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 "We have completely rethought our spending options," said Scanlon,
who lives in Worcester, Massachusetts, and works for student travel
company Teach by Travel. "We will take it day-to-day and adjust our
plans accordingly."
For honeymooners, vacationers and business travelers alike, Greece's
problems have added an unexpected kink that requires some additional
thought and planning.
Not many are canceling or altering their plans now, said Gabe Saglie,
senior editor of travel deal site Travelzoo.com, but there are some
precautions to take.
INSURANCE
Normally when there is reason to believe a trip might be
interrupted, experts would suggest travel insurance. But these
policies mainly deal with routine snafus like lost luggage rather
than a nation's economic woes.
"Probably the only trip insurance that would cover you is 'cancel
for any reason,' which pays back a percentage," said Christopher
Elliott, author of the book "How to be the World's Smartest
Traveler."
These policies average around $500 and reimburse you for 50 percent
of non-refundable expenses.
AIG, for instance, offers insurance that would cover a couple's trip
next month from New York to Greece. The price, which ranges from
$362 to $756, includes coverage for a trip operator going defunct.
British insurer John Lewis Travel Insurance said it would double its
coverage on traveler's cash in Greece this month at its Plus and
Premier level of services.
Elliott says he does not feel people need to cancel a trip to Greece
or even avoid taking one. "The bottom line on Greece is people are
still going," he said.
MANAGE YOUR CASH
To avoid an immediate cash flow crunch, Frommers.com Editor Jason
Cochran suggests avoiding banks in Greece, which have rationed money
and drastically reduced their hours. That means carrying enough
euros with you and relying on credit cards.
Not all places will accept American Express, he added, so use Visa
and MasterCard instead. Also assume you will not be able to use your
ATM card while you are there.
Travelzoo's Saglie suggests carrying prepaid cards, and once there,
using hotel safes and deposit boxes to stash valuables you do not
want to carry with you.
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"Be discreet with your cash and refrain from drawing unwanted
attention to the cash you’re carrying," he said.
Scanlon, for one, is a little worried about safety issues. She, her
husband George Sotiropoulos and three kids will probably carry a
limited amount of cash and no wallets, purses or backpacks. With
their hotel already paid for, she said, feeding the family and
putting gas in their rental car would be their main expenses.
But Cochran says there is no need for extreme caution. "Travelers
who want to go to Greece don't have to worry about violence," he
said. "Greece has been going through tough economic times for a few
years, and tourists have never been hurt. The Greeks will be
grateful that you came."
PLAN AHEAD
For those with a longer planning window, the outlook is mixed on
whether Greece will be a travel bargain anytime soon, Saglie said.
But both he and Cochran noted that Greece's problems had pushed up
the dollar's value, benefiting all U.S. travelers visiting Europe.
"If Greece does, in fact, exit the euro and resurrect the drachma,
that currency would also likely be devalued, making Greece an even
bigger travel bargain," Saglie said.
For those who still do not feel quite comfortable enough to travel
into the midst of an economic crisis, there are alternatives, like
the Mediterranean coast of Turkey or a cruise.
"You can experience a similar cultural history, including ruins and
a festive beach life," Cochran said. "But summer is high season for
Mediterranean cruises, so don't expect a bargain on those."
(Editing by Beth Pinsker and Lisa Von Ahn)
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