Travel Articles

Travel to Greece: Our First Experience Abroad Since 2020

Afternoon beverage by the sea in Mykonos

In October of 2021, we made a return trip to Athen’s and the Greek Isles, during what appears to be the end of year two of the COVID-19 pandemic. As passionate (some might say obsessive) international travelers, we couldn’t wait to get back over “the big pond” and Greece’s travel regulations and guidelines gave us the perfect opportunity to do so. The trip wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies however, so I wanted to write up this post to give insight into how we decided to go, how we actually managed to make it work and finally, how it went…

Our formula for making the go / no go decision:

First and foremost, traveling to Greece wasn’t an easy decision for us to make. There were so many thoughts creeping into our heads about going…What if we got stuck there? What if we got COVID and brought it back to our girls? Were restaurants and shops open? Was it even socially responsible to go?

So we did our research on the questions that gave us the most concern:

Rooftop of La Plaka hotel (Athens)

  1. Could we get stuck in Greece? This was the toughest risk to take because technically the answer was yes. If we tested positive before returning home, Air France would not allow us on our flight. We would need to test negative before returning home. The girls would need child care…

  2. Was everything open? Yep, sure was. (And as it turns out, it was a booming year for American tourists in Greece.)

  3. Was it risky to bring home COVID? We decided to address this one from a couple directions. First and foremost, we watched COVID numbers in Greece and decided that a significant downward trend in cases would give us the green light. We also directionally followed Greek vaccination rates (71% at the time).

  4. Was it socially responsible to go? Well, I guess it depends on which way you want to look at it. We are fully vaccinated travelers, obeying the rules set forth by governing bodies on both sides of the ocean (including mask wearing). So we decided that we could either set a great example of how we could socially responsibly travel (if this is truly the new way of life), or we could not go and leave it up to someone else.

And obviously, if I’m writing this, we decided to green light the trip. Throughout our trip, we wore our CDC approved N95s (on flights and in airports), ate primarily outside, upgraded tickets where possible to reduce crowds and obeyed the rules set forth by Greece. While I completely respect anyone else that wouldn’t have made the same decision, we are extremely grateful that we went.


Travel abroad is stressful enough right? (How we navigated this new travel experience).

Making the decision to travel was one thing, but actually executing on it was another. We’re used to the unpredictability and obsessive planning that international travel requires … outside of pandemic requirements. But this new age of travel brought on a whole new wave of hoops, jumps and side-skips to navigate. Here’s the detailed version of what we needed and researched to get to Greece, travel within Greece and then get back to the United States:

Kailah dockside in the old port of Mykonos

  1. To get into Greece (and board the flight in the US): Vax card (fully dosed) or proof of negative viral COVID test 72 hours prior to departure, or a doctors note showing full recovery from COVID in the previous 90 days. (Please note that we traveled through Paris, as French requirements accepted vaccination to transit through their country at the time of our travel). Also, Greece randomly tests arrivals into the country with rapid COVID tests. If you test positive, you will be expected to quarantine. We did not get tested, but saw several travelers diverted to temporary testing booths.

  2. Passenger Locator Form (PLF): this document is also required by Greece for entry into the country. IMPORTANT: you need to fill this our 48 hours before your departing flight (It might actually be 48 hours before arrival, but just play it safe). If you do not do this, you will not be allowed on your flight. Link to the form here.

  3. Passport and surgical mask: Ah, yes the passport is still required. A surgical mask is also required during the flight. We chose the PurDefense N95 masks, as they are approved by the CDC for effectiveness.

  4. Internal Greek travel: When traveling to the islands by air or boat, we had to comply with the same rules as in #1 and #3 above AND needed to fill out a passenger health questionnaire before boarding this boat. This was sent via email before departure from the booking company. An electronic version of this document was acceptable.

  5. Indoor restaurant seating: On our first night on the island of Santorini we had planned to eat at our favorite Imerovigli restaurant called the Aegeon Restaurant. We had reservations to sit on the side of the caldera, in the open air. The October weather had other plans for us, so we were forced to be inside. The restaurant required a fully dosed vaccination certificate in order to sit down and be served.

  6. Return trip to the United States: to board our flight back into the US, we had to fulfill #3, show a negative viral test within three days of our departing flight (specifically three days instead of 72 hours, as the US gives this flexibility in our policy) and fill out a passenger attestation regarding COVID. The attestation paperwork is handed out at the gate before the flight. Please note that a vaccination card is not sufficient to board your flight for the US. However, we found it EXTREMELY easy to find viral testing stations all over Greece. The process took a total of 30 minutes from test taking to results being received and cost us 15 euros a test (~$17). This is a European approved test and meets the requirements of the US.

Phew…that’s it? ;)

The famous windmills of Mykonos

Lastly, was it worth it?

If you are still reading, you must be wondering “Sooo was it all worth it?!”. The short answer from Kailah and I is that it was absolutely worth jumping through all of the hoops to be able to spend time together doing what we love. With that being said, I can easily see why this would be an incredibly stressful experience for some people and far from the relaxing vacation that they desire. After all, we LOVE planning, booking and experiencing. Not everyone loves all three.

So what went as expected and what didn’t?

What worked:

  • All of our planning and research relating to COVID travel to Greece paid off big time. The transportation side of the trip went very smoothly (we had all of our documentation / requirements).

  • Everything was OPEN. We didn’t experience any issues with businesses not being open while in Greece.

  • Time of year. October was the perfect time to visit Greece. We loved the low crowds, slightly cheaper cost and still very pleasant temperatures (65-75 F the entire trip).

  • It’s freaking Greece…it’s just a beautiful country, with incredible food and people. We can’t wait to be back and explore more of the islands.

What didn’t:

Naousa, Paros from our drone’s view

  • Boston Logan economy parking is still completely closed (we had to spend significantly more to park in Central Parking last minute).

  • Airport restaurants haven’t fully recovered / adjusted to the ever changing pandemic. For example, there was only one restaurant open at Boston Logan when we arrived for our 5:30 PM flight (we wanted to grab dinner before the 7 hour trip to Paris). Another restaurant finally opened up right before our flight, but they hadn’t even renewed their liquor license yet.

  • We had a ferry cancel on us right before the trip (we assume due to the lack of passengers). It ended up being one of two ferries from Mykonos to Paros that day, so we ended up needing to take a late ferry to Paros and didn’t get to spend much time on the island.

Sunset from Imerovigli (Near our hotel)

All in all, this was another incredible adventure for us. The only problem is that it “scratched an itch” that only further fed our passion for international travel. It left us remembering how amazing the world still is (after being so isolated for so long) and finding ourselves constantly thinking about getting back out there and helping others do the same.

For those thinking about any COVID-era trip, I hope this helps provide a lens into the challenges, but benefits of getting back out into the world.

Cheers!

Kyle

Low Cost and High Value of Southeast Asia

As I mentioned in my previous post, this blog entry is an extension of cost effective travel, focused specifically on our experiences in Southeast Asia. While we aren’t experts on the this area of our world, we are experts on cost and logistics and SE Asia is hands-down the place to get the most bang for your buck when traveling.

Cassia Cottage, Phu Quoc Vietnam

Cassia Cottage, Phu Quoc Vietnam

For many Westerners like us, it’s truly difficult to comprehend the low cost of Southeast Asia. Sure, the flight to get over there generally isn’t cheap (or short), but once you arrive, you can literally stay and eat for under $50 a day. That’s food, drink AND lodging. And it isn’t like you are staying in a tiny apartment, with an alley view and your neighbor is blaring his music. We’re talking white sandy beach, towering limestone cliffs, sparkling green water, authentic Thai cuisine and more Singha than you can possibly consume. You can even spend the day pampering elephants, if that’s what you are looking for…

Alright, lets get to the nuts and bolts…or in this case, the dollars and cents. Keep in mind that the flight cost is an estimate and will vary based on your airport and time of year (I have estimated high to prove cost effectiveness). Also, for SE Asia, I’m sticking to the entire country, opposed to specific towns, as I think there is more value at looking at these destinations holistically.

Thailand - ($1100 flights + $650 food/stay +$200 elephant nature park = $1,950/8 days/pp)

Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai Thailand

Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai Thailand

It doesn’t get any better than Thailand. As I described in detail above, you can literally “have your cake and eat it too” in this unbelievable destination. Who wouldn’t want to walk through the jungle with gentle giants and then fly down for some sunny Thai beach relaxation? And for $1950?! If you want to learn more about this cost estimate and the exact itinerary behind it, check out our Thailand itinerary here for exactly where we stayed and ate (FYI - when calculating the cost for this post, I subbed out Rayavadee luxury resort for a highly rated neighboring hotel called Sand Sea Resort to save big bucks). The only negative that I can think of when visiting any country in SE Asia is the overall travel time (16 - 25 hours). But as we always say…just book the flight!

Cost notes:

Chankam Boutique Hotel, Chiang Mai Thailand

Chankam Boutique Hotel, Chiang Mai Thailand

  • The elephant sanctuary that we visited in Chiang Mai (socially responsible park catering to abused elephants and other animals - check out our vlog here!) is only $200 for a full day adventure; walking, feeding and bathing these gentle giants. The day is called “pamper a pachyderm” and can be booked directly through their site at www.elephantnaturepark.org. We also stayed in Chiang Mai for $70/night in a beautifully decorated Thai accommodation called Chankam Boutique Hotel, right in the heart of the city.

Railay Beach, Krabi Thailand

Railay Beach, Krabi Thailand

  • You can stay on Railay Beach for well under $100/night - close to bars, restaurants and water transport to nearby Phi Phi islands (and Phuket). We routinely ventured down the beach for $5 lunch gyros and a $1 20 oz Singha bottled lager.


Thailand is…

Perfect for: SE Asia cuisine, nightlife, beach vacation, elephant sanctuary, warm weather, low cost

Not perfect for: Short travel time, craft beer, wine, high end dining (outside of Bangkok)

For more info on the details of our stay, visit our exact itinerary here.


Vietnam - ($1,050 flights/shuttles + $525 food/stay +$70 Island tour and cable car = $1,645/8 days/pp)

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I don’t think we have been anywhere that has THIS much value. Not only is everything incredibly inexpensive, but Vietnam is also very safe. When you combine safety and cost with the food, culture and beauty, it is truly a must visit destination. While Ho Chi Minh is a bit more expensive (as far as SE Asia goes), the island of Phu Quoc was nothing short of unbelievable. I can vividly remember the day I realized how much money I was saving. I was waiting for Kailah to do some shopping near our hotel, so I sat down at an outdoor restaurant nearby for a beer. It was 85 degrees, palm trees swaying overhead and my bottle of Saigon Red lager was going down smooth. I got up to leave and paid my 11,500 Vietnamese Dong. As I was walking away, I was doing the math in my head and realized that my beer cost 50 cents…at a restaurant!

Cost notes:

Bun Cha Ha Noi, Phu Quoc Vietnam

Bun Cha Ha Noi, Phu Quoc Vietnam

Long Beach, Phu Quoc Vietnam

Long Beach, Phu Quoc Vietnam

  • There is a Bun Cha restaurant (Called Bun Cha Ha Noi) near where we stayed on Phu Quoc that makes this incredible dish for $2.20 USD. It’s a great value, and I would pay $15 for this meal back in the US because it is so delicious.

  • We literally ate dinner ON the beach, with our toes in the sand, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand (yes, Vietnam borders the Gulf of Thailand) for under $20 (with several drinks). We sat there, mostly by ourselves, drank fruity drinks out of hollowed out coconuts and devoured Vietnamese cuisine.

  • In our Vietnam itinerary that we published (link below), it references Cassia Cottage as our Phu Quoc accommodation. For the purpose of this post, I chose one of the other accommodations on Long Beach, as they are much more inexpensive and come highly rated. We would still recommend Cassia Cottage (incredible value, food and accommodation), but I wanted to emphasize the low cost of Vietnam.

Vietnam is…

Perfect for: SE Asia cuisine, nightlife, beach vacation, bee farm, gondola, warm weather, low cost

Not perfect for: Short travel time, craft beer, wine, high end dining (outside of Ho Chi Minh)

For more info on the details of our stay, visit our exact itinerary here.

Listen, I know SE Asia is a LONG way to travel for a “vacation” on a beach. But any and all of these countries are so much more than just value and beautiful weather. The kind people and delicious cuisine alone are more than enough to plan an adventure. With that being said, I hope this post helped clarify the cost of the two SE Asia countries we’ve visited. If you want to read more about why we chose Vietnam as a destination, check out this post I wrote a while back.

Cheers!

Kyle

Yes, you can afford to travel abroad!

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I constantly hear people tell me that they “wish they could travel abroad” and then they turn around and book an all inclusive somewhere in the Caribbean for the same price, or more. What I’ve come to realize is that it isn’t cost holding them back, but rather, it’s the fear of the unknown. As travelers, we know that the expense for that all inclusive we booked is set in stone and we’re going to eat and drink our fill on a beautiful beach for a week. It’s very familiar to our past experiences. On the contrary, when we book a trip abroad, we generally don’t know what it will cost, or what our experience will be, so we fall back into our comfort zone - especially when a week of vacation is at stake. My goal with this post and future posts is to help build confidence in travel abroad and hopefully show how we can do it for a reasonable price.

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on our blog, so I thought it would be helpful to walk through the top three most cost effective destinations abroad that we’ve experienced while traveling from the US - especially as we can start to see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel (thanks vaccines!). Obviously, we haven’t been everywhere, so this list is purely from our perspective. I also think it is relevant to mention that “cost effectiveness” is relative to the travel style of the traveler. Kailah and I try and find the best “bang for our buck” without sacrificing location and experience (value-based travel). This means that we don’t stay in hostels and generally don’t pay for luxury. It isn’t that we look down on either of these accommodation styles, they generally just aren’t our “thing”. Beyond that, “cost effectiveness” is pretty straight forward – the value you get for the cost you pay - food, admissions, experiences etc.

Also, for the purpose of this post, I am going to leave out Southeast Asia, as the cost is so low, Europe and North American destinations can’t contend. I’ll write a subsequent post about our cost experiences in SE Asia. Lastly, all weekly costs that I mention are all-in (including food/drink), and assume that you fly out of Boston or New York, so estimates might vary depending on your airport.

Anyway, on to the fun stuff…

Ponta Delgada, Azores - $1400/pp for a week

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Whenever I talk about this location I feel like I’m giving away a true secret of the travel world. It has a temperate climate year-round, vibrant green hillsides, gorgeous lakes, natural hot springs and GREAT food and wine. We visited in late November and enjoyed walking around in sunny 65 degree weather during the day and then out again for dinner along the festive decorated streets. Besides the restaurants of Ponta Delgada and drinking and eating Azorean cuisine, there is plenty to do around the island. We took a full day private tour, bathed in the natural thermal baths, hiked for a jaw-dropping view of Sete Cidades and visited a natural salt water swimming pool.

Cost notes:

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  • Off season rates can get you as low as $90 ($150 high season) a night to stay right in the middle of Ponta Delgada (check our itinerary below).

  • We routinely found beers at a restaurant for $3 a glass and bottles of wine for under $10. The delicious Azorean cuisine was just as reasonable. Kailah and I ate and drank at A Tasca in Ponta Delgada (highly recommend) for under $60.

  • The full day tour we took cost us $200 and was completely private. Our driver was incredibly accommodating and brought us anywhere we wanted to go, including dropping us off at a restaurant and picking us up when we were done.

Ponta Delgada is…

Perfect for: A relaxing stay in a temperate climate, incredible views, hiking, Azorean cuisine, thermal baths

Not perfect for: sandy white beaches, night life, resorts, golf (although there are two courses)

For more info on the details of our stay, visit our exact itinerary here.

Montepulciano, Italy - $1600/pp for a week

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Tuscany is obviously much more well known than the Azores, but Montepulciano belongs on this list. With so much commercialization in local cities (and even in Montepulciano), it’s difficult to find a place that makes you feel like you are IN Italy. The rolling hills and vineyards are exactly what you dream of. And the food and wine? Indescribable. The fact that it is inexpensive is why I am writing about it. Where else can you rent a farmhouse stay (called an agriturismo) for less than $80 a night and then go out with your party of four for a Florentine steak, with red wine carafes for under $100?

Cost notes:

  • As I mentioned, there are many agriturismo options surrounding Montepulciano that you can book for under $100. We stayed in a very nice and rustic agriturismo for $60/night back in 2013

  • Our favorite restaurant in the world, Osteria Aquacheta, is located in Montepulciano and is mentioned below in our itinerary. It is an incredible example of low cost. Their Florentine steaks are enormous, delicious and fairly priced based on the weight. In addition, the restaurant offers entire carafes of local wine for 6 euro (~$8).

  • You can save a ton of money in Tuscany and eat like royalty by buying local wine, meats, cheeses, breads and vegetables.

Montepulciano is…

Perfect for: high quality wine (at low cost), local food (meats, bread, cheeses etc), scenery, authentic Italy

Not perfect for: beaches, bars, night life, seafood, beer

For more info on the details of our stay, visit our exact itinerary here.


Dingle, Ireland - $2000/pp for a week

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Dingle is my favorite town on Ireland’s west coast. While it is very well known at this point, it still retains it’s small town Irish feel, with its vibrant pub culture and some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. It meets my low cost criteria because accommodations can be as low as $150 a night and many of the excursions can be done at no cost (check out our itinerary, link below).

Cost notes:

  • We’ve stayed at Murphy’s B&B twice now and love it because it’s around $150/night and located directly over Murphy’s pub. It’s also within walking distance of every store and pub in Dingle (and the owner serves an amazing Irish breakfast every morning, which is included).

  • Again, if you wanted to shave more cash off, you could always shop at Garvey’s SuperValu (1 min walk)

Dingle is…

Perfect for: bars/pubs, Irish culture, whiskey, traditional music, coastline scenery, golf

Not perfect for: wine, resorts, public transportation, food variety

For more info on the details of our stay, visit our exact Ireland itinerary here.

Cheers! - Kyle