What's up with Greece & what does it mean to travelers?

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Geia sou (Hello in Greek)!

As you have probably seen in the news, Sunday the Greeks voted NOT to accept the conditions of the bailout by the euro-zone.  This does not necessarily mean that Greece will leave the euro-zone or change their currency.   Even if Greece does exit the euro-zone, I think the worst case scenario for travelers this fall would be the need to bring cash, since euros, US dollars and British pounds would be in high demand if Greece went back to the drachma (the Greek currency before the euro).  Right now there is a restriction of €60 per day Greeks can withdraw from ATMs, but NO limits have been imposed on foreign debit card transactions. So travelers have full access to withdraw cash from ATMs.  However in central Athens expect long lines to withdraw cash.  According to Reuters banks in Greece will remain closed until Thursday.

Throughout the six years of Greece’s economic crisis, I have led more than a dozen trips and have found the islands to be relatively unaffected…life on the islands is a zone of its own.  Most grow their own food and many have an economy based on tourism.  Some of the more remote islands may be more difficult to get to and from, should ferry services be reduced.  So if you are on a schedule you may want to keep to the islands with frequent daily ferry service and an airport with a few flights per day.

I always recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes trip delay and emergency medical evacuation when traveling, especially if traveling to the smaller Greek islands, which do not have hospitals.  Check with your travel insurance provider what is covered and not covered before purchasing.

By fall things are anticipated to be normalized no matter the decisions and outcomes.  We all know the media tends to blow things out of portion, therefore I always find it best to check with my Greek colleagues and friends to hear their firsthand accounts.  So we are a GO for all WanderWoman trips.  I will keep you posted as I learn more.  And of course, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our upcoming trips.

Here are links to recent articles about the situation in Greece and the referendum: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/29/opinion/paul-krugman-greece-over-the-brink.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33399718?SThisFB&fb_ref=Default

LIVE, LAUGH & TRAVEL!

Erja Lipponen, Owner/Founder
Eurynome Journeys LLC
WanderWoman® Tours & Retreats
go at wanderwomantours.com
WANDERWOMAN.COM

Best Travel Websites for Women:

Found best Cuban Sandwich in FL

Whether you're looking for solo travel advice, ideas for a girlfriends' getaway or where to get the ultimate Cuban sandwich, here are the best travel sites for women:

Wavejourney.com

WAVEJourney.com is a women’s travel e-zine that provides valuable firsthand recommendations to a worldwide audience.  For great travel ideas follow co-founders Vivienne Chapleo & Jill Hoelting on their adventures around the world via their newsletter.

Journeywoman.com

Journeywoman is the ultimate online travel resource for women. You'll find advise from a world-wide readership of 70,000 women- on topic ranging form what to wear to where and when to go, safety tips, restaurants, etc.  Editor Evelyn Hannon shares her travels and her finds with a monthly newsletter.  The Journeywoman site also includes  an international directory of women to help each other with travel.

Transitionsabroad.com Transitions Abroad in an online magazine offering alternatives to conventional tourism.  The site includes advice on working abroad, learning languages, study abroad, volunteer travel, and more.  They have an entire section dedicated to women's travel and listings of women-only tours.

Womentravel.info Women Travel the World is a site based in New Zealand, that covers the globe for women travelers.  Rosemary Neave, the face behind the website, lists women-friendly accommodations, tours,  travel resources, and even gives away free post cards and luggage tags! 

If you have a favorite travel resource for women, please share it with us!

And for the best Cuban sandwich visit Sandy's Cafe in Key West FL!

Live, Laugh & Travel!

Erja

How do I scan a QR code?

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Blue Mosque Photo by Babak Gholizadeh

 In your travels you will encounter QR (Quick Response) codes as more and more museums, cities, parks and even UNESCO World Heritage sites are using QR codes to provide visitors with information.

While exploring Istanbul, Turkey last year I noticed many of the sites, such as the Blue Mosque, had  QR codes.  I knew these codes could be scanned, but I was unsure how to do this.

These codes, much like the barcodes used in grocery stores or by the post office, can be scanned by smartphones or tablets that have a camera feature and link you to information on a website. 

Numerous free QR scanner apps are available to download, such as QR reader for iPhone, RedLaser-Barcode Scanner, and Quick Scan QR Code Reader to name a few.

But note, if traveling internationally, unless you have access to WiFi, it can be very expensive to go online to scan QR codes.  Some museums are now providing scanners for visitors to use.

In case you do not have access to an online connect, simply photograph the QR code with your camera of your smartphone as you are taking pictures at the site the code pertains to and then when you return to your hotel or home you can read the code form the image in your smartphone.  It is a great way to keep track of what you’ve taken pictures of.

To the right  is an example of a QR code.  Scan it and see where it takes you.  You can scan it right from your computer screen.

Below are examples of QR codes used at tourist attractions.

New York City Tour: http://gothamguide.com/Tours.htm

Museum Tours: http://www.themobilists.com/2011/08/30/qr-codes-in-museums/ 

Winery Tour: http://www.pheasantvalleywinery.com/selfguided-tour.php 

I am not yet sure how I feel about the use of QR codes at tourist sites, what are your thoughts?

 

 

#TravelTip: Learn a New Language with your iPhone

Don't have time to do a language course before your next  trip? Learn phrases and correct pronunciation from locals with the help of your iphone on location.  Ask people you meet in your travels (shopkeepers, chambermaids, waitstaff, taxi drivers, everyone who you encounter) how to say phrases you want to learn in their language and record it on your iphone or other smartphone.  Then practice when you get back to your room and record yourself and compare to the native speaker you recorded previously.  This is a great way not only to learn useful phrases, but to interact with locals!

If you are not traveling with your smartphone a pen and notebook will suffice!