Michael Wigge left Berlin without a penny and traveled 25,000 miles to Antarctica, hitchhiking, bartering and working his way by ship, plane, car and foot, from Europe to Canada and the U.S. and then through Latin America.

A series about his project, “How to Travel the World for Free,” is airing on some PBS channels throughout May and June, using video Wigge shot of his adventures. Here are some details on how he did the project and how it went.

THE TRIP: Wigge, a travel journalist and videographer who speaks German, English and Spanish, left Berlin in June 2010 and traveled for 150 days through 11 countries, arriving in Antarctica in November 2010. More than 100 people helped, providing transportation, food and places to sleep. He planned the journey for a year before starting out, collecting contacts for those who might provide accommodations or odd jobs, but he also relied on the kindness of strangers.

FOOD: At first, Wigge scrounged for food from garbage bins behind supermarkets, but he soon realized that “Dumpster diving wasn’t necessary. I could walk in and do a barter. I offered to clean the floor or the shelf or wash the dishes in the restaurant in exchange for an old sandwich. And most of the people I approached in shops, supermarkets and restaurants gave me something.”

ACCOMMODATIONS AND ATTITUDES: In Latin America, he found that “people were very helpful if I went to their door and said, ‘I have no idea where I will sleep tonight, can I sleep here?’ There was this helpfulness, this hospitality, maybe because many people there are poor and they know how it feels. They didn’t care about my story. But in the U.S., it was more about the story. They would say, ‘This is cool, we want to help you reach your goal.’ Americans really go for this.”

WORK: He crossed the Atlantic working on a container ship from Belgium to Canada in exchange for his passage, doing everything from paint jobs to changing the oil in the engine room. In Las Vegas, he engaged in pillow fights for $1 on the street and offered his back as a “human sofa” for tired visitors. In San Francisco, he collected tips for “pushing heavy tourists up the hills.” Eventually he had 300 $1 bills, which he used to buy plane fare to Costa Rica. From there he hitchhiked to Panama, where he worked as a butler for the German ambassador.

To cross from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica, he worked on a luxury cruise ship as an assistant to the expedition leader. “You clean the boots of the tourists, you help them on the ice, you put red flags around the penguin field, you help refill the boats with gasoline,” he said.

WORST JOB: Wigge’s stint as a porter carrying tourists’ luggage in exchange for a trip to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city in the Peruvian Andes, ended “in a bit of a mess. I was the worst porter the Andes had ever seen,” he said.

The other workers were accustomed to handling tents and meals for tourists along the 50-mile, five-day route, then running ahead carrying 60 pounds of luggage on their backs in time to set up the next campsite before the tourists arrived, all at 14,000-feet elevations. But Wigge did not have the stamina to keep up.

“They said, ‘This is not funny, you cannot do this, we do not want to lose our clients,’” he recalled. “I apologized.” After two days, they put his luggage on horses and allowed him to walk at a regular pace rather than staying behind and running ahead to help with campsites.

VIDEO DIARY: Wigge kept a “video diary” with the goal of eventually producing a TV series. To film himself and collect footage that was high-enough quality for TV, Wigge carried a Canon HDV 1080i camera with a good wide-angle lens and microphone. He ended up with dozens of tapes, which were edited down to five 30-minute segments.

He nearly lost the precious tapes while staying with a German expat in Cuzco, Peru. “The whole apartment burned down before we went to sleep,” Wigge said. But he was able to get his travel bag — including the videos and camera — out, and looks back on the incident philosophically: “We are still alive.”

RETURN TRIP: Once he’d achieved his goal of starting out with no money and completing a one-way trip to Antarctica, he had no qualms about accessing a bank account for return fare to Germany.

ADVICE: “I would like to motivate people, inspire people,” he said. “If you’re not too vain to do something like pillow fighting or being a human sofa, you can barter your way from something very small to something very big. Why not travel and be a bit silly?”

For more inspiration, take a look at Wigge’s website and self-published book, “How to Travel the World for Free: I Did It, and You Can Do It, Too!”

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Paella in Madrid, skydiving in Valencia and partying in Ibiza. What sounds like the script of a big budget film, is actually an itinerary created by four college students for their backpacking trip across Spain. “I’ve been abroad before, but with my parents. This is something we planned

ourselves. We’ll live in hostels and traipse about through a whole country, living some unforgettable experiences,” said Soham Shah, 21, a final year student of VJTI college, Matunga.

Shah and his friends will leave in a week for the quintessential student sojourn to Europe – small budget, big plans, street food and a whole lot of walking. “We want to experience their culture, use public transport and interact with people there. Of course, we’ll also save money by staying in hostels,” he added. By skimping on food and stay and travel, which would work out to only about 35euros a day, the group plans to go skydiving as their one extragavagance.

With the new academic year around the corner, students are keen on using their last few weeks of freedom. And what better way to do so than by embarking upon a trip to Europe on a shoestring budget – an idea endorsed by all forms of popular culture.

“Going to see the Eiffel Tower was on my list of things-to-do-before-I-die. Now I’ve managed to find a way to make that a reality with a friend who was up for the task of chalking out an ambitious holiday with a miserly amount of money,” said Aditi Nayak, 22, a student of Government Law College, Churchgate. Nayak and her friend have been planning her trip since December. “We’ll visit London, Paris and Brussels. I’m so excited,” she said.

Those who have been on such a trip are testimony to how surreal an experience it can be. “Once there, you really can’t waste even a second. You might get back to your hostel exhausted, but it’s still worth waking up the next morning at 6 am and setting off to another new place, to create a new postcard memory,” said Mansi Sheth, 22, a student of St Xavier’s College, Dhobi Talao, who backpacked across Europe last year with her friend and sister.

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Eastern Europe has long been a problem area for vegetarians, the lactose-intolerant, health nuts, or just anyone on a diet. A guidebook entry I once read on the Czech Republic said the three food groups were cheese, beer, and ice cream. (Not fair—it should have cabbage and potatoes in there too.) But it sure is yummy.

I just spent three weeks traveling through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria and can tell you there’s very little chance you’ll go hungry in this region, even if you’re on a tight budget. Portion sizes are on par with the U.S., sometimes even larger, and there will always be something filling. To excess sometimes: even when you get a beautiful salad with fresh local vegetables, it’s going to be covered with shredded cheese. And maybe have some chunks of white cheese in it for good measure. No dressing though unless it’s a yogurt one—mostly oil and vinegar. Here’s a slideshow of photos and if you can’t see them on your hobbled Apple mobile device, follow this link instead. Some areas have more German influence, some more Turkish, and of course climate is a factor too. But I tossed them all together to form a contour from salad through dessert.

Here’s the interesting thing: I didn’t see all that many fat people. Those who had gotten pudgy were mostly old married couples who just didn’t care anymore. I’m now convinced that the evils of eating dairy are highly suspect since all the musclebound men and curvy women I saw in Bulgaria were eating cheese and yogurt with pretty much every meal. And sometimes for dessert too.

Some of the items in that slideshow tasted a lot better than they looked. Overall, it was scrumptious. The article I’m doing for the June issue of Perceptive Travel webzine will be on Bulgaria and the connection with the land. “Slow food” is not a fad there. It’s just the way they eat.

I ate this stuff for three weeks, drank my fair share of local beer, and got home two pounds lighter.  So maybe the lesson is I should give up Cheez-its and eat fried cheese instead…

Naz-dravay! (“To your health” in Bulgarian).

---

© Perceptive Travel Blog, part of the PerceptiveTravel.com webzine: the best travel stories from authors on the move.

The Irish Times – Saturday, May 19, 2012

MARY FITZGERALD, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

BURMA’S OPPOSITION leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to visit Ireland next month as part of her first trip abroad in 24 years.

Ms Suu Kyi is due to travel to Norway and the UK in mid-June, but human rights campaigners here are finalising plans for a one-day visit to Ireland in between.

Art for Amnesty founder Bill Shipsey confirmed arrangements were being made to facilitate the trip. “[We wish] to confirm that planning for such a visit is currently under way, including a very special event to mark the occasion,” he said.

It is understood the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who recently received her first passport in more than two decades, will be presented with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience award during her Dublin visit.

Plans are also under way to stage a benefit concert in her honour. One venue being considered for this event is the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in the Dublin docklands. It is understood that Bono, a long-standing supporter of Ms Suu Kyi, is likely to attend.

The exact dates of her travel to Europe – which would be her first trip outside Burma since 1988 – have not been confirmed, but it is understood the Ireland visit may take place on June 18th.

The European trip is being interpreted as a sign of confidence in Burma’s political reforms, and an indication that Ms Suu Kyi, who was sworn into parliament in early May, is satisfied that she would be able to return if she left the country.

During her decades-long campaign against military rule, in which she spent 15 years under house arrest, Ms Suu Kyi was free to leave Burma but she refused out of fear of not being allowed back.

Last month Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won 43 parliamentary seats, including her own, in byelections. The ballot marked the latest stage in a period of reforms that began last year when the long-ruling military junta handed over power to an elected, nominally civilian government.

The choice of Norway as her first country to visit is fitting, as Ms Suu Kyi has yet to formally accept the Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded in 1991.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said the Government looked forward to discussing with Ms Suu Kyi how Ireland can further assist the people of Burma. “Ms Suu Kyi is enormously admired in this country and I wish to pay tribute to those Irish human rights organisations and individuals who campaigned on her behalf and who helped highlight her struggle over so many years,” he said.

Shortly after her release from house arrest in late 2010, Ms Suu Kyi told Ireland’s then minister for foreign affairs Micheál Martin in a telephone conversation how much she appreciated the support she had received from Ireland.

“She was anxious to develop closer links with Ireland,” Mr Martin said at the time.

Ms Suu Kyi was awarded the freedom of Dublin city in 2000.

NEW YORK — Michael Wigge left Berlin without a penny and traveled 25,000 miles to Antarctica, hitchhiking, bartering and working his way by ship, plane, car and foot, from Europe to Canada and the U.S. and then through Latin America.

A series about his project, “How to Travel the World for Free,” is airing on some PBS channels throughout May and June, using video Wigge shot of his adventures. Here are some details on how he did the project and how it went.

The trip: Wigge, a travel journalist and videographer who speaks German, English and Spanish, left Berlin in June 2010 and traveled for 150 days through 11 countries, arriving in Antarctica in November 2010. More than 100 people helped, providing transportation, food and places to sleep. He planned the journey for a year before starting out, collecting contacts for those who might provide accommodations or odd jobs, but he also relied on the kindness of strangers.

Food: At first, Wigge scrounged for food from garbage bins behind supermarkets, but he soon realized that “Dumpster diving wasn’t necessary. I could walk in and do a barter. I offered to clean the floor or the shelf or wash the dishes in the restaurant in exchange for an old sandwich. And most of the people I approached in shops, supermarkets and restaurants gave me something.”

Accommodations and attitudes: In Latin America, he found that “people were very helpful if I went to their door and said,’I have no idea where I will sleep tonight, can I sleep here?’ There was this helpfulness, this hospitality, maybe because many people there are poor and they know how it feels. They didn’t care about my story. But in the U.S., it was more about the story. They would say,’This is cool, we want to help you reach your goal.’ Americans really go for this.”

Work: He crossed the Atlantic working on a container ship from Belgium to Canada in exchange for his passage, doing everything from paint jobs to changing the oil in the engine room. In Las Vegas, he engaged in pillow fights for $1 on the street and offered his back as a “human sofa” for tired visitors. In San Francisco, he collected tips for “pushing heavy tourists up the hills.” Eventually he had 300 $1 bills, which he used to buy plane fare to Costa Rica. From there he hitchhiked to Panama, where he worked as a butler for the German ambassador.

To cross from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica, he worked on a luxury cruise ship as an assistant to the expedition leader. “You clean the boots of the tourists, you help them on the ice, you put red flags around the penguin field, you help refill the boats with gasoline,” he said.

Worst job: Wigge’s stint as a porter carrying tourists’ luggage in exchange for a trip to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city in the Peruvian Andes, ended “in a bit of a mess. I was the worst porter the Andes had ever seen,” he said.

The other workers were accustomed to handling tents and meals for tourists along the 50-mile, five-day route, then running ahead carrying 60 pounds of luggage on their backs in time to set up the next campsite before the tourists arrived, all at 14,000-feet elevations. But Wigge did not have the stamina to keep up.

“They said,’This is not funny, you cannot do this, we do not want to lose our clients,”‘ he recalled. “I apologized.” After two days, they put his luggage on horses and allowed him to walk at a regular pace rather than staying behind and running ahead to help with campsites.

Video diary: Wigge kept a “video diary” with the goal of eventually producing a TV series. To film himself and collect footage that was high-enough quality for TV, Wigge carried a Canon HDV 1080i camera with a good wide-angle lens and microphone. He ended up with dozens of tapes, which were edited down to five 30-minute segments.

He nearly lost the precious tapes while staying with a German expat in Cuzco, Peru. “The whole apartment burned down before we went to sleep,” Wigge said. But he was able to get his travel bag — including the videos and camera — out, and looks back on the incident philosophically: “We are still alive.”

Return trip: Once he’d achieved his goal of starting out with no money and completing a one-way trip to Antarctica, he had no qualms about accessing a bank account for return fare to Germany.

Advice: “I would like to motivate people, inspire people,” he said. “If you’re not too vain to do something like pillow fighting or being a human sofa, you can barter your way from something very small to something very big. Why not travel and be a bit silly?”

For more inspiration, take a look at Wigge’s website — www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com — and self-published book, “How to Travel the World for Free: I Did It, and You Can Do It, Too!”

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – You’re in the final phase of revision before exams and the glorious release from academia. Soon it will be time for graduates to celebrate the successful completion of their degrees. In that spirit, online travel adviser Travel Ticker (www.travel-ticker.com) offers its top 10 graduate destinations. Reuters has not endorsed this list:

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is not only home to some of the best historic and artistic attractions, but it’s also one of the most fun and young European cities on the other side of the Atlantic. This makes it a great destination for recent grads to experience a fantastic mix of culture and nightlife. Some notable attractions include the beautiful canals, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and old Heineken brewery. Also, with welcoming locals and bicycle-friendly streets, it’s easy to seamlessly fit into Amsterdam while enjoying all that it has to offer. The best time for grads to get a great deal and avoid crowds will be October through April.

2. Havana, Cuba

Great news! The island of Cuba is no-longer off-limits to Americans, which means they can finally experience the city of Havana’s thrilling nightlife, lively culture and Cuba’s sunny beaches. With a tropical climate year-round, travelers can expect great temperatures to follow them as they wander through the colorful streets, explore the beautiful colonial architecture and cathedrals, and enjoy exciting Cuban music all in sandals and shorts. But nothing says celebration like visiting one of Cuba’s famous cigar factories or treating yourself to dinner and a cabaret show at the original Tropicana Club.

3. Dublin, Ireland

Let’s be honest, the first thing many recent grads are hoping to do is to mark the occasion with a party, and nobody knows how to celebrate like the Irish. Dublin, one of Europe’s most youthful cities, is not only known for its abundance of pubs, but also for its locals who are famous for making any day a day to party. And with its beautiful green scenery, maritime climate and cool summers where the sunniest days are directly after graduation (May and June), Dublin is a great city to raise a glass to your new degree.

4. Ibiza, Spain

As one of the party capitals of the world and Spain’s most stunning island retreat, Ibiza is known for its exotic nightclubs and warm, turquoise waters. This makes it a great getaway destination for grads looking for a young, hip crowd and lots of beach time. More importantly, starting right after graduation (in May) the island has its best summer weather with beautiful, clear, sunny days – perfect for those wanting to unwind and people watch on the beach or just frolic amongst the waves. The summer months also attract some of the best DJs from all over the world, so at sunset the island transforms into a vibrant party that’s fun for all.

5. Prague, Czech Republic

For recent graduates looking for a destination providing a more laidback experience, but still with the charm of old Europe and a young crowd, Prague is the place to be. Prague, which is popular among many young backpackers, has plenty of winding historic streets to get lost on and gothic structures to explore. With its warm summers, it’s also the perfect time to enjoy the famous Vltava River lounging on a boat while passing the cities beautiful architecture and bridges. And let’s not forget the one thing that Prague might be best known for – its beer. Known as the city that “invented” beer, grads can indulge in a variety of brews on the cheap.

6. Paris, France

Those looking for a romantic vacation after graduation often look right at Paris. This city is always a favorite among graduates looking for that quintessential European experience. Filled with art, fashion, food and culture, the City of Light offers a broad range of experiences. Visitors can luxuriate in an afternoon at a Parisian café, visit the Eiffel Tower or pay their respects to Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde at Pere-Lachaise cemetery. Wine enthusiasts should also visit Willi’s Wine Bar with over 300 wines and a hip atmosphere. Even better, right after graduation the climate is mild, with warm and pleasant days.

7. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok’s tropical climate and truly exotic setting make it one of the world’s most traveled-to spots, and it’s surely on many graduates’ wish-lists. A destination that is full of surprises and adventures, it’s no surprise that it attracts so many young adults. The city ignites the senses with its striking skyscrapers, delicious street foods and bustling tuk-tuck taxis zipping through traffic. Renowned for its nightlife on Khoa San Road, Bangkok is also known for its all night Full Moon beach parties. It is also not uncommon for travelers to see Elephants parading through the streets.

8. Rome, Italy

Warm, dry summer days, amazing food and colorful locals makes Rome a fantastic post-graduation destination. Combining the old and new unlike any other destination can, this city encapsulates the history and culture of Italy, with sites like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi fountain and the Vatican. But more importantly, graduates can celebrate with the tastes of Italy by spoiling themselves with pasta, pizza, gelato and wine. Even though there is a bustling club scene, do as the Romans do and enjoy an evening at a local piazza or café to mingle with locals over a glass of wine or a cappuccino.

9. Bali, Indonesia

With over 17,500 islands, Indonesia is the perfect pick for graduates who’ve been cooped up in libraries for the last four years and are now ready to escape. One of the highlights of Indonesia is certainly Bali. With long days, hot weather, crystal clear waters, Bali is the perfect beach getaway. The island also offers great waves and colorful coral reefs for the more adventurous grads looking to surf, dive or snorkel. And if those outdoor activities are not entertainment enough, come midnight, the island transforms from a quiet retreat to an all night dance party.

10. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

For those who don’t follow the typical graduating schedule and happen to exit university in December, Dubai is a great destination to fly off to. Dubai’s warm weather and status as a regional luxury shopping and tourism hub creates an extremely diverse set of activities that are sure to please even the most indecisive of recent grads. It’s the only place in the world where you can cool off at the Wild Wadi Waterpark and then bundle up for snow sports at the indoor Ski Dubai attraction. You could also go from a safari through the Arabian Desert right to lounging on a white sand beach with a fruity cocktail. Like to shop? Visit one of Dubai’s tax free malls or Eastern Markets for a bargain.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

NEW YORK — Michael Wigge left Berlin without a penny and traveled 25,000 miles to Antarctica, hitchhiking, bartering and working his way by ship, plane, car and foot, from Europe to Canada and the U.S. and then through Latin America.

A series about his project, “How to Travel the World for Free,” is airing on some PBS channels throughout May and June, using video Wigge shot of his adventures. Here are some details on how he did the project and how it went.

THE TRIP: Wigge, a travel journalist and videographer who speaks German, English and Spanish, left Berlin in June 2010 and traveled for 150 days through 11 countries, arriving in Antarctica in November 2010. More than 100 people helped, providing transportation, food and places to sleep. He planned the journey for a year before starting out, collecting contacts for those who might provide accommodations or odd jobs, but he also relied on the kindness of strangers.

FOOD: At first, Wigge scrounged for food from garbage bins behind supermarkets, but he soon realized that “Dumpster diving wasn’t necessary. I could walk in and do a barter. I offered to clean the floor or the shelf or wash the dishes in the restaurant in exchange for an old sandwich. And most of the people I approached in shops, supermarkets and restaurants gave me something.”

ACCOMMODATIONS AND ATTITUDES: In Latin America, he found that “people were very helpful if I went to their door and said, ‘I have no idea where I will sleep tonight, can I sleep here?’ There was this helpfulness, this hospitality, maybe because many people there are poor and they know how it feels. They didn’t care about my story. But in the U.S., it was more about the story. They would say, ‘This is cool, we want to help you reach your goal.’ Americans really go for this.”

WORK: He crossed the Atlantic working on a container ship from Belgium to Canada in exchange for his passage, doing everything from paint jobs to changing the oil in the engine room. In Las Vegas, he engaged in pillow fights for $1 on the street and offered his back as a “human sofa” for tired visitors. In San Francisco, he collected tips for “pushing heavy tourists up the hills.” Eventually he had 300 $1 bills, which he used to buy plane fare to Costa Rica. From there he hitchhiked to Panama, where he worked as a butler for the German ambassador.

To cross from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica, he worked on a luxury cruise ship as an assistant to the expedition leader. “You clean the boots of the tourists, you help them on the ice, you put red flags around the penguin field, you help refill the boats with gasoline,” he said.

WORST JOB: Wigge’s stint as a porter carrying tourists’ luggage in exchange for a trip to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city in the Peruvian Andes, ended “in a bit of a mess. I was the worst porter the Andes had ever seen,” he said.

The other workers were accustomed to handling tents and meals for tourists along the 50-mile, five-day route, then running ahead carrying 60 pounds of luggage on their backs in time to set up the next campsite before the tourists arrived, all at 14,000-feet elevations. But Wigge did not have the stamina to keep up.

“They said, ‘This is not funny, you cannot do this, we do not want to lose our clients,’ ” he recalled. “I apologized.” After two days, they put his luggage on horses and allowed him to walk at a regular pace rather than staying behind and running ahead to help with campsites.

VIDEO DIARY: Wigge kept a “video diary” with the goal of eventually producing a TV series. To film himself and collect footage that was high-enough quality for TV, Wigge carried a Canon HDV 1080i camera with a good wide-angle lens and microphone. He ended up with dozens of tapes, which were edited down to five 30-minute segments.

He nearly lost the precious tapes while staying with a German expat in Cuzco, Peru. “The whole apartment burned down before we went to sleep,” Wigge said. But he was able to get his travel bag — including the videos and camera — out, and looks back on the incident philosophically: “We are still alive.”

RETURN TRIP: Once he’d achieved his goal of starting out with no money and completing a one-way trip to Antarctica, he had no qualms about accessing a bank account for return fare to Germany.

ADVICE: “I would like to motivate people, inspire people,” he said. “If you’re not too vain to do something like pillow fighting or being a human sofa, you can barter your way from something very small to something very big. Why not travel and be a bit silly?”

For more inspiration, take a look at Wigge’s website — www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com — and self-published book, “How to Travel the World for Free: I Did It, and You Can Do It, Too!”

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Some holidaymakers appear to be having second thoughts about visiting Greece
• Others concerned about safety if violent street protests resume against austerity cuts
• Idea that has investors worried is the so-called “Grexit” — or Greek exit from the eurozone
• Travel experts say tourists visiting economically troubled countries unlikely to lose out

(CNN) — In the last decade of the 20th century, the Turkish lira fell in value 1,000 times against the U.S. dollar, meaning that tourists returning to that country after several years found that any old money they still possessed since their last visit had become almost worthless.

Now as fears grow about whether Greece will stay in the euro, and the possible domino effect this could cause, many prospective holidaymakers appear to be having second thoughts about visiting that country and other economically troubled members of the 17-nation eurozone, such as Spain or Portugal.

And while tourists may be bulking up their cash reserves in the case of a euro exit, others may be concerned about safety if violent street protests resume against austerity cuts.

What is the financial situation now?

Political deadlock is leading to fears that Greece will not have a government in place when it needs to make critical debt payments, which could in turn jeopardize its place in the eurozone.

On Monday, Greeks withdrew up to €800 million from Greek banks, and the threat of a banking panic heightened concern of a default. Fears of contagion spilled over into bond markets in Spain and Italy.

The idea that has investors around the globe worried is the so-called “Grexit” — or Greek exit from the eurozone — a tricky scenario that is now looking like a real possibility.

English bookmakers Ladbrokes stopped taking bets after gamblers lined up to put money on it last week. Other betting companies are giving odds on Greece leaving the euro as low as 1/10, while the odds on Spain leaving are about 6/1.

What effect is uncertainty having on tourism within the eurozone?

Many in the travel industry admit bookings to Greece are lower than in previous years, with other countries benefiting.

Hotel reservations on popular holiday destinations such as Corfu and Crete are down by up to 50% compared to the same period before last month’s indecisive election, according to the Hellenic Hotel Federation.

Sean Tipton of the Association of British Travel Agents blames some inaccurate coverage of concerns about Greece’s financial problems as a factor. “This is having a positive effect on Spanish travel, for example, with bookings higher than normal,” he told CNN.

“Travelers are advised to take spending money in cash, as in the event of Greece leaving the euro there may be questions about whether you could still pay by credit or debit cards.”

Despite tourism contributing about $10,5 billion, or about 16% of Greece’s gross domestic product, officials brushed off concerns. “There was also a financial crisis in Greece last year as well and we had a record year with a 10% increase in the number of visitors,” said Konstantinos Zikos, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

“Because of the crisis, early booking are down around Europe at the moment. However, Greece is a beautiful and safe country so we are optimistic that tourism won’t be strongly affected.”

In the longer term, if Greece does leave the euro, it could mean it becomes a much cheaper country to visit, as Britain’s biggest travel company Thomas Cook pointed out. “We believe there are positives and negatives for the travel industry in the event that Greece were to leave the euro,” the firm said.

Were Greece to leave the euro, electronic banking could freeze for up to a week and prevent debit and credit card transactions
Simon Calder

Should tourists be worried about buying euros for foreign travel?

On the face of it, tourists haven’t had it so good for a long time: The euro is at a three-year low against the British pound and is as weak against the U.S. dollar as it has been since 2010. This should mean the cost of hotels and restaurants is lower than it has been for a few years.

Travel experts say that whatever happens with Greece and the euro this summer, tourists visiting economically troubled European countries, such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal — all major tourist destinations — are unlikely to lose out.

If Greek does leave the euro this could lead to contagion, and other countries joining them, but few analysts believe the whole euro project is likely to collapse in the next year or so. In other words, it’s safe to buy euros, but keep an eye on the exchange rate, which is continuing to strengthen in favor of world currencies.

How can travelers ensure they don’t lose out?

Travel writer Simon Calder said he planned to visit Greece this summer, and was taking two precautions.

“The first was to add an extra €100 to my estimated spending,” Calder wrote on his blog. “Normally I rely on plastic for emergencies, but were Greece to leave the euro, electronic banking could freeze for up to a week and prevent debit and credit card transactions.

“Next, I insisted on €5, €10 and €20 notes. If Greece leaves the euro, the most likely interim currency is the existing euro overprinted with a Greek delta symbol (for “drachma”), or possibly with a corner clipped.

“The value of the Greek euro would fall by perhaps 40 per cent. While traders sort themselves out, and before a market in the Greek currency begins, tourists are likely to pay in euros but be given change in new money. Pay for a €15 round of drinks with a €50 note, and you could get back change in Greek currency worth only €20. That is why low-denomination notes are so useful.”

Do street protests against austerity cuts mean Greece or another country is unsafe?

No. There have been occasional protests in big cities, such as Athens and Thessaloniki, but most say Greece remains safe. Posts on online forums were scathing about what they said was the media blowing the unrest out of proportion, although there are some warnings that strikes could disrupt travel into and around the country.

ABTA’s Sean Tipton said “There’s an element of concern about personal safety with sporadic unrest in Athens, but most places where tourists visit are safe.

“In reality this is one of the best times to visit Greece, as prices should come down, thanks to supply and demand.”

UK travel firm Thomas Cook said it was “closely monitoring the evolving situation in Athens. Most of our holidaymakers are on the country’s islands where you’d never know anything was going on.”

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Some holidaymakers appear to be having second thoughts about visiting Greece
• Others concerned about safety if violent street protests resume against austerity cuts
• Idea that has investors worried is the so-called “Grexit” — or Greek exit from the eurozone
• Travel experts say tourists visiting economically troubled countries unlikely to lose out

(CNN) — In the last decade of the 20th century, the Turkish lira fell in value 1,000 times against the U.S. dollar, meaning that tourists returning to that country after several years found that any old money they still possessed since their last visit had become almost worthless.

Now as fears grow about whether Greece will stay in the euro, and the possible domino effect this could cause, many prospective holidaymakers appear to be having second thoughts about visiting that country and other economically troubled members of the 17-nation eurozone, such as Spain or Portugal.

And while tourists may be bulking up their cash reserves in the case of a euro exit, others may be concerned about safety if violent street protests resume against austerity cuts.

What is the financial situation now?

Political deadlock is leading to fears that Greece will not have a government in place when it needs to make critical debt payments, which could in turn jeopardize its place in the eurozone.

On Monday, Greeks withdrew up to €800 million from Greek banks, and the threat of a banking panic heightened concern of a default. Fears of contagion spilled over into bond markets in Spain and Italy.

The idea that has investors around the globe worried is the so-called “Grexit” — or Greek exit from the eurozone — a tricky scenario that is now looking like a real possibility.

English bookmakers Ladbrokes stopped taking bets after gamblers lined up to put money on it last week. Other betting companies are giving odds on Greece leaving the euro as low as 1/10, while the odds on Spain leaving are about 6/1.

What effect is uncertainty having on tourism within the eurozone?

Many in the travel industry admit bookings to Greece are lower than in previous years, with other countries benefiting.

Hotel reservations on popular holiday destinations such as Corfu and Crete are down by up to 50% compared to the same period before last month’s indecisive election, according to the Hellenic Hotel Federation.

Sean Tipton of the Association of British Travel Agents blames some inaccurate coverage of concerns about Greece’s financial problems as a factor. “This is having a positive effect on Spanish travel, for example, with bookings higher than normal,” he told CNN.

“Travelers are advised to take spending money in cash, as in the event of Greece leaving the euro there may be questions about whether you could still pay by credit or debit cards.”

Despite tourism contributing about $10,5 billion, or about 16% of Greece’s gross domestic product, officials brushed off concerns. “There was also a financial crisis in Greece last year as well and we had a record year with a 10% increase in the number of visitors,” said Konstantinos Zikos, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

“Because of the crisis, early booking are down around Europe at the moment. However, Greece is a beautiful and safe country so we are optimistic that tourism won’t be strongly affected.”

In the longer term, if Greece does leave the euro, it could mean it becomes a much cheaper country to visit, as Britain’s biggest travel company Thomas Cook pointed out. “We believe there are positives and negatives for the travel industry in the event that Greece were to leave the euro,” the firm said.

Were Greece to leave the euro, electronic banking could freeze for up to a week and prevent debit and credit card transactions
Simon Calder

Should tourists be worried about buying euros for foreign travel?

On the face of it, tourists haven’t had it so good for a long time: The euro is at a three-year low against the British pound and is as weak against the U.S. dollar as it has been since 2010. This should mean the cost of hotels and restaurants is lower than it has been for a few years.

Travel experts say that whatever happens with Greece and the euro this summer, tourists visiting economically troubled European countries, such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal — all major tourist destinations — are unlikely to lose out.

If Greek does leave the euro this could lead to contagion, and other countries joining them, but few analysts believe the whole euro project is likely to collapse in the next year or so. In other words, it’s safe to buy euros, but keep an eye on the exchange rate, which is continuing to strengthen in favor of world currencies.

How can travelers ensure they don’t lose out?

Travel writer Simon Calder said he planned to visit Greece this summer, and was taking two precautions.

“The first was to add an extra €100 to my estimated spending,” Calder wrote on his blog. “Normally I rely on plastic for emergencies, but were Greece to leave the euro, electronic banking could freeze for up to a week and prevent debit and credit card transactions.

“Next, I insisted on €5, €10 and €20 notes. If Greece leaves the euro, the most likely interim currency is the existing euro overprinted with a Greek delta symbol (for “drachma”), or possibly with a corner clipped.

“The value of the Greek euro would fall by perhaps 40 per cent. While traders sort themselves out, and before a market in the Greek currency begins, tourists are likely to pay in euros but be given change in new money. Pay for a €15 round of drinks with a €50 note, and you could get back change in Greek currency worth only €20. That is why low-denomination notes are so useful.”

Do street protests against austerity cuts mean Greece or another country is unsafe?

No. There have been occasional protests in big cities, such as Athens and Thessaloniki, but most say Greece remains safe. Posts on online forums were scathing about what they said was the media blowing the unrest out of proportion, although there are some warnings that strikes could disrupt travel into and around the country.

ABTA’s Sean Tipton said “There’s an element of concern about personal safety with sporadic unrest in Athens, but most places where tourists visit are safe.

“In reality this is one of the best times to visit Greece, as prices should come down, thanks to supply and demand.”

UK travel firm Thomas Cook said it was “closely monitoring the evolving situation in Athens. Most of our holidaymakers are on the country’s islands where you’d never know anything was going on.”