Our dreamy honeymoon to Greece (within a budget)

Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport. The stories associated with my honeymoon trip to Greece are the ones I would cherish for reasons more than one. The travel experience turned out to be splendid of course but what also did set this trip apart was how we went about achieving a dream trip within the limitation of a budget.

Greece being a mutual favourite between my partner and myself, I had to put my travel planning skills to use and work it out in the best way possible. Another detail that worked out in our favor was the month of travel which was May. Collating hours of research and study, we managed to draft out the perfect honeymoon trip to Greece. Attaining the best of experiences staying within the budget was tricky but possible nonetheless. A well calculated balance between local commute, luxurious and economical stay options, a catamaran ride and cruise experience worked wonders.

The foremost step was picking the most suitable flight timings to avoid hotel stays for a short time. We went ahead with Etihad Airways with a layover at Abu Dhabi. A quick tip, do check with your Credit/Debit card provider about your eligibility for a free entry into the airport lounges.

Mykonos

The capital of Greece, Athens was our first location. We chose to stay in the hillside Plaka neighbourhood of Athens. Since we were to spend most our time exploring the city, we booked a rather economical hotel which would serve us comfortable access to the public transport. After exploring the streets of Athens and Acropolis we advanced to our next destination Mykonos – the party island of Greece through an early morning ferry. Picking the correct time slot for transport is vital to avoid misspending. Staying in the whitewashed paradise that is old Mykonos town was mesmerising beyond words. The narrow lanes of the old town were abounding with beauty at every nook and corner and so much so to make a lazy walker like me ecstatic to explore it on foot. Partying at the Skandinavian Bar and Paradise beach was definitely a highlight.

After having a gala time in Mykonos, we reached the final and most calming end of the trip – Santorini. To save on ferry tickets, we opted for an indirect route (Mykonos – Naxos – Santorini). Perks of advance planning, we could avail the ferry tickets which otherwise tend to fill up super quick during peak season.

Santorini

This was the time to splurge on a cave hotel and make the most of our moments in a romantic place like Santorini. The gorgeous view of Caldera and Aegean sea was the best of all. After 3 days of intense travel when all I could want was a lazy Sunday evening (as we were to leave for our journey home the following morning) my partner had other ideas up her sleeve. After I crashed on the bed she sneaked out to get us tickets for a sunset Catamaran ride. I was super excited on seeing the tickets but also slightly nervous since this would be a first. Upon boarding the Catamaran, my nervousness vanished in the air and we had a splendid time together. It counted as a new & cherish-able experience for both of us.

How could we leave this gem of a location without capturing its true beauty! It was then time for a couple photoshoot we prebooked at Oia while planning the trip. This was also our preferred alternative to an elaborate prewedding shoot.

We flew back to India from Santorini through Athens with a box full of memories. A well planned trip not only saves us the moolah but also doubles up the amazing experience.