As a writer here at TPG, Liz covers everything from the daily news and deals to deeper guides and special projects. She also works closely with the social team, so you’ll probably catch her (or her photos) on @thepointsguy's Instagram. Liz has had a passion for travel her entire life — she’s visited 40 out of 50 states, took her first solo Europe trip at 17 and is always on the lookout for her next adventure.
April 7, 2021 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
A traveler shares plans for a postponed Greece trip, highlighting strategies for rebooking flights, using points and miles, and choosing accommodations.
After a canceled flight, the author was able to reschedule at no extra cost by contacting the airline, demonstrating the value of flexibility and polite communication.
Island-hopping within Greece is planned using low-cost carriers and ferries, with attention to baggage fees and fare differences.
Hotel stays will combine points redemptions at major chains with bookings at boutique properties, leveraging loyalty programs for future rewards.
What to consider
Flight prices and award availability can fluctuate, so flexibility with dates and willingness to pay a small difference may be necessary.
Baggage and seat selection fees on low-cost carriers can add to the base fare, so reviewing all options is important before booking.
Points transfers between programs may offer value, but comparing redemption rates and benefits is recommended.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed advice on maximizing points, handling travel disruptions and selecting the best transportation and hotel options for a Greece itinerary.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
When I spotted a deal to Greece for just $286 round-trip on Delta back in February 2020, I immediately texted my sister, asked for her availability and booked a mid-May trip.
Greece has always been a dream trip for us; we grew up hearing stories about the sister trips our mom and aunts took to the Mediterranean islands. Now the timing and, of course, the pricing had aligned and we were on our way.
I'm still planning to take the trip when we get the all-clear. With Greece planning to welcome tourists back on May 14, 2021, that gives me plenty of time to figure out my points strategy and how I'll spend my time.
Flights
As I mentioned, I had booked a great deal on the flights, but sadly those flights were canceled by Delta. The upside of the cancellation is that I was eligible for a full refund to my credit card. However, instead of taking the refund, I rescheduled our flights for later in the summer. Through a quick search, I saw that flights weren't pricing out quite as low as they were before, but I was willing to pay $130 more to postpone the trip rather than cancel it altogether.
When I looked into how much it would cost in miles, I found main cabin availability from 32,000 SkyMiles, plus $59 in taxes and fees.
Based on TPG valuations, this would essentially equal $384 round-trip, but once you add in the taxes and fees, it comes out equal to the cash price. The big difference is that the SkyMiles price is for main cabin and the cash price is for basic economy. Neither of those is a big concern to me, so ultimately, it came down to whether or not I wanted to spend cash or miles.
Because my original flights were canceled, I reached out to Delta via Twitter direct message and the agent was able to take of me within the hour. As I said, I was willing to pay the difference to reschedule for a later date, but the agent kindly offered an even exchange on my tickets.
Sure, $130 isn't a crazy difference, but I don't mind having some extra money in my pocket. It shows that a little kindness and understanding can make all the difference. As a matter of fact, this kind gesture made me consider switching my loyalty to Delta. Currently, I'm an American Airlines loyalist, but I've had nothing but great experiences with Delta. And with elite-status extensions and not too many flights under my belt, I may switch it up. But then again, AA did lower their elite qualifications significantly. I guess I'll wait and see when travel picks back up and where I go.
In-country transit
Once we arrive in Athens, I plan to leverage low-cost carriers like Ryanair to do some island-hopping. You can typically book one of these quick flights for as little as $30, though the price is always subject to change, depending on the demand. For the most part, they're pretty affordable. If I were to go ahead and book now, I could pay as little as $33 for a one-way flight.
Though, I'll end up paying a bit more since I'll be bringing a larger carry-on bag. There are a few options here. I could pay $32 more for a "regular" ticket that would allow me to choose my own seat and bring a personal and carry-on bag. Or I could choose the basic fare, deal with the seat I get for the short flight, and only pay $9.30 more at checkout to add a carry-on.
I'll book these flights with my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to earn 2x points and protect myself in case of any trip cancellations or delays.
I'm also planning to use the ferry system for trips like the nearly two-hour boat ride from Crete to Santorini.
The pricing for this is similar to the flights. Though the trip is a bit longer by boat, I figure I'll end up spending the same amount of time getting to and from the airport as I would on the boat. So why not enjoy the fresh air and sun? I may even try to turn it into a sunrise or sunset cruise if I can get the timing right.
Hotels
I've been eyeing the Blue Palace on Crete. This five-star Marriott Luxury Collection property starts at 70,000 Bonvoy points or $480 a night during the high season. Sadly, I don't have any status (yet) with Marriott. So I won't be eligible for any upgrades. I do, however, have a decent collection of Bonvoy points, plus Chase Ultimate Rewards points that I plan to transfer from my Chase Sapphire Preferred at a 1:1 ratio.
I would have been able to snag this stay for just 65,000 points on my originally scheduled dates, but...I guess you win some and you lose some.
Anywhere you stay in Greece will probably offer dreamy, Instagram-worthy views, but the view from the Blue Palace pool looks exceptionally great. Will it be worth the splurge? I guess I'll have to stay to find out.
Aside from that, I'm planning to leverage Hotels.com's loyalty program for our stays since there aren't many points hotels on the Greek islands. Instead, there's a wide variety of boutique and locally owned hotels that are a bit more affordable than Marriott's Blue Palace. By doing this, I can earn reward nights towards a future stay (which I plan to redeem during a trip to Tokyo later this year).
For the most part, my sister and I will be soaking up the sun on the islands, but no trip to Greece is complete without some time spent touring historic Athens. I've been looking at the new Grand Hyatt Athens, which is available for just 12,000 World of Hyatt points. Again, I can transfer points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred at a 1:1 ratio. The property offers chic rooms, but what really caught my eye was the view of the Acropolis from the rooftop pool.
(Photo courtesy of the Grand Hyatt Athens)
TPG UK Contributing Writer Anthony Grant stayed at this property in September 2018 and found that it lived up to Hyatt's reputation, but the location wasn't particularly impressive. However, he mentioned that it's an easy spot to hail a taxi to tourist hot spots such as the Acropolis and the more charming Plaka neighborhood.
Bottom line
It's looking more and more likely that we'll be able to take our dream trip this summer, with Greece lifting restrictions for American travelers. Meanwhile, I'll be building up my points and daydreaming about Mediterranean sunsets.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
