Greek Odyssey - Part 1 - Preparation

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I am one week away.  One week before I take my first trip to Europe in almost two years. I will be flying to Greece on October 5th and joining the Azamara Journey on October 7th for her test or shakedown cruise before she officially re-enters service on October 13th. (I’ll be on that one too as a revenue guest).  Traveling is different now, everyone says.  There are so many things to do and hoops to jump through, right?  I just don’t feel comfortable traveling overseas right now, say the doubters. 

So, as I am knee deep in preparations for my trip, I figured this was as good a time and place as any to share my checklist with you: 

Confirm airline flights and check documents.

Arrange ride to airport

Check passport

Purchase travel protection insurance

Book pre-cruise hotel and airport transfers

Book any shore excursions or tours I may be interested in

Buy necessary toiletries and other items needed for travel.

Get euros and US cash

Stop mail delivery

Pay any bills due during trip

Make arrangements for the dog

Make a packing list 

Pack (more on this later)

Does this list look familiar?  Aren’t these the things any of us do before any trip we take?

Oh, but what about Covid, you may ask?  What are the things you have to do differently to fly to Greece during a pandemic?  Okay, here’s my additional list for that:

Fill out a PLF (Passenger Locator Form) required by the Greek government and add the emailed QR code to my documents.

Pack my vaccination card.

That’s it.  Two things: one a form that takes a few minutes to fill out, the other, something I need to make sure I pack.

I’m also going to get a pcr test, not because it is required, but because I think it is smart to have one just in case.

So, if you count that, three things. Three. There are not a lot of hoops to jump through, not a lot of red tape, at least for Greece. Yes, I know every country in Europe is different and every country may have its own set of regulations to allow American citizens to enter right now. But that’s why you have a travel agent, right?  I have yet to see a country where the regulations seem overly burdensome.  Europeans want us to visit; by all accounts they have missed us terribly and are ready to welcome us with open arms. So don’t let the dire press stories about traveling overseas scare you off.  For my trip, I needed to do 2 extra things and one more by choice.  No big deal; trying to figure out the packing list took way more time than the Greek requirement.  Life is short…just go!

And be sure to follow me here on this website or at the links below to enjoy my journey on the Azamara Journey with me.

https://www.facebook.com/JourneysofDreams

https://www.instagram.com/hollykrichardson/

Next up:  Packing!