Here in Europe Ryanair is the best place to get cheap flights, but MAKE sure you don't go over their luggage requirement or you'll be charged on the spot and it's a pretty steep price too. Like 60 Euros and up. Ryanair goes to most places. I was going to use Ryanair to Athens, but it didn't fly out of Munich or Nurnberg. We would have to fly to Milan and fly out of Milan to Athens. At the end wasn't worth it, so decided to get a regular flight and flew out of Nurnberg straight to Athens. We had one layover in Zurich.
Layover was in Zurich and Zurich is super expensive! We were going to go get coffee at Starbucks but it was like 8 Euros or some crazy price. Zurich airport offers free internet for 60 minutes but the thing is they have to send you a SMS to your phone. I turned my phone to Airplane mode so I don't get charged. I couldn't do the free internet. Zurich airport is pretty easy to get around.
Zurich to Athens was a 2.5 hour flight. Athens train system is pretty easy. 5.00 Euros to/from airport to city center. Hotels charge about 60 Euros for transfer.
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| Mc Queen's Hotel. Was nice but out of the way and bed felt like cardboard. Was about 15 minute walk to the hop on/off bus. Next time I'm going to get a hotel close to or on the Hop on/of bus route. Hotel was 146 Euros for 3 nights ($200). Didn't include breakfast or internet Breakfast was 5 Euros and internet was 10 Euros for the whole stay. |
Hop on, hop off bus is always a must. Was inexpensive and usually in some cities you can get next day free. Sometimes includes a cruise too. I got it online and printed the confirmation number. It was 25 Euros all together.
We stopped first at the Acropolis and got the 12 Euro tickets which included all of these.
When in Athens you'll see stray dogs hanging around. They are pretty well feed and have collars showing they had their shots. There is someone that comes around and feeds them, but they don't mind you feeding them too. The only thing they are missing is affection. Don't hesitate to pet them. They are very friendly. 
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| Restaurant where everyone went. |
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| My husband found this cute restaurant that had a great view of the town and just above Acropolis. |
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| If you walk pass the busy restaurants you'll find it. Prices were good. I paid 12 Euros for appetizer, main dish, and dessert. |
Other must do is the Fish Spa. Feels funny at first, but it was divine! Was 10 Euros for 15 minutes. It is located near flea market or Roman market. Athens was nice to see and was nice to check off the list, but honestly it can be seen in a day or 2. My husband wanted to spend majority of the time there. For me seeing one stone building was enough after that they all looked the same lol!
In Athens don't miss the Flea Market. If you get off at the Number 4 stop at Acropolis you can walk down to number 14 stop easily. There you'll find the Flea Market. If you get off at 2, I believe it's 2. You'll find the shops and restaurants.
The changing of the Guard at the Parliament was fun to watch with their silly looking uniforms.
The Acropolis Museum. I believe was like 9 Euros to get in.
After exploring Athens, Greece we took a ferry to Santorini. The ferry was 37 euros pp, but we upgraded when we got on the ferry. I'll explain why in a bit. We took the train near our hotel, which was about 20 minute walk. I maybe exaggerating, but when you a logging around a suitcase, it's far! lol The train got us right infront of our ferry boat. Port 37.
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| This is the train station in Piraeus. You wouldn't know it was a train station. |
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| The Ferry boat. Which is HUGE! |
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| This is basically what 37 Euros gets you. Unless you get on the ferry early you maybe lucky to get better seats but it's usually packed! |
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| We paid 4.5 Euros to upgrade and got Air Seats. So much more comfortable! |
Everyone and their brother smokes in Greece! Another reason we upgraded, because I couldn't stand the smell of smoke.
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| You can also upgrade to a cabin. It has beds. I don't remember how much they are but you can find price online. www.greeceferries.com or www.ferriesingreece.com |
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| On the ferry they have a Goodys. 7 Euros for sandwich & fries. |
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| The seat number is in the back of seat. Someone might be seating in your seat, but you'll have to show them your ticket that you paid for it. And kick them off. |
On the ferry, you stop at several ports. You get a chance to see other islands.
The ferry is 9 hours from Piraeus Port to Santorini.
The Port of Thira, also known as Fira, is crazy busy and you'll get haggled once you get there. The information center isn't a real information place. More like a pushy travel agent asking if you need a taxi, or rental car. Please keep in mind that they are direct. You won't get a clear answer from anyone, but maybe another tourist. Also keep in mind that it's a long way up. It's a cliff.
Several ways to get to your hotel.
1. Pay 30 Euros each way for a transfer with your hotel.
2. Rent a car, but make sure you have international license with you.
3. Take taxi.
4. Take the local bus which is 2.20 Euros.
We opt to do the local bus. Was cheap and easy. The bus went from Port to Fira/Thira and there you can transfer to another bus to Oia or other places on the Island for 1.60 Euros.
You could take the local bus to see the whole Island for cheap.
We went straight to Oia, Greece.
We got off the bus and there is an information center, but again more like a agent. They were very nice. She called to have our hotel pick us up, but after waiting forever no one came. So we decided to find it ourselves. Our hotel was Resident Suites, but Best Western operated it. So they suggest going to Best Western to get assistance to our suites. It took us forever to find the place and the people there were NO HELP! NO ONE wanted to help. I was ready to burn the village down at this point. FINALLY a nice local man helped my husband find Best Western.
I wanted to just leave at this point. I was so upset.
From what I gather, Best Western seems to be the main hub for most of the hotels in Oia. Hotels in Oia don't have address. So incase your hotel tells you to check-in at Best Western, here is the way to it from the bus stop/taxi/parking area.
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| Right in the corner you'll see supermarket and a ice cream shop. Continue right. |
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| You know your are going the right way if you see the Blue Sky restaurant. |
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| You see a huge Church. Continue right. |
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| In front of the Church you'll see this gorgeous view! |
Continue walking and Best Western is on your right. It's almost hidden but it is the Only Red building on the whole island. When my husband got there no one was at the counter. When someone finally showed up they were pretty rude until he mentioned we were in the Honeymoon Suite.
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Entrance to our Suite.  |
More pictures of our Suite. Buffet style breakfast was included and had a view.
Just up the way we ate at this restaurant and was super yummy. Prices were good. It was 30 Euros for both James and I. It had a view.
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| You might see this little guy there he's a cute. |
They have donkeys that you can ride. ATV's or scooters to rent for 25 Euros a day, but make sure you have your international license. In Fira/Thira they have a cable car you can go on and take a donkey ride back up. I'm not sure how much though. Fira/Thira has a Chinese restaurant. My husband loves Chinese food. Fira/Thira has more of the shopping and activities. Oia is more relaxing.
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| The sunset point at the Old Oia Castle |
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| Beautiful sunset. If you walk down to the little area down by the sunset point, they serve fresh seafood. I don't like seabugs! Ewww lol |
I found these in Fira. They seem to be cheaper.
We decided to walk around and we stumbled upon a vineyard. I had to pee so bad and stopped here. Come to find out it was a vineyard and they had a cute restaurant. We did the wine tasting wich was 13.50 Euros. So worth it.
If you are like us...Cheap...lol we just walked around and explored.
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| Oia has more of the Blue roof Churches than Fira |
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| Fira |
but the atmosphere and food is really good. It doesn't have a view and a little hard to find. It's in Oia.
I hope this was helpful. I like to included prices and more pictures. So please don't hesitate to go, just go! ;)
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