73001GRE
Local Area Office: Andy’s Tours, 89 Kallirois Avenue, Athens Metro: Fix (red line)
Telephone: (210) 92.29.511
Evi Kouzoupi: ext. 502 or (cell) 6932639704 evi@andystours.gr
Amalia Manias, Evi’s assistant and the TM contact person at Andy’s Tours amalia@andystours.gr (cell) 6932639703
Emergency: 6932639707 or (210) 62.36.866
DUTY OFFICER: Carlotta Boldrini +39 339 5249416
The person to contact upon your arrival in Athens is Amalia (Evi’s assistant) at Andy’s Tours. Andy’s arranges all guides and is the bus company that ACIS uses. Amalia creates a document with all details of the Greek program (reservation times, names/numbers of guides & drivers, restaurant menus, etc). You will receive this document in advance. Otherwise, she will have a copy sent to the hotel upon your arrival.
Free maps of Athens are available in the hotel lobbies.
Athens is a relatively safe city. Main concerns safety-wise are pickpockets and traffic.
For tipping procedures: please consult your Expenses Guide – Greece. Call the duty officer if you need clarification—Evi is not involved in this aspect of the tour).
Since Andy’s Tours books all hotels, coaches, and restaurants a few guidelines could be useful: under the terms of our contract, ACIS does not accept hotel rooms with four beds; if the hotel has given you a quad you should call Evi immediately before checking anyone into the room. On overnight ferries and cruise ships, quads ARE used and single supplements paid for by adults do not apply (ie, those adults might be sharing). The contract also stipulates that tap water should be provided on the tables at dinner. In some places they will substitute this for bottled water. If they charge for the water at the end of the meal; pay for it and inform Evi immediately. On the overnight ferry, buy large bottles of water for each table at dinner and expense.
All archaeological sites in Greece now require groups numbering 10 or more to have a timed reservation. It is important to be on time as if you are not, you risk not being allowed entrance. This is especially true for the Acropolis and less so for the Acropolis Museum.
NB (requests from Andy’s Tours)
- Please contact Evi ASAP if there are problems/issues with any services (including meals) so that she has the opportunity to look into the situation and rectify it if possible.
- If you are interested in adding an excursion, call Evi directly for prices – do not ask the drivers or the guides what the costs will be.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR GREEK ITINERARIES
Guiding in Greece
In Greece, it is NOT allowed to guide a group at sites or in museums unless you are a qualified guide from a Greek Guide School or University OR you have a permit from the American, French, German or British Schools which has been certified by the Ministry of Culture. On no account should you try and flaunt this rule; it WILL be enforced. However, if you have a friendly, understanding local guide, then he/she MAY allow you to talk to the group in their presence.
Usually, on GRH, OLY and IGR, Andy’s provide a guide who accompanies you on the road for the four days of the tour. It is important to have a conversation with the guide early on to establish commentary balance on the coach (the guides we use are used to ACIS groups and understand that TMs will be using the bus to provide commentary and instruction. However, it is best to leave site historical commentary to the guides, unless an understanding is reached). Check the tipping guidelines for this as touring guides receive a per day tip, payable by TMs. Also, at most rest stops, there will be a small “thank you” payment given to the driver or guide, which should to be split three ways.
VOX headsets will be waiting for you at the Athens hotel, to be distributed and turned in to the final hotel. These can stay on the coach for the duration of the tour and be used at each venue. ***Remember to take guide headsets for each guided visit, and remember that we sometimes split groups into 2 smaller groups at the Acropolis Museum (you therefore need 2 guide headsets on that day). Please make sure you test them before each visit (extra batteries are supplied).
Drop off and pick up points Athens
Coaches can drop off and pick up in front of most hotels. The Acropolis Select and Parthenon Hotels are down small streets, so drop off is on the closest corner and you walk (less than 5 minutes).
The end of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street close to Hadrian’s Arch is a common drop off/pick up point close to the Plaka and Acropolis Museum, and is called “Melina” by guides and drivers (there is a bust of Melina Mercouri where coaches can stop).
Drop off for the Acropolis is at the top of Rovertou Galli Street in the parking area adjacent to Dionysos Zonar’s Restaurant.
Drop off and pick up points Delphi
Coaches can drop off/pick up in front of the museum or site entry. For pick up, you must be on time, as no coach standing is allowed and drivers can be fined. Best to have your guide liaise with the driver about timings.
Museum and site visiting in Greece
The following guidelines are meant to help when visiting all museums and sites in Greece. It is essential to remind the pax (and yourself) of these things every day.
- Always have a list of names and dates of birth of all participants on your person. A passport list is most useful as this can be used at hotels as well.
- Pax should always carry their passports (or a copy) with them. This enables reduced or free entry to the majority of sites for under 18s.
- Large Bags and Backpacks are not allowed in Greek museums. The easiest solution is to encourage people to leave them at the hotel or on the coach (if possible). Most museums have a bag check room.
- In general, Greek museums allow photography without flash. Moreover, it is not allowed to pose in front of or touch artefacts and exhibits, or climb on ruins.
- As a rule, you will not be expected to pay for entrances: the guides will pay and then claim it back from Evi. This is another reason why it is so important to have the pax list with you at all times.
- When visiting sites, pax should have a bottle of water with them and should wear sturdy shoes.
- Your local guide will schedule timings of visits and liaise with you, as they are aware of seasonal time tables, holidays etc.
Zafiro Restaurant Greek Evening
On most trips, you will have an included ‘Greek Cultural Evening’ in Athens, which is always a favorite activity. It is held in Zafiro restaurant in Attiko Alsos, about half an hour (traffic dependent) out of and above Athens (great views over the city). The evening begins with an olive oil demonstration, followed by a Greek dancing lesson (loads of fun) and then a rich buffet meal consisting of a wide variety of Greek specialties (vegetarians, vegans, gluten and lactose free have been accounted for, and any potential allergens are detailed on little cards next to each dish), wine and soft drinks included. After dinner more dancing and plate-smashing (shhh, it’s a surprise)…. It lasts about three hours, and sometimes is a little longer if there are other tour groups involved. It is important to ensure that consideration has been given to drivers’ hours when planning the departure the following morning.
OPENING TIMES
Shops and Pharmacies
- Mon – Wed – Sat: 08:30 – 15:00 (generally, but many open all day)
- Tue – Thur- Fri: 08:30 – 14:30 and 17:00 – 20:00 (generally, but most open all day uninterrupted)
- Plaka shops generally open all day, every day.
- There is ALWAYS at least one pharmacy open at any given time (these rotate and are posted in the windows of all pharmacies). Even simple medications such as aspirin can only be purchased at pharmacies (although paracetamol (called “Depon”) can be purchased at most kiosks as well).
Supermarkets
- Monday-Friday 08:00 – 21:00
- Sat until 8:00 – 20:00
- Sun closed (neighborhood mini markets are usually open on Sundays)
Banks
- Times vary significantly among banking companies and branches.
- It is safe to say that most are open weekdays: 08:30 – 14:30.
- National Bank on Syntagma Square stays open later and on Saturdays, too.
Exchange Offices
- Banks generally do NOT exchange money, but exchange offices can be found in the Plaka and near Syntagma Square.
- ATMs are readily available. Best to use a bank-affiliated ATM rather than a “Euronet” machine, as these charge higher commissions and have poor exchange rates.
Post Office
- Closest post office to most hotels we use is at 7 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street (open 7:30-14:45; close to Acropolis Museum & Plaka).
- Central Post Office at Syntagma Square, open 07:30 – 20:30
Museums and Monuments
Most (major) museums and monuments are open every day, but check online or call the museum/monument in advance. Opening times change depending on the season so it always a good idea to call ahead and check.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Jan 01 + 06 Mar 25 Easter Fri & Sun May 1
Jun 6 Aug 15 Oct 28 Dec 25 + 26
US EMBASSY AND CONSULATE
91 Vas. Sofias Ave, metro Megaro Mousikis (blue line). Consulate Services entrance on the street running up the left side of the Embassy. Open 8:30 – 5:00 Mon. – Fri. (except Greek and US holidays). Telephone: 210 72.12.951