Greece on points and miles

Greece 

I booked a round trip for 45k AirFrance miles + $200, 16k there and 29k home. (37k Amex points used because I transferred during a 25% bonus)

This flight was direct from SLC-AMS on KLM and we really liked it.  The schedule was nice and helped us adjust easily to the time change (both going there and home).  The seats were a bit small and it was completely full in economy so I ended up paying for an upgrade once I arrived at the airport.  The agents were nice and let me pick seats that had empty rows, it was just $90 to upgrade from economy to economy comfort.

Hotels:

Athens: We booked 2 nights at Airport Holiday Inn for 45k IHG points.  We arrived in Athens very late so went straight to the hotel after arriving.  The next day we had a full day in Athens, then slept at the airport hotel because we were leaving the next morning very early to Milos. 

Milos: 2 nights at Santa Maria village for $250 a night booked in Capital One portal

Santorini: 1 night at Tzekos Villas booked in Capital One portal

Athens: Once back in Athens, we stayed one more night at the airport Holiday Inn again before flying out the next morning to Amsterdam then SLC.

Schedule 

1st full day: Athens, Take 40min bus to city center and did the 9:30am Ebike tour of the city & Acropolis ($60 each through Viator), We spent the rest of the day visiting the Monastiraki flea market and Plaka neighborhoods.   In the evening we walked up the lycabettus hill for sunset views of the Acropolis. There are 2 paths up the hill (one on each side), choose the paved path because you get views all along the way.

Day 2: 7:50am 40min flight to Milos ($82).  After landing, taxis were waiting at the airport so we were able to get a ride to our hotel and check in.  We enjoyed our hotel pool and a walk into the city to get some food.  Then we did the 3pm 1/2 day boat tour with Zefiros ($47 each, this one)

Day 3:  We had a relaxing morning and walked into town for lunch.  Later that afternoon we hoped on the city bus to Sarakiniko beach (10min direct bus ride for $2).  

Day 4: After breakfast, we checked out and walked with our luggage to the port for the 11:50 2hr ferry to Santorini.  Once in Santorini, I had arranged to be picked up by “The Joy Van” it was $50E for 5 people.  They took us to our hotel.  Once checked in, we enjoyed walking around the town of Fira, eating, & our hotel pool.

Day 5: We checked out, left our luggage in the reception area, then walked the 6mi “golden road” to Oia.  We left at about 8:30 and arrived in Oia around noon for lunch!  The weather was much better for hiking in the morning, by the time we arrived in Oia it was HOT!  After lunch we continued our walk down to Amoudi bay to swim.  Once we were finished we asked one of the restaurants nearby to call a Taxi for us to get back to our hotel.   Our hotel had a shower by the pool area that we were able to use before changing and packing up for our 10pm flight back to Athens (the flight was $45 and 1/2 hr, as opposed to a 5hr ferry)

Day 6: 6am flight to Amsterdam.  We had a very long layover so we decided to head into the city for the day.  A few months in advance I had booked tickets for the Anne Frank house.  We landed at 8:30am so I booked the noon tour and it worked out perfectly.  We were able to have a meal and shop around before returning to the airport for our 5pm flight home to SLC.