Before traveling to Greece on business, it’s important that you prepare yourself as much as possible. Here are eight big points that you need to be aware of before you book your journey.
Because Greece is a popular destination, it’s important to book as early as possible. This will give you the cheapest prices, particularly if you book out of season. If you are looking to travel in July or August, which is considered the peak season, make sure that you book your ferries early – these tickets tend to get booked up ahead of time. You will also want to book your car hire or accommodation early to avoid missing out.
Make sure that you bring more cash with you than you think you will need. If you run out while you are in Greece, you might find it difficult to get by as many restaurants do not accept credit cards. Because of the recent financial difficulties in Greece, using cash is still the most trusted option. Don’t leave yourself short.
If you can avoid driving in Greece, this might be the better option. Road users here see the rules more as guidelines, and as such it can be very tense and even terrifying to drive on the Greek roads if you are not used to this. Automatic cars are not the normal order of the day, so unless you know how to drive stick very well, don’t attempt to learn – pay extra for automatic or just take public transport.
Greeks are very friendly and like to invite you into the more intimate aspects of their lives. If you are invited to go home with a colleague or client and have dinner with their family, take them up on the offer. This is the polite thing to do and will help you to bond, which is very important for Greeks. Leave your business at the door and enjoy a relaxed time together.
Hand gestures mean different things in different cultures, and one gesture you will want to avoid at all costs is raising your hand palm-outwards. While you might think that you are waving at someone, they could construe it as a very rude motion. Known as the mountza, pushing your open hand towards someone palm-first is believed to be connected to an ancient curse and is frowned upon.
When you see a lot of taxis lined up and waiting for tourists, avoid them. A common trick for taxis is to charge whatever they want because you are an easy target. Instead, wait until you see a taxi coming down the street and stop them there. That way, you are much more likely to get a fair price. Try to figure out normal prices for the area you visit before you travel so that you can avoid those taxis which quote a much higher fare.
There is no overall rule or convention for tipping in Greece. Tip what you like, or don’t tip at all – it is really up to you and whether you feel that the service was worth it.
If you have a medical emergency, you can head for a hospital or, on the smaller islands, a medical centre. Greek pharmacies are closed on weekends, so if you think you might be coming down with something, make the trip on Friday.
With this information in hand you will be much better placed to enjoy your business trip to Greece, as well as getting the most out of it!
Corinne Ledling is a business woman who’s very passionate about work travels. She works at Bizstats.co.uk and loves to share tips and tricks about business traveling.
