Greek Holiday | Travel

sarahstheone wrote:

A friend has just arrived back from Athens; apart from it being virtually paralysed and a frightening place to walk around, she said that the locals do everything they can to rip off the visitors. The place is a powder keg!

Which is in the process of exploding right now!

al-terego wrote:

sarahstheone wrote:

A friend has just arrived back from Athens; apart from it being virtually paralysed and a frightening place to walk around, she said that the locals do everything they can to rip off the visitors. The place is a powder keg!

Which is in the process of exploding right now!

was thinking of trying it later in the year first time anyone else got bad feedback to stop me going would appreciate it

I think wherever you go you have to be on guard - As you are a 'fish out of water' and of course the locals know you are a tourist and not at home / in your own territory

I still think it is possible to keep yourself and your belongings safe and even if it means coming across as defensive - It doesn't matter as no one has a right to spoil your freedom to go where you choose!!

I travel alone to many places as I love the adventure of discovering new places etc

I have even stayed in a grotty red light district in Bombay on my own! ... And if I can survive that I can survive anything!! lol

Iv been there quite a few time's an it is quite a fast placed city . but on the whole its a nice place capital citys are usually busy with a degree of conmen an undesireables . An its not half as bad as london .

I've encountered a variety of scams when abroad and managed to dodge most of them. 

It's a good idea to research (type in "Tourist Scams Timbuctou", for instance) online prior to visiting your desination.  Please realise that any British tourist is fair game almost everywhere you visit worldwide. 

There is the "shit on your shoe" ****
The "letter" ****, for the ladies
The "don't buy it here, let me take you to my friend's warehouse"
The "can you change this 1000 KS note?" ****
The "Please can you take this parcel to the UK?" ****.  Please note, this can end up in your receiving a death sentence!

I am fortunate in that, being Welsh, I can reply fluently in my native tongue.  Upon hearing my sweet gutteral tones, they tend to throw up their hands in horror and flee!

If you are being pestered continuously, try and shake the hand of your ****.  The trick is to hold on to his hand way in excess of his tolerance, aim for 2 minutes.  I also find that a stubborn scamster is put off if you start barking low at first and then gradually increase the volume.  Make sure you maintain eye contact when you do so. 

Don't let **** put you off.  If I had, I wouldn't have got futher than Swansea. 

hi , i have been to athens twice by day , its a lovely town but alot of nite life and a fast city,, i have been 3 times to kos town its georgous the people are lovely and  never had any trouble quite the opposite , best stick inland like kos lots to do and would go there alone .. if thats how you travel i would love to live in kos town if i had the money..but thats me you might not like it we are all different!!

i spent nearly 4 months there found the place exciting vibtant and it just like any big city allover the world it has the few people who will take the opotunity to con who they think is vulnrable but if u keep you'r witts about u be aware of posible **** it not a problem and Athens is an epirience to be enjoyed it is full of wonder and history

cazzap06 wrote:

I think wherever you go you have to be on guard - As you are a 'fish out of water' and of course the locals know you are a tourist and not at home / in your own territory

I still think it is possible to keep yourself and your belongings safe and even if it means coming across as defensive - It doesn't matter as no one has a right to spoil your freedom to go where you choose!!

I travel alone to many places as I love the adventure of discovering new places etc

I have even stayed in a grotty red light district in Bombay on my own! ... And if I can survive that I can survive anything!! lol

In my home town (London) all the locals are foreigners anyway.