XpatAthens
Tuesday, 23 May 2017 07:00
To Tip Or Not To Tip In Greece
I was asked by a visiting friend “How much do I tip the waiter?” The rest of us looked at each other and smiled – this is a favourite topic of conversation and debate… My group of friends is from all over – Greece, France, Canada, Argentina, America, etc. – each with a different perspective on tipping etiquette. From my own ‘let’s leave 15%’, to someone else’s ‘don’t leave anything’, and the natural questions of most visitors, I’m often left wondering what’s the right thing to do in Greece.
I read a recent blog in the Economist about tipping rules for hospitality services in the US – and I nearly fell off my chair. According to the piece, the ‘Gratuity Guide’ of the American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests up to $2 per person for the driver of the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel; up to $5 per bag for porters; door staff should get up to $2 for hailing a taxi from the queue outside; and housekeeping should be left up to $5 a night. The lucky concierge should get $5 for making a restaurant reservation and $10 if he has something more difficult to do, like find a tricky theatre ticket. This 'culture of tipping' is being questioned in parts of the US, where a number of restaurants have started to apply a 'no tips' policy.
So, I’ve suddenly paid more in tips than I have for my hotel room. What are the comparative ‘rules’ for Greece?
According to WhoToTip.net: In Greece, it is customary to tip the porter/bellboy, around €1 per bag. Tip the housekeeper €1 per day, leaving the tip on the bedside table or bed. You can tip the concierge a few Euros if he provides excellent service. In restaurants, tipping is expected for good service, especially if you are a tourist. Some restaurants in Greece will round up the bill, so you should check this before tipping. You can tip between 5% and 10% and you should leave the tip on the table, give it to the waiter directly, or tell the waiter you don’t want change. In some restaurants, the owner does not allow their staff to keep the tips. You may want to ask if this is the case, because if they don’t, you are just paying more for your meal. Taxis don't expect a tip, but you may round up the fare (+/- 5%) if you wish.
And so on… So many rules that I wasn’t aware of…! My Greek friends say “Bah, round up the bill or leave a couple euros for good service – that’s all you need to know.” (Then again, is it great service when they ask you 10 times if you need something else, or when they leave you to enjoy your coffee in peace??)
In the end, I think that tipping is a personal choice – but one that I always encourage. Especially in a city like Athens that should know how to treat visitors, to provide good customer service, and a culture that apparently dishes out ‘filoxenia’ as second nature. When someone gets it really right, I am generous. What’s more, a generous tip normally comes with my verbal appreciation of their great service – as in “We really appreciated your great service today – you were great.” Maybe this is more valuable than one or two euros, and encourages more of the same? Perhaps. In any case, I tend to fall on the side of generosity, and put it in the category of ‘karma’… ;)
So, tip or don’t tip, but do show appreciation for someone who goes beyond their sub-minimum-wage job description to make your hour-long coffee stop more pleasant.
Until next week,
Jack
The Economist – Gratuitous Expense
WhoToTip.net – Tipping in Greece
Published in
My Week In Athens
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Thursday, 11 June 2015 07:00
Acropolis Ranked Among Top Landmark In Europe
Travellers across the globe have ranked the Acropolis in Athens among the top landmarks in Europe for 2015, a leading travel website has stated.
According to TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travellers Choice Attractions Awards, the Acropolis was ranked 21st in the list of top landmarks in Europe.
The annual awards are based on the millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers from all over the world. Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, topped the Europe list, followed by Italy’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and the Milan Cathedral (Duomo) in Milan.
To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Greece In The News
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Thursday, 17 September 2015 07:00
Exploring The Caves Of Lake Vouliagmeni
“Lake Vouliagmeni, on Athens's southern coast, is unique, with a massive cave system, white cliffs and warm waters – which under temperate conditions are also extremely clear – while the colors you see inside from the refraction of the light and the clear waters are really spectacular,” says Spyros Kollas, a professional diving instructor and enthusiast who has spent the past 16 years exploring the world beneath the waves.
In February, under his guidance, the 24-member InnerSpace Explorers Greece diving team – comprising mainly Kollas's students, from Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Spain – started the exploring the mysterious lake in Vouliagmeni. The aim was for them to gain experience in how a proper diving expedition works, as well as to chart – for the first time ever – four small caves that lead into the lake's legendary main cave further in.
For some three months, members of the team conducted dives in teams of up to six people – breaking off into pairs – and took measurements, photographs and videos while also collecting other data. They would meet early in the morning to get themselves and all their gear to Vouliagmeni and start the dives. Each dive would last a maximum of 90 minutes – which was how long their oxygen and bodies could last – before packing everything up again and heading back home. It was an arduous and time-consuming process, but they had fun, they learned a lot and they all got hooked. Some team members with demanding jobs had to fit dives in around their busy schedules while others traveled from abroad, but all managed to overcome any kind of of obstacle in order to return to the water.
The first phase of the project was completed a few weeks ago with the mapping of the first of the four small caves.
“It has a length of 70 meters from the entrance, a width of 30 meters, and a height, from the top to the bottom, of 40 meters, exceptionally clear waters and no stalagmites or stalactites. It is stunning,” says Kollas.
The team's discoveries will not remain secret for long as a recent partnership between InnerSpace Explorers Greece and Dutch firm Reef Interactive, which specilizes in 3D imaging, has resulted in the first 3D interactive dive map app, which allows users to take a virtual dive into this particular part of Lake Vouliagmeni, receiving information such as the temperature of the water, the depth and the kinds of rocks found there.
The next phase of the operation, which consists of mapping the antechamber of the lake's main cave, will start in early 2016.
To read more, please visit: ekathimerini
by
Maria Athanasiou
Published in
City Discovery
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Tuesday, 14 March 2017 07:00
Santorini Experience - A Global Tradition On Beautiful Santorini
Running and swimming through breathtaking routes, for the 3rd year in a row!
The preparations for the 3rd Santorini Experience, which will take place on October 6th - 8th 2017, are finally coming to an end. Following the two, highly successful, previous years, Greece’s biggest tourist sporting event, is opening its gates to professional and amateur athletes, challenging them to try out their running and swimming skills. As before, the event’s beauty is largely based on the magnificent routes that the athletes will follow. The course that the runners will take will go through villages, such as Imerovigli, Firostefani and Oia, with its breathtaking view of the Caldera. For those who choose to take part in the swimming event, the starting point of the race will be the volcano, and will end at the old port in Fira, thus giving the athletes the opportunity to swim through Santorini’s black waters.
Santorini Experience is a collaboration between the Municipality of Thira of the Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (D.A.P.P.O.S.) and Active Media Group.
The Mayor of Thira, Mr. Anastasios Nikolaos Zorzos commented on the event, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the 3rd Santorini Experience, on our island! Another unique life experience filled with energy and volcanic aura. The event has been established, becoming a tradition, while the partaking of the locals, as well as the visitors, each year, proves this more than anything else.”
“Santorini, which is a tourist destination throughout the year, offers alternative experiences and the Santorini Experience is no exception. We continue this effort, we support and participate actively, so that our island can continue being a tourist favorite.”
Along the same lines were the comments made by President of D.A.P.P.O.S., Mr. Eleftherios Tzouros, stating, “We are waiting for you to visit us at the 3rd Santorini Experience, which will take place between 6th-8th October. A unique sporting event that has, from day one, with the participation of athletes from all over the world, shown us that it has the potential to become a global sporting event. The Santorini Experience is considered a tradition, but we choose to evolve it and it is of outmost importance that every year we try to improve the organizing, we include innovation and safety measures above all. We are waiting for you on October 6th-8th on our island.”
Photo Credit: Elias Lefas @Santorini Experience
Published in
Local News
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Thursday, 13 July 2017 08:40
Sunday Shopping Now Legal In Certain Areas Across Greece
Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou recently signed the ministerial decision that includes the areas in the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia that shops can voluntarily operate on 32 Sundays a year from May to October.
Shops located in the following areas in Attica and Central Macedonia are allowed to operate on Sundays:
1. The section of Poseidonos Avenue, which is included in the municipalities of Kallithea, Palaio Faliro, Alimou, Argyroupoli-Elliniko and Glyfada.
2. The area of the Municipality of Piraeus that is surrounded by the streets: Gr. Lambraki, Akti Moutsopoulou, 2as Merarchias, Akti Miaouli, Akti Poseidonos, Akti Kallimasioti, Alipedou, Kekropos and Karaoli and Demetriou.
3. The area of the Municipality of Kallithea, which is surrounded by the streets of Egeos, Euripidou, Zervou, Agias Lavras, Kremou, Harokopou, Dimosthenous, Skra, Aristidou, Olympias, Iatridou, Platonos, Spartis, Eleftherios Venizelos Avenue, Pericleous, Metamorfosis, Praxitelouss, Isminis, Thali, Peisistratou and from Heron Polytechniou Square to Poseidonos Avenue.
4. The area of the Municipality of Paleo Faliro, which extends from Amphitheas Avenue to Poseidonos Avenue.
To read this article in full and for more areas where shops will be open, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Greece In The News
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Thursday, 19 April 2018 07:00
Athens And Santorini Top 2018 Spring Destinations For Travelers To Greece
According to a recent survey published by Trivago, an online search engine, Athens and Santorini were the top spring destinations for foreigners visiting Greece.
In particular, Athens and Fira and Oia in Santorini are the most popular destinations for spring travelers. These findings were based on search volume in the first two weeks of March for trips taking place March, April, and May.
Searches made on trivago also revealed that Greece remains a favorite destination to visitors particularly from the UK and Germany, followed by holidaymakers from Italy and France.
Destinations preferred by Greeks are Athens, Thessaloniki, Nafplio, Corfu, Ioannina, Chania, Loutraki, Rhodes, Kalavryta and Volos.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Greece In The News
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Tuesday, 28 May 2019 17:40
May 28 - Is It Summer Yet!?
We've mentioned before how ideal Greece is as a holiday destination and we can not stress this enough! From ranking among the safest countries in the world to offering uniques experiences, such as the Santorini Experience, a Greek sports tourism brand taking place in October on the beautiful island!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Published in
Newsletters
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Monday, 25 November 2019 22:25
Readers' Choice Awards 2019: Greece Named One The Top Countries In The World
Every year Condé Nast Traveler magazine, one of the most prestigious and reliable travel publications in the world, calls on their readers to take part in a survey to discover the best of the best in the travel industry. The best hotels, resorts, travel agents, cruise lines, trains, airlines, airports, islands, and of course, the best countries in the world are published every year! For the 32nd annual Readers' Choice Awards survey, a record 600,000 registered voters weighed in, and their responses formed this years' list.
For the Top 20 Countries in the World category, readers ranked their favorite countries around the world and placed Greece in the 7th position. According to the Readers' Choice Awards 2019, Indonesia is the best country in the world, followed by Thailand, Portugal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Peru, Greece.
Here is what Conde Nast Traveler says about Greece:
'Greece may be best known for the architecture of Athens and coastal scenes of Santorini (if we had a dollar for every Oia snapshot on our Instagram feed), but there's a lot more to the country than its immediate associations. Each of the 6,000+ islands and islets offers swoon-worthy vistas, from the cliff-lined beaches of Zakynthos to the epic sunrises in Mykonos. Not a beach bum? Pay a visit to Epirus, the mountainous, forest-filled region in northwestern Greece.'
To discover the Top 20 Countries in the World, please visit: Condé Nast Traveler
Published in
Greece In The News
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Sunday, 24 April 2022 14:06
The History & Importance Of The Ancient Agorá
The Agorá, meaning an open place of assembly in Greek, was the center of the social, political, spiritual, artistic, and athletic life in every Greek city-state. In ancient times, citizens would gather to discuss politics, merchants would sell their products, and philosophers would pass on their teachings. Today, Athens' ancient agorá is located just below the Acropolis, and it is a prime example of an agorá and a major symbol of democracy.
In addition to being the civic center of Athens, the agorá was also a very sacred place - its architecture was brim with religious purpose. Centered around the Panathenaic Way, which was a sacred way serving as a route for the Panathenaic festival, the agorá was also famously known for housing the Temple of Hephaestus, and many other temples dedicated to Zeus, Athena, Apollo, and Ares.
Check out the fascinating video below about the history and importance of the ancient agorá.
We invite to explore our own Agorá Marketplace!
Published in
Videos
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Wednesday, 08 September 2021 07:00
Athens Center To Close To Traffic For Acropolis Rally
Much of Athens city center will be closed to traffic for up to 10 hours on Thursday, September 9th, for the start of the Acropolis Rally, which for the first time will include a special run through Syntagma Square.
To facilitate the event, all traffic around Syntagma and the Acropolis will be prohibited from 11 a.m. The prohibition on the parking and stopping of vehicles in the area will commence earlier at 6 a.m.
Also known as the Rally of Gods, the Acropolis Rally is the ninth stage of the 2021 World Rally Championship. The rally was first held in 1951 and has appeared in the WRC 38 times. This year marks the rally’s return to the WRC fold after leaving it in 2013.
The rally concludes on 12 September.
Meanwhile, police have announced that Mitropoleos Street and some surrounding roads will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. on Wednesday for the funeral of Mikis Theodorakis at Athens Cathedral.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
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