option. It can be done on a day trip, but much better & more relaxed if you stay over. There's also the option of a visit to Marathon, not too far north of Athens & often overlooked as an easy trip to do.
Whatever any of you decide to do I wish you a happy stay, at least the sun doesn't go on strike!
Apr 29th, 2010, 11:20 AM
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BTW, as I will be away from home from Sunday to Wednesday (or maybe Thursday!) I will have to be reliant on access to the internet elsewhere. If I hear any updates I will do my best to get on here & let you know. I have my 82 yr old mother with me for the week though & she doesn't understand my 'internet time'!!!
Although she has been to Greece lots of times it's her first visit to Athens, so I am praying we don't have to have a 'Plan B'. For me, I don't care, I've visited, & now lived here, long enough to not worry about exact times & dates!
After that week I will hopefully be able to give info as soon as I'm aware of it.
Although she has been to Greece lots of times it's her first visit to Athens, so I am praying we don't have to have a 'Plan B'. For me, I don't care, I've visited, & now lived here, long enough to not worry about exact times & dates!
After that week I will hopefully be able to give info as soon as I'm aware of it.
Apr 29th, 2010, 04:57 PM
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We'll also be heading to Greece on June 1st and I agree with Frances that if you're going to be stranded anywhere, Greece would be the place. I just hope that all your travels and mine go off without too much trouble.
Thank you yiassas for your info and I'll be checking this board daily (I already do!!!) for any additional info.
Thank you yiassas for your info and I'll be checking this board daily (I already do!!!) for any additional info.
Apr 29th, 2010, 11:35 PM
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Info for dutyfree,
If your layover is this weekend (May 1st, Labour Day), all sites will be closed & no ferries will go from Piraeus. Buses, trams & metro are running though, so a visit to the coastal areas are still a possible choice on Saturday. Aegina or another nearby island on Sunday.
If your layover is this weekend (May 1st, Labour Day), all sites will be closed & no ferries will go from Piraeus. Buses, trams & metro are running though, so a visit to the coastal areas are still a possible choice on Saturday. Aegina or another nearby island on Sunday.
Apr 30th, 2010, 02:38 AM
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Yiassas thank you so much for your insight. Can I take from your answer that if there is a strike in Greece it will be for one day at the most? We usually leave a day or so at each end of the trip just in case of a repeat of our experience of a few years ago when we almost missed our flight home. However, I agree with other posters - Greece would be a wonderful place to be "stranded".
The gods of travel seem to be against us at the moment. We have just had a trip to Munich cancelled because of volcanic ash, and now my passport renewal is stuck because of industrial action by passport office staff in Dublin. Should I take the hint?
The gods of travel seem to be against us at the moment. We have just had a trip to Munich cancelled because of volcanic ash, and now my passport renewal is stuck because of industrial action by passport office staff in Dublin. Should I take the hint?
Apr 30th, 2010, 03:26 AM
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ter2000, 3rd time lucky?
Yes, most strikes are a maximum of 24hrs, I've only ever known it be 48 hrs once, but that wasn't total disruption!
I like the attitude you all take of being happy to be stranded here, are you all secretly hoping for an extra days holiday?
Yes, most strikes are a maximum of 24hrs, I've only ever known it be 48 hrs once, but that wasn't total disruption!
I like the attitude you all take of being happy to be stranded here, are you all secretly hoping for an extra days holiday?
Apr 30th, 2010, 10:36 AM
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And where would I like to be stranded?
Well, sitting in the cafe in Assos Kefalonia with a glass of beer which is misty because the glasses are stored in the freezer and a houriatiki with super feta- could do that for several days!
Back off site police- I do NOT want to start another thread!
Well, sitting in the cafe in Assos Kefalonia with a glass of beer which is misty because the glasses are stored in the freezer and a houriatiki with super feta- could do that for several days!
Back off site police- I do NOT want to start another thread!
May 1st, 2010, 05:06 AM
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This thread was encouraging to read. yiassas - Thank you for your practical advice.
We'll be there for much of June/July.
Our Greek friends confirm that everyone will be happy to see tourists/travelers.
We'll be there for much of June/July.
Our Greek friends confirm that everyone will be happy to see tourists/travelers.
May 1st, 2010, 06:23 AM
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Yes, everyone will be happy to see tourists but are ok with disrupting transportation at the same time. These are government workers not tourist industry workers who are striking so they are also taking away income from fellow Greeks by doing this. I am flying into Chania on May 10 from Istanbul, taking a ferry to Santorini on May 16th, and flying from Santorini to Athens on May 19th and leaving Athens for home on May 21st. My trip preparation has seen possible strikes by British Airways (which we are taking, a health issue that almost foiled the trip, volcano ash issues and now the strikes. Its enough to say next year we will vacation at home. At least in North America.
May 2nd, 2010, 06:59 AM
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Colleen your plan hits some of the highlights and I hope all of these distractions will not affect your enjoyment of what should be a spectacular vacation.
Strikes in Greece are nothing new but the Greeks are pretty careful to stage these strikes in the off or at least the shoulder season not in the main tourist season because our cash is vital to the economy. We will be in Greece pretty much the same time that you are and I can only say I am happy we planned our vacation in Mid May not April or early May.
Traveling in Greece can be an adventure, like the time we arrived at the airport and discovered we had booked the flight for the wrong day. Stay relaxed go with the flow and have fun.
By the way here are some pictures of Chania to give you something to look forward to.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/571195659jPcKjK
Strikes in Greece are nothing new but the Greeks are pretty careful to stage these strikes in the off or at least the shoulder season not in the main tourist season because our cash is vital to the economy. We will be in Greece pretty much the same time that you are and I can only say I am happy we planned our vacation in Mid May not April or early May.
Traveling in Greece can be an adventure, like the time we arrived at the airport and discovered we had booked the flight for the wrong day. Stay relaxed go with the flow and have fun.
By the way here are some pictures of Chania to give you something to look forward to.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/571195659jPcKjK
May 3rd, 2010, 03:28 PM
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This site does a good job of keeping one updated
www.xpatathens.com
and there's this article about the may 4&5 strikes listing exactly who is striking (it seems that there won't be any ships, planes, or public transportation on the 5th)http://www.xpatathens.com/news/21945
they also recently posted their top 10 things to do in Athens (not the usual acropolis stuff), in their Lifestyle news channel.
its also pretty good with up to the minute info on twitter http://twitter.com/XpatAthens
These days its more than a challenge than usual to visit Greece due to strikes, but once you get here, you will hardly feel any of it. There's nothing more awesome than walking around the various neighborhoods in athens, or sipping your ouzo by the sea! enjoy!
www.xpatathens.com
and there's this article about the may 4&5 strikes listing exactly who is striking (it seems that there won't be any ships, planes, or public transportation on the 5th)http://www.xpatathens.com/news/21945
they also recently posted their top 10 things to do in Athens (not the usual acropolis stuff), in their Lifestyle news channel.
its also pretty good with up to the minute info on twitter http://twitter.com/XpatAthens
These days its more than a challenge than usual to visit Greece due to strikes, but once you get here, you will hardly feel any of it. There's nothing more awesome than walking around the various neighborhoods in athens, or sipping your ouzo by the sea! enjoy!
May 4th, 2010, 09:09 AM
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melinaki, thanks for the link to that site. Awesome. I'm leaving for Greece in a week. Although this will be my ninth time there, I'm always looking for new info and things to do. I love love love Greece.
