Practical travel information on Health in Athens - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Health & safety

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Dangers & annoyances
While you're there

Dangers & annoyances

Athens has its fair share of the problems found in all major cities but is considered one of the safest capitals in Europe. Violent street crime remains very rare, but travellers should be alert to the traps listed here.

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Bar scams

Many unsuspecting travellers have been taken in by the various bar scams that operate around central Athens, particularly around Syntagma.

One scam runs something like this: friendly Greek approaches solo male traveller and asks for the time or where he is from; friendly Greek then reveals that he, too, is from out of town or does the old ‘Ah, I have a cousin in Australia’ routine and suggests they go to a bar for a drink. Before they know it women appear and more drinks are ordered and the conman disappears. The women are not prostitutes, but the traveller is left to pay an exorbitant bill, which is when the smiles disappear and the atmosphere turns threatening. Other bars lure intoxicated males with talk of sex and present them with outrageous bills.

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Taxi touts

Taxi drivers working in league with some of the overpriced C-class hotels around Omonia are another problem, though it’s not widespread. The scam involves taxi drivers picking up late-night arrivals and persuading them that the hotel they want to go to is full – even if they have a booking. The taxi driver will pretend to phone the hotel, announce that it’s full and suggest an alternative. Ask to speak to the hotel yourself, or simply insist on going where you want to go.

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Travel agents

Some travel agents in the Plaka/Syntagma area employ touts to promote ‘cheap’ packages to the islands. These touts hang out at the bus and metro stops hoping to find naive new arrivals, who they take back to the agency, where slick salespeople pressure them into buying outrageously overpriced packages. There is no need to buy a package; you will always be able to negotiate a better deal yourself when you get to the island of your choice. If you are worried that everywhere will be full, select a place from the pages of this guide and make your own booking.

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