Drive Defensively

You've probably considered all the pluses. Driving makes it easier to reach remote ruins, find the perfect slip of a beach, see the countryside.

Car-rental fees are not exorbitant in Greece, on par with those in North America, and gasoline, while expensive by U.S. standards, is a bargain compared to prices in Western Europe.

But, are you really ready to tackle Greek roads? Greece has one of the highest accident rates in Europe, a dubious distinction shared with Ireland and Portugal, and after a few minutes on the road it's pretty easy to see why.

Accounting for the perils, not surprisingly, are bad roads (often narrow, poorly surfaced, and full of hairpin turns and blind corners) and bad drivers (who speed and are often reckless and aggressive behind the wheel).

In some places you can add stubborn, won't-get-out-of-the-road livestock and slowpoke farm vehicles to the watch-out-fors. You'll have more cautions to add to this list with each passing milepost. Be sure to heed them.