Safety Secrets and the Art of Haggling

One safety tip that I have discovered abroad is about transportation via taxi. The concierge at our hotel in Athens let us know that we should use yellow taxis only, as opposed to maroon ones, to get from place to place. We usually walk around the city by foot, but in the event that it is dark out or we’re not sure how to get back to the hotel, we take cabs. I am glad that the hotel worker was kind enough to share this information with us because the maroon taxis are not hired by the state and can increase fees or even be dangerous to get into.
Another safety tip that I have discovered is the application “Viber”. Our professor suggested that we download this app before coming to Greece and I’m glad that I did. The app allows you to send free text messages and make free phone calls. An example of when this was incredibly helpful was in Santorini. We had rented ATVs for the day to explore the island and one of the vehicles broke down and would not start. We had our travel guide’s phone number and she was able to get in touch with the ATV company who then picked two people up and took them back to town. This is definitely an application that I will have on my phone the next time I go abroad for safety and convenience.
A local traveler secret that I have learned is bargaining! I have experienced haggling before with street vendors and the like, but never in restaurants or stores until coming to Greece! For example, workers will stand outside restaurants where there are a lot of options to choose from and try to persuade you to eat at their’s. They often mention things like panoramic views, cheap prices, fresh fish, rooftop access, etc. However, we have learned that asking for things such as a free appetizer or dessert is totally acceptable! Never in the United States or any other country that I’ve been to for that matter have I done this. It is completely acceptable here in Athens. Another example I have of this bargaining secret that I have picked up is when I went into a jewelry store. I was shopping for a gift for a family member and even though I was in a very nice and fancy shop, I was able to cut the price of the item I wanted down by about 40%. I was so excited and did not even feel bad because it is the norm here! The only other times I have tried to compromise over prices have been from street vendors or with shop owners that can easily switch up the prices. This is an important aspect of Greece that I had not expected when coming into the country, especially with the state that the economy is in. When I get back to the States, I have to be sure to remember that bargaining is not a part of daily life and that asking for free dessert would be considered socially unacceptable!