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Travel advice updated for Greece

Riots and protests have made it into the new Australian Smartraveller warnings

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7 Aug 2012

Protests, bombings and violence on the streets are just some of the issues the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are warning travellers off to Athens.
The economic uncertainty has definitely affected the safety rating of the city, making Smartraveller update its travel warnings for Greece.
Although much has not changed, the report singles out Omonia, Syndagma Square and Monastiraki as troublesome spots due to the high level of protests and riots.
It says "rioting can break out in Greek cities with little warning. Australians are advised to avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent".
Smartraveller warns air, sea and rail strikes are very common and advises travellers to make their plans flexible and get in contact with their insurers.
The news of government and commercial buildings being targeted by bombs have also made the site.
With the additions, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not changed the warning level, keeping it to "exercise normal safety precautions", the lowest of the levels.
Small levels of pick pocketing in Omonia and Exarchia in central Athens are common.
On the other side of the spectrum, countries blacklisted as "Do not travel" by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade include Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Sudan.

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We are told to trust SMART TRAVELLER but in this advice they have proven to be the unprofessional beneficiaries of scare mongering. Two friends were in Athens barely 2 months ago. My son was there a year ago and we were there two years ago. There were things going on in Syntagma then but at no time were we, our son or our friends ever in any danger. Indeed we all believe that we were in the safest place in all of Europe. In our case we even stayed at Monastiraki, went out at night but, again, never ever felt unsafe. The fools who have produced this travel warning are watching limited television and are basing their advice on the wrong information.
Submitted by atkenos on Wed, 2012-08-08 06:55.

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