if youre going to greece on holiday....are you cacking yourself?

[lumbago]

whatsbthe potential impact?

Watching this thread with interest....going in 5 weeks!!

theres been nothing on this in media at all

There was something on Radio 2 about this last night. They said to make sure that you had a particular type of insurance (not they cheapest kind), and to take some sterling with you (although apparently you should do that everywhere). And a credit card. I'll try to remember what else they said!

I am hoping the first out of the euro will profitbfrom a boosted tourism influx as hopefully it should be cheap!

Haven't been back to Greece since Black Wednesday 20 years ago when Britain pulled out of the ERM, and we couldn't find anywhere that would exchange our sterling travellers chques.

Not quite the same, as that was Britain's economic problems rather than Greece's. I do remember our problems being compounded by a massive strike of public sector workers across the country though...

I was driving home at 6:15-7ish if you want to check what Radio 2 show mentioned this...

Ah yes, there was some mention of strikes being a small possibility and getting boated back home. Overall, the chap was very positive though. He said it was very quiet and cheap-ish.

You would be wise to hold fire buying currency. The ICAT Is ready to trade in drachma so it seems inevitable. There could be civil unrest so that could be a problem.

Although less cheap on the Greek islands.

Why am I so interested in this ? Not at all at your lovely holidays, oh no.

riot dog!

noddy (I don't seem to be able to stop posting about this), apparently if the currency does change there will be some sort of changeover period where both currencies are accepted.

The difference between the 2 would be interesting. I love Greece my all time favourite place. Think the drachma will be better received as if this spreads to Spain etc the euro will weaken and Greece will want to get drax in circulation so would expect a good deal.

We were going to go for a week in mid September. Have more or less decided not to now. I do love Greece but it has gone very expensive in restaurants and cafes since the Euro and getting worse every year. Hope they do bring back the drachma. But I saw on TV last night somebody saying most Greeks see it as a step back and don't want it.

We are going to Lesbos on 21st July. A 'friend' delighted in telling me there would be a total close down of all cash points for at least 10 days if and when there is a return to the drachma.

We are going to do some research and then hope for the best. The mobile bank comes to the village twice a week so we can use that.

My previous experiences convince me that the Greek people won't leave us to starve, though my main concern is no mojitoes, I am dreaming of a mojio at sunset, looking out over the bay from my favourite beachside bar.

I know someon who lives in Kos and she has advised that things wont change overnight and even if they do come out of the Euro it will take time to change over to Drachma, in the meantime people will still spend euros.

Was listening to Moneybox this afternoon and the guy on that said you shouldn't take plastic - credit/debit cards will not be welcome in restaurants, etc if things get worse, and the ATMs are likely to be empty. He advised just taking cash.

He did also advise that if you cancelled because of fear of civil unrest, you'd get no money back.

Take Euros in small denomination notes and coins. You may not be able to access cash machines and you may not be able to get change for large Euro notes in shops.

Make sure you dont bring back a lot of 'Greek' Euro notes. Try to make sure you spend the 'Greek' ones just in case they become Drachma notes overnight.

Euro notes are designated by their country of origin with letters at the beginning of the serial number. There is an article about it here.

The 'greek' Euro notes have a 'Y' at the beginning of the serial number and there are diofferent letters for all the other countries (see table in the article I linked).

There are 'German' Euros and 'Spanish' Euros and so on designated by the letter in the serial number. They are all interchangable of course or 'fungible' as it is properly called as any Euro regardless of its orgin is still worth one Euro.

However, I know that in Germany, people there have been sorting through tehir Euro notes and dumping any 'Greek' ones back at the bank or spending them ASAP. It is probably not true but many people fear that the 'Greek' Euro notes will be worthless if Greece ever returns to the Drachma.

However, you may well find that if you have a pile of 'greek' Euro notes at the end of your holiday and then and try to spend them in other European countries on holiday next year that people will refuse to take them - a bit like people sometimes do with Scottish banknotes