British tourists to Greece warned to take cash in case of default

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office: “Take enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays”

British tourists planning to visit Greece are advised to have cash with them in case ATM machines are shut down due to an escalation of the economic crisis, warns the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, according to the British daily Telegraph. The recommendation was that travelers should take “enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays.”

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Travel agents are also recommending tourists have at least three-to-five days of cash with them along with credit and debit cards. The British newspaper warns that Greece is closer to bankruptcy when Eurozone finance ministers excluded a new rescue program such as those of 2010 and 2012.

Bob Atkinson of Travelsupermarket.com refered to the Cyprus bailout in 2013 when banks limited withdrawals and some shops and restaurants stopped taking card payments. “If you’re traveling to Greece in the next couple of weeks, keep an eye on the news, check the official travel advice and certainly take a mix of different payment options,” he said.

On its part, the Greek National Tourism Organisation does not anticipate any problems with the banking system in Greece with business as usual.