A simple google search brings up the original article....I remember seeing it when it came out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/bu...urse.html?_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/bu...l?ref=business

Thanks for the link to the "nurse" article. I see what they meant, and although slightly exaggerated, grosso modo true. Of course, no "flooding", but a description of one aspect of how the crisis has affected life in Greece. But to discuss the problem of "private nurses" (fake or true) in the context of tourism is really not central (not even peripheral) to safety for the travellers in Greece.

As for the second link, let's leave this out of FT. There are lots of sites/blogs/forums discussing the economic situation, no real need to discuss it here as well.

I think most people who travel enough here will agree with that poster's response. You'll be fine. Safer than in most major cities in the US.

And yes, this is your typical flyertalker response, as this is flyertalk.

When you are in a place that's new, you tend to be scared of all things "unknown." Most of us here - we travel more than the average, and for us what you consider as 'risk' might not be risky for us. This happens as you travel more, see more things, and meet more people.

Goodness, your basic condescending typical Flyer Talk response. Obviously another personal release.

Thank you to those choosing to offer objective advice.

Obviously you came here looking for something, and when you don't get that info, you start personal attacks.

OP, this is kind of insulting, Athens/Greece is way safer than any major US city, I forgive you though...

Here we go into April and it looks like Greece (and Athens) is still quite safe ...
Safety is a personal perception and you have now read of mine
Some folks are basically insecure, and good luck to them in their lives. Nobody owes them a secure mindset

I don't see why it is insulting. The media have reported major protest events in Greece in the past few months, the Greek economy is not faring well, and the few reports that reach the Americas on crime in Greece suggest that it is on the rise.

Comparative statistics on crime in Greece versus crime in the US are not regularly reported and I notice that you did not provide any to support your statement.

While I suspect that you are correct that Athens remains safer than many US cities, I don't think it is insulting for someone who doesn't know to ask the question.

Yes, Athens even during active protests is still safer than most major US cities...

Unless Greece defaults on its several creditor or internal payments due within the next 10 days, that would be a different story...

I'll bet that Greece as a country WILL be safe. There may be riots portrayed in the media, BUT the country as a whole will still be safe.

Vietnam was like that in June 1971 when I was in Saigon. Bangkok was like that in Nov-Dec 2013. I was there right beside the demonstrations and ate with the locals among peaceful Thai people, but the media portrayed Bangkok as a hell-hole. Not! The rest of the country was very quiet and bucolic as I travelled by bus north toward Laos.

Greece is safe and will be...

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Yes, but if the only thing I see is active protests and not the crime statistics which prove that Athens is actually safer, why would someone assume absent any other information that Athens is safer? I still haven't seen any data which proves this.

I think it a reasonable proposition but data is always better than a statement from an unknown entity on the internet.

Sure, Bangkok was safe...except for the 28 people who died and the 800+ people who were injured in the protests. There also was plenty of inconvenience for millions.

I'm not saying that the Greek protests have been anything like this, but I think it reasonable to ask the question as to whether it will be safe, and also will it make my holiday less enjoyable than it should be. What risks will I be taking, whether those risks be to life/property, or simply to a holiday where you can't see and do those things you went to Greece for in the first place

The best answer to these question will come from people on the ground who can tell you exactly what the impact of the changing economy and the political discord is, if any.

In Greece, there are no large scale violent protests, unless it is an organized strike/peaceful march, which are typically quite uneventful. These organized strikes/peaceful marches were more common in previous years and do not happen now, as there is a leftist government in power. There are some occasional isolated clashes between certain "anarchist" type anti-authority small groups with police, that never involve citizens, but sometimes may involve limited destruction of public property. They are usually confined in very specific locations of political significance, such as the Polytechnic School, and often take place very late at night. Even in those clashes there are almost never deaths and rarely some injuries among those actively involved. There have never been large scale riots or protests in Greece that turn violent, with significant injuries or deaths.

Despite a sustained unemployed rate of 27% for several years now, and a reduction of standard of living by approximately 40-50%, the social fabric is still relatively strong with no substantial increase in violent crime (there is some, mostly occasional burglaries in remote locations, and petty theft). Tourists are never targeted, as far as I know, never heard of a case. There is no major organized gang activity and there are no guns in the streets.
I am not aware of official statistics though.