Taking Currency for holiday

[Christian]

new information:

http://news.gtp.gr/2015/07/21/effective-dates-vat-changes-tourism-greece/ 

Aegean islands
The special tax status of the Aegean islands will gradually phase out and the 30 percent discount on VAT rates (for all products and services) is expected to be completely abolished by January 2017.
According to the new law, the discount on all VAT rates comes to an end:

a) for the developed tourist islands with the highest per capita income, as of October 1, 2015,
b) for the less developed Aegean islands, as of June 1, 2016, and
c) for the remotest islands, as of December 31, 2016. 

[John R]

I might be wrong but I don't think that Crete was included in the reduced VAT concessions which are about to be phased out. If I am correct then this increase of island VAT will not impact on Crete.

[JBMouse]

Now I am getting confused - I have just looked at all the receipts we got from Plakias in October 2013, (sad isn't it), and all, including mini markets, tavernas and bars were charging 23% VAT. Where am I missing something about the VAT increases? Has Crete always been that high?

[daza]

Courtesy of Erno on the Sfakia forum

http://www.sfakia-crete-forum.com/read.php?3,2845

http://www.haniotika-nea.gr/anatimisis-logo-f-p-a-apo-simera-gia-sira-prionton-ke-ipiresion/

More details in the above websites but in short

Higher prices due to tax hike from today - 20 July, 2015

The standard VAT rate and the reduced rate are still 23% and 13%, respectively, while the super-reduced rate is 6%. The 30% reduction in the islands continues to apply and these rates stand at 16%, 9% and 4%. (Recall that the abolition of this scheme for tourist islands will take effect from 1 October 2015).

[Barny]

So, has my mythos gone up?!!

          Barny.

[JackieatUrbanAgenda]

Thanks Barny...good to know someone has their eye on the important things !

[Steve Jones]

New rate of VAT at 23% is now in force in restaurants and supermarkets.

[Χαΐνης]

The last day before the VAT increased I went to the Argo bakery and bought three small apple pies. I asked how much they cost and the man replied: "0.60 euro each with the old VAT rate, 0.70 with the new". This is just an indicative example of how high the prices have gone.

However, there is something that puzzles me. Usually, prices at restaurants in Greece are rounded to .00 or to .50. With the new VAT it is highly unlikely that this will be the case so I guess there will be "small adjustment" so that new prices are rounded too. The question is: will they go up or down (and how much)?

[Mike G]

Where the VAT has increased from 13% to 23% this should result in an 8.8% price increase (i.e. 123 divided by 113). The cynic in me expects that most will round this up rather than down as happened in the UK on decimalisation (for those old enough to remember) and also when the € was introduced.

[Noopsy]

For those of us travelling by coach, the fare from Heraklion to Rethymnon is Euros 8.30 (up from Euros 7.60), and from Rethymnon to Plakias it's Euros 4.90 (up from Euros 4.50).  No doubt the airport bus in Heraklion is now Euros 1.20 (up from Euros 1.10).

[jocelyne81]

Can somebody in Plakias (or anywhere in Crete) advise about the current situation regarding cash ?
Are ATMs operational now ?
Can tourists pay daily life (hotels, restaurant, etc.) with their credit cards ?

Thank you for any update

Jocelyne

[Ali & Dave]

Hi, should have replied earlier, but this is the situation in Plakias:
1.  The ATM's have been working all summer, yes there are times they run out of money so always make sure you have sufficient for a few days.
2.  The supermarkets take cards, some of the tavernas do, the big hotels do but not sure about the smaller rent rooms, unlikely.
3.  I have just found out that there is no where in Plakias exchanging Sterling so if you are bringing cash bring Euros or you will have to go to Spilli or Rethymno to change money.
4.  One of the main VAT increases is on processed food which has now gone up to 23%.  So basically all food apart from fresh fruit and veg, milk and bread and spaghetti are not included.  I'm sure that with the increase in the tavernas (which happened a few years ago and was then reduced)  will be absorbed by the businesses for this year.

[Noopsy]

If you are unfortunate enough to need to visit the doctor you should note that he only accepts cash, no credit cards.