Greece: Why this is the summer to go

Last weekend's election triggered turmoil and uncertainty, but life – and tourism – goes on, says Simon Calder

Fly the flag: there is no reason to cancel a trip to Greece (Getty)

The election in Greece has triggered more political and economic instability in the euro zone. Yet the nation is heavily dependent on tourism; around two million British holidaymakers visit the country annually. Should they reconsider?

We have a city break in Athens booked for Valentine's weekend. Should we cancel, and what are our legal rights?

While the next few weeks and months are likely to be tumultuous for the Greek people, the vast majority of tourists will be unaffected – just as they have since the crisis began. So I see no reason why you should cancel. Neither does the Foreign Office. Tellingly, consular staff have not changed the advice that prevailed last year, presumably because they believe the risks are unchanged. You can read the advice here: bit.ly/GreeceFCO. But to save you the trouble, it points out "There are regular strikes … sometimes called at short notice [that] can cause disruption to public transport in and out of Greece (including air travel and ports). Demonstrations take place regularly in central Athens, and have also taken place in other towns and cities." It adds "There is a general threat from terrorism and acts of political violence." (For comparison, that warning is milder than the prevailing advice for travellers to France and Turkey.)

If you decide to cancel you will lose some or all of the money you have paid – and you will deny yourselves a weekend that is likely to be full of interest, fun and romance. February is an excellent time to visit the Greek capital, to enjoy the monuments, museums and restaurants without the heat and crowds of summer.

I was planning to go to Greece for Orthodox Easter, but I haven't booked anything yet. Should I go ahead?

Yes. Easter is always a fascinating time to be in Greece. It is the most sacred event in the Orthodox calendar; a five-day celebration filled with tradition.

The holy festival takes place one week after the Western Easter this year, meaning there will be less pressure on flights. The one precautionary step you might want to consider is booking a package – i.e. flights and accommodation together – rather than organising everything separately. Then, in the most unlikely event that there is disruption affecting your flight or hotel, the travel company has to look after you. And if you don't have annual travel insurance, take out a policy when you book. Again, just in case.

I'm going to Spetses as usual this summer. Can you tell me the currency I will be spending?

The euro, probably. But even if it isn't, don't panic. While there is a theoretical possibility that Greece may crash out of the euro, and reinstate the drachma, the effect on holidaymakers will be marginal. Hotels will no doubt continue to quote rates, and accept payment, in euros for the benefit of visitors from the single-currency area – particularly Germany and Italy. It's possible that prices may rise or (more likely) fall marginally, but there should be no dramatic changes to fret about.

Should I buy euros now or wait?

This is the travel desk, not the foreign exchange department, and so your guess is as good as ours. But if you want to lock into the best sterling:euro rate for years, it could make sense to buy some now. There has been speculation that the euro has much further to sink, particularly if Greece were to leave the single-currency area. But a different theory holds that a "Gr-exit" would actually strengthen the euro against other currency. If you want to "hedge" – ie lock into the current rate – and have cash to spare, then by all means do so. But don't blame us if it turns out you would have done even better next month.

Naxos, June, three weeks. Good idea?

That sounds just about perfect. The bars and restaurants will open as usual, Mount Zeus (legendary birthplace of the God) will remain a worthwhile hike, and the breezes will continue to cool bathers and enthuse windsurfers.

We booked our honeymoon, island- hopping, for August. We have already paid for flights and for most of the accommodation. Is our money safe?

Almost certainly. No airline serving Greece from the UK is in financial trouble, and there is no reason to suppose that holiday flights will be disrupted. The political earthquake that is rumbling from the Aegean across Europe will have no effect on the allure of the ancient sites in Crete, the dramatic landscapes of Santorini or the beaches of Mykonos. The hotels you have booked will still be welcoming guests.

It's perhaps unhelpfully late to say so, but paying with a credit card confers an additional layer of security. Having said that, the last time I booked a property in Greece, at the height of the last crisis, the landlord insisted on a cash deposit, sent by post (and yes, it all worked out fine).

Will local transport be affected, particularly ferries and trains?

There is no reason to imagine that ferries will be disrupted beyond the occasional strike. Using the network of passenger boats to hop around the islands remains one of the great joys of Mediterranean travel. Trains are less predictable; as an inefficient state-owned operation, Greek State Railways has borne a large number of cuts that have greatly curtailed services. But wherever you are planning to go on the mainland, there is probably a bus to take you there.

We bought an all-inclusive holiday to Crete. Will the prime minister ban them?

Alexis Tsipras has said: "We do not want to continue the current saturated model of intensive exploitation of tourism." But there is no chance that all-inclusives will be outlawed; if they were, Greece would promptly see one-eighth of its tourism revenue disappear across the Turkish border.

Would you go?

Yes. It will be an excellent summer to holiday in Greece. Some of the predicted visitors may mistakenly stay away, potentially lowering holiday prices and increasing availability for the rest of us. June is particularly smart (as are May and September) because the temperature will be perfect and the islands uncrowded. If there is one certainty about Greece in 2015, it is this: millions of travellers will enjoy superb holidays there. Life goes on.