Getting There and Checking In
By Yacht Week
Posted on 18th May 2018
Before you arrive:
Fill out crew list
We want your holiday to get off to the perfect start, so please ensure your crew list is completed 3 weeks prior to arrival. Simply log-in to your booking and add your crew following the steps given. Cabin bookers please only add the name of the friend you'll be sharing a cabin with. If you don't do this, you might not get your yacht in time.
Check-in online
Once you have completed your crew list, you can save a lot of time on site if you all check-in online. Each member of the crew must do this before arrival, which will make getting your yacht on time that much easier.
Online check-in will open 4 months prior to departure.
Getting to Greece
Flights
Athens Airport (ATH) is the closest airport to all of our marinas. We recommend using a search engine to find the best flights:
- Expedia – www.expedia.com
- SkyScanner – www.skyscanner.com
By Train/ Bus
If you have lots of time to kill, it is possible to get to Greece by train or bus from the rest of Europe. If traveling by train, there are two options:
1. Via France to Italy, then from Italy by ferry to Greece and then by train to Athens.
2. Via France, Germany, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria to Greece.
Useful websites:
By Car
Greece can also be reached by car from Europe: one can either drive to Italy and then take the ferry, or via Bulgaria. All marinas have parking options.
Covid Entry Requirements
Currently there are no COVID restrictions regarding entry to Greece. For more info visit: https://travel.gov.gr/#/
Visas
We recommend using VisaHQ to find out if you require any visas to enter the country - www.visahq.com
Getting to Check-In
Athens airport to check-in location
Check-in will be onboard your yacht with The Yacht Week Event Staff. Please be in contact with your skipper to find out when your yacht is ready and at which marina the yacht is (Alimos Marina or Agios Kosmas marina). Yachts are ready at various times due to the charter changeover and your skipper will not know the exact time until it's ready. We recommend heading to Athens center to explore the city or checking out the various beach side cafes and restaurants close by the marinas until your yacht is ready to board.
Taxi
We strongly recommend pre-booking your taxi for arrival and departure. Taxi wait lines at the airport can be very long, the quality of the vehicles varies greatly, many drivers do not speak much English, and rates can fluctuate.
We recommend the following taxi provider. We have verified the quality of the vehicles and the drivers’ licenses. All drivers are fluent in English. A flat competitive rate is guaranteed.
Pre-book your taxi via email or whatsapp / viber : nikole4taxi@gmail.com / +30 690 777 7700
Pre-booking must be done at least 24 hours prior to your arrival/departure. The taxi driver will be waiting for you when you exit the airport. The drivers are available to take you directly to TYW check-in or to any destination within Athens.
We also recommend pre-booking your departure taxi to the airport with the same provider.
Bus
Take the X96 to reach Alimos Marina. The journey takes around 90 minutes and costs around €6 per person. From there, there will be transfers to take you to your marina once your yacht is ready.
Metro/ Tram
Take the Metro from the airport to Syntagma Square. From there change to the Tram Line to Alimos Marina (LOUTRA ALIMOU Stop). The Metro from the airport runs every 30 minutes. The journey takes around 60 minutes and costs around €10 per person. For more information visit www.amel.gr.
Time to arrive/depart
Please be in contact with your skipper on Saturday to learn when your yacht is ready. There is not much to do in the marina, so we do not recommend coming until your skipper lets you know you can board. You should have access to your yacht between 4 and 6PM, though please be advised delays can occur as the yacht is being cleaned and prepared after the previous week’s charter. The Yacht Week is not responsible for any delays to your yacht but we will do our best to work with the charter companies to get you your yacht as early as possible.
Please make sure to have already ordered your provisions for the week online or with your host before check-in day so that you will not have any delays. More information on how to do this can be found here.
You will return to the marina on Friday afternoon (the exact time varies depending on weather conditions), when you will stay one last night on the yachts in the marina and will check out and leave the yacht by 9am on Saturday morning.
Onsite registration for yacht bookers and skipper
Check-In: Please communicate with your skipper who will let you know when your yacht is ready so that you can come to your marina (Alimos or Agios Kosmas marina).
Once you are on board The Yacht Week team will come to your yacht to say hi and give you your official TYW wristband. We recommend hanging out at local restaurants/ bars, getting some “heliotherapy” (sun therapy, a term coined by the Greeks), taking a dip in the sea, and sipping on drinks until your yacht is ready.
Once the charter company has the paperwork ready for your yacht, your lead booker will go to the marina with the skipper to complete the yacht check-in procedure. Your skipper or event crew will let you know when this is.
Lead Booker: Bring cash/credit card to pay the security deposit* and your passport.
Cabin Bookings: You must pay in cash as the security deposit cannot be shared amongst many credit cards.The amount can be found in your welcome email.
You will give your skipper the deposit who will take care of the paperwork with the charter company. See the FAQ for more information.
Skipper: Bring your nautical certificates and passport.
* The security deposit is the maximum cost you can be charged if you damage your yacht or lose equipment. The amount can be found in your booking profile.
All deposits must be paid in Euros.
Luggage at check-in
There are limited luggage storage options in Alimos Marina, near the charter company offices See directions here. Alternatively, you can keep your luggage on you or leave it at Left Luggage Athens in the Center until you come to the marina.
Please keep away from the yachts
You will not be able to board your yacht until it has been declared ready by the charter company. We recommend exploring Athens or enjoying a beach side cafe or resto and getting some “heliotherapy” (sun therapy, a term coined by the Greeks).
Here are some of our recommending top places to hang out before your yacht is ready:
In Alimos Marina
Beach Side Near the Marina.
*These venues are not within walking distance, but there are taxis and trams to take you to the marinas when your yacht is ready.
Grocery shopping
We strongly recommend pre ordering your provisions for the week online. This will save you time, money and a big hassle of getting a large order of groceries to your yacht. The online shop provides delivery directly to your yacht.
If you have a host, please speak with them before ordering any food as they will prepare a menu catered to your group. If you don’t have a host and shopping for a whole week/crew feels overwhelming, use this shopping list as guidance, it will make sure you won't miss out on any essentials.
Greek Online Grocery Store with Yacht Deliveries: https://balaskas.shop/?ref=