Greece was planned in less than a month. It was a spontaneous trip idea. Since Mama Van and I were both fully vaccinated, we wanted to celebrate her 75th birthday abroad and properly. I proposed Greece or Croatia. Given the fact that both destinations were hilly, I wanted to make sure she was comfortable walking. I did not plan for hikes. She chose Greece.
After researching for a few days, I put together this itinerary:
Day 1
Check with https://travel.gov.gr/#/dashboard for QR code
Depart and fly to Athens
Day 2
Arrive in Athens
Take taxi to city center
3pm check into Brown Acropol
Overnight in Athens
Day 3
Depart early to Santorini
1pm – Check into Airbnb
7:30pm Dinner at Fino Cocktail Bar and Restaurant
Santorini overnight
Day 4
9:30am Flying Dress Photoshoot
4:15pm Horseback riding
Santorini overnight
Day 5
4pm-8pm Catamaran sunset cruise
Santorini overnight
Day 6
Ferry to Mykonos
2pm – Arrive in Mykonos
3pm – Check in at Mykonos Riviera
Overnight Mykonos
Day 7
Overnight Mykonos
Covid antigen test
Day 8
11am Old Port Cruise
Overnight Mykonos
Day 9
Departure to Athens
2pm Check in at Gem Society Hotel
5pm-10pm Private driver to see city and sunset
Day 10
Depart to the States
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Keep in mind that two of the days are spent flying, so you’re actually going to spend 8 days in Greece. Also, the first day of arrival is difficult to adjust due to jet lag. So you’re actually enjoying 7 full days, if that. Don’t forget to check the government websites to see policies and requirements. For example, we had to register for a PLF here, and you will receive a confirmation email upon submission of the PLF. According to the Greece website:
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Travelers will receive the PLF with their unique Quick Response (QR) code on the day of their scheduled arrival in Greece and will be notified via email (the QR code will be provided in a link in the confirmation email).
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Travelers boarding or embarking on the previous day of the arrival will be allowed to do so upon showing the confirmation email, since they will receive their QR code during their flight or voyage.
Also, the U.S. requires a negative Covid test result upon your return (72 hours before departure). So I arranged an appointment with our Mykonos 5-star hotel, who conveniently provided this service. You might have to go to a clinic or pharmacy for the test, so be prepared beforehand. As for booking restaurants, for this trip, we winged our meals by walking around and using Google Reviews. Due to Covid, we had entire restaurants, hotels, and sightseeing landmarks almost to ourselves. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience with no crowds.
This trip was top 5 for me. The people were so incredibly friendly (in a genuine way and not fake) and looked out for my mother and I. Loved the food, especially the Greek salads and yogurt. Mama Van and I enjoyed our hotels, too. Especially Mykonos Riviera and Gem Society Hotel (Athens) — the staff took great care of us, and we had some of the best food.
Greece was also very photogenic, and Mama Van enjoyed taking many photos, especially in Santorini. I booked a flying dress photoshoot and a catamaran cruise last-minute, because why not. There were no crowds at sunset, and we took leisure strolls to enjoy everything around us. I sound like a broken record, but I really loved this trip.
Hope my photos inspire you to visit this beautiful country. I am in love with Greece — the people, culture, food, everything. Feel free to contact me or Nomoon Travel to help you plan your next vacation or getaway here. We are partnering with our favorite hotels and vendors to provide you with the same or very similar experience we had!
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