Award-winning and fully-protected holidays
If you’re off on your first sailing adventure, congratulations! Here are some hints and tips – the sailing essentials if you will – but if you’ve got a question that isn’t answered, we’re always happy to chat boats.
No Visa is required for a holiday in Greece. UK passport holders are only able to be in the EU for 90 days in every 180 days. It is your responsibility to make sure you have enough days left to enter Greece. There are no visa requirements for EU passport holders. All passports should have at least 6 months remaining and shouldn’t be more than 10 years old.
Please make sure you have adequate travel insurance from the point of paying your deposit. It is also important to make sure that your insurance covers ‘sailing holidays’. Please note this is different from Cruise Ship cover. Helen uses Topsail.
Mosquitoes can be irritating in the summer, it’s a good idea to bring your favourite repellent and after-bite. There isn’t any malaria in Greece. Occasionally there are jellyfish but these are no more irritating than a mosquito bite and can be treated in the same way. There are currently no Covid restrictions in place.
The currency in Greece is Euros, you can also pay your boat bill in Sterling or by all major credit and debit cards. Cash is king in Greece, although most larger tavernas will grudgingly take card. We recommend speaking with your bank so you get the most from your money. American Express is not widely used in Greece.
There is 240V power on board and a European plug adaptor is needed (two-pin) for your electricals. There will be a few on board but always useful to bring an extra one! Some cabins also have USB sockets too. Click here for more technical details.
Photocard type UK driving licence is accepted by car rental companies. It is essential to bring a driving license if you wish to hire a car.
Greek Easter (18th-21st April 2025) and Oxi Day (28th October 2024) are two holidays where many of the islands will be celebrating and shut down for business. This does not typically affect the yachts, however is worth noting for travel purposes. Joining a yacht during Easter is a particularly wonderful experience.
May and the first half of June can be cooler, so worth bringing a layer. July, August and September are typically very warm. Temperatures start to drop again in October. Although not used often, there is wet-weather clothing on board. Read more about what to wear.
Onboard the following extras are provided to leave space in your bags!
There are no particular laws or customs that should be adhered to by visitors, although if you visit a Greek Orthodox church it’s polite to dress respectfully. Respect for elders is important in Greece.
Greece is GMT+2
Code dial 0044 or +44 for a UK number. The Greek international code is 0030 or +30. In the North of Corfu your telephone sometimes switches networks to an Albanian provider. This can cause additional charges. To be safe please keep an eye on your data roaming.
Haggling is customary in Greece, especially in hotspots. If you’re buying trinkets, it’s OK to enjoy a little haggle. Go with your gut but remember: if you’re on a small island, goods have had to be transported there by boat, so don’t be surprised if the price is higher than the mainland!
Eating ashore in Greece is wonderful, your crew will be able to make recommendations for you in every harbour. It is also lovely to eat on board once or twice in the week, too!
Greece has vegetarian options in most tavernas, and gluten free and vegan options are becoming more widely available, too. If you have allergies of any kind, it is worth having them translated into Greek so smaller tavernas understand exactly what the allergy is. Your chef onboard can provide for various dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances but must be told in advance. If your allergy is severe suitable medicines must be provided by the guest as well as medical insurance. Contact Helen if you would like help with any of this.
If your sailing essentials have not been answered please see our FAQs or contact helen@fleewinter.com.
Do you fancy having a chat about Sailing Essentials? Personally, it's one of our favourite things to talk about.