1. Do I need a passport? A visa? |
| If you are an American or Canadian citizen, you need only a Passport. The easiest way to get a passport is through your local post office, County Court House, or Passport Agency. When applying, be sure to take with you: your genuine birth certificate, which includes the registrar's signature and a raised seal; two recent photographs that are 2" x 2", full face view, black/white or color; and ID, like your Driver's License. |
| You may need a Visa for our Greece if you are not an American or Canadian citizen. If you are a citizen of another country, you must contact the appropriate consulates for each nation on the itinerary; and you must obtain these visas on your own. |
| 2. How much luggage can I take? |
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| Please bring ONE suitcase only and ONE carry-on. Please limit your suitcase size to no larger than 29" x 20" x 10" and your carry-on to no larger than 8" x 16" x 21". You may also want to check with your carrier regarding their luggage restrictions. |
Keep in mind that throughout the duration of the tour, you are responsible for your own luggage, so do not pack more than you can carry. Laundry facilities are available in major cities.
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| 3. Are vaccinations required for travel from the United States to Greece? |
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| Even though it is unlikely that you will need a vaccination for traveling to Greece, we suggest you check with the U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases. |
| The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia operates a 24-hour recorded 'International Travellers' Information Line' at 877-394-8747. You can also dial 888-232-3299 and follow the prompts for a faxed copy of available information; or visit the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/travel/ for the most up-to-date information. Your local Public Health Department may also have useful information. |
| Please Let Us Know: If you have a physical disability or require frequent or on-going medical attention, please advise AESU and your Alumni Association of your health situation at the time you book-or at the onset of any new condition prior to your departure. |
| 4. I have allergies to mosquito and certain spider bites. Is Greece a dangerous |
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| Some mosquitoes and spiders exist in the islands, although you will not find them in abundance and they generally pose no threat to humans. Some hotels offer plug-in mosquito repellents, and we recommend bringing your own repellent for additional protection during the night. |
| 5. What is the activity level on your tour? |
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| Our program is of moderate nature, but definitely not strenuous. Even though some ferry travel is included in the packages, you will not feel overwhelmed by the quantity of travel. Our trips are not a forced march and allow for plenty of free time. Scheduled activities are not mandatory, except, of course, for transfers between islands. In order to fully enjoy the experience, travelers must be physically able to endure warm temperatures, walk up and down steep stairs at the island villages and/or island hotels, especially on Santorini, and travel for extended periods by ferry. |
| 6. Can children travel on this tour? |
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| This trips is suitable for children, however, please check with your alumni association if this trips is a category ‘family’ or ‘young alumni’ tour. |
| 7. I have a walking limitation. Can I still participate? |
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| Participants must be ambulatory so that they can get on/off motorcoaches and ferries. Additionally, most island hotels have a large number of steps without the presence of elevators, some hotel stairs are narrow, and island villages have rough pavement and a large number of steps. If you have further questions on accessibility, please feel free to contact our Alumni tour expert TrueGreece t at 1-800-638-7640. |
| 8. What should I pack? |
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Informal clothing such as khakis, light denims and drip-dry cottons is appropriate. You may also bring a combination of shorts and long pants for your personal comfort. Even though you will probably be able to wear t-shirts or shirts on most summer nights, evenings may get relatively chilly and the wind may be strong, so a light jacket, windbreaker, or sweaters may come in handy. Even though rain is unlikely to occur during the summer season, you may also bring a hooded jacket. Lightweight or jogging shoes are recommended for walking in the island villages. |
| If you will at times dine in upscale restaurant settings, or have a cocktail in a charming bar under the Aegean sky, a good rule of thumb is to bring clothing that you would normally wear if you were to dine in a relatively upscale U.S. restaurant. |
For entrance to the various churches and monasteries, long pants (rather than shorts) are required for men, and a skirt or dress of at least knee-height is required for women (rather than short skirts, shorts, or pants). Women are also required to wear tops that cover their shoulders (a t-shirt, shirt, or sweat shirt would suffice).
A hat, suntan lotion, and mosquito repellent are also recommended. |
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light weight wrinkle-proof clothing |
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1 pair of comfortable walking shoes. Break them in before you go!! |
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1 bathing suit/swim trunks |
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1 pair semi-dress shoes along with 1 semi-dressy outfit |
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1 light weight coat suitable for chilly or rainy weather |
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washcloth (often not available in European hotels) |
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1 beach towel |
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suntan lotion and insect bit lotion |
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sewing kit |
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bandaids |
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woolite |
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sunglasses |
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prescriptions for glasses/contacts |
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prescriptions for any medication you take regularly |
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mini-travel alarm clock |
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hair dryer or straightener- remember, you will need a converter for 220 volts and a pack of varied plug converters |
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camera & film - or digital camera |
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anti-motion medicine, anti-diarrhea, laxatives, cold medicine, and any prescriptions IN PRESCRIPTION BOTTLES |
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| Most name brand cosmetics, medications, and toiletries can be purchased overseas. |
| **If you're traveling with a friend, try to split up toiletries and hair dryer etc. that can be shared. |
Always pack what you will need for one night in your carry-on bag, in the event that the airline misplaces your luggage. |
| 9. What about packing documents? |
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| Never pack your passport! Always keep it on your person! The same goes for travelers' checks, cash, credit cards and personal checks. Pack 2 extra passport photos if possible (in the event that you misplace your passport); photo copies of your passport's personal data pages and your airline tickets, unless you have an electronic ticket; a listing of your credit card and travelers' check numbers; and copies of any personal IDs. This info will be extremely valuable should you lose any actual documents. Always keep actual documents on you person, and never in your checked suitcase. |
| 10. How choppy are the waters in the Aegean Sea? |
| Will I experience sea sickness? |
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| If you have a strong tendency to get sea sick, there is a moderate probability you will experience the effects of sea sickness at some point on this trip, depending on the weather conditions on the day of your ferry transfers. If you are concerned about sea sickness, you may want to contact your physician for suggestions of aids that can prevent sea sickness. |
| 11. What type of electrical source is available in Greece? |
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| Electricity runs 220 volts in Greece and plugs are different than in the U.S. You may purchase a small, transformer and a European plug adopter before your departure. Please note that most hotels on this tour are equipped with hair dryers.
For further inquiries, please contact our Alumni travel expert at 1-800-638-7640. |
| 12. What will the weather be like? |
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Just like the United States, Europe has unpredictable hot summers, cool summers, rainy summers, and dry summers! The weather, in general, is much like it is in most part of the US.
Nice weather is a way of life for the Greeks, with over 300 days of sunshine a year. April, May and June, September and October are probably the best months to visit weather-wise.
In July and August things get hotter. You will probably meet a (kafsona) heat wave in most of the Greek cities in the South. Athens and the Northern mainland can be hot in the day but mornings and late afternoons are fine.
You can always check on www.weather.com before you depart to see what the latest weather trends have been. |
13. Can I buy my airfare from AESU? What if I buy it elsewhere?
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| AESU offers great low rates on many airlines. If you purchase AESU airfare, you will receive airport transfers. If you purchase airfare elsewhere, transferring to the first hotel, as well as to the airport in Athens, is your responsibility. |
| 14. I know some meals are included…but what if I'm a vegetarian? |
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| The European tours include continental breakfast daily, lunches & dinner as per itinerary. If you are a vegetarian, or have special dietary needs, please inform your tour escort as soon as you arrive. All included meals are pre-paid, so a substitute meal is always up to the goodwill of the establishment. We cannot guarantee that all special requests will be granted, but, most restaurants are very cooperative. Please keep in mind that vegetarianism has not "caught on" in Europe as it in the US, so substitute meals may not be as varied as vegetarian meals are here. |
| 15. How much spending money will I need? |
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| We recommend $50-$80 per day, depending on your spending habits. That money covers items of a personal nature, stamps, laundry, beverages with meals (except for coffee/tea at breakfast, water at dinner, and occasionally a glass of wine), meals not included on tour, and expenses for free-time activities (metro tickets, taxis, entrance fees). This amount does not include money for souvenir/gift shopping. |
| 16. Are travelers checks accepted in Greece? Should I bring cash with me? |
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We do not recommend carrying travelers checks, since they are not widely accepted in Greece. Some banks accept traveler’s checks and some do not, and many tavernas and restaurants do not. Additionally, you do not want to spend your valuable time in Greece searching for the banks that do accept Travelers checks.
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Although credit card use is wide-spread for upscale shops and fancy restaurants, please keep in mind that you are visiting small villages on the islands, and many places will only accept cash. We recommend carrying a small cash balance with you upon departure from your country, withdrawing money in Greece with your debit card, and always carrying some cash on you while in Greece. We recommend bringing a credit card (Visa, American Express, and Mastercard are the most widely accepted) as well as an ATM card.
There is an abundance of ATMs in Athens, and access to ATMs is also available in the islands. Consulting with your bank before your departure is recommended to ensure that you will be able to withdraw money from an ATM machine while in Greece, and that no fees apply. |
| 17. How do I exchange money? |
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| Your tour escort will aid you in locating currency exchange stations, and can also advise you of how much money to change. Keep in mind that you can exchange only bills, not coins. Euros is the currency used in Greece. |
18. What is the acceptable amount to tip? Whom am I expected to tip?
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| Standard service charges of 15-20% are paid for by AESU; in restaurants on your own, tip approximately 10% UNLESS the service is included. Check your bill carefully for this charge. It is customary to recognize the tour escort by complimenting them with $3-5 gratuity per day. Your tour escort and bus driver work very hard to make your tour the most memorable and best time of your life! |
