Page contents
Do You Need Travel Insurance for Greece?
Greece travel insurance covers you if you wish to travel to Greece with peace of mind at any age, even if you have pre-existing medical conditions. This type of insurance covers you for medical emergencies, even those related to COVID-19, while abroad, which is vital to prevent unexpected medical bills and unnecessary complications that could arise when you’re away.
There are countless reasons for wanting to travel to Greece. Greece is not only rich in culture and history, but it’s also home to an array of sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. It’s Mediterranean climate and iconic islands secure its position as one of Europe’s top travel destinations.
As we all get used to a new post-COVID-19 travel norm, ensuring that you have comprehensive travel insurance in place is the easiest way to protect you and your holiday. In our recent survey, 40% of customers surveyed said comprehensive cover is more important than ever since Covid-19. At AllClear, we have a range of travel insurance products that include COVID cover.
As part of the new norm, air corridors are currently in operation. Air corridors are a list of countries and territories from where you can return home and may not have to self-isolate. Before travelling, please check the list of exempt countries for your home nation.
Emergency Medical and Repatriation Expenses for Coronavirus while on Holiday
We’re now able to offer:
- Up to £15 million emergency medical expenses cover for Covid-19
- Up to 30 days FREE extended cover (if, due to unexpected circumstances beyond your control)
- Up to £2,000, if medically necessary, for a friend or relative to travel from your home area to stay with you (costs for room and to accompany you home)
- Where medically necessary – repatriation costs to bring you back to the UK where it is deemed to be in your best interests
- Following recovery from Coronavirus, costs for a continued recuperation stay, where medically necessary and under doctors advice
- Costs for your return flight following your enforced stay due to Coronavirus
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it currently safe to travel to Greece?
Given that national control measures are being brought in with little notice across Europe, with advice changing frequently, it is recommended for your safety that you check the FCO travel advice for Greece before you travel.
Do I need travel insurance for Greece?
With travel restrictions changing frequently, due to COVID-19, travel insurance in Greece is essential. Having comprehensive cover in place will enable you to travel with peace of mind, knowing that if anything happens, you are covered.
While EHIC (European Health Insurance Cards) are still valid for UK residents in Europe until December 2020, they usually only cover emergency medical treatment.
With its magnificent beaches and string of islands, Greece is a popular destination for water sports. Whether you want to try canoeing for the first time or are a jet-ski enthusiast, it is vital to ensure that your policy covers these activities.
AllClear travel insurance covers a variety of water sports as standard, at no extra cost to you. These include canoeing, fishing, inner tubing, jet skiing, kite surfing, kayaking, parasailing, sailing, water skiing and windsurfing. Read our policy wordings for details and to check what’s covered – more risky activities may require an additional premium or won’t be covered at all.
What is the best travel insurance for Greece?
A good travel insurance policy for Greece will include:
- High levels of cover for medical bills in case you need treatment while travelling and for repatriation should you need to be returned to the UK as a result of a medical problem.
- Cancellation and curtailment cover in case an emergency prevents you from going on holiday or means you have to cut it short
- Cover for your baggage and possessions if they are lost, damaged or stolen while you are travelling.
What isn’t covered?
Some policies won’t cover high-risk activities unless you pay an additional premium. Be sure to declare all pre-existing medical conditions so that you can be covered in case they cause problems when you’re on holiday. Check the policy documents to see what is and isn’t covered
What does EHIC cover in Greece?
EHIC cards cover different things in different countries, and you will need to visit the EHIC website to see what is covered in the country you are travelling in.
With Greece, you’re granted emergency healthcare. Without an EHIC card, you will be expected to pay for your healthcare in full. Due to this being just emergency cover, we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance, so that you have complete cover for any medical issues you face when abroad. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, you will also not be covered.
The current agreement between the EU and the UK only lasts until December 2020. If you are planning on travelling to Greece from January 2021 onwards, you should look at our Brexit Travel Insurance for more information on what cover you should get.
How much is travel insurance for Greece?
The price of travel insurance depends on the levels of cover you choose and the medical conditions you declare.
Where can I get travel insurance for Greece?
You can call us for free on 0800 077 777 or start a quote online.
- Cancellation and Curtailment covered up to £25,000, including for Covid-19
- Up to £15 million emergency medical expenses cover, including for Covid-19
- Up to 30 days FREE extended cover (if due to unexpected circumstances beyond your control)
- Up to £2,000, if medically necessary, for a friend or relative to travel from your home area to stay with you if you fall ill with Covid-19 (costs for room and to accompany you home)
- Repatriation costs, when medically necessary, to bring you back to the UK where it is deemed to be in your best interests
- Following recovery from Coronavirus, costs for a continued recuperation stay, when medically necessary and under doctors advice
- Costs for your return flight following your enforced stay due to Coronavirus
- Personal Belongings covered up to £3,000
- All conditions. All ages.
Are you covered for travel in the pandemic?
There are three things to check so that you can make sure you're covered:
- You must be fit to travel
- The FCO must NOT have advised against travel to your destination
- You must follow the local government advice for your destination, checking and following their guidelines and entry requirements
You can then be covered for emergency medical expenses or cancellation relating to COVID-19, when you have travel insurance with enhanced Coronavirus cover. If you’re an existing policyholder, you can read our Frequently Asked Questions if your trip is affected by Covid-19.
Tips When Travelling to Greece
Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice
It is useful to check the FCO travel advice for Greece before you travel.
Emergency number
The European emergency number 112. However, this is not the only emergency number in Greece.
The national emergency numbers are:
100 – police
199 – fire brigade
166 – emergency medical service
Healthcare
Greek healthcare standards are generally of a high standard and provided on the same terms as Greek nationals if you have an EHIC.
There can, however, be a slight variation between the mainland and the smaller islands. If for some reason, you need to be transferred to a mainland hospital from a greek island, this could leave you with a huge cost in unexpected medical bills if you do not have travel insurance and an EHIC card.
That said, it’s important to remember the treatment may not be free at the point of service. Should the UK leave the EU without a Brexit deal, it is likely that Britons will not be able to use the EHIC, making travel insurance an even more important purchase.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition is it always a good idea to carry a copy of your prescription for any medication you take and a doctor’s note to explain why you are taking any medicines. This will make an unexpected doctor or hospital trips a little easier.
Visas
If you’re a British citizen with a valid passport, you won’t need a visa to travel to Greece if your trip is for less than 3 months.
Money
The currency is the Euro. Prior to COVID-19, cash was the preferred method of payment. However, cards are widely accepted and likely to become the preferred method as it is deemed more hygienic. Tipping in Greece is customary, but is by no means obligatory.
Driving
If you plan to drive in Greece you’ll need to carry your full UK driving licence, passport, V5C (registration document) and your insurance documents.
For more information on road travel, see the European Commission, AA and RAC guides on driving in Greece.
If the UK leaves the EU without a Brexit deal, you may also be required to carry an International Driving Permit, available from most Post Offices, and a motor insurance green card which you’ll need to get from your insurer.
Language
The official language is Greek, spoken by 99% of the population. English is widely spoken as a second language in many of the big cities. However, if you’re travelling to a rural area or one of the islands, It’s always a good idea to learn some phrases and use when possible.
Why More Than 3 Million People Have chosen AllClear
We’re experts in medical travel insurance since the year 2000 and 97% of customers rate us as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Great’.
Read AllClear Trustpilot Reviews
Get Online Quotes in 3 Simple Steps
1. Call us or click a quote button on our site
Once you are ready to start the quote process, the first step is to provide your personal details and information about your holiday plans.2. Complete our simple medical screening process
You then declare the medical conditions for you (and any other travellers) and answer the specifically designed medical questions.3. Get your quotes
You will then get your quotes and can either proceed to buy, or save your quote, at this stage.
