Accomodation!!

[Carla]

A few tips and words of advice about your accomodation!!! - and what to expect and what not to expect!!

Greek accomodtion is very basic, in a typical self catering apartment you will have beds, wardrobe space, a mirror and you may get a table and chairs of some kind!! you will have kitchin 'area' where you will find a fridge and a table top hob with 2 cooking rings - it is not normal to get a kettle or a toaster or anything like this, there will be pots to boil water in and thats about it!!

Remember if you are not self catering - ie you are half board, bed and breakfast or on a room only basis, the chances are you will NOT get a fridge (you maybe able to hire one from your recepetion) Fridges are only in Self Catering apartments!

The difference between a studio and apartment is Studios are one room with beds and kitchin area all together, apartments will have a seperate kind of 'living' area!

The bathrooms are something for you all to get used to!! there fun!! - More than likely you will NOT have a shower curtain - which is a good thing when you actually think about it as they are very umhygynic and go mouldy!!! there will be a plug whole, like a drain in the middle of the bathroom floor - water will drain away here! Also when you shower it may appear that the water is coming up through this plug, chances are it is, but its perfectly normal, and it is just your shower water coming back up because the drainage pipes are thin and can't take a lot of water at once!!
Toilets!! - DO NOT FLUSH YOUR TOILET PAPER OR ANYTHING ELSE DOWN THE TOILET!!! - if you do chances are you will block the whole system for the hotel and the owner will not be happy bunny!! also you bathroom will stink because of the blocked drains!! Put tissues in bin - every hotel will empty these bins daily for you!

Bed and Breakfast! - like I already said, if you are bed and breakfast, yu will not get a kitchin area or a fridge in your room. Also your breakfast will be very basic, greek style, bread, cheese, ham and maybe ceral - if you expecting a fry up you ain't getting it!! Its nice though as the bread soaks up the alcohol! then you can go and eat real food!!

Bringing people back - It is actually againist the law in Greece to have people staying in hotels who aren't actually meant to be there - if the authorities catch the owners allowing this they are charged all lot of money - about 40 euros per person per night. This is why some hotels can be strickt on this and if you get caught may charge you - at the end of the day, why should they pay out?!

Passports on arrival - everyhotel will ask to see everyones passport on arrival to the hotel, this again is the law in greece as they have to keep a note of the passport numbers - however they should not keep the passport for more than 24 hours, some hotels do keep it as a kind of deposit, incase you make any damages, but you are entitled - by law to get it back at anytime. If you have problems with this speak to your rep as soon as you can.

Accomodation deposits, some hotels will ask for an accomodation deposite, however your travel agent should of explained this to you at the time of booking, if you are not sure look in the brochure of your accomodation. Again this is incase you make any damages, lose keys ect - its to cover there own back, some hotels may get you to sign a decleration when you get there, again to say if you do make and damages, you will pay for them! A lot of hotels will have a least of how much things cost somewhere in the room!

If you lose your keys or safe keys! - All hotels will charge, and its normally between 30 and 50 euros - this is the price it costs to change the complete lock of either a door or safe, get new copies of keys ect and pay people to come out and do it!! - Best bet is not to lose your key!!

I think this covers most the questions that I used to get asked about accomodation, but if you need anymore info, let me know!!!

If you have any problems with your accomodation, you think something is not right, speak to your rep straight away, they are there to help you and will do everything they can!!

have a good holiday! xxx