The first polls show that 57-60% of the Greeks will accept the EU terms.

As a practical matter, tourists who use foreign cards to withdraw money and are not limited to a very small amount as are the Greeks, can only do so if cash remains in the ATMs--not a certainty at the moment.

UNCalum

ATM's did NOT run out of money, unless you have better information on the situation than I do.

A German TV journalist in Athens just reported that she had tried several ATMs until she found one that actually still had money.

Ingo
that was before noon, and it was planned .
Greeks knew that ATM's would be supplied after noon.
Driving in Athens today I did not see any problems at all.

Clausar,

No need to be contentious. I did not say ATMs were out of money. Please note that I said IF. For the sake of both the Greeks and the tourists, I hope that does not happen.

>>>>>"You deserve an answer in Greek, but I am sure, it will be deleted by the admins !!!!"

Only if can't present your counterpoint in a respectful, informative, manner and, instead, resort to name calling, and/or insults.

We are traveling to Greece in August! Now I am concerned bcos of the recent developments in Greece ! Is it safe to travel still ?

Kush

Why do you think it is unsafe? There has not been a single incidence of any sort of threat to either tourists or residents. Why is it when Greeks vote everybody gets so panicky? They are VOTING, for heaven's sake. Last night, 40,000 Greeks who disagree vehemently with each other about the referendum took to the streets in Athens to express their conflicting views and it was entirely peaceful. Even with limited withdrawals imposed on Greek debit card holders at ATMs, the worst thing that has happened in longer lines in some places.

There are screaming headlines from the usual tabloid sources (now joined by the Guardian with its new editor) about potential "shortages" of food and medicine -- which makes you wonder where these "journalists" have been for the past five years of Greek austerity (and Spanish austerity, too).

Or course, as we all now see, it is within the means of the European Central Bank to collapse the Greek economy as punishment. Right now, the ECB is just trying to frighten enough pensioners into voting Yes by limiting cash availability. On Monday, you will find out if it is willing to go the whole hog and attempt to drive Greece out of the euro, even if the vote is Yes, by collapsing the Greek economy completely.

But if that happens, you can start a new thread about your August trip, because the referendum will be over.

Sandra, I don't think Shubha's concerns lie in the referendum per se. She's travelling in August. Her concern is more about possible rioting regardless of the Yes/No vote. Both outcomes have dire consequences for the Greek people and it is conceivable that frustrations will spill out onto the street by the more radical elements. Obviously as a tourist or a local for that matter you would be very concerned for your safety.

<i>Is it safe to travel still ?</i>

If you mean safety from physical harm, then of course it will be safe to travel to Greece in August, as it always has been. Greece is one of the safest countries in Europe, and you will be safer there than where you live in NJ.

If by "safe" do you mean is it prudent to plan a trip to Greece given the current economic situation, at the present time I see no reason to cancel your trip. Reports from friends, and the many posts on the Greece forum in TripAdvisor, show that tourists aren't being affected. Capital controls on € withdrawals from ATMs and banks don't apply to international tourists. Many are bringing more € in cash than usual.

My advice would be to continue your plans, and in the meantime keep informed of developments in reliable news sources. One such is the US Embassy in Athens, which publishes messages on its website for US citizens:
http://athens.usembassy.gov/warden_messages.html

'I'm really posting this link for Clausar, who is probably the only person with the intellectual curiosity to read it..'

Sandra, is it not a little bit condescending ?
I didn't read your post... I have no intellectual curiosity, and if I had, I'd read 'le Monde' instead of your posts.

Yes, I agree with worldinabag !! My concern is not so much about the referendum!

Sandra, why does your post sound unnecessarily bitter ? Wouldn't you be worried if you are taking your family to a another country for the first time and that country is also over the media for its fall out in economy ?

Heimdall, I haven't had any unsafe incidents so far in NJ or NYC for that matter !

Anyway, my main concern is not being able to withdraw cash, being able to travel between the islands without the issues of strikes and such, and finally I am reading about Greeks closing their business and moving away, so obvious concerns about small businesses such as restaurants not being open for business !

I have spent a lot of time in crafting this trip , so I really don't want to change my plans !

Kush

Shubha, I can certainly understand your concern, and it would be unfair to criticise you for worrying. In my earlier post I chose my words carefully and wrote: "...at the present time I see no reason to cancel your trip."

The truth is that no one knows for sure what will happen next week, let alone in August. There has been far too much speculation already, and I am not going to add to it. Just keep yourself informed and make the decision you feel is right.

Just saw on the news this am that a couple from Greece in NYC for their honeymoon found their Greek ATM and credit cards useless. Not sure if the bank that issued them has closed or has been blocked from the various international networks or ?.

Have no idea what will happen in this situation but agree that it should be watched carefuuly.

The story was in the news a day ago. In any case, the church loaned them some money.

Cancelled transportation is one of the hazards of travel. I have almost stopped flying Lufthansa for how many times they strike. Buy trip insurance.

If you are worried about rioting this summer, get out of the US.

Early returns show Greece voting no (their only realistic option) but expecting the troika to back down-- naïve? Better start printing drachmas now.

Selfishly wondering if euro will finally drop from what is widely seen as "fair value" vs the dollar ($1.10 = 1 euro) to closer to parity. The euro has been remarkably strong in the financial markets in the wake of recent news.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I think Greece has to leave the euro (actually, I think the euro has proven to be a catastrophe, and should never have happened, but that's another story), but I think the ECB will realize that they have a legal duty to stabilize the Greek banking system and to safeguard Greek bank deposits and inject some more liquidity into the system this week, which might allow business to be conducted on more of a normal basis in the short term. However, I do think, at some point, Greece will leave the euro (hopefully, after the EU and Greeks come up with some sort of plan, rather than just ad hoc reactions), so there may be another upheaval that will be noticeable to travelers at the point that happens (if it does). It's hard to see any kind of deal being worked out where the euro remains in place, because if sound economic decisions are made, rather than emotional political decisions, people will realize that Greece needs its own currency right now so that it can devalue and regain competitiveness, which they can't do while staying on the euro.