How to reach Greece using points and miles in 2024

This collection of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and travel budgeting is presented in collaboration with The Points Guy.

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As reported by the UN World Tourism Organization, Greece ranked as the ninth most visited country globally last year. The allure is clear: With its vibrant history, acclaimed cuisine, and stunning islands, Greece is an ideal spot for both adventure seekers and those eager to dive into a land steeped in myths and legends. However, the costs of airfare and accommodations can add up. Plus, if you're island-hopping, ferry fares can further strain your travel budget.

Smart travelers find ways to make their trips more affordable by skillfully utilizing points and miles. We’ll guide you on how to turn your travel dreams into reality while maximizing your well-deserved rewards. If you’re new to points and miles, here’s everything you need to know about using points and miles to cut travel costs to Greece.

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The most affordable award flights to Greece

When planning your flight to Greece, the miles and points you've earned can often be redeemed for significant discounts or even completely free tickets. By using your points or miles wisely, you can greatly reduce airfare costs, making flights to Greece much more budget-friendly. Additionally, many airline alliances and partners allow you to use your points for a broader range of flights and routes, giving you more flexibility in your travel plans and creating more opportunities for savings.

These loyalty programs act as a valuable tool for budget-savvy travelers, allowing them to discover the stunning landscapes and rich history of Greece without overspending. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most affordable award flights to Greece and tips on how to accumulate the necessary miles:

• Lowest economy class fare to Greece: Starting at 30,000 Flying Blue miles round-trip.

• Lowest business class fare to Greece: 88,000 ANA miles round-trip.

• Lowest first-class fare to Greece: 135,000 Turkish miles round-trip.

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Air France-KLM Flying Blue

The Flying Blue program from Air France and KLM offers some of the best deals on economy-class flights to Europe. Off-peak travel from New York (JFK) to Athens costs just 30,000 miles round-trip—about half of what many airlines charge for award flights to Europe. For those flying from the West Coast, a ticket to Athens will require 40,000 miles in economy class.

With Promo Rewards, Flying Blue members can enjoy discounts of 50% or more on select routes, helping you conserve even more miles.

• Economy class: Starting at 30,000 miles round-trip.

• Premium economy class: Starting at 60,000 miles round-trip.

• Business class: Starting at 113,000 miles round-trip.

Flying Blue is a 1:1 transfer partner with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Venture, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou points. Occasionally, these programs provide bonus points on Flying Blue transfers, allowing you to use even fewer miles for your trip to Greece.

• Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months.

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months, worth $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel through Chase Travel℠.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months.

• Capital One Venture X Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months.

• American Express® Business Gold Card*: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 within the first 3 months.

• American Express® Gold Card*: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months, plus get 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases up to $100 in the first 6 months. Limited time offer ends 11/6/24.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months, worth $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

• American Express® Green Card: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first six months.

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All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

All Nippon Airways, a Japan-based Star Alliance airline, offers some of the most affordable business-class fares to Europe, including Greece. You’ll need only 88,000 miles round-trip for a business class ticket to Athens, which is about half of what programs like United Mileage Plus charge for the same ticket. ANA is also one of the few airlines that still maintains an award chart with low, regular, and high season pricing. Here are some of the best deals to Greece:

• Economy class: 55,000 ANA miles round-trip.

• Business class: 88,000 ANA miles round-trip.

• First class: 165,000 ANA miles round-trip.

The ANA Mileage Plan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards. You can exchange your points for ANA miles at a 1:1 ratio, though transfers typically take a few days. A welcome bonus from an Amex credit card can cover at least one round-trip ticket to Greece. Just be aware that Amex has a once-per-lifetime rule for credit card welcome bonuses, meaning if you’ve already received a bonus for a particular card, you probably won’t be eligible for it again:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership.

• American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card in the first 3 months.

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases worldwide up to $100 in the first 6 months. Limited time offer ends 11/6/24.

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Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles provides some of the most affordable Star Alliance flights to Greece. While economy and business class award rates are a bit higher than those of ANA Mileage Club, first-class tickets are particularly economical at just 135,000 Turkish miles round-trip.

• Economy class: 60,000 Turkish miles round-trip.

• Business class: 90,000 Turkish miles round-trip.

• First class: 135,000 Turkish miles round-trip.

Turkish Miles&Smiles boasts more transfer partners than ANA Mileage Club, simplifying the process of earning miles. Turkish offers a 1:1 transfer ratio with Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

• Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months from account opening.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

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Hotels in Greece that you can reserve with points

Hotel rates in Greece can be quite steep, particularly during the busy summer season. In sought-after and slightly secluded tourist spots like Santorini, luxury hotel prices can soar to $1,000 per night or higher. Fortunately, all major hotel chains operate properties across Greece that can be booked with points. By utilizing a co-branded hotel credit card, you can earn enough points for multiple complimentary nights and enjoy valuable elite status benefits for additional savings.

Based on a streamlined version of Dinogo Planet’s recommended Greece itinerary, we’ve crafted a four-stop Mediterranean journey, complete with hotel recommendations:

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Stop 1: Athens

The Hotel Grande Bretagne represents the pinnacle of luxury and convenience, making it the perfect option for an unforgettable stay in the heart of Greece's capital. Situated in the historic Syntagma Square, this renowned hotel is just a short stroll from premier shopping and ancient landmarks such as the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Plaka district. Nightly rates at this Marriott property begin at 50,000 points and can exceed 80,000 during high travel seasons.

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Stop 2: Mykonos

Mykonos is the perfect destination, combining breathtaking beaches, charming architecture, and a lively nightlife scene. This island is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the Aegean Sea, making it a paradise for sunbathers and water sports lovers alike. Hyatt features several properties available for booking with points. A complimentary night at the Category 6 Archipelagos Hotel ranges from 21,000 to 29,000 points per night for a Premium Sea View room. You can transfer Bilt or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt or redeem up to three free nights using The World of Hyatt Credit Card welcome bonus.

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Stop 3: Santorini

Renowned for its breathtaking scenery and unique allure, Santorini is an essential stop on any Greek adventure. Just a 2-hour ferry ride from Mykonos, this iconic location is both accessible and convenient. If you dream of staying in a white-washed building with stunning cliffside views without overspending, World of Hyatt points—earned through the World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card—are an excellent choice. The Category 8 Canaves Oia Suites can be booked for 35,000 to 45,000 points per night, allowing you to choose between a Junior Suite or a Superior Suite, each featuring a private plunge pool and breathtaking caldera views.

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Stop 4: Crete

As Greece's largest island, Crete has something to offer every traveler. Whether you're a history enthusiast eager to uncover the ancient ruins of Gortyna or an outdoor adventurer looking for scenic hikes in Samaria Gorge, Crete's varied landscape and rich heritage will satisfy your interests. It's also quite affordable when using points. You can secure a Deluxe room with sea views at Hilton’s Royal Senses Resort & Spa Crete for about 58,000 points per night. With the current welcome bonus from the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, you could enjoy up to three complimentary nights at this property. Additionally, the card grants automatic Diamond status, allowing you to receive the fifth night free on award bookings.

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Transportation and activities

Traveling between the mainland and various Greek islands can become quite expensive, with ferry fares ranging from $70 to $140 each way. You can mitigate these costs by using the Capital One Venture Rewards or Capital One Venture X cards, redeeming miles at a rate of one cent each for these purchases, provided they are categorized as travel expenses by Capital One.

Additionally, you may use Chase Ultimate Rewards for activities and ferry rides. The Chase Travel℠ portal enables cardholders to redeem points for travel, tours, and activities. Points hold a value of 1.25 cents for Chase Sapphire Preferred holders and 1.5 cents for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders.

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Final thoughts

Traveling to Greece can be affordable, allowing you to enjoy a rich experience without sacrificing trip duration or quality. By smartly utilizing travel credit card rewards, you can reduce costs on flights and book luxurious stays in Santorini, Athens, and more. Although many of these cards have annual fees, the savings on travel expenses can far outweigh them. Plus, numerous credit cards eliminate foreign transaction fees, saving you about 3% on overseas purchases.

Leveraging points and miles for airfare to Greece can transform the travel experience for those looking for budget-friendly options. In an era where international travel can be quite costly, loyalty programs and miles redemption provide a fantastic way to experience the wonders of Greece for much less.

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*Card eligibility and benefits may vary. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations apply. For further details, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Editorial note: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain. These statements have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any such entities.