Greece is a bucket list destination, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. By leveraging points and miles, you can book luxury flights and hotels for a fraction of the price. In this 7-day Greece itinerary I will tell you how my husband and I celebrated our honeymoon in Athens, Santorini and Mykonos, and how we used points and miles to decrease the cost.
Table of Contents
Day 1-2: Athens-The Heart of Ancient Greece
Fly to Athens
When my husband and I visited Greece, we had just recently learned about points and miles. We did not have enough points to book our flights using points, not even for economy flights. We booked our flights on Air Canada Aeroplan for $700 each, round trip from Orlando, FL to Athens, Greece in early 2023.
If I could go back in time and redo these flights on points, I would buy a cheap flight from Orlando to Newark, then book a business-class flight from Newark to Athens on Emirates (one of the most aspirational flights in the world of points and miles). This typically costs 87,000 points per person one way. It’s a lot of points, I know, but it was my honeymoon trip after all.
Top Attractions in Athens
- Ancient Agora & Temple of Hephaestus- walk through ancient ruins.
- Lycabettus Hill-Sunset views over the city.
- The Acropolis & Parthenon-Visit early to beat the crowds.
- Plaka & Monastiraki-Explore charming streets, tavernas, and markets.
We’re to stay in Athens Using Points
Once we learned about points and miles, we started racking up points. We were able to book all our hotels using points, saving us tons of money.
In Athens, we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Athens. It cost us 27,000 Hyatt points for two nights (15,000 on one night and 12,000 on the second night). We transferred points from Chase Ultimate Rewards directly to Hyatt for this redemption.
How to Get to Santorini using Points:
- Best Option: Aegean Airlines (Star Alliance)- Use the United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan website to book this flight with points.
Our approach was to use our limited points for hotels, so we decided to pay cash. We booked with the SKY Express airlines. It cost us $75 per person to fly from Athens to Santorini.
- Budget Option: Ferry (5-8 hours)– Book early for discounts. If you pay using a card like Capital One Venture X you can use your points to erase any transaction that codes as travel.
Day 3-5: Santorini-A Romantic Escape
Top of Attractions in Santorini
- Oia & Fira– Iconic white-washed buildings and blue domes.
- Red beach & Kamari Beach-Unique volcanic beaches.
- Santo Winery-Wine tasting with a caldera view.
- Sunset in Oia-One of the best sunsets in the world.
Where to Stay in Santorini Using Points
At the time of doing all the reservations for this trip, I was a beginner points and miles enthusiast. This is to date my proudest redemption and what made me go all-in in this game.
In Santorini we stayed at the luxury hotel Canaves Oia Suites. This hotel is part of the Small Luxury Hotel Collection (SLH) which at the time had a partnership with Hyatt. That partnership has now ended and all SLH properties are part of Hilton Honors. It cost us 120,000 points for three nights. The points were transferred from Chase to Hyatt.
Two of the perks of SLH reservations are that you may get a room upgrade (based on availability) and free breakfast. The room that we had initially booked on points goes for approximately 1,200-2,000€ per night. When we arrived at the hotel, they had upgraded us to the Honeymoon suite. That room goes for approximately 1,980-3,300€ per night. What a privilege for us to stay at such a luxurious and expensive hotel for $0!
How to Get to Mykonos Using Points
- Best Option: Aegean Airlines (Star Alliance)- Use the United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan website to book this flight with points.
- Budget Option: Ferry (2-3 hours)- Book early for discounts. We used the FerryScanner website to make this reservation.
If you pay using a card like Capital One Venture X you can use your points to erase any transactions that codes as travel.
Day 6-7: Mykonos-Beaches & Nightlife
Top attractions in Mykonos
- Little Venice and Windmills-Iconic Instagram spots
- Paradise Beach & Super Paradise Beach-famous for beach parties.
- Delos Island-A UNESCO archeological site
- Mykonos Old Town (Chora)-Stroll through white-washed alleys.
Where to Stay in Mykonos Using Points
In Mykonos, there are Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt hotels where you can redeem points. At the time of booking, there were no more rooms available to redeem points. This time, we decided to use the Chase travel portal to book a local 5-star hotel, Asty Mykonos. It cost us 33,808 points for two nights. This room had a private pool and breakfast was included.
How to Get Back to Athens Using Points
• Aegean Airlines (Star Alliance)– Book with United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan to book this flight with points.
• Ferry (2-5 hours)– Book early for discounts. If you pay using a card like Capital One Venture X you can use your points to erase any transaction that is coded as travel.
Maximizing Points and Miles for Greece travel
• Flights: Use transfer partners like Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Venture Miles and Citi Thank You points for even better deals.
• Hotels: Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG have great redemption options.
• Extras: Use Capital One Venture X to clear any transactions that are coded as travel like ferry or tours.
With this Greece itinerary you can experience this place in luxury without spending a fortune. Happy Travels!
Do you want to learn how to travel without spending a fortune? We recommend reading this article.