Last week we noted that the deteriorating liquidity situation in the Greek banking sector combined with the uncertainty surrounding the country's fraught negotiations with creditors had sparked renewed interest [6] in a long-forgotten hotel perk: safes.
"Greek resort manager Kostas Dimitrokalis’s customers have started asking in recent weeks about an amenity often ignored in an age of online and credit card payments: reliable hotel safes to stash their money," Bloomberg reported, quoting Dimitrokalis as saying that "clients [are] coming with more cash."
Now, with the ATMs running on empty and the banks closed, Germany has some advice for anyone traveling to Greece: bring cash.
Via the German foreign office [7] (Google translated):
In Greece, it may come in the currency supply in considerable waiting times, also create bottlenecks for instance in equipping the machines with cash. Travelers to Greece are advised to become familiar with an adequate supply before traveling and cash to keep yourself informed on the situation developing on this travel advice and the media. The travel advice is updated as needed.
Country-specific safety instructions
Especially in the big cities of Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus travelers should be good, pay attention to their valuables, especially travel documents and cash. Especially in public transport and at crowded places, it comes increasingly to pickpockets.
Under the new Greek government protests and disabilities have greatly eased by work stoppages. Chance leads to violent riots. Travelers should avoid crowds and demonstrations and to inform the media, as well as their hosts and tour operators about the current situation (information is also available directly on the side of the Embassy in Athens.
[8]
So there you have it. If you're traveling to Greece, Germany suggests you "become familiar with an adequate supply" of hard currency because the "machines" may not be "equipped with cash", but you should be careful because in big cities "it comes increasingly to pickpockets."
Plan accordingly.
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The UK has joined Germany in warning travelers about the posibility that euros could become unavailable in Greece on "short notice":
The currency of Greece is the euro. When travelling outside of the UK, you should take more than one means of payment with you (cash, debit card, credit card). Visitors to Greece should be aware of the possibility that banking services – including credit card processing and servicing of ATMs – throughout Greece could potentially become limited at short notice. Make sure you have enough Euros in cash to cover emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and any unexpected delays.
There are regular strikes. These are sometimes called at short notice and can cause disruption to public transport in and out of Greece (including air travel and ports). Demonstrations take place regularly in central Athens, and have also taken place in other towns and cities. You should avoid all demonstrations and follow the advice given by local security authorities.
