Visiting Greek Islands: Heed These Scam Warnings

A traveller has warned British tourists planning to visit the Greek islands this summer, highlighting three common scams to watch out for. Erin Fang, sharing her experiences on TikTok (@thelittlebasketco), advises travellers to be vigilant regarding ferries, taxis, and souvenir shopping.

Fang claims she was overcharged for a ferry ticket and was charged for a longer journey than she had taken. She recommends purchasing ferry tickets online to avoid potential issues at ticket booths.

Regarding transportation on the islands, Fang suggests avoiding local taxis, which she says are known for overcharging and claiming broken meters. She recommends using public transport, which she found more affordable and hassle-free. Followers corroborated this, suggesting using the FREE NOW app (similar to Uber) as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional taxis. A local even supported this by saying, "As a Greek, only use the FREE NOW (formerly Beat app) for taxis and use them for short distances."

Finally, Fang warns against buying souvenirs on the more popular or touristy islands, as prices for similar items vary significantly. She advises shopping for souvenirs on less expensive islands to save money. Followers chimed in with suggestions for more affordable islands, including Samos, Ikaria, Fourni, Chios, Lesbos, Psara, and Spetses. Some also pointed out that Paros and Antiparos are particularly expensive.

While some commenters suggested Fang's ferry experience might have been a simple mistake rather than a deliberate scam, her warnings about taxis and souvenir pricing were generally supported.