Frequently Asked Questions

Bookings Travel Needs Tour Info Self-Guided Cycling Our Bikes Greece

 

Bookings


How do I book a tour?
How do I pay for a tour?
How much must I pay as a deposit and when is the balance due?
Can I make a last minute booking for a scheduled tour?
What are your cancellation policies?
Can I amend my itinerary after I've booked?
Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Can the tour change after I make a booking?
When I book a trip, do I sign anything?

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Travel Needs


Do I need insurance?
Do I need a visa for Greece?
Do I need to get any vaccination shots for the tour?
Can you help me with my flight arrangements?
Can you take care of my additional travel arrangements in Greece?
If I bring my bicycle, how do I ship it?
Are helmets required?
If I bring my bicycle, will there be an airline charge?
What clothes should I bring on a tour?

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Tour Info


Are children allowed on scheduled tours?
If I am traveling alone, what are my rooming options?
What kind of guides and drivers are available to accompany my trip?
What type of activities can be inlcuded in a trip?
What are the inclusions in my trip price?
Can I have a brochure?

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Self-Guided Cycling


How do luggage transfers work?
How do I know if I am able to ride the daily routes selected in the self-guided tour?
How much luggage am I allowed?
Do I tip the driver who transfers my luggage?
If I do not want to bike any given day, can I ride with my luggage transfer?
If I have a flat tire, will some one fix it for me?
If I have a problem with the bike, what do I do?
What kind of bicycle will I ride on the tour?
Will the bike fit me?
Do the bicycles come with any accessories?
What type of pedals are on the bike?
Can I bring my own bike?
What are the advantages of using one of our bicycles?

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Bicycles


Our bicycles.
Why use CycleGreece bicycles.

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Greece


What are Greece’s tipping customs?
Can I get by speaking English?
What is Greece’s average temperature and rainfall?
What is Greece’s population?
What currency is used in Greece?
What is Greece’s time zone and international telephone code?
What system of weights and measures is used in Greece?
What are the business hours?
What public holidays should I be aware of?
Appliances

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Bookings


How do I book a tour?
When you are ready to book we will email you a link to Aegea's online booking page which will contain information and instructions relevant only to your itinerary and accessible only to you and us.

How do I pay for a tour?
Payment may be made by credit card through our secure online Alpha Bank booking system with American Express, Mastercard or Visa. (Note Alpha Bank's system is not compatible with Safari or Firefox browsers.) You may book online yourself or convey us your credit card information and we will make the booking for you. Your confirmation receipt will be from Aegea Booking which will be the name appearing on your credit card statement.

For bookings involving large sums, call your credit card company and instruct them to deactivate the fraud alert on your account, at least temporarily, so that the foreign transaction may be processed. Your credit card company will charge you a foreign transaction fee.

If your payment is by check in U.S. dollars your reservation is not accepted until your check clears. Your check will be deposited in our U.S. bank account. Send checks to our U.S. office payable to the parent corporation, “Aegean Adventures, Inc”

Aegea Adventures
244 Fifth Avenue
Suite C214
New York, NY 10001-7604

Your check will be desposited in our U.S. bank account. Your reservation is not accepted until your check is cleared.

If you wish to wire money directly to our U.S. bank account, please contact us at info@aegeaadventures.com

How much must I pay as a deposit and when is the balance due?
For all bookings except Customized Trips an initial deposit is required to book a tour, either 400 euros if paying online by credit card, or $500 USD if paying by check to our US bank account. A 30% deposit will be required for groups of ten or more. Tours may be booked up to a year in advance. The balance of the tour’s total price is due 90 days prior to departure date of the tour. Bookings within 90 days prior to departure require full payment.

Customized trips require a 500 euros deposit (est. $630 USD) to develop the itinerary and 650 euros ($820) if initiated within 120 days of trip departure. This is not a development fee but rather is applied to the final trip price. Review the information in Pricing for more details about deposits for customized trips.

Can I make a last minute booking for a scheduled tour?
Yes. If there is room in your desired tour and you wish to book it after the standard 90 day cut-off period and before the tour’s starting date, we can and will accommodate you, but full payment is required at the time of booking, in addition to a discretionary $250 handling fee per person, in addition to any possible increases in service prices (such as hotels).

What are your cancellation policies?
If you need to cancel your trip, FAX 646-478-9102 or email info@aegeaadventures.com a letter of cancellation to our office immediately. Upon our receipt of your notice, we will fax or email you an acknowledgement within 48 hours of your cancellation notice. The date of your cancellation notice is the date your notice is received by our office.


Can I make amend my itinerary after I've booked?
For Customized Trips, there are no amendments once the itinerary is finalized. Go to Pricing for more details.

For other trips, yes, probably you can amend the itinerary, but it depends on what the changes are and when requested. Changes sought 60 days or more before departure may be subject to a $200 handling fee. Trip substitutions made by the client less than 60 days before the departure date incur a $400 handling charge. No booking changes will be permitted within ten days of departure. Change in hotels or hotel upgrades are subject to availability. Changes in flights or ferry schedules may incurs fees from those companies.

Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Yes, you may transfer booking to another name subject to the time frame and conditions for amended bookings and a discretionary $125 handling fee is charged per person per change.

Can the tour change after I make a booking?
Perhaps. There are many external factors that affect daily life, let alone a vacation scheduled months in advance. In Greece, weather conditions affect travel by sea and changes might occur at the last moment. Or routes might be altered if road conditions were changed. Routes and conditions are monitored constantly by us and we will notify you in advance of any changes that occur within our knowledge. Aegea urges clients to procure travel insurance to cover such unforeseen events.

When I book a trip, do I sign anything?
When booking a tour you must sign a Booking Agreement which contains Waivers and Releases. When booking online, you “sign” the Booking Agreement by checking the “I agree” box. When booking by mail, you manually sign the Booking Agreement and return it to our office along with your check. A Client who books a tour on behalf of other travelers fully binds this Agreement on all travelers in the Client’s party.

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Travel Needs


Do I need insurance?
Travel insurance is highly recommended, however we do not require it except for family tours with children under 12. Be aware that during any kind of travel, domestic or foreign, unforeseen circumstances, such as the weather, can alter even the most meticulously planned vacation. Travel insurance can recompense you in the event of trip cancellations, trip interruptions, trip delays, baggage delay or loss, or unexpected medical emergencies.

Aegea is a registered agent of Travel Guard Insurance, and we can book your insurance policy for your trip.

Will I need a visa for Greece?
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the USA can stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa. Citizens of EU member countries may live in Greece for an unlimited period of time. Greek embassies have a list of other nationalities allowed in without a visa. Those not on the list, such as South Africans, need a visa. For an updated list of these nationalities, contact your nearest Greek embassy. Your passport must be valid for at least three additional months from the date of departure from Greece. Click here for additional visa information.

Do I need to get any vaccination shots for the tour?
No shots are required for entry to Greece. The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, USA maintains an up-to-date website for each region of the world. Click here to review the page regarding Greece.

Can you help me with my flight arrangements?
Yes, our colleagues can book your international flights and domestic travel in Greece.

For scheduled tours, can you take care of my additional travel arrangements in Greece?
Yes we can take care of all pre and/or post tour travel arrangements, including mini vacation packages, hotel accommodations and rental cars. We know Greece inside out and can make the best vacation recommendations for you based on your desires.

If I bring my bicycle on a bike tour how do I ship it?
Most airlines require the bicycle be boxed. Click here for airline baggage policies for international flights.

You can have your local bike shop pack your bike for a fee. Or sometimes bike stores can provide you a used bike box and you can pack it yourself. There are also hard suitcases made for bicycles, but these run $400 or a more. An affordable alternative is a corrugated cardboard bike box (around $120) available from Crateworks.

Another option, especially if you travel with your bike frequently or intend to do so, is to purchase a BikeFriday, a foldable bike that packs into an easily transportable suitcase on wheels.

See Our Bikes for reasons why we advise you to leave your bike at home and ride one of our lightweight, comfortable bicycles which is included in the price of the tour. You may bring your own pedals and saddle.

Are helmets required?
YES. All riders must wear a helmet at all times riding. For hygiene reasons riders are encouraged to bring their own helmets.

If I bring my bicycle, will there be an airline charge?
Most airlines do charge a fee. Olympic Airlines of Greece currently has no bicycle surcharge. You need to inquire so that you are not surprised when you check in at the airport and a fee is demanded. Click here for airline baggage policies for international flights.

What clothes should I bring on a tour?
Seasoned travelers adhere to a common sense rule: the less you tug, the less you lug. Most travelers invariably pack far, far more clothes than they ever need or wear. Also, most travelers buy souvenirs and if your bag is already stuffed, where will you put your new purchases? We recommend one suitable bag and a backpack or daypack. Try to avoid hard case suitcases. We advise simplicity in the quantity of attire. If special items are required, they will be listed in the tour’s description.

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Tour Info

Are children allowed on scheduled tours?
Children aged 16 and older are welcome on the regular tours, so long as they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. That said, the Family Fun section offers family there Some tours, such as Junior We have dedicated family tours for children age 9 and up, so long as they can keep up with the family tour. For children under age 9, or children unable to ride in the dedicated family tour, we have customized family tours, so long as there are a minimum of 12 participants in the customized tour. Day care is provided for parents wanting to spend some time on their own

If I am traveling alone, what are my rooming options?
Unless you choose a single supplement option, tours are based on double occupancy. This means sharing a room with someone of your gender to be paired by our office. Once the tour begins, guests can change roommates if they wish.

A single supplement means that no one shares the room with you. Single supplements prices change for each tour, usually 10-15% of the tour price.

What kind of guides and drivers are available to accompany my trip?
Our guides are Greeks and non-Greeks, but all speak Greek fluently or have a working knowledge of Greek. Guides are eager to share their passion and knowledge of Greece with foreign guests and will assuredly enhance your understanding of Greece which will cause you to enjoy and appreciate your vacation all the more. They can trouble shoot, assist with menu choices or interface with hotel staff for your needs. They are there to service you. Should you opt for a private driver, you will be serviced by a Greek-speaking resident with all proper driving licenses and qualifications. A private driver relieves you of the task of finding your way around in unfamiliar terrain.

What type of activities can be included in a trip?
Depending on the itinerary, you have a variety of exciting natural and cultural phenomena available, including swimming, ancient sites, sailing, Byzantine churches, castles, monasteries, artists' workshops, olive oil harvest, fresh springs, Turkish baths, hiking, sea sports, spelunking, wildlife refuges, gorges, wine making, wine tasting, or local food tasting.

What are the inclusions in my trip price?
Whether a set itinerary, customized trip or scheduled tour, all have basic inclusions, the heart of which is the organization of the itinerary created by your Aegea travel experts. Basic inclusions are: 3-4 star accommodations with breakfast, maps, pre-tour packets with useful information about traveling in Greece and Greece itself, taxes/VAT/gratuities. Thereafter, upgrades and additional services/activities determine the final cost of your trip price. Some tours and itineraries offer more inclusions as part of the price.

Can I have a brochure?
Yes, we have catalogues to mail you, but keep in mind that our most up to date information is on the website.

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Self-Guided Cycling

How do luggage transfers work?
We have local contacts in each region to transport your luggage. You set out your luggage in the morning (usually before 10 am) with the hotel and the driver picks it up and takes it to your evening destination where it is waiting for you at the hotel there.

How do I know if I am able to ride the daily routes selected in the self-guided tour?
You need to study the tour description carefully. The daily routes specify the mileage and highest ascent. You are welcome to contact us for more information about certain legs --- we have GPS profiles for many (but not all) of the routes.

How much luggage am I allowed?
One main piece of luggage (a big duffle with wheelies works best) and a small pack (backpack or tote)

Do I tip the driver who transfers my luggage?
No. Luggage transfers are included in the cost of the tour.

If I do not want to bike any given day, can I ride with my luggage transfer?
Generally not because 1-4 bicycles will not fit in a taxi trunk. But you will have the contact numbers of your luggage transfer drivers (usually more than one person since you are covering a lot of ground). Call him at least one day in advance to arrange if an additional vehicle can be ordered to transfer the bikes which will, of course, be at your cost.

If I have a flat tire, will some one fix it for me?
No. You must fix it. That is why your tour is self-guided. Your tour comes with a hand pump, spare tube, tire irons, patch kit, as well as contact information for any bike shops in your vicinity. You are responsible for payment to the bike shop. Greece is not Italy or France where bike shops can be found in the smallest of towns. Bike shops are not as frequently encountered in Greece.

If I have a problem with the bike, what do I do?
It depends on the nature of your problem. Our bikes are in excellent condition. However, things happen, like hitting a bump and your wheel needs to get trued (straightened). We provide contact information for any bike stores in your tour’s region and you must make arrangements to have the bike fixed. Your tour comes with a mobile phone for emergency calls to an Aegea Adventures agent on a 24 hour basis. The phone is preprogrammed with medical and police numbers as well.

What kind of bicycle will I ride on the tour?
You can choose a road bike or hybrid bike.

Road: Our Specialized Allez Triple road bikes were built for speed AND comfort without equal. They feature feather light aluminum frames with carbon fiber front forks and choice of drop handlebars or flat "H" handlebars. The bikes are equipped with a triple chain ring with 27 gears, 30/42/52, making for smooth climbs. The bikes combine minimal weight, razor sharp handling, and exceptional efficiency. Click here for photo and technical specifications.

Hybrid: Our Specialized Crossroads XC Expert bicycles are built for adventure and comfort. They are constructed of sturdy and lightweight aluminum frames which are supplied with front suspension forks to smooth out the ride. The bikes have triple chain rings with 27 gears and flat "H" handlebars. The bikes ride lightweight on road while durable for gravel roads and off road trails. Click here for photo and technical specifications.

Will the bike fit me?
We will send you a cycling questionnaire and your answer will enable us to have a suitable bike ready for you. Our bikes have quick release adjustable seat posts to accommodate any size rider. Upon arrival, we test the bikes with you in Athens before you set out on your tour.

Do the bicycles come with any accessories?
The bike includes odometer, two water bottles and cages, map holder, and a rear rack on request. We do not provide saddlebacks but the rear rack fits most saddlebags if you opt to bring your own. For hygiene purposes we recommend bringing your own helmet, but we do have helmets available upon request, although used by prior clients. The bikes have quick release seats, so you can easily bring your own saddle.

What type of pedals are on the bike?
Our bikes have regular pedals with mini toe-clips and can be used with tennis or walking shoes or Teva-like sandals. Clients wishing to use clipless pedals may bring their own pedals and shoes. We strongly recommend that if you regularly ride with your own pedals/shoes, you should bring them to ride during your tour. If you do not regularly ride with your own pedals/shoes, you should not regard your tour as an opportunity to learn to do so.

Can I bring my own bike?
Certainly you may bring your own bike and many cyclists prefer to do so. For a modest fee, we will assist you in arranging to have your bike case meet you at the tour's end destination point. You should bring all spare parts and tools necessary for your bike as such items may very well not be purchasable in Greece.

What are the advantages of using one of our bicycles?
There are a multitude of reasons why we encourage you to leave your beloved bike at home. There's the burden of transporting it, air shipping charges, security checks that risk damage during shipping, especially if your bike is packed in a cardboard box. There's the hassle of bicycle assembly/disassembly four times: pack for the trip, unpack upon arrival in Greece, pack for departure and unpack upon arrival home. There's the need to bring the tools and spare parts specific to your bike and that your bike is in 100% ready shape for a tour. Finally, use of one of our bicycles is automatically included in the tour cost and you do not receive a reduction for bringing your own bike.

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Our Bicycles

Our bicycles
CycleGreece is proud to supply its clients with our tour quality bicycles as standard equipment included in the cost of the tour. We worked long and hard to build a beautiful fleet of road and mountain bikes we feel are superior in every way to what is available from cycle touring companies in, or for that matter, outside of Greece. Realizing the challenges inherent during a multiple day destination tour, we lovingly specified our bikes to be light, efficient, and easy to ride.

Our bikes come in small, medium, and large sizes with quick release adjustable seat post to suit any size rider. The bicycles come with odometer, two water bottles and cages, map holder, and rear rack on request. Our bikes come with regular pedals with mini toe-clips and can be used with regular tennis, walking or hiking shoes. Clients wishing to use clipless pedals must bring their own pedals and shoes. We also provide proper fitting and instruction for all our bicycles for clients who may require additional attention.

Specializes Allez Triple road bike

Road bike: Our Specialized Allez Triple road bikes were built for speed AND comfort without equal. They feature feather light aluminum frames with carbon fiber front forks and drop handlebars. The bikes are equipped with a triple chain ring with 27 gears, 30/42/52, making for smooth climbs. The bikes combine minimal weight, razor sharp handling, and exceptional efficiency.

Technical specifications


Hybrid bike:
Our Specialized Crossroads XC Expert bicycles are built for adventure and comfort. They are constructed of sturdy and lightweight aluminum frames which are supplied with front suspension forks to smooth out the ride. The bikes have triple chain rings with 27 gears and flat “H” handlebars. They ride lightweight onroad while durable for offroad trails.

Technical specifications

Why use CycleGreece bicycles?
Although most cyclists prefer their own bicycle, there are many reasons why we encourage you to leave your beloved bike at home. There’s the burden of transporting it, air shipping charges, security checks that risk damage during shipping, especially if your bike is packed in a box. There’s the hassle of bicycle assembly/disassembly four times: pack for the trip, unpack upon arrival in Greece, pack for departure and unpack upon arrival home. Finally, there’s the need to ensure that the tools and spare parts specific to your bike are needed and that it is in 100% ready shape for a tour. These reasons should induce you to consider using our bikes on your CycleGreece tour.

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Greece Info


What are Greece’s tipping customs?
For restaurants, the tip is generally included in the bill, but it is still customary to leave a 5-10% tip. In hotels or boat cabins, it is customary to tip up to 1 euro per baggage carried to your room. Tipping for taxis is not expected, but drivers appreciate being told, “Keep the change.”

Can I get by speaking English?
Yes. In contrast to bella Italia where Italian rules, in Greece many many people speak English, especially those connected to the travel and tourism market. In small villages you will encounter less English spoken, but usually someone is around who knows enough English to assist you. In previous decades Greeks emigrated in droves to English-speaking countries—America, England, Australia and South Africa—and that is one reason English is so pervasive in Greece. By the way, if you are able to manage just a few Greek phrases, you will completely endear yourself to the locals. Your tour guide will be delighted to help you learn whatever Greek words you need. See our Greek Language section for starters.

What is Greece’s average temperature and rainfall?

Month
Celsius Low
Celsius High
Rainfall in mm
Fahrenheit Low
Fahrenheit High
Rainfall in inches
January
7
13
45.7
44
56
1.80
February
7
14
48.3
45
57
1.90
March
8
16
43.2
47
60
1.70
April
12
19
25.4
53
66
1.00
May
16
24
15.2
60
75
0.60
June
20
28
5.1
68
83
0.20
July
23
31
5.1
73
88
0.20
August
22
31
7.6
72
88
0.30
September
19
28
10.2
67
82
0.40
October
15
23
48.3
59
73
1.90
November
12
19
50.8
53
66
2.00
December
9
15
66.0
48
59
2.60

 

What is Greece’s population?
According to Eurostat, in January, 2002 Greece’s estimated population was 10,998,000, while in January, 2003, the estimate rose to 11,018,000 with 9.0 births per thousand people and 9.4 deaths per thousand people recorded. This means that Greece has recorded a natural – biological decrease in its birth rate of -0.4%. The increase in Greece's population is due to the massive influx of immigrants. With 1,400 islands, Greece’s porous borders makes it one of the EU's primary immigrant reception countries, with a percentage of +3.2‰.

What currency is used in Greece?
The euro. With the exception of the 400 years of Ottoman occupation, the Greek drachma circulated in the world’s money market since ancient days, making it the oldest currency in the world. That is, until January 1, 2002. On this date Greece joined the rest of the Europe Union members in converting to the euro. For daily exchange rates, click here.

What is Greece’s time zone and international telephone code?
All Greece territory lies in the same time zone. Greece is two hours ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time and three hours ahead of daylight savings time.

Clocks

For times zones in other cities, click here.

Greece’s international telephone code number is +30. If calling from the United States, first dial 011, then 30, then the number.

What system of weights & measures is used in Greece?
Greece uses the metric system. For conversions, click here.

What are the business hours?

• Post Office: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 2 pm
• Postal services available at selected stationery stores
• Banks: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 am to 2:00 pm, on Friday till 1:30 pm
• Government offices: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.
• Shops: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 9:00 am to 2:30 or 3:00 pm
• Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 9:00 am to 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
• Big stores and supermarkets: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, including Saturday.
• Sundays, everything closed

What public holidays should I be aware of?
• January 1 – New Year’s Day
• January 6 -- Epiphany
• February First Sunday in Lent
• March 25 Greek Independence Day
• March/April (changes yearly) -- Good Friday
• March/April (changes yearly) -- Orthodox Easter Sunday
• May 1 -- Labor Day, Spring Rites
• August 15 -- Feast of the Assumption
• October 28 –Oxi Day
• December 25 –Christmas
• December 26 – St. Stephen’s Day

Appliances
The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220 volts, 50 (Hz) cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using stepdown transformers of 220/110 volts connected to each outlet, provided these transformers have two separate windings to eliminate any danger of electric shock.

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