2. PLAN YOUR TRIP

Decide when to go

Greece is a sunny place… at least, that's the reputation it has garnered from tourists and expatriate British and American writers and artists living there. And for the most part, it's not a bum rap. However, the coldest months of the year (February and March) are prone to considerably cooler weather with wind, rain, and even snow. Likewise, between June and August (the peak tourist season), downtown Athens can be miserably hot, dry, dusty and smoggy, with typical afternoon temperatures at about 100°F.

So for best traveling conditions, especially if you plan on spending any time at all in Athens, mid-April until early June and then early September through mid-November are the best times to visit. Springtime will find the countryside abloom with many a Mediterranean flower, and September will find the water temperatures the most comfortable for the vacationing aquatic athlete. Then again, peak season also affords you the cheapest flights, plus numerous summer activities on the islands as well as public concerts held in the ancient Roman amphitheater at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis. So you're going to have to buckle down and prioritize. (This is the part of the article where all the Libran readers have nervous breakdowns.)

Fly there

Provided that you book your ticket a couple months in advance, you should be able to find a ticket for $500 - $800 to Greece; if you're especially lucky, you may be privy to e-saver fares that low as $350. But for the best tips on airline shopping, you must read our own article, "SoYouWanna buy cheap airline tickets?"

Olympic Airlines is usually the only carrier that provides direct flights from U.S. cities to Greece (all of which will probably go through New York City's JFK airport). However, you may find cheaper offers with more flexibility for additional travel in other European countries if you fly another airline. For example:

By the way, if you happen to be a student, it would be a good idea to compare any potential deals with a student travel agency, such as STA Travel (1-800-777-0112).

Prepare your money

In Greece, the unit of currency is the drachma. You want to be sure to exchange your dollars into drachmas AFTER you get to Greece, NOT in advance. Sure, you could stand to exchange $20 - $50 for airport expenditures or immediate taxi fare, but with the current exchange rate of 390 drachmas to the dollar (and climbing), you will find your American money worth more over time.

And while Greece may show residue of the old world in many ways, its major cities are equipped with enough modern amenities to allow you to withdraw money from ATM machines, provided that your card is a Cirrus or Plus card and you are using a checking account.