Drinking water
Tap water is drinkable on most islands, but it always pays to check first. If in doubt, or you simply do not like the taste of the local water, bottled mineral water is easily available.
Sea Urchins (Black with sharp spines)
Found throughout the Greek islands clinging to rocks in shallow water, not poisonous, but the spines can break off under the skin so tweezers will not remove them. Try a fine sterilized needle.
Eating Out
Greek food is usually very good. There is no need to order a main meal if you do not wish, try ordering a selection of starters and sharing them between you.
Many tavernas have local wine on the menu (if not ask), the quality can differ
from taverna to taverna and is ordered by the kilo or half kilo and is usually
brought to the table in a jug, it is cheaper and not quite as strong as the
bottled wines. Service can sometimes be much slower in Greece than you might be
used to, so order your drinks as soon as the menu arrives, also if the bread and
side plates have arrived but still no sign of any food, then poor some olive oil
onto a plate, season with salt and pepper, and you have a delicious dip for the
bread.
Cold Beach Drinks
Remember to drink a lot more water than you usually would at home, dehydration can have some disastrous effects. If you are heading off for a day on the beach, the night before you go, place a large bottle of mineral water, two thirds full, into the freezer
compartment of your fridge, prop up the neck of the bottle so that when the water freezes it won't block it off. Just before setting out next day, top the bottle up with other cold water from the fridge, you will have cold drinks all day.
Taxis
Island Taxis are all metered, but it has been known for drivers to forget to switch them on. To save any problems, it is usually better to agree the fare before committing yourself to the journey. There may also be an extra charge for carrying
individual items of baggage. During quiet periods, it may be possible to negotiate a lower fare. It is not uncommon, if there are spare seats in the taxi, for drivers to stop and pickup other passengers along the way, this is standard practice in Greece, but unfortunately this will
not reduce the cost of your fare.
Ferries
Tickets are usually purchased from travel agents or kiosks near the harbour. There is little to no advantage in buying a return ticket for a ferry in Greece as they often charge the same as for two single tickets. As a general rule, the faster the ferry the
more expensive it is. If you are island hopping on a limited budget, then try doing the longer trips on a slow overnight ferry, not only is the fare cheaper, but by sleeping on the ferry, you can save yourselves the cost of a room for the night.
Torches
In quieter areas, especially on the smaller islands, there will be little or no street lighting. Paths to and from your accommodation may be rough and uneven, so always pack a small torch, just in case.
