Travel Arrangements
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Greece is a Member-State of the European Union and has signed the Schengen Agreement. While traveling within the E.U., you only need your Identity card. However, a passport is necessary for a number of other transactions, such as currency exchange, purchases, etc.
Visas are not required by European citizens from countries that are part of the Schengen Area. Greece as a member of the Schengen Agreement, has abolished controls on common internal lands, at air and sea borders and allows Member-State citizens to travel around without a visa for a short stay period of up to three (3) months. However, keep in mind that airlines and other carriers require a valid passport and/or identity card.
Citizens coming from countries that have not yet joined Schengen Area may require a visa to enter Greece. The E.U. visitors from these countries can acquire further information from the Hellenic Embassies or Consulates in their countries, or from their travel agencies. Before visiting Greece, please consult the detailed information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website and find out whether you require a Visa.
Accommodation in Greece
Patients who come to Athens for limb reconstruction and lengthening procedures need to stay in one of the following locations for at least the first 4 weeks after their discharge from the hospital, in order to have easy access to our outpatient support service.
After the 4-week period, provided that your nursing support needs and your independence has improved, if you wish you can move to another location in Athens for the remainder of your stay or continue staying in the hotel.
We have included budget options and more luxurious options in order to cover most preferences, lifestyles and budgets.
OPTION1: Rehabilitation apartments
Suitable option for people with limited budget or people who prefer to not be staying alone during their recovery in Athens. These are two-bedroom, catered apartments, managed directly by us. They can accommodate up to two flatmates, in separate bed-rooms, with a shared or (in some apartments) dedicated bathroom/WC. There is also a communal kitchen and living-room area where the flatmates can prepare their meals and hang out as they wish. At the rehabilitation apartments we offer:
- Daily cleaning service of the bathroom/kitchen and weekly cleaning of the bedrooms.
- Regular bed-linen and towels change.
- Air condition/ heating
- Fast internet
- TV
- Step-free access to public street
- Handicapped access provisions in the bathrooms.
- Indoors bicycle
- Personal safebox
- Laundry
- Eassy Boarding area at the car park for easy boarding in and out of our shuttle vehicle.
- Competitive pricing compared to Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms.
- Convenient location to our Physio centre (for reduced transportation costs)
- Cost: 45 euro per room per night (shared bathroom) and 50 euro per room per night (rooms with dedicated bathroom)
OPTION 2: Hotels
Some people prefer the atmosphere of a hotel. We have included a budget option (Novotel), a middle-range price option (Stanley) and a more boutique option (Grand Hyatt Athens Hotel). They all provide regular cleaning service, towels and bedsheets, en-suite, easy access to all spaces with a wheelchair or crutches, breakfast and a nice restaurant for your meals. Laundry services are also available nearby.
Chinese, Asian, Greek, Mediterranean, American and Continental European Cuisine menus are also available for delivery from nearby restaurants.
a. Novotel Athenes (4-star) Hotel,
Long stay special Rates 2024 (min 30 days stay) | November-December 2024 | January – March 2025 | April – October 2025 | |
Handicapped Room
on single occupancy |
80, 00€ | 89, 00€ | 113€ | |
Superior room with double bed and double sofa bed
for single use |
80, 00€ | 89, 00€ | 113€ |
b. The Stanley (4-star) Hotel. Please contact them at reservations@thestanley.grto discuss the types of rooms that are available and their current pricing
c. Grand Hyatt Athens (5-star) hotel: Please contact them at reservations.ghathens@hyatt.comto discuss the types of rooms that are available and their current pricing
You can contact the hotels directly for your bookings. Please copy us (info@giotikasclinic.com) in your communications with them so that we help with your requests if needed.
Chinese, Asian, Greek, Mediterranean, American and Continental European Cuisine menus are available for delivery.
OPTION 3: Random Airbnb Apartments (within 10 min walking distance from the above mentioned hotels)
- An alternative option is airbnb apartments within 10 min walking distance from the above mentioned hotels. Prices for a whole flat may vary greatly from 60euro to 300 euro per night, or more, depending on the season and amenities. If you consider this option, you should be looking for an apartment with:
- Air conditioning,
- Wi-fi,
- Easy access to the bathroom (Preferably shower tub rather than bath tub)
- Step free access, or at least, not many stairsteps between the public pavement and the entrance of the apartment (up to 3-6 stairsteps is manageable).
When you search and find some flats that you like, before you book them you can send us the links so that we advise you on their suitability.
Patients who are scheduled for knee surgery, implant removals and other day case treatments, can also stay at the hotels above, or they can consider one of the following hotels with confirmed wheelchair/crutches accessibility, nearer to Mediterraneo Hospital.
If you need personalized help with booking your accommodation in Athens, our affiliated travel agency will be happy to assist you.
Arrival to Athens
When you arrive in Athens airport, you can take one of the many taxi cars just outside the terminal to take you to your accommodation.
You can spend the first day in Athens to settle in your new accommodation, unpack your luggage, establish internet connections and maybe go out for a walk to orientate yourself to your new neghborhood (i.e try to locate the nearest supermarket, grocery shop, coffe shop, Metro underground train station or ATM machine).
A member of our team will contact you to welcome you and make sure that you have arrived and settled in well in Athens.
On the day of your pre-op checks, please use a taxi or other public transport to arrive at Mediterraneo hospital (see address on map) at the scheduled time. Please check -in at the reception (information desk) of the hospital and you will be directed further. Please bring with you:
- A proof of ID (i.e your passport or national ID card).
- Means of payment, if you have already arranged to pay part of your treatment package with cash or credit/debit cards.