ACCOMMODATION
There is a wide range of accommodation in Poros. From private villas near Neorion to "rooms for let," Poros can accommodate many different tastes and pockets. Almost all of the hotels are on the waterfront and only a few minutes walk from the town center. Rentals for cars, bikes, motorcycles and vespas are available at the port but unless you plan to visit the surrounding areas of Peloponnese a car rental is not advised. Poros is a small island and tourists, as well as locals, first prefer to walk, then to bike, and then maybe use a motorcycle.

Here is a representative list of hotels on Poros. The telephone area code for Poros is 0298 and it is followed by a five digit local number.

Poros (town center) telephone numbers
Dionyssos: 22270
Epta Adelphia: 23412
Latsi: 22392
Poros: 22216
Saron: 22279
Akteon: 22281
Manessis: 22273
Dimitra: 22697

In Neorion
Pavlou: 22734
Angyra: 22432

In Askeli
Nea Aegli: 22372
Sirina: 22741
Chryssi Avgi: 22277

In Galatas (across in the Peloponnese)
Stella Marris: 22562
Galatia: 22227
Papasotiriou: 22841
Saronis: 22356

CURRENCY
The Greek currency is the drachma. You can easily find many places on the island, aside from the banks, that will change money. In many business establishments (souvenir shops, etc) you can pay by credit card, although cash is always preferred. Exchange rates, even in small outlet stores, are updated daily. The Banks operate weekdays and they close at 2 pm (1.30 pm on Fridays). Automated Teller Machines are proliferating all over Greece and there are a few on the island.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Aside from public phones Poros has a telephone center operated by OTE, the Telecommunications Utility Company of Greece. Local phones are relatively inexpensive. The public phone booths operate with a card (like a credit card) that you can buy from your local general store. They come in many denominations (50, 100, 500, 1000 or 10,000 drachmas). The area code for Poros is 02 and for the prefecture of Athens is 01. In order to dial from Greece abroad you need to dial 00 followed by your country's code (US is 1).

Fax machines can be found at any hotel, travel agencies and tourist shops. A page takes about a minute to send and costs approximately 1,500 drachmas (about 5 US dollars). Access to e-mail in Poros is not widespread and last time I visited (summer 1996) I did not find a business providing temporary e-mail services although this might have changed since then.

BOAT SCHEDULES
Poros is connected to Piraeus by a ferry which takes about two to three hours, by the "Flying Dolphin," (hydrofoil) which takes only fifty-five minutes, and by many other medium-size boats taking usually about an hour and a half. Whichever ship you choose to travel to Poros (the longer it takes the cheaper the fare), your short trip through the Saronic Gulf will be a pleasure for the eye to see.

Poros has a daily service, several times a day, to the port of Piraeus. For information call (+30 1) 4511311. The Port Authority's number in Poros is 0298 22274. Poros is also connected to the ports of Methana, Galatas, Ermioni, and Costa in the Peloponnese and with the islands of Aegina, Hydra and Spetses.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
1. Police
In Poros, as everywhere in Greece, the telephone number for the police is 100. At the same number you can request help to call an ambulance and to call a firefighting unit. Policemen, most of times, speak English and you cal also utilize them as a source of information and directions. The phone number fot Tourist Police at Poros is 0298 22462.
Medical Emergency
Again, you call 100 for an ambulance. If you need a doctor or you can assist yourself to the hospital the medical care at a public hospital if free of charge. However, any prescription you will have to pay yourself at a local pharmacy. Most pharmacies close at regular store hours. However, in all regions, by law, certain pharmacies stay open overnight for emergencies. The pharmacies that are open are listed in all major papers.
Port Authority
Poros has daily service, several times a day, with the port of Piraeus. For information you call (+30 1) 4511311. The Port Authority's number in Poros is (0298 22274).