Vacation is certainly one of the most beautiful periods of the year for all those who can afford it for themselves and their family.

Everyone expects a true rest and enjoyment. Usually, that’s how it turns out, but unfortunately, less pleasant things happen as well.

This text is dedicated to less pleasant events and mishaps, or how to prevent or solve them if they occur.

Fatigue during the journey - a common cause of accidents

The road to Greece is long and tiring, so we advise you to take breaks more often on the way to your destination. You would be surprised to know how many traffic accidents and incidents happen during a single trip due to driver fatigue. Ideally, you should take a break and stay overnight somewhere halfway so you can continue your journey well-rested.
Suggestions for overnight stays and places to rest can be found here:

Car breakdowns - preparation and insurance are key

It would be best to service your car thoroughly before you set off on your journey, and also inquire with your insurance company about what exactly your insurance covers. We have witnessed several major car breakdowns, where towing to Serbia was the only and very expensive solution. It has also happened that quality insurance covers the costs and organizes towing, as well as the return of all family members. If a breakdown occurs and you do not have insurance, it is best to consult the owner to recommend a good mechanic.

Based on experience from previous years, if towing is needed, it is much more affordable to hire a towing service from Serbia than from Greece.

For minor car issues, we have prepared a list of all mechanics in popular resorts with addresses, phones, and locations on the map so you can easily find them nearby if needed. We certainly hope you won’t need them!
Car repair in Greece addresses, phones, and locations of all mechanics in Greece

Car break-ins in parking lots - how to protect yourself?

In recent years, car break-ins have been happening in parking lots of popular or remote beaches. These events are not common, but unfortunately, they do occur. You can do almost nothing to prevent this, but what you can do is never leave anything valuable or any documents in the car (not even in the trunk).

Pay special attention to where you park your car in Thessaloniki if you stop there for shopping or sightseeing. Parking in front of Ikea is not secure enough, and cars with foreign plates are targeted by thieves, especially when they see that they are filled with suitcases. Even parking spaces in the center of Thessaloniki that are not guarded are not entirely safe, so it is best to pay for a garage. Read more about parking in Thessaloniki here, as well as the text below.
How to protect your car from theft at sea

Break-ins in apartments - how to secure your property?

If you are accommodated on the ground floor of the accommodation, and even on the first floor (if there is no intermediate floor below), it is best to keep the doors and windows closed at night. Ground floors are an easy target for thieves who sneak in over an open terrace while guests are sleeping. So be cautious. Thieves from apartments do not only take money but also computers, cameras, and anything valuable. Such cases of break-ins in apartments are not common, but every one that happens reaches the public, so it is talked about much more than it is actually a frequent problem. So far, we have not had a single case of thieves entering an apartment by breaking locks or of a cleaner taking money, so if your terrace doors are closed at night or when you are not there, there is no fear of theft. Also, keep in mind that there has never been any physical violence during a theft or that thieves are violent, if that is comforting :)

Loss of passport - who to contact?

Sometimes, tourists lose their passport or documents while traveling. The first thing to do in that case is to report the loss to the nearest police station, which will issue you a certificate of a lost passport, and then contact the nearest consular section of the Republic of Serbia, which will issue you a travel document that will serve as a passport for your return to Serbia.
Check out and save this text: Phone numbers and contact of emergency services in Greece

Unexpectedly run out of money at sea?

If during your vacation, due to theft or loss of your wallet, you unexpectedly run out of money, the only solution is for a family member or friend to send you money from Serbia. The easiest and fastest, but also the most expensive way is through Western Union.
Another option, which our tourists often use, is to have money sent to you through passengers or bus drivers of a tourist agency. During the season, there are almost daily buses from Serbia to popular resorts, and for more information about this, it is best to contact the representative of the agency through which you traveled or a local agency that will give you more information about arrivals.

Emergency return to Serbia - what to do when you have to go home early?

Unfortunately, many times a guest has to return to Serbia urgently. This happens due to family problems, deaths, work… The only and fastest solution for return is through the mentioned tourist agencies that often have transfers to popular resorts in Greece. Another option is to use local and intercity buses, but it is a much longer and more expensive journey.

Early departure from accommodation - rules and costs

If for any reason you have to leave the accommodation with your family earlier than agreed, you should know that the owner is not obliged to refund you the full amount for the unused days but only half of the amount. If by any chance you have not paid for the accommodation in advance, before departure, you must pay for 50% of the days you did not use. For this reason, it is better to book accommodation for only as many days as you will definitely be able to use, so you can easily extend your stay in the same or another accommodation on the spot, rather than find yourself in a situation where you pay for unused days.

Chronic illnesses and medications - be prepared

If a member of your family suffers from a chronic illness, it is best to bring their medications with you. Some resorts do not have pharmacies, and some do not even have medical centers, so if you need to be close to a doctor, it is better to inquire before departure if there is a doctor at your destination or not.

Health insurance - mandatory, and just in case

State health centers, as well as most private medical facilities, usually accept emergency cases without health insurance and documents out of humane reasons, but one should not rely on that and it is mandatory to have health insurance for yourself and your family.

Keep in mind that during vacations, allergies to the sun are very common, headaches due to the sun, ear infections due to diving, sea urchin stings, and that insurance often does not cover medications, so it is important to bring aspirin, paracetamol, alcohol for disinfection, ibuprofen, and the like with you. Also, bring quality sunscreen, as well as milk or cream for sunburn.

Read more about travel health insurance.

Find a list of all doctors and medical centers in popular resorts here:
Links to articles with doctors:
Sithonia Doctors and medical centers in Sithonia
Athos: Doctors and medical centers in Athos
Kassandra Doctors and medical centers in Kassandra
Thassos Doctors and medical centers in Thassos
Kefalonia Doctors and medical centers in Kefalonia
Lefkada Doctors and medical centers in Lefkada
Kavala Doctors and medical centers in Kavala

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