Before you travel to any destination, there are many things you need to take care of first, and even more things you need to remember to pack. You've probably forgot essentials many times while on a trip, to already know the bad feeling when you realize it. If you search the internet, you'll probably find many pre-made checklists that are supposed to help you in what may seem, to some, a daunting task. However, not every destination is the same, and coming to Greece, you will need to keep some things in mind which may not apply to other countries.
So, in order to help you, we've compiled a checklist of our own, with tasks you need to do and things you need to pack or not pack before leaving for Greece, as well as a list of carefully selected links and other information taken from the internet, that may be useful to you.
Coming to Greece during the summer? (April - October)
- Bring many shorts and t-shirts
- Choose clothes with brighter colors (white is the best). Do not wear black, the sun will be unforgivable.
- Make sure your shoes are as comfortable as possible, because during our tours you'll be walking a lot and you definitely do not want something like this to happen. Usually, a new pair of shoes are not very comfortable, so preferably bring at least one pair you've used a lot. Although sandals may seem like a good choice, they tend to cause blisters. Instead, we recommend any kind of low hiking shoes
- Bring your favorite hat with you, however we suggest that you also buy one once you arrive, you will find much more suitable hats in Greece. Something like this is the best, it covers your head and more importantly it protects your shoulders from sun burns
- Do not pack any sun protection creams, you'll find plenty to buy in Greece
- Bring enough clothes with you. You will sweat a lot under the Greek sun and Laundry stores are tough to find
- Definitely bring your sunglasses, you won't be taking them off any time soon
- Bring a couple of beach towels, you never know when you might go for a swim. There is no place in Greece that is further than 2 hours from the sea, and most are under 30 mins away
- Bring your swimming suit with you, however you can always buy one in Greece where there's an amazing variety of swimming suits
Coming to Greece during the winter? (November - March)
- Winter in Greece is rarely harsh. Pack some warm and comfy clothes but don't overdo it. The best combination is a few mildly warm clothes coupled with some good jackets, if it gets a bit hotter you can always take the jacket off and be comfortably cool.
- Bring your outdoor shoes. Any kind of hicking boots are the best.
In General
- European appliances run on 220 volts, so make sure you bring the appropriate converter with you in case your devices run on a different voltage (e.g. in the U.S. it is 110 volts). Click here to search the internet for one
- Another thing to consider is the plug. You might want to buy a small adapter that will allow to fit British (three rectangular prongs) or American-style plugs (two flat prongs) into continental European plugs (that have 2 small, round prongs). Click here for an image of the different kinds of plugs
- It's a good idea to carry some local currency (euro - EUR - €) with you (you can exchange it at a bank before leaving your home country, exchange upon arrival, or withdraw from a local bank machine; be sure to confirm that your ATM card will work abroad as some countries have different limits for PIN lengths); traveler's checks are also a safe option but may be difficult to use in rural areas. Also, most credit cards provide protection against theft; just make sure to let them know you'll be traveling abroad or they may interpret your new international activity as a stolen card and put a freeze on your account
Useful Links
- Packing List
- Travel Checklist
- 10 Things to do before you travel
- Before you travel to Greece - Greek Ministry of Tourism Website
- Another Travel Checklist
- Traveler's Ckecklist - U.S. government website
- 20 Tips before traveling internationally
- Home Preparation Checklist
And last but not least, click here to watch a video that demonstrates an ingenious way of packing your bag to maximize its capacity
