Crete: Services and General Information
Hospitals and Healthcare
There many hospitals in Crete, the main ones being the Venizelion Hospital and the Penepistimiako Hospital in Heraklion, the General Hospital in Rethminon and also the Private Hospital in Rethminon, the General Hospital in Chania and the General Hospital in Aghios Nikolaos. E.U. citizens are officially entitled to free medical care in Greece on presentation of the E111 form, although 'free' treatment is not always forthcoming and you may have to request reimbursal upon returning home.
Usually, a small fee such as 1000 drachmas will entitle you to see a doctor in the hospital. For serious accidents, you will be admitted to hospital for emergency treatment and for which you may have to pay and reclaim back through the correct channels in your home country. It is advisable that in the unfortunate event this happens, you immediately contact your Embassy in Crete or Athens.
For minor complaints, Greek Pharmacists are highly trained and dispense many medicines which in other countries need a prescription.
There are no required inoculations for Crete, although it is wise to ensure you are up to date on tetanus. Most holiday makers take out travel insurance to cover themselves in case of serious illness or accidents. If you are coming to live permanently in Crete your local health authority will advise you of the procedures to follow, or you may wish to take out a private health insurance (also available in Crete).
People with Disabilities
Due to the terrain of Crete, those people using wheel-chairs or who are sight-impaired may experience difficulty in getting around. This is especially true in towns and large villages, where motor bikes and cars frequently vie for space on pavements with customers eating or drinking outside roadside cafeterias or tavernas. However, provided enough information is given as to the person's disability, every endeavour will be made to help and assist that person.
Visa's
All EU passport holders are free to travel, live and purchase property in Crete. Citizens with passports from outside of the EU will be issued with visas and information on this can be obtained from the Greek Embassy in your relevant country.
Banks and Post Offices
Banks are open from Monday to Friday usually from 08.00 until 14.00. A person wishing to open up a bank account in Crete needs only their passport. The amount with which to open an account varies from bank to bank, but is usually as low as 5000 drachmas and with a certain amount; a current account will begin to earn interest. Again this varies from bank to bank, for instance from 55,000 drachmas at the National Bank of Greece. For changing money, in tourist areas it is recommended that you use the money changing facilities of a local tour operator or car hire business, where the rate of exchange will be more advantageous and the service quicker. In larger cities and tourist resorts the Post Office remains open Monday to Friday until 19.00 during the tourist season. Stamps can be usually purchased in souvenir shops.
Business Hours
These vary from cities to towns and villages and also with the seasons. Most shops usually close for a siesta in the afternoon and open up again in the evening although souvenir and gifts shops are usually open all day. Business hours will be displayed on the shop door.
Churches
The main religion in Crete is Greek Orthodox and there are hundreds or churches and chapels throughout the country. In the larger cities and towns, Catholic Churches can be found which hold ceremonies in different languages.