Kiwis in Greece phone home for cash

Tourists, right, walk at the Omonoia square as in the background seen the giant poster showing the Parthenon on the Acropolis hill reading in English "Welcome to Greece" in Athens, Monday, J

Flight Centre says it has been contacted by Kiwis customers worried about access to cash while on holiday in Greece.

The travel agency is telling travellers to carry a mix of cash and a prepaid travel money card to Greece.

"We've had a number of customers concerned about the shutdown of the Greek banking system and what this will mean should they find themselves caught short of cash and with limited or no ATM access," said Scott McCullough, manager of Travel Money, a Flight Centre firm.

"We've also seen many customers increasing their Euro cash purchases, with higher than usual sale volumes yesterday."

With Greek banks and ATMs shut all week travellers needed enough cash to last five to seven days if your itineraries included Greece, which looks set to default on debts to the International Monetary Fund.

McCullough said there were unfounded concerns that the Greek issued version of the Euro would be devalued compared to Euros issued from other countries.

"I can reassure all kiwi travellers that the European Central Bank, which issues the Euros, still insist that all Euros are equal regardless of the country of issue, said McCullough.
"There's very little cause for concern, however if any customers are worried about this they can ask us to supply non-Greek Euro."

The country of issue for the euro is noted in the suffix attached to the one-letter, eleven-digit serial number located on the back at the top right and bottom left corners. The serial numbers prefixed with 'Y' are issued by Greece, he said.

Travel advisory under review

No New Zealanders have sought consular assistance amidst the financial crisis currently unfolding in Greece, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) spokesperson said there were 148 New Zealanders registered as being in the country that looks set to default on debts to the International Monetary Fund.

The official travel advisory was under review, Mfat said.On June 19 Mfat advised New Zealand travellers to "ensure they have multiple means of payment with them, including cash, debit cards, credit cards, and that they have enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected travel expenses".

Comprehensive travel insurance policies for all travellers was also recommended.

Flight Centre said it has been contacted by Kiwi customers worried about access to cash while on holiday in Greece, with Greek banks and ATMs shut.

The travel agency is telling travellers to carry a mix of cash and a prepaid travel money card to Greece.

"We've had a number of customers concerned about the shutdown of the Greek banking system and what this will mean should they find themselves caught short of cash and with limited or no ATM access," said Scott McCullough, manager of Travel Money, a Flight Centre firm.

Greece looks set to default on debts to the International Monetary Fund.