HERE’S the secret to planning a trip to the Olympics in Athens (Aug. 13-29): Don’t plan. Just show up.
Accommodations prices are soft, events tickets are there for the buying and flights are available. And that’s not unusual for the Games. Athens will be my sixth Olympics, and in the past I’ve always shown up without events tickets or a hotel – and I’ve always had an awesome experience.
“We see that every time,” said Don Williams, vice president of sales for Cartan, the official U.S. seller of events tickets. “People hop a plane and go.”
Up for it? First, get your flight. Orbitz had an Air France ticket to Athens via Paris for $997 round trip (orbitz.com; airfrance.com). And American had a flight to Athens via London, where you connect to Olympic Airways, for roughly $60 more (aa.com). Also, Manhattan-based Homeric tours may still have seats on a non-stop charter flight from JFK to Athens. Depart Aug. 12 and return Aug. 20 or 22 for $1,114 ([212] 753-1100; homerictours.com).
Once in Athens, take the inexpensive airport express bus to Syntagma Square, the central tourism area not far from the Acropolis. And by the way, take time to see it, and more. Athens, from its ancient ruins and tasty Ouzo to the slow pace of its laid-back dinners, is fantastic.
At Syntagma, stow your bags at the nearest friendly restaurant and hunt for hotels. Or phone one of Athens’ dependable travel agencies to ask about rooms. This, of course, can be done in advance. Try Athens-based Dolphin Hellas, which books at the centrally located Attalos, Best Western Zinon and Philippos hotels ([30] 210-922-7772; dolphin-hellas.gr); and Trekking Hellas, which has private apartments for rent ([30] 210-331-0323; trekking.gr).
Next, purchase your tickets. In addition to official ticket windows, scalpers outside venues often sell them for below face value right before start times.
A tip for buying tickets in advance: Although Cartan’s Web site shows many events sold out, anyone who phones Cartan directly can still score great tickets to almost any event except swimming finals and sailing ([310] 546-9662; cartan.com).
I prefer to buy a few in advance and a few once I arrive in the host city. That way I know for sure I can see my favorites – track and field, and boxing – but can also follow whims.
In Sydney, a whim led me to buy tickets from official ticket windows for the Greco-Roman wrestling finals, even though I knew nothing about the sport. I ended up seeing the most thrilling upset of the Games when American Rulon Gardner defeated legendary Russian Aleksandr Karelin. I was close enough to the mats to high-five Gardner as he paraded past with his medal.
If you like one-stop shopping, there are excellent travel agencies in Queens that specialize in Greece and can help with everything from airfare to buying events tickets. Stavros Douvis of Anemos Tours, for instance, has some apartments that can sleep four, from $250 (total) a night. He can also arrange side trips to Greek islands ([718] 777-5050; anemos.net).
Before the Games, Imyself will be on the Cycladic island of Naxos. I’d give you my address so you could stop by, but I don’t yet know where I’m staying.
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