Here are some tips to help you plan for your trip to Crete.
Safety and Security
U.S. citizens don’t need visas or special vaccinations to visit Greece; however, you must have a valid U.S. passport. Please double-check the expiration date on your passport to be sure it will be valid until you return to the U.S. If you hold a passport from another country, check the visa requirements as you make your travel plans.
Travel in Greece is notoriously safe, friendly, and hassle-free. However, we urge you to leave anything of significant sentimental or financial value at home. We recommend wearing a security pouch under your clothes to easily carry your passport, credit or debit cards and other essential travel documents.
In the unlikely event that you lose your passport, you will need certain documents or a way to have them sent to you so you can apply for a replacement passport. Please check the list on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Athens to ensure you have the necessary documents with you or, should you need them, a way to receive them quickly.
Money
The euro (€) is the currency of Greece, a member of the European Union. Once you arrive in Athens, you must have euros for all purchases. We recommend you have about $200 worth of euros when you arrive in Greece. You may order euros from your bank, though receiving them may take a few days, so don’t wait till the last minute. You may also exchange U.S. dollars for euros at currency exchange booths at all international airports, though the exchange rate will be better from your bank.
To access additional spending money on Crete, plan to withdraw cash from ATMs using a debit or credit card, as ATMs are now quite common. You’ll need a card with a chip. Don’t forget to notify your bank or credit card company that you are planning international travel and verify the maximum amount you can withdraw from an ATM or charge daily. Some card companies will deactivate your card (or, worse yet, tell the ATM to confiscate it) if they suspect it is being used fraudulently. Having two debit or charge cards with you might be a good idea if one gets eaten by an ATM. Jet lag and culture shock can do strange things to the memory, so be sure you’ve memorized your PIN and given it to someone at home in case you forget it.
Plan to use cash for your minor purchases, like bottled water, coffee, etc. Unlike the U.S., where you can use your card for just about everything, many smaller businesses – the more interesting ones that sell handcrafted local items and most small cafes – do not. Generally, Visa and MasterCard are accepted for larger purchases at more expensive shops and restaurants. Even in urban areas, many stores won’t take any credit card for purchases below a certain amount (usually €50). There is no way of predicting who will take it, so having cash is best. American Express cards are rarely accepted, and Discover Card is not accepted anywhere in Greece. You will find a bunch of other helpful money tips here.
Phones and Email
If you plan to use your cell phone in Greece, check with your carrier to ensure it will work there. The European phone system uses different technology, and only certain types of cell phones or smartphones will work there. We’ve also learned the hard (expensive) way to check roaming rates carefully. Some carriers offer short-term, affordable plans for international travel.
For the last three nights of the tour, you can make long-distance calls from your room and pay when you check out at the hotel in Heraklion. There is also a computer in the lobby for guests to use.
Wi-Fi is widely available. While staying at the small village inns during the first part of the tour, you won’t have Wi-Fi in your sleeping rooms, but there is Internet access in common areas nearby. In general, download speeds can be pretty slow. One way we’ve dealt with this is to set up a new Gmail email address before leaving for Greece that we share with select people and use to send or receive emails quickly while traveling. This way, you won’t be bogged down by the time it may take for a slow connection to download many messages.
Travel Insurance
Ensuring your safety and well-being is our utmost priority. Therefore, we require all guests to purchase travel insurance to cover the cost of the trip and emergency medical care. While there are many options available, we highly recommend Allianz Travel. We have not had to file any claims, but we know of other frequent international travelers who required emergency medical care and transport while traveling, and the care they received through Allianz was exceptional. We believe Allianz Travel can provide you with the same level of care and security, reinforcing our commitment to your safety. This website explains why you need travel insurance and lists other travel insurance companies (with reviews).
Spring Weather
May is typically a beautiful time of year on Crete. The winter rains have ended, and temperatures during the day range from 60° to 80°while nights are cooler, 40° to 50°. We may even have a chance to swim in the blue Aegean Sea! But you should be prepared for some cold weather.
We can expect warm, bright, sunny days, a slim chance of rain, and cooler nights, especially in the high mountains in the middle of the trip. We will spend most days outside, so you’ll want to pack practical, comfortable clothes that you can layer to accommodate a range of temperatures and, most importantly, to protect you from prolonged exposure to the sun. In general, the dress code will be casual throughout the trip.
That said, there are two unique and somewhat intense elements of the Cretan climate that you will experience: wind and sun. Winds can be strong and often quite fierce, while the Mediterranean sun is always intense, even in cool weather. Your constant companions throughout the trip will be a light, wind-proof jacket; a tie-on hat that fits snugly (and won’t blow off in a strong wind) and protect you from the sun; wrap-around or tightly fitting sunglasses; and plenty of serious sunscreens (SPF 24 or 30). See the Packing List 2025 for more details.
Cultural Insights and a Serious Request
Although visitors to Greece wear every type of clothing you can imagine, most people in small villages and rural areas on Crete are exceedingly conservative in their dress. For this reason, your clothes will profoundly affect how comfortable (and accepted) you feel. With few exceptions, Greeks tend to dress in muted colors (gray, navy blue, beige, brown, dark green, or burgundy), and you will see that only tourists wear bright colors or pastels. Also, anyone dressed entirely in black is assumed to be in mourning, so unless you want to field questions about recent deaths in your family, you may want to avoid wearing all black. Of course, you can wear any clothes you like, but dressing modestly in muted colors can enrich your experience on Crete. Some people you’ll be meeting, especially older people in rural areas, may be uncomfortable interacting with you if you dress in a way they regard as inappropriate. Let us know if you have any questions!
Your Suitcase: Small is Beautiful
Throughout the centuries, the people of Crete have been passionate about miniature objects. Greek museums display thousands of exquisite tiny artifacts, many of which you will see during your travels. Coming from North America, where bigger is better, you will find that everything, the architecture, furniture, cars, streets, art, and even the people, may seem small to you.
As we will be traveling through this land of small things, we require that you limit your luggage to one suitcase, approximately 28″ x 16″ x 11″, and one smaller carry-on bag. Please take this request seriously, as we’ll travel in a van with limited luggage room.
Why are we limiting the size of your luggage?
First, in keeping with Cretan aesthetics, the cars, vans, and hotel rooms are small. You may need to move your bags at least 50 yards and up or down stairs without assistance. (However, if you cannot physically move your suitcase – and it meets our size restrictions – we will gladly assist you. Please notify us if this is the case.)
We realize that fitting everything you need into one suitcase and a carry-on bag requires careful planning. But it can be done! We’ve provided you with a Packing List, and you will find some helpful suggestions about packing light here.
On your flight from Athens to Crete on a small Greek plane, you can only bring ONE carry-on item: a purse, carry-on bag, or small suitcase. Greek airlines strictly enforce baggage restrictions, unlike domestic flights in the U.S., where you can sometimes sneak on with several bags. If you have multiple carry-on bags, you must check them before boarding.
As you pack for your trans-Atlantic flight, be sure to plan so you are prepared to board the flight to Crete carrying only one item, having consolidated or checked everything else. If you have any questions or concerns about luggage restrictions aboard any airline you use, please contact your airline carrier directly. International travel restrictions are often very different from domestic rules.
What to Pack
Your constant traveling companion throughout the tour will be a small backpack or bag large enough to hold everything needed for our day-long excursions. See the Packing List 2025 for details.
This is a very active trip. Good walking shoes are essential. We recommend you bring lightweight, lace-up walking or hiking shoes and comfortable, casual shoes or sandals for exploring urban areas. Your shoes should provide support and excellent traction (textured, sticky rubber-type soles) to keep you grounded on uneven, steep, or slippery surfaces. During our travels around the island, we often hear about unexpected opportunities and receive invitations to do and see things off the beaten track, and we want to be ready!
Laundry
Your best travel strategy is to pack clothing suitable for hand washing and line drying, a few clothespins, and travel packets of laundry soap. Fortunately, clothes dry quickly in Crete’s arid climate, and there are clotheslines for guests in the first two places we stay. Laundry services are available at the hotel in Heraklion during the last two days of the tour.
Cameras and Phones
Make sure you have any phone or camera cords, plugs, power supplies, adapters, batteries, etc. that you may need, along with critical spares. Phone or electronics stores are not readily available in rural areas. Photography using flash is strictly prohibited in museums, so be sure you know how to disable this feature on your camera.
Emergency Contact Numbers
Before we leave for Crete in April, we’ll send you last-minute details, including phone numbers and email addresses you can share with anyone who needs to reach you in an emergency.
How to Register for Wild Crete Tour 2025
Contact Patricia with your questions: 706-490-3904 or wildcrete@gmail.com