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Money
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Cash: The currency of
Greece is the Euro. The usual way to
pay in Crete is with cash. It is always risky to carry lots of cash, since
travel insurance companies do not generally insure cash money.
ATM: ATMS have mushroomed in Greece. All bigger villages and towns now have
several ATMs – but in the small, remote mountain villages the next ATM can be up
to 30km away. Almost all places accept credit cards and bank cards with the
Maestro sign.
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Travellers Checks: Travellers Checks
are a safe method to carry money about when travelling. You do have to pay
commission twice, once when you buy them and again when you cash them in (this
amounts to 3-4% altogether). Most travel agents, hotels, car rental places will
cash Travellers Checks. The Checks should be from Thomas Cook, Visa or American
Express.
Prices
Crete is cheaper than Britain,
Ireland and the USA, though the prices have gone
up since the introduction of the Euro to Greece.
Crete is cheaper than Britain with: petrol, hotels, restaurants and bars.
Crete is more expensive than Britain with: Many things in supermarkets, such as
shampoo, clothes, telephone cards and sun cream (a total rip-off).
Tavernas are so cheap as to make eating out as cheap as eating in. Accordingly,
eating out is very popular in Greece. It is possible to save money on food in
Crete though, by shopping at one of the branches of ultra-cheap German
supermarket Lidl or Plus which are open all across the island. Here you’ll find
the prices half that of the Greek supermarkets. The weekly local markets are
another excellent source of cheap food, with the added bonus that it’s fresh and
local.
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