Travel Information:
The City of Loutraki | Hall Layout | Travel Information | Excursions
 Downloads: Travel Information | Hall Layout
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| Getting There |
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The seaside spa city of Loutraki is situated on the Gulf of Corinth, just off the main Athens-Patras motorway, 80 kilometres from Athens and 140 kilometres from Patras, the western Gateway to Greece. Loutraki is served by the new Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, which has direct scheduled connections to almost all European capitals and other major cities throughout the continent, as well as to international gateway hubs in North America, Asia, Australia and Africa. Athens Airport is the hub of the two Greek airlines, Olympic Airways and Aegean Airlines, which offer numerous international connections in addition to a vast domestic network. Patras is the major western gateway to Greece, with numerous daily ferry connections to the Italian Adriatic ports of Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Venice and Trieste.
 Loutraki is served from Athens by regular intercity buses (travelling time approximately 90 minutes), departing from the Kifissos Bus Terminal. Airport buses connect Athens International Airport to the Kifissos Bus Terminal. In addition, two daily rail services link Athens (and its port of Piraeus) with Loutraki (over a most scenic route with splendid views over the Saronic Gulf). Travelling time by train is approximately two hours. By private car, follow the E-94 Athens-Corinth motorway west and exit at Loutraki, just before crossing the Corinth Canal. Travelling from Patras, the best public transportation option to Loutraki is one of the regular Athens-bound trains. Get off at Corinth, which is a short taxi or bus ride from Loutraki. By car, follow the E-65 motorway east, towards Athens, and turn off at the Loutraki exit, just past the city of Corinth. Click on the map, above, to view routes to Loutraki from Athens or Patras in higher resolution.
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| Accommodation |
| Loutraki offers an almost inexhaustible supply of accommodation, catering to all needs and budgets. All participants in the 2003 European Weightlifting Championships will be accommodated at the Poseidon Resort Hotel (tel. +30-2744067938). Officials of the event will be accommodated at the Club Hotel Casino (tel. +30-2744060300). A list of recommended hotels for visitors travelling privately can be found below. |
| Recommended Hotels |
| Hotel |
Address |
Cat. |
Phone |
Fax |
| Club Hotel Loutraki |
48, Poseidonos Str. |
L |
+30-2744060300 |
+30-2744060306 |
| Hotel Poseidon Resort |
. |
L |
+30-2744067938 |
+30-2744067950 |
| Hotel Achillion |
13, El. Venizelou Str. |
A |
+30-2744022271 |
+30-2744026757 |
| Hotel Mantas |
1, Damaskinou & Ikonomou Str. |
B |
+30-2744022575 |
+30-2744022791 |
| Isthmia Prime Hotel |
Isthmus |
B |
+30-2741024716 |
+30-2744076397 |
| Hotel Barbara |
50, Poseidonos Ave. |
B |
+30-2744061896 |
+30-2744061895 |
| Hotel Pappas |
Pezoulia Area |
B |
+30-2744062782 |
+30-2744023940 |
| Hotel Vassilikon |
25th March Square |
B |
+30-2744022313 |
+30-2744026659 |
| Hotel Aprtments Aeolos |
31, Ipsilantou & Boleti Str. |
C |
+30-2744028526 |
. |
| Hotel Loutraki |
19, El. Venizelou Str. |
C |
+30-2744022433 |
+30-2744026478 |
| Hotel Marion |
36, Lekka Str. |
C |
+30-2744066800 |
+30-2744063689 |
| Hotel Olympia Logotheti |
1, El. Venizelou Str. |
C |
+30-2744022284 |
+30-2744022804 |
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| Orientation |
Loutraki is spread out along its magnificent waterfront—one of the most famous promenades in Greece. The main throughfare is Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue, running south-north, parallel to the waterfront, a few blocks inland. All banks, the Post Office, Police, Bus Station and Train Station can be found along or just off this avenue. The Sports Hall where the 2003 European Weightlifting Championships will be held is located at the entrance of town, on the road that leads into Loutraki from the Athens-Patras motorway.
More details and a town map may be found on the City of Loutraki official website, at www.city-of-loutraki.gr. |
| Getting Around |
| Transportation between Athens International Airport and Loutraki will be provided by the organisers to all participants and officials according to the arrivals and departures schedules. Shuttle buses will also run regularly between the official hotels of the 2003 European Weightlifting Championships and the competition and training halls. Everything within Loutraki is normally within walking distance. Local buses run to the outlying villages, and also connect Loutraki to the city of Corinth. Taxis are reasonably priced and may be hailed in the street, picked up at a taxi rank or ordered by phone. |
| Money |
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Greece is a member of the Euro-zone and since 1 January 2002 its official currency is the euro (€). The euro is also the official currency of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. In late March 2003, $1=€0,95. Most major foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks (open Monday to Friday 08:00-13:30). Other options are exchange offices, which usually keep longer hours. Rates and commissions at travel agencies and hotels will probably not be as favourable as at banks and exchange offices. All banks have ATMs available round the clock.
Major credit cards are accepted at most tourist-oriented establishments—but always ask beforehand.
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| Time |
| Greek Summer Time, in effect from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. In winter Greece is two hours ahead of GMT. |
| Electricity |
| Electricity in Greece is 220V, 50 cycles, with standard continental-type plugs with two round pins. |
| Telephones |
| Direct-dial service is available between Greece and all other countries of the world. International calls may be placed from any of the cardphones widely available throughout the town of Loutraki. Telephone cards are sold at kiosks and newsagents and most grocery and souvenir stores everywhere. Phone calls placed from hotel rooms may carry heavy surcharges. Mobile phone networks in Greece are compatible with the European-wide GSM 800/1900 standards, but not with the systems available in the USA and Japan. Vodafone (formerly Panafon), Telestet and Cosmote are the leading mobile phone service providers in Greece, all with coverage in Loutraki. Check with your home service provider to find out if Roaming Service is available for you. Otherwise, it’s possible with very little money to buy Connection Packs from any of the above companies in Greece. These are compatible with GSM 900/1800 devices and include a number and a small amount of airtime which can be easily renewed. All phone numbers in Greece comprise of 10 digits. To call from abroad dial the international access code of your country, followed by 30 (the country code of Greece), followed by the 10-digit phone number. To call from within Greece just dial the 10-digit number. There are no area codes. To call abroad from Greece dial the international access code of 00, followed by the country code, the area code and the phone you wish to reach. |
| Newspapers |
| The newsagent in the central square of Loutraki offers a wide selection European newspapers and magazines, most on the evening of the same day of publication. International press is also available at some of the largest hotels. The International Herald Tribune printed in Athens is available every morning and includes an eight-page, English-language supplement of the Greek daily Kathimerini. The English-language Athens News is published every Friday. |
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The City of Loutraki | Hall Layout | Travel Information | Excursions
Downloads: Travel Information | Hall Layout
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