Sunsail – greece

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Greece - Essential Holiday Information

Sunsail Vounaki, Ionian
Vounaki Marina
Paleros
AK300 12
Etolacarnania
Greece
Tel:0030 26430 41944
Fax:0030 26430 41944

Sunsail Milina, Sporades
Mavri Petra
Vathoudi Bay
Milina
Pilion
Greece
Tel: 0030 69372 62731
Fax:0030 24230 65010

Sunsail Poros, Saronic Gulf
Poros Flotilla T/A Base
Ancient Epidavros Town Quay
Argolida
GR21059
Greece
Tel: 0030 26430 41944

Please note these numbers are NOT manned full time

TIME
• GMT + 2 hrs (GMT + 3 hrs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October)

LANGUAGE
• Greek and English

PASSPORT & VISAS
• Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return.
• Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
• Non-British passport holders should check with their local Consulate direct.
• If your child is not already included on a valid British Passport they are required to hold their own passport.

VACCINATIONS
• Please refer to the Department of Health's 'EHIC and health advice for travellers' web page at www.dh.gov.uk or consult your family GP for further details. All travellers are advised to ensure that tetanus and polio vaccinations are kept up to date and Hepatitis A is recommended if you are travelling frequently or spending extended time in Greece.

FLIGHTS
• Gatwick Information 0870 000 2468
• Heathrow Information 0870 000 0123
• Manchester Information 0161 489 3000
• Luton Information 0158 240 5100
• Glasgow Information 0141 887 1111
• Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend travelling light and using folding luggage.
• Lost or damaged luggage whilst flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance, however First Choice Airways has no liability for loss or damage to valuable or fragile items packed in hold baggage however caused. You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.
• If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials and ensure Property Irregularity Reports (PIR) are completed. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.
• If you are taking our First Choice Charter flights and wish to enquire about pre booking seats please call the airline direct on 0870 757 2757. Group seats are availbale for pre booking through Sunsail. Call the team for more details.
• SAVE UPTO 30% when you book your airport parking with BCP through Sunsail. Call the team for more details quoting Sunsail reference BN545

POROS FLOTILLA FLIGHTS
Please note that we do not offer flights for the Poros Flotilla. We will try to arrange flights for you if you require them - please call 02392 222224 for more information.

REGIONAL FLIGHTS
• If you are on the inbound flight from Manchester you will have the opportunity to spend a couple of hours in Skiathos Town on your arrival. You will then meet the base transfer at the ferry terminal when the Gatwick flight arrives. Your Sunsail representative at the airport will give you all the details you need.

AIRPORTS
• From 2004 all flights into Greece have been subject to 100% baggage screening. Due to a limited number of x-ray machines at your departure airports it may become necessary for a longer check-in, i.e. 3 hours prior to departure.
• Facilities are extremely limited at most provincial Greek airports. Unfortunately this can cause delays in baggage handling, so please also anticipate the possibility of longer queues at the check-in for your return flight.

CURRENCY
• Euro €
• Currency can be exchanged commission free at any high street First Choice Retail travel agent on production of your Sunsail invoice. You can pre-order your currency from a First Choice travel agent by telephoning them in advance on 0870 9005154 to find your nearest branch.
• There are no limits on the amount you can take in or out of the country, but the exchange rate is often more favourable in Greece.
• Travellers Cheques and credit cards are accepted in most restaurants and shops.
• For clients visiting the Ionian there are ATM machines in Levkas Town, Fiscardo, Nidri, Sami, Vathy, Ithaca, and Paleros.
• Sporades Yachts: There are no facilities to exchange currency at the airport or base. It is possible to exchange currency in the village, but you are advised to bring enough currency with you to last at least the first three nights. There are no ATM machines in Milina, you will however find machines on Skiathos and Skopolos.
• PLEASE NOTE: Bases are unable to accept personal cheques and cannot give cash back on credit or debit (Switch/Delta) cards.

TRANSFERS
• If your Sunsail Holiday includes our charter flight, a Sunsail representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your transfer.
• If your holiday is flight exclusive, we request that you send your travel arrangements to us so we can assist with transfer details where required.
PLEASE NOTE:Guests arriving separately should bring a copy of the charter contract / invoice.

MILINA TRANSFERS
• After a 10 min coach trip from Skiathos airport you will board a ferry which will take you to Skiathos Port Platania. The scenic crossing takes approx. 1.5 hrs. At Port Platania a coach will be waiting to take you to the Milina base - approx 30 mins.
• On departure day you will have a few hours to spend in the town of Skiathos before the coach transfer to the airport. All luggage will be stored at Skiathos during this time.

POROS TRANSFERS

Poros transfers can be organised through our Athens office, by contacting:

Hara Kampanarou
Tel: 0030 21098 36465
Email: harae@sunsail.gr

NB: Please contact Hara at least two weeks prior to departure.

If you want to arrange transfers yourself for the Poros Flotilla then the following information may be of use:

• The taxi cost from airport El. Venizelos to Epidavros is 160-180 euros.
• The train ticket from El Venizelos to Korinthos is: El Venizelos to Neratziotissa station 6 euros and Neratziotissa station to Korinthos 6 euros - total 12 euros.
• Also a mini bus for 17 persons from El Venizelos to Epidavros costs 360 euros.

Timings are:

• Taxi - Athens to Epidavros - 1 hour 45 mins
• Bus - Kiffisos Station - Epidavros - 2hours 30 minutes

Directions from Athens airport to the Sunsail base are:
Leave the Motorway on the outer rink road to the Corinth motorway, once over the Corinth bridge leave the motorway on to the main Epidavros road, head into new Epidavros carry on another 10 minutes until you reach the old Epidavros at the harbour you will see the Sunsail fleet outside Hotel Posidon. There is no Sunsail building, but the hotel tel: number is 275 3041211 if you need to contact them.

For more information on the Bus Services please visit the KTEL OF ARGOLIS website.

CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION
• Customs and Immigration work on a spot check basis.
• Greek charter permits do not allow clients on Greek bareboat holidays to enter Turkish waters.

BOARDING/DEPARTURE
• Your yacht will be ready at 1800 hrs for boarding. Please be aware that the yacht and chart briefings will be arranged on your arrival. At the end of your charter your yacht will need to be vacated by 0900 hrs so we recommend that you return to the base the day before.

BRIEFINGS
• The personalised chart briefing given on your arrival describes the cruising area and any potential hazards.
• The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht, it’s systems and rigging. It is carried out individually for each yacht. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Briefings are mandatory.

SKIPPERS & CREW CERTIFICATES AND BOAT PAPERS
• In Greece it is ESSENTIAL that we have all of the following details in advance: Full name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and passport no./ID card no for every member of your crew so that your boat papers can be prepared. You will not be able to sail without these papers, and failure to supply information in advance could delay your departure form the base.
• Please bring any RYA certificates or other sailing qualifications with you.

SAFETY
• All yachts are equipped with life jackets and a harness for everyone on board. We leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
• We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck.
• Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine.

ILLNESS OR INJURY
• Contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either a lead boat or at a Sunsail base.
• If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer's emergency medical service immediately.
• Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills.
• Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

EQUIPMENT ON THE YACHTS
Sunsail yachts are equipped with just about everything you will need for a safe and enjoyable holiday.
• A deposit is required for dinghy, outboard engine, windsurfer, ocean kayak, cruising chute and GPS.
• A refundable security deposit of £300 (regardless of number of items booked) is payable by credit card or Travellers Cheques at the Sunsail base against the loss or damage of these items, whether included in the basic holiday price or as an extra.
• You will be given a checklist on arrival to make sure you have all the items listed on the inventory.
• Please inform the base manager before you leave the base if anything is missing as it is not always possible to replace or exchange items once you have departed on your cruise. Stolen items must be immediately reported to Sunsail management and the local police. An incident report will be completed for insurance purposes
• Any problems with, or damage to, your yacht must be reported to the local staff immediately. If not we cannot be held responsible.
• Each yacht is equipped with two pairs of snorkelling equipment, linen and bath towels and navigation equipment. Please bring beach towels with you. We advise you not to bring self-inflating life jackets or buoyancy aids fitted with gas-cylinders as they may not be allowed on the aircraft.
• Clothing – In Sunsail locations dress is informal, but we ask you to respect local etiquette. Wet weather gear and fleeces are advisable for early and late season.

PROVISIONING *
• We offer an online pre-provisioning service so you can order goods before your holiday starts. The provisioning pages will confirm the latest order date for your chosen destination.
• Provisions can be ordered via your booking office or the web a minimum of four weeks prior to departure.
• Food provisioning for charter yachts in Greece is usually easy and the choice and variety of products are good. Sunsail staff will be able to advise you on the places to provision during your cruise. If you are on an Ionian yacht charter, there is a Sunsail Mini Market at Vounaki and various supermarkets at Nikiana and Nidri.
• It is not possible to pre-provision for charters from our Milina base, but food and beverages can be purchased from the supermaket located close by to the base office, and further supplies bought as you travel around the cruising area.
• Some food Items are not available in Greece and with children in mind please bring their favourite foods from England.
• Baby food and nappies are only available in some areas and are very expensive.
• Shops in Greece tend to be open from 9am-1pm and then in the evening, after siesta, from 5pm-8pm.

* PLEASE NOTE: We do not provide provisioning for the Poros Flotilla.

COST OF LIVING
• The cost of living in Greece is approximately 10% less than the UK.
• Prices in Greece usually include service charges although it is normal to leave loose change as well.

MOORING FEES
• These are generally only charged a few nights a week, but expect to spend £10-£15 per night in a marina.
• If you stop free of charge at a private jetty it is expected that you will eat at that taverna.
• Shower facilities are available at most restaurants for a small charge.

EATING OUT
• There is a good choice of tavernas and restaurants throughout our cruising areas, local Sunsail staff will advise you of their whereabouts.
• If you choose to eat at our Club Vounaki all drinks and meals will be at your own cost.

CHARTS AND PILOT BOOK
• All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. Charts and pilot books can be purchased in advance from www.imray.com or www.kelvinhughes.com

WEATHER
• During spring and autumn there are regular southerly winds being particularly fresh in July and August.

LOST PROPERTY
• If any valuables are left behind in your base, please contact the relevant base as soon as possible after the loss.
• Our base staff will endeavour to locate your property and will contact you with the result of their search.
• Return of property to you will normally be by DHL. The cost of the courier service plus a £15 charge will have to be taken by credit/debit card.
•  If goods are left on the plane you will need to contact the airline direct. For First Choice Airways this number is 01293 507160. The office is open between 10am and 4pm. If there is no reply leave and message and they will return your call.
PLEASE NOTE SUNSAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY GOODS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY GO MISSING DURING TRANSIT TO THE UK

PLEASE NOTE
• If you feel that a problem may adversely affect your holiday, you must give our staff the opportunity to resolve it for you. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please ensure that you inform the base manager and it is essential that you complete a holiday report form.
• Unfortunately, claims made for problems not reported first to the base staff and then to the manager locally, cannot be considered.
TO REITERATE THE HOLIDAY BOOKING CONDITIONS, ANY COMPLAINTS OR CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE END OF YOUR HOLIDAY.

SUNSAIL – RESPECTING DESTINATIONS
Sunsail remain committed to looking after the environment and supporting the cultures where we operate and over many years you have helped us to ensure that our presence does not negatively impact these areas. Please continue to assist us to leave these areas ‘As good or better than we found them’

PLEASE NOTE: Times and prices are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change without prior notice.
Greece Information Sheet last updated 10.07.08