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Visiting Greece is on most people’s bucket lists, but there really aren’t a lot of reasons to put it off with so many excellent hotel choices available, many of which can be booked with points at a relatively achievable price point, and some can even be booked with the points you’d easily get with many credit card’s welcome bonuses.
Which airlines fly nonstop to Athens?
Who wants to connect when you can get to Greece directly from the United States? There are a few airlines that offer non-stop service to Athens year round and others offer seasonal flights for the summer.
Seasonally, American Airlines offers nonstop service from Chicago, New York’s JFK, and Philadelphia while Delta offers its seasonal service from Atlanta, Boston, and New York’s JFK. United, not to be left out of the fun, also runs seasonal service from Chicago, Newark and Washington Dulles.
Two airlines offer nonstop year-round service with varying levels of luxury. A low-cost newcomer to the market, Norse Atlantic Airways starts their nonstop service this summer from New York JFK and Emirates operates a unique fifth freedom route from Newark to Athens, with continuing service to Dubai.
All are bookable using points and miles but since prices can vary, make sure to check the miles cost compared to the cash cost before booking or transferring any points from your credit cards.
Hyatt
Halkidiki, another coastal region in mainland Greece, also deserves both a mention as well as a visit. Known for its forests and the sandy beaches protected by the region’s three peninsulas, you’ll find that Hyatt has the best foot print when it comes to this area. The Zoetry Halkidiki Resort & Spa can be booked starting at 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night. With Mr. & Mrs. Smith folding under the World of Hyatt family, two other properties are within reach too; the Danai and the Eagles Palace, each on their own individual peninsula within the region.
With either the personal or the business versions of Hyatt’s credit cards, your welcome bonus will help you book at least a couple nights at the Zoetry, and although point bookings aren’t open for the Mr. & Mrs. Smith properties, cash bookings are possible and you can earn points while staying there.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Intro bonus
30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent.
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Regular APR | 21.49%–28.49% variable |
Marriott Bonvoy
One of the best kept secrets—at least for now—is that when visiting Greece, you should never, under any circumstances miss out on seeing the mainland’s coastline. While most visitors go straight for the Greek Isles, from Crete to Mykonos to Santorini, you’ll find a more authentic experience and much more amicable prices elsewhere. Costa Navarino, in the Peloponnese region, offers an idyllic complex of hotels including the Westin Resort Costa Navarino and the recently opened W Costa Navarino, both beachfront properties facing the Ionian sea where you can enjoy relaxing views from your rooms and the multiple pools.
If you’re looking for a spectacular use of your 50,000 point free night certificates, the Westin Costa Navarino comes in for the win. Many nights are at or near 50,000 points each, so if you’re a little short you can always top-up your certificate for up to 15,000 points each night. If you do use your points, don’t forget that you can extend your stay and get your fifth night free when redeeming.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
See Rates and Fees
Intro Bonus
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
| Annual fee | $650 |
| Regular APR | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
IHG
Because Athens is a mandatory stop on any Greek trip, not just because all flights will land in the country’s capital but because it’s absolutely worth a short visit to see the sights, IHG has a great option in town to do just that. The InterContinental Athenaeum Athens is perfect for a stay right in the heart of Athens, in fact, about a 25-minute walk to the Acropolis. You can book your stay for around 33,000 IHG points per night with the fourth night free on award bookings for cardholders.
Once you’ve seen all the UNESCO sites we all grew up learning in school, you can indulge in a visit to one of the most famous Greek Isles, Crete. There, you’ll find another IHG gem, the InterContinental Crete, with gorgeous views of the Mirabello Bay. Each night will set you back 45,000 IHG points per night.
With the welcome bonuses from any of the three credit cards offered by IHG, you’ll be able to book at least two nights at the InterContinental in Athens, and you might even get four nights with the larger bonus from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Intro bonus
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| Annual fee | $99 |
| Regular APR | 21.49%–28.49% variable |
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card may command a $99 annual fee (which is $99 more than its baby brother, the IHG One Rewards Traveler) but it piles on the perks and benefits to compensate. With a 140,000-point welcome bonus (after meeting the minimum spending requirement), instant Platinum Elite status (granting free upgrades/early check-in), up to 16X on IHG purchases, an automatic free anniversary night, and $150 in travel credits it’s virtually impossible not to glean $99 worth of value from this card.
That said, its IHG One Rewards points are really only good towards future IHG stays and upgrades so it’s no good as a general-use travel card. And if you’d rather not have yet-another annual fee to worry about—regardless of value—the Traveler card is a better fit.
But if you’re even considering staying at an IHG property this year (Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza etc.), the IHG One Rewards Premier card is a must-have.
Rewards Rates
- 10x10X on IHG purchases
- 5xEarn 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3xEarn 3X points on all other purchases
Pros
- Staggering welcome bonus which when leveraged properly could get you over a week of stays
- Automatic Platinum Elite status grants free upgrades and early check-in
- Free night upon card renewal
- Fourth night free on award bookings
Cons
- Limited redemption options outside of IHG
- IHG points are worth less than some other rewards currencies
- Anniversary night certificate is capped
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- Additional perks: $50 annual United credit, TSA/Global Entry rebate, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to Diamond status
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- Foreign transaction fee: None
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Hilton
Visiting the southernmost Greek Isle of Crete is made really easy with Hilton, as the hotel chain operates five different properties on the island. There are two properties worth highlighting both because of their absolute beauty but also because they consistently come in at a rather cheap points price. Isla Brown Chania Resort, and the Numo Ierapetra Beach Resort Crete, both from the Curio Collection by Hilton can be booked within the 70,000 to 80,000 points per night.
If you’ve earned a free night from spending $15,000 on your American Express Hilton card, you can use them at these properties.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
See Rates and Fees
Intro Bonus
Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership (Offer Ends 7/31/2024)
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Regular APR | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
Bottom Line
Greek white sand beaches and cool ocean breezes are just a quick flight away from the U.S., and staying in luxury is easier than ever when you use your points and miles. While summer hotel prices can jump up during the busy travel season, you won’t have to worry as reward points can shave hundreds, if not thousands of dollars off of the cost of your vacation.
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Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
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