Greece on a Teacher's Salary (Budget Included)
Did someone say Greece? If you're wondering where I've been for the past month, I was living my best life in Greece and Amsterdam.
Before you pocket watch, this blog is about going to Greece on a minimal budget, specifically a teacher's salary. The average Greek vacation costs, for a couple, ranges between $2500 and $9,000. We traveled for $2500 a person, which included flights, lodging, meals, excursions, transportation, and more.
So why Greece?
Ancient Greece paved the way for art, poetry, math, architecture, trade, religion, etc. Greece was the central hub of the ancient world. I’m a huge history buff and visiting historic sites are my jam.
Last winter, my partner asked me where I would like to travel. We used Google flights and found inexpensive flights from Houston (the closest major airport). I embarked on a YouTube binge to learn more about Greece. I consumed blogs like Greece Travel Secrets and Ian and Anna's Youtube channel.
I initially wanted to go to Mykonos and Santorini. But after much research, we discovered that Santorini and Mykonos are two of the most expensive islands in Greece. It's also super crowded and reminiscent of Las Vegas, which we were not interested in exploring.
We learned about the island of Milos and how it was a hidden gem. It was relatively inexpensive and gave all of the relaxation vibes. Milos is one of many Greek islands. It offers beaches, good restaurants, trails, and more. We booked our in-country flights, round-trip tickets, and hotels. Our flights cost about $1,000 each because we waited to purchase flights about 3 months out. We then booked our in-country flights for about $300 (Milos can only be reached via ferry or plane). Lastly, I booked our hotel stays in Athens (2 nights) and Amsterdam (1 night) using points and cash. ($109 total)
We didn't book any tours aside from kayaking ($130) (through Viator) and the Acropolis ($20/pp).
Are you a planner, or do you go with the flow? We are go with the flow, people. This trip was all about rest and relaxation. My partner even interviewed and secured a job on this trip! I am so glad we had the freedom to explore on our own. We also rented a vehicle (and was upgraded to a Mercedes Benz) for $250 for a 6-day trip! (We spent $100 for insurance)
Greece and Amsterdam showed me that life can be extra slow. You don't need to rush. You can take your time. It's the feeling I don't necessarily get while living in the US. Everyone is in a hurry. From the traffic to the drive-through, we're all rushing from point A to point B. Each morning, we sat on our patio and enjoyed pastries, juice, and coffee (a perk from our hotel). I truly could let my hair down and enjoy the Greek Isle sun, wind, and water.
Our original flight took us to Paris, but we had an issue and had to re-book our flights. I knew I wanted to stay somewhere overnight, and Amsterdam was available. Amsterdam is a lovely city. It was immaculate, offering fantastic food, easy-to-use public transportation, and much more. Most of the residents we noticed were on bikes; there was even a free ferry from one side of the city to the other. Amsterdam is easily one of my favorite countries.
Going abroad helped me lean into the idea of slowing down. It also enabled me to see a different side of life. I currently live in a driver-filled city. There are cars everywhere and it's difficult to find places to unwind that aren’t heavily commercialized. As I look for my next place to live, I desire to live in an area that offers affordable and safe public transportation, outdoor spaces, affordable amenities and more. Who knew an overseas vacation would help me see the world so differently?
Check out our budget below. I have a finance background and plan every significant expense with a spreadsheet. We traveled right before the summer season, which starts May 1. We avoided the crowds and the inflated costs that summer brings. I used points and cash for our overnight stays in Athens and Amsterdam. Our evening meals were shared, so we saved money there. Our most expensive expense were the flights from the US and our lodging in Milos. ($850 for 5 nights)
Over the next year, I plan to travel more and share my travels via this blog and on my Instagram. I love to travel and hope to share that traveling doesn’t have to be expensive or intimidating!
I plan to write another blog post regarding where we stayed and the activities we did in between. I hope this post encourages you to take the time and plan your next vacation. This trip was about five months in the making. We could’ve scored cheaper flights had we booked in advance. Lessons learned. If you enjoyed this blog post, please share it with a friend!
