FAQs

Marathon FAQ

What races will take place at the Marathon?
The 29th Athens Classic Marathon in 2011 will hold three separate simultaneous races: (1) the Marathon for runners and power walkers, (2) a 10 km race along the last 5km of the Marathon course, (3) a 5 km race around historic city center of Athens. There is no half-marathon race.

Who organizes the Marathon?
The Athens Classic Marathon is organized and operated by Hellenic Amateur Athletics Association (S.E.G.A.S) in collaboration with Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The day before the Race AIMS will be holding their 18th AIMS World Congress in Marathon.

What is the start time of the Race?
The Marathon starts Sunday, November 13 at 9:00 am. Power walkers start at 7:00 am. Both start at Marathon, the town. The 5 km and 10 km runs start at 9:30 am in Athens. Our private bus will transfer riders to Marathon.

Can my I register as a group or with my family?
There are three categories of registration. (1) Individuals. (2) Families, minimum three members. (3) Groups, minimum of ten members. You can choose which of the three races to run in.

What is the Marathon course?
The course starts in the town of Marathon and finishes in the 1896 Olympic Stadium in Athens, also known as Panathinaikon Stadium. The route is the same one run in the first Olympics in 1896, as well as the 2004 Athens Olympics. The 5 km and 10 km races start and end at the 1896 Olympic Stadium. The 10 km race heads in the opposite direction towards the Acropolis into the old areas of Athens where runners pass beautiful and noteworthy buildings and monuments.

What is the Marathon route like?
Click Marathon Course Profile and Marathon water and medical map (both open in new windows).

The first 5km of the race starts downhill. The course rounds the Marathon Tomb in memory of the soldiers who fought in 490 BC on that very spot. From 5-10 km also flat with a little uphill approaching the 10km point. Another 2 km uphill and at 15 km a sharp downhill. 20-25 km is a continuous uphill, perhaps the hardest part of the Race. 25-30 km climbs are interrupted by short flat stretches. 30-32 km the final climb 32-35 km all downhill. Final 7 km, the easiest part, all downhill or flat.

What is included in the Marathon's official registration fee?

• bib number,
• timing chip,
• commemorative medal,
• water, soft drinks and medical services during and after the race,
• Participation Certificate with the final and split times of the runner,
• sport bag with commemorative presents (sipper, pen, mouse pad),
• Race T-shirt
• free use of the public transport, including to and from Athens Airport 3 days before and 2 days after the Race.

What is the medical support at the Race?
At Marathon, a medical station will have a doctor, physiotherapist and nurse. Runners can get a cardiogram there. On the Race route, four ambulances are available, one in the middle of the course, one at the sweep and two roaming on stand-by. Two motorcycles will move throughout the course as well. At the finish line at the 1896 Olympic Stadium, a fully equipped medical unit is on hand with a team of several doctors (traumatologists, cardiologists, anaesthesiologists), physiotherapists and nurses and, capable of providing cardiovascular recovery, trauma recovery. We urge all our clients to obtain medical insurance and/or travel insurance with medical coverage.

Are there other official events during the Marathon?
The day before the Race, November 12, a symposium is held by AIMS -- Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. There will also be the Marathon Expo at the Zappeion Exhibition Center, the same building where runners registration takes place. The Expo is open for two days prior to the race, entrance free for all, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. There will also be a booth at the airport assisting Marathon travelers.

Is the Marathon earth-friendly?
Organizers are making their best efforts to maintain earth-friendly policies for the Athens Classic Marathon. All plastic bottles throughout the route are recycled. All plastic bags used are biodegradable. A specific program supporting climate change has been established with the help of runners' donations.

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Bookings

How do I book a tour?
For the Athens Classic Marathon click the Book Now button located above the home page banner, right side. For all other tours, you must first contact us so that we can set up an account for your party's tour.

How do I pay for a tour?
Payment may be made by credit card through our secure online Alpha Bank booking system with American Express, Mastercard or Visa. (Note Alpha Bank's system is not compatible with Safari or Firefox browsers.) You may book online yourself or convey us your credit card information and we will make the booking for you. Your confirmation receipt will be from Aegea Booking which will be the name appearing on your credit card statement.

For bookings involving large sums, call your credit card company and instruct them to deactivate the fraud alert on your account, at least temporarily, so that the foreign transaction may be processed. Your credit card company will charge you a foreign transaction fee.

If your payment is by check in U.S. dollars your reservation is not accepted until your check clears. Your check will be deposited in our U.S. bank account. Send checks to our U.S. office payable to the parent corporation, “Aegean Adventures, Inc”

Aegean Adventures
244 Fifth Avenue
Suite C214
New York, NY 10001-7604

To avoid credit card fees, if you wish to wire money directly to our U.S. bank account or our Alpha Bank Greece account, contact us at info@marathongreece.com

How much is the deposit and when is the balance due?
For all bookings made 90 days prior to trip departure, a deposit of 400 euros per person is required. If by check, pay the equivalent amount in dollars based on the day of payment's exchange rate. See www.xe.com for daily exchange rates. A 30% deposit will be required for groups of ten or more. Tours may be booked up to a year in advance. The balance of the tour’s total price is due 90 days prior to departure date of the tour. Bookings within 90 days prior to departure require full payment.

Can I make a last minute booking?
For running events, if the registration has not closed, yes you can make a last minute booking.  Likewise for private party tours.  If booking is within 60 days prior to departure there is a discretionary 100 euros handling fee.  There may be increases in service prices (such as hotels). Note that last minute bookings might not enable us to book you in the hotels we patronize.

What are your cancellation policies?
If you must cancel your trip, FAX 646-478-9102 or email info@marathongreece.com a letter of cancellation to our office immediately. Upon our receipt of your notice, we will fax or email you an acknowledgement within 72 hours of your cancellation notice. The date of your cancellation notice is the date your notice is received by our office.

No refunds for registration fees paid to organized running events:
 
For post-race tour -- cancellations of activities (e.g.  a hike, a guided archaeology tour, cooking class) encompassed within the final itinerary price are non-refundable.  Cancellation of services (e.g. private driver, private guide) 90 days or more prior to tour start date entitles the Client to receive 80% refund of the amount paid per cancellation; if cancelled 60-90 days prior to tour start date, a refund of 50% of amount paid per cancellation; and if cancelled less than 60 days before start date, no refund shall apply.

Refund policies are as follows:

90 days or more before trip departure: 80% return of deposit.
Between 90 and 60 days before trip departure: 50% of total payment.
Less than 60 days before trip departure: no refund.
Voluntary leave the tour at any time after the first day: no refund.

Involuntary leaving the tour upon our demand for inappropriate behavior: it is in our discretion to refund or not, and in what amount.

No refunds for any accommodations, bike usage, transfers, transport, meals, entry fees or services paid for as part of the tour but not patronized.

Can I amend my itinerary after I've booked?
Probably, but it depends on what the changes are and when requested. Changes sought 60 days or more before departure may be subject to a 100 euro handling charge. Changes made less than 60 days before departure date may be subject to a 200 euro handling charge. Booking changes sought during the tour will incur a 300 euro handling charge. Change in services such as hotels or hotel upgrades, ferries, flights, etc. are subject to availability. Changes may incur penalty fees from those companies.

Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
You cannot transfer an events registration to another person.  However, you may transfer a post-race tour booking to another individual subject to the time frame and conditions for amended bookings and a discretionary 100 euros handling fee applies.

Can the tour change after I make a booking?
Perhaps. There are many external factors that affect daily life, let alone a vacation scheduled months in advance. In Greece, weather conditions affect travel by sea and changes might occur at the last moment. Race routes might be altered if road conditions were changed. Routes and conditions are monitored constantly by us and we will notify you in advance of any changes that occur within our knowledge.

When I book a trip, do I sign anything?
When booking a tour you must sign a Booking Agreement. When booking online, you “sign” the Booking Agreement by checking the “I agree” box. When booking by mail, you manually sign the Booking Agreement and return it to our office along with your check. A client who books a tour on behalf of other travelers fully binds the Agreement on behalf of all travelers in the client’s party. Once you have booked all members of your party will sign a Waiver & Release document.

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Travel Needs

Do I need insurance?
Travel insurance is highly recommended, however we do not require it except for family tours with children 12 and under. Be aware that during any kind of travel, domestic or foreign, unforeseen circumstances, such as the weather, can alter even the most meticulously planned vacation. Travel insurance can recompense you in the event of trip cancellations, trip interruptions, trip delays, baggage delay or loss, or unexpected medical emergencies. We are a registered agent of Travel Guard Insurance, and can book your insurance policy for your trip.

Will I need a visa for Greece?
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the USA can stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa. Citizens of EU member countries may live in Greece for an unlimited period of time. Greek embassies have a list of other nationalities allowed in without a visa. Those not on the list, such as South Africans, need a visa. For an updated list of these nationalities, contact your nearest Greek embassy. Your passport must be valid for at least three additional months from the date of departure from Greece. Click here for all Embassies/Consulates located in Greece. Click here for all Greece Embassies/Consulates located abroad.

Do I need vaccination shots?
No shots are required for entry to Greece. The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, USA maintains an up-to-date website for each region of the world. Click here to review the page regarding Greece.

Can you help me with my flight arrangements?
Yes, our colleagues can book your international flights and domestic travel in Greece.

Can you take care of my additional travel arrangements in Greece?
If you plan to take a pre- or post-race tour, we can take care of all your travel arrangements, hotel accommodations and rental cars. We know Greece inside out and can make the best vacation recommendations for you based on your desires.

What clothes should I bring to Greece?
Greece has seasons and your luggage will depend on which month you come.  Every booked client will receive a Trip Packet prior to departure with useful information, including packing suggestions  The packets are customized for the client’s tour, so the packing information will relate to that client’s time of travel and itinerary.   For clients coming at the end of October, early November it can get chilly in the evening and you would need a jacket.

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Tour Needs

Can my non-running partner come?   
Absolutely.  There is plenty to do and see in Greece for non-running partners.  The tour package price covers non-runners with the exception of a reduction for the race registration fee.

If I am traveling alone, what are my rooming options?
Unless you choose a single supplement option, tour packages are based on double occupancy. This means sharing a room with someone of your gender to be paired by our office.  A single supplement means that no one shares the room with you. Single supplements prices change for each tour, usually 10-15% above the tour price.

What are your guides, drivers and tour leaders like?
Our personnel are Greeks and non-Greeks, but all speak Greek fluently or have a working knowledge of Greek. They are eager to share their passion and knowledge of Greece with foreign guests and will assuredly enhance your understanding of Greece which will cause you to enjoy and appreciate your vacation all the more. Guides and tour leaders can trouble shoot, assist with menu choices or interface with hotel staff for your needs. They are there to service you. Our drivers are bilingual Greeks or local residents who speak Greek with proper driving licenses and qualifications. A private driver on a private tour relieves you of the task of finding your way around in unfamiliar terrain. Drivers are available for roughly an eight-hour day. Eating options during the tours are almost always within walking distance so that you do not need a vehicle in the evening.

What type of activities can be included in a private post-race tour?
Depending on the itinerary and the region, Greece offers a variety of exciting natural and cultural phenomena, including swimming, ancient sites, sailing, Byzantine churches, castles, monasteries, artists' workshops, olive oil harvest, fresh springs, Turkish baths, hiking, sea sports, spelunking, wildlife refuges, gorges, wine making, wine tasting, or culinary classes.

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 Greece Info

What are Greece’s tipping customs?
For restaurants, the tip is generally included in the bill, but it is still customary to leave a 5-10% tip. In hotels or boat cabins, it is customary to tip up to 1 euro per baggage carried to your room. Tipping for taxis is not expected, but drivers appreciate being told, “Keep the change.”

Can I get by speaking English?
Yes. In contrast to bella Italia where Italian rules, in Greece many many people speak English, especially those connected to the travel and tourism market. In small villages you will encounter less English spoken, but usually someone is around who knows enough English to assist you. In previous decades Greeks emigrated in droves to English-speaking countries—America, England, Australia and South Africa—and that is one reason English is so pervasive in Greece. By the way, if you are able to manage just a few Greek phrases, you will completely endear yourself to the locals. Your tour guide will be delighted to help you learn whatever Greek words you need. See our Greek Language section for starters.

What is Greece’s average temperature and rainfall?

What is Greece’s population?
According to Eurostat, in January, 2002 Greece’s estimated population was 10,998,000, while in January, 2003, the estimate rose to 11,018,000 with 9.0 births per thousand people and 9.4 deaths per thousand people recorded. This means that Greece has recorded a natural – biological decrease in its birth rate of -0.4%. The increase in Greece's population is due to the massive influx of immigrants. With 1,400 islands, Greece’s porous borders makes it one of the EU's primary immigrant reception countries, with a percentage of +3.2‰.

What currency is used in Greece?
The euro, the same currency used throughout Western Europe. With the exception of the 400 years of Ottoman occupation, the Greek drachma circulated in the world’s money market since ancient days, making it the oldest currency in the world. That is, until January 1, 2002. On this date Greece joined the rest of the Europe Union members in converting to the euro. For daily exchange rates, click here.

What is Greece’s time zone and international telephone code?
All Greece territory lies in the same time zone. Greece is two hours ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time and three hours ahead of daylight savings time.

For times zones in other cities, click here.

Greece’s international country code is +30. If calling from the United States, first dial 011, then 30, then the number.

What system of weights & measures is used in Greece?
Greece uses the metric system. For conversions, click here.

What are the business hours?
• Post Office: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 2 pm
• Postal services available at selected stationery stores
• Banks: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 am to 2:00 pm, on Friday till 1:30 pm
• Government offices: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.
• Shops: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 9:00 am to 2:30 or 3:00 pm
• Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 9:00 am to 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
• Big stores and supermarkets: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, including Saturday.
• Sundays, everything closed

What public holidays should I be aware of?
• January 1 – New Year’s Day
• January 6 -- Epiphany
• February First Sunday in Lent
• March 25 Greek Independence Day
• March/April (changes yearly) -- Good Friday
• March/April (changes yearly) -- Orthodox Easter Sunday
• May 1 -- Labor Day, Spring Rites
• August 15 -- Feast of the Assumption
• October 28 –Oxi Day
• December 25 –Christmas
• December 26 – St. Stephen’s Day

What electric current is used for appliances?
The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220 volts, 50 (Hz) cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using stepdown transformers of 220/110 volts connected to each outlet, provided these transformers have two separate windings to eliminate any danger of electric shock.

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