ABOUT GREECE STRIKE

Hi Jasmine, We just got back from Greece last week. I'm not sure what the details of the strikes are for those days, but be prepared for some possible issues. I think you will be fine on the islands, when we got to Santorini, nothing seemed to be effected by the strikes. However, if flying...both our flights were delayed by several hours due to last minute air controller strikes. While extremely annoying, we were thankfully that our flights were allowed to go and not cancelled! Also, the two weeks we were in Greece, there were several days that all archaelogical sites were closed, which I didn't think they would do! Thankfully, we had some flexibility in Athens so we could visit the Acropolis on a day it was open. Definitely try to give yourself a little flexibility in scheduling in Athens if possible in case there is a strike of some sort. A good website to check with current updates is:
athensnews.gr

Justin
Thank you very much!I had thought there nobody reply me.Your reply made me feel so warm.And the most important is your informations and suggests are very useful for us.Thanks a lot!:)

You can check for strike information here: http://livingingreece.gr/strikes

Hi,Li:
Thank you very much!I had checked that wedsite which you talk about.It is helpful.But we want more detail informations from the people in Greece.

I just returned from Greece yesterday. I was traveling on business in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Athens I stayed on Syntagma Square and saw a protest every day I was there although nothing to the level being reported today. The challenging part of the strikes is that they are hard to predict this far out. While I was there, all public transportation went on strike for two days. The first days the taxis were running. The second day, the taxi drivers decided to join them. The key is to remain flexible and take things in stride. I tried to consider it all just another cultural experience. The strikes will probably affect your tours. How and to what extent is unpredictable.

The international newscast on TV tonight reported that the strikes were so bad in Athens today that "they virtually shut down the country." Rocks and fire bombs were being thrown at the police, with 100,000+ rioters on the streets. I hope things calm down before your planned travels. Athens is usually the center of the riots,. Be safe, or perhaps postpone your travels, if you can, if things don't calm down after the vote tomorrow.

Hoping things aren't too bad in Thessaloniki this weekend. I'll report back to you all about how strikes affected our travels.

Thanks to every friend! We must make a decision in tomorrow evening.We are thinking it over.
Plesase tell us the newest situation. It will be helpful to us to make the decision.We really hope to travel on schedule.

My biggest piece of advice is to be flexible. I live in Athens, but went to the islands (Syros, Tinos, Mykonos) for a vacation. We were suppose to spend 3 days in Mykonos, but we've been here for 5 days, and the soonest we will be able to ferry back to Athens (Piraeus) is Sunday, for a total of 7 nights on Mykonos. How are you planning on traveling between Athens and the islands? Those visiting the islands via cruise ship (Carnival, MSC, etc.) seem to be able to come and go by ferrying their passengers from cruise ship to shore in smaller boats, but if traveling on Greek ferries (Blue Star, etc.) be flexible. Good luck!

Jasmine, I am assuming you are able to do a Google search to see world news reports (but I'm not really positive what is able to be viewed in China). Here is a link to a story from USA Today newspaper from one hour ago: http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/story/2011-10-20/greece-economic-crisis/50845836/1 As one of the other people responding asked, how are you travelling? Are you flying into Athens, or are you arriving by cruise ship? Are you with a tour group, or are you traveling with just family or a friend? I personally would not want to be in Athens this weekend or early next week, but things might be okay for you......just too uncertain. Travel is expensive and vacation trips are supposed to be relaxing and fun. The Greek Islands are lovely, but when we visited Athens right before catching our cruise ship for a Greek Isles, Ephesus and Istanbul cruise, we found Athens be a very stressed, tired-looking city. Athens has an important history, some of the historical sites are fabulous; but if there is rioting in the streets, you will not be able to enjoy all of what there is to see, if those sites are even open to see. Be safe, and let us know what you decide (and then how it goes). And, we obviously wish Greece the very best possible outcome as a country and for its people; change and reductions are never easy.

Katie: You are the first friend from Athens,your information and advice are very helpful.Thank you very much! Flexibleness is the most important at this time without doubt .You are right! Our pristine plan is: 23/10/2011 13:00 Arrive Athens and then fly to Heraklion(AEGEAN AIR) 24/10/2011 Heraklion 25/10/2011 Heraklion fly to Thira(via Athens)(AEGEAN AIR) 27/10/2011 Thira fly to Athens(AEGEAN AIR) 28-29/10/2011 Athens 29/10/2011 19:40 fly back to China Now,we want to arrive Athens at first,and if the local flight is normal,and we wil take the plan.If not,we change to fly to FANCE or GERMAN.
Do you think it is OK?We are prepare to stay on island longger,but just afaid of we can't come back to Athens on time.

Margaret: We can see the news on internet,include the wed you provide.Thank you very much! I travel with my husband.You can see our plan in my reply to Katie.Travel is expensive and vacation trips are supposed to be relaxing and fun. I agreed with you!So,we want stay on island longer than stay on Athens.But we are afaid of the Athens situation will affect the traffic to Islands.Do you think it will be calmer in Athens this weekend or early next week than this two days?Expect your suggest.
God bless us and Greece people.As you said:change and reductions are never easy.

Here is the latest info posted on the Agean Air website (which you have probably already seen): http://en.aegeanair.com/all-about-us/press-office/press-releases/press-release/?prid=326 Since the situation is a continuously changing and uncertain, as a previous poster mentioned, flexibility will be key. I might also suggest contacting your hotels on the islands and Athens to see what they think re: your ability to travel, getting transportation to/from the airports in Athens, etc. If the airports continue to be open and planes flying without problems, I'd be inclined to stay in a hotel very close to the airport (when you overnight in Athens), just to make it much easier to get to the airport if taxi, train, etc. problems were to occur or continue, but you can decide that on a day-to-day basis as you get more up-to-date information when you land. In the United States, before our last trip to Greece, I was able to get up-to-date information re: any predicted strikes from the Greek National Tourism Office in New York. They may be able to help you, too. http://www.greekembassy.org/embassy/content/en/Article.aspx?office=1&folder=885&article=27 They were VERY helpful to me, and definitely have the up-to-date "pulse" of what is happening in Greece. Safe travels, and let us know how it all works out.

hello. my friend and i returned from greece a few weeks ago. we spent all our time...about 2.5 weeks..on the islands. thira, naxos, mykonos. no notice of any unrest or disruption to our travel plans. island life was great! travels there were fine. we had actually been in spain so our flight was in madrid to athens then athens to thira. i noticed you are flying on Aegean Airlines. That was my first time using them and it was FABULOUS! our flight was actually late departing madrid which meant that we were going to miss (barely) our connection to thira from athens. well, the moment we landed in athens a staff member greeted my friend and i (along with 5 girls traveling in another part that needed the same flight). she whisked us all through the airport...down stairways, through "exit only" doors, to the front of the security line ...AND they held the flight for us. the moment we were seated, the door shut and we were on our way to thira! hope you have a great trip!

We have the same question but further down the road. Our family of 7 are all meeting in Athens at Christmas coming from different directions. Flights and apartment rental has been in place for months but am now wondering if we should find a different place to meet. Our grown son uses a power wheelchair to get around so any of the disruptions to services have much bigger implications for him. Any sage advice out there...should we try and rebook and if so any suggestions on where to?

My weekend in Thessaloniki went smoothly. You could see remnants of the 48 hour strikes (Wednesday-Thursday, I arrived Friday) in the streets with huge piles of trash and some broken storefront windows, but overall we had a very wonderful stay. I loved visiting this part of Greece, we stayed up in the old city which was very pleasant. The only strikes that were going on during our weekend involved laywers, some agricultural banks, customs (for the ports), so nothing that affected us. For the poster asking about Christmas: it is hard to say. In 2 months, things could be settled a bit more, or they could be worse than they are now. It may be safer to plan on a different location (couldn't tell if you were wondering about a different location inside or outside of Greece) than Athens, but that is up to you all.

Dear friends,we have come back from Greece on 30th Oct.But I am too busy to reply.Now,let's tell you our tour.Thanks god!Everything is well-off and in plan when we in Greece.It goes without saying,the islands are equable.In Athens,we just saw demonstrate once at Akropolis.The flights are all normal.We have a perfect vecation!But when we came back this week,we saw some people demonstrate before the parliament building in news.So we think we are very lucky!Here,we thank all friends who have give us information.And,god bless the friend planning to Greece.I think the Greece people like calmness too after all.

Jasmine I am so glad that things worked out well for you. I know you were worried and we were worried for you. I am happy that you saw those things you wanted to see, and that you got safely to Greece and also safely back home.

Jasmine,
Thank you for updating us. We are so glad your trip was enjoyable and that you encountered no travel problems. Greece is a lovely place, and we are glad you were able to enjoy its beauty. When we went to Greece last year, we were very concerned about strikes, demonstrations, etc., but like you, we were also very fortunate.

I feel so warm when i know so many friends worry for us.The earth just like a village because of internet!We are so happy to make so many friends and get so many help here. We are full of confidence to travel all the world.If we plan travel next time ,I will ask for help here again.:)