I remember when I was a highschool student going to the American Community Schools of Athens, when summer vacation would come I would go to Mykonos with about one thousand drachma in my pocket which was about $30 then. sleep in caves or on the beach in those days when camping was free. would be fried potatoes, macaroni with tomato sauce, Greek salads and lots of bread dipped in olive oil. A meal would cost us fifteen drachma, about fifty cents and would include a bottle or carafe of wine, usually retsina. would go to Mykonos town every night for Souflaki dinner at Alexis or one of the inexpensive tavernas by the windmills, hang out outside the popular bars which even then were beyond our means, and all chip in for a taxi back to ParadiseMy 1000 drachma would last me about two weeks. Times have changed and now people as poor as us can't afford the plane, ferry, train or bus to Greece. The book that was once called Greece on $5 A Day

is probably up to about $50 or $100. But it is still a popular destination for backpackers and you can still get by cheaply. OK, not thirty dollars for two weeks and maybe not even thirty dollars as day but keep in mind that back in the old days we did not have credit cards and chances are that you do so no matter what, you won't starve and you won't be stuck begging on the streets of Athens for plane-fare home. The less time you spend in Athens the less money you will spend. are more expensive than most of the islands. There are a few C-category hotels that are reasonable, clean, friendly and located centrally and there are others that are none of those things. I recommend The Hotel Attalos which should cost about 35 euro per person as long as there are at least two of you (and cheaper in the off season when they run specials). This is where I stay when I am in Athens. The Hotel Cecil will cost about the same. The Adams Hotel is a little better located, being right smack

in the middle of the Plaka, though it is not as high quality as the Attalos which for the money is a pretty good hotel. The Athens International Youth Hostel is on Victor Hugo Street near Omonia, not the best location but if you want to save money the place is clean and friendly even if the neighborhood is not.best backpack for goruck challenge If you are not a youth but still a backpacker you may be better off in a C-category hotel like those mentioned above or foundecbc backpack /'s Athens Pages which has all sorts of inexpensive hotels.innovera laptop backpack For places to eat you can see the restaurant section of my Athens Survivalecho backpack blower pb 500t

Guide and if you are on a serious budget you can make a meal out of a souvlaki or two which can be found just about anywhere. Tiropitas and spanakopitas (cheese and spinach pies) are my favorite meal when I want to fill up for less than $2. Yogurt is cheap, fillingredmax backpack blower price and healthy and unlike when I was young and came in one flavor (yogurt-flavor)backpack eksi you can get almost any kind of fruit yogurt that you will find innuby backpack harnessOf course now it has gone beyond healthy and is just another sugar filled desert (with helpful bacteria). delicious fruit drinks you can find everywhere and they are deliciousI don't know how good they are for you but they sureTry the peach and the pear, my favorites.

is pretty good too. If you stay away from bars and do your drinking in cafes and inexpensive restaurants, your money will go a lot further too. The souvlaki shops down by Monastiraki are cheap and popular. restaurants like Epirus in the Athens Central Market are better and even cheaper. The further you get from the tourist areas the less you will pay for a beer or anything else. In cafes the fancier the chairs and decor the more you will pay, but the good thing is that you can hang out as long as you like because that is what everyone does. The Peristeri on Patroou between Apollonos and Metropolis streets has been a travelers hangout since I was a kid. It is still pretty good and reasonably priced. The snack-bar ouzerie Kapni Kareas in a little alleyway by the famous church is a great place to eat and hear some good music at the same time. It's open only during theIn Psiri The Naxos is inexpensive and authentic and the ouzerie

Rebecca is a great place to hang out, drink and munch on some snacks. If it is full try any of the similar places around it. Familiarize yourself with Athens by getting a street-map, preferably one with a metro-map on it too. Fantasy Travel sent me 1000 of them that you can get for the cost of postage and handling which is $2 from the USA and $3 from anywhere /102 Old Pittsboro Rd/Carrboro NC 27510. The Hotel Attalos provides one to all their customers for free. There are trains and buses that get you to and from the airport. Taxis are cheap in Athens and if you have a 6am flight you might think about getting one in advance so you don't miss it. You have to see the Acropolis, no matter how Don't stay in Pireaus thinking you will save somewhere near the metro you can get to Pireaus to catch the ferry for about a dollar and be there in less than 15 minutes. All the info you need about Athens can be If you are going to any of the Cyclades it

is probably not necessary to have a cabin, unless you are taking the late boat to Santorini. Deck class tickets are cheap, usually no more than 15 euro to any of the Cyclades. You can buy them in Pireaus on your way to the boat, unless you are traveling the last Thursday or Friday of July, before everyone in Athens takes theirSame goes for the Thursday and Friday before Easter. Coming back the Monday-Wednesday after Easter and after the 15th of August is also tricky and you will want to get your ticketsThere is another holiday called Agios Pnevmatos which is the saint day of the Holy Spirit and similar to Memorial DayIt's a moveable feast that tales place sometime in June and people leave the city in droves and come back the same way after the three-day weekend so be forewarned. If you want a cabin or are planning to take the highspeed it is a good idea to book in advance through the agency that is booking your hotels. You can also try