Is it safe to travel to Greece?
 

My fiance and I are getting married next week and will be on our honeymoon in Greece from 25 Sept. - 5 Oct. Has anyone heard anything from the State Dept. concerning travel to Greece or even Europe as a whole? We do not know what to do.... <BR>Thanks

Tonya- I just checked the state dept.travel advisories- there is NOTHING listed for Greece. <BR> <BR>You should be fine. <BR> <BR>One word of advice- Greece is know to condone terrorism-and the Athens Airport is not the best place to be- just collect your bags and exit as quickly as possible...BE VERY AWARE OF YOUE SURROUNDINGS and the people near you. <BR> <BR>I don't want ot get you worried but I flew out of Nice in May and we were sitting next to a group of Arab people- suddenly police came in with dogs and evacuated everyone to a safe spot- there seemed to have been a bomb scare and they roped off and went thru the area looking--after about 1/2 hr we were able to return to our seats---small little note: the Arabs were gone- and no flights had taken off...SO a word to the wise, be VERY aware of your surroundings and things should be fine.

Andy, <BR> <BR>Thanks for the advice and the word of caution.

Tony, <BR>What Andy just wrote to you about Greece is COMPLETELY ignornant. <BR>It does not CONDONE terrorism, and to make a statement like that is completely irresponsible and stupid. I just returned from Greece 2 weeks ago--the new airport is beautiful and in line with any other airport in any other European city. <BR>You should always be aware of your surroundings, no matter where you are...look at what happenned here in NYC. <BR>Please enjoy your trip to Greece: it's a beautiful country with warm-hearted people. <BR> <BR>d

I couldn't agree more with "whatever". Andy's "advice" reaks of ignorance!

Thanks for all of the advice. If we can get a flight, I think we are going!!! <BR>

This Andrew person has obviously never been to Greece. I have been to Greece and the Greek Isles many times. I find the Greek people to be the friendliest in the world. It also think Athens Airport is very safe. They are are one of the stricter airports in Europe. The overwhelming majority of Greeks speak English. I think Andy may be a Turk with an axe to grind.

For those of you ignorant people,try getting the statistics on the Athens Airport and get your facts straight before you cast stones.

My boyfriend and I are also flying to Greence ont eh 22nd of September. We too are a little concerned, not because of Greece itself (a fantastic place with great people)but because we will be so close to middle eastern airspace......not a good place if full out warfare commences...check out the british foreign office web site.....they say greece ok so far...just ensure you keep up to date with current events and observe surroundings.....If all remains as is currently then we are still going....

We had returned from Greece yesterday. Being in Greece was safe, we had no problems whatsoever. The advice is not to debate politics with locals. I had bad experience in a small grocery store <BR>at Naxos, where a cashier told me that "terrorisam is a price to pay for getting involved and minding everyones buisnesses". He was saying that "it is OK for americans when they bomb Serbia and it is not OK when someone bombs NYC". I figured he belonged to the crowd who was throwing rocks to US embassy in Athens during NATO involvement in Balkans and just picked up my stuff and left. We've never bought anything else from that store. <BR> <BR>But aside from that, people were friendly, talkative, happy. We had lots of great time. <BR> <BR>Just allow yourself lots of time for the check in. It is not 2 hrs before international flight. Takes much longer...But I'd prefer detailed checking- it gives some stronger sense of safety. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip...

Just spent 10 days in greece right before the bombing of the WTC. Felt very safe in Athens and on the islands <BR>of Santorini and Mykonos. The airport is brand new and very up to date. Just be cautious wherever you travel...Ciao

I am in total agreement with whatever. I have been to Greece twice and I can attest that the security at Athens Airport is very strict. Even as an American I was GRILLED by every official I encountered: How I came into the country. Why I was at the airport so early, etc. While going trough the metal detector, the guard made me take off my watch, which she then opened and looked at the batteries!!!!! She then shoved some tiny wand inside the locks on my luggage and said she was checking for explosives!! I don't know how many times I had to show my passport. It seemed everyone wanted to look at it!!!! The only other airport where I experienced such tight security was in Kathmandu, Nepal. Another thing, Greece's economy heavily depends on tourism. I doubt they want any problems that would endager the livihood of the citizens.

This is RIDICULOUS to be pointing out everything someone does in another country & considering that entire country feeling the same!! I just returned from Greece and had many people actually hugging me and being sincerely sympathetic toward our problems. So, Press, just because ONE Greek soccer club burned a flag doesn't mean all of Greece feels that way! <BR>I found the Greek people to be extremely wonderful during this time. <BR>

As a first generation American-Greek I am totally disgusted by the disregard for life that my parent's counrymen have shown. Don't fool yourself, the Anti-american sentiment runs deep in Greece and even in this country by some Greeks who are profiting well by the good ol' USA capatalistic society. As an Ameican-Greek fluent in the language, who has visited many times,who has family there and who has always loved Greece -I say, spend your hard earned Ameican dollars elsewhere- perhaps a country that has regard for human life.

I am an american living in Greece. It is very safe for you to come here. Just as safe as it is for me to fly to new york, which i will be doing. There is no danger in coming to Greece. Don't let the terrorists run your lives. <BR>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Ar...264450,00.html <BR>

Just returned from the island of Santorini and Athens. Greek friend tells me that there is an underlying dislike of the Americans generally, but this was never seen openly. Everyone was very friendly and courteous. We're British but met lotsof Americans over there who stated they had not experienced any negative vibes. <BR>BTW....Santorini def. a place to visit.......so magical and romantic.

Hesitated to even post this but my friend also just returned from 2 months in Greece - mostly Athens and 3 islands. She definitely felt the dislike against Americans. She is Canadian so maybe they were more open with her. She said she actually witnessed laughter and jokes being made about 9-11. Now before you go after me, I know a few idiots don't a whole country make...I'm just the messenger here guys.

I find this all incredulous. Do you know how much Greece relies on tourism? I can't see how the Greek people could be rejoicing over these acts of terrorism. What some of you are saying is that these people want to ruin their economy, ruin their businesses. I don't know why someone would want to slit their own throat. Restaurant owners, shopkeepers, taxi drivers, hotel workers, cruise line workers, touts--all these people are probably shaking in their shoes right now.

Look guys; keep a sense of prespective. It's a lovely country, they're nice people and they like American visitors. But we did particpate in bombing the h*** out of their close ethnic neigbours in Serbia; we keep airbases in their country, and they would rather we didn't. <BR> <BR>2 years ago (just after the bombing of Belgrade)in Crete there was anti-American and anti-British graffitti round the airport, but no-one followed through face to face as far as I'm aware. I'm not sure I'd have planned a holiday in the north east ofthe mainland, though