This is the first in what will be a series of posts created specifically with others in mind. I often dream about the idea of luxury travel, all the while admiring those who travel on a shoe string budget. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle; splurging here and there, not sleeping in shared rooms, but not able to afford certain high-end luxuries. I thought it would be fun to create a series where I select one city and describe what I would do/or have done there on 2 different types of budgets. This way, as a reader and planner, you can stick with one, pick aspects from both, or completely create your own adventure. But, it allows for some fun thinking and planning about different places!
Low Budget:
First of all, Santorini isn’t exactly the most low budget place no matter how you slice it, but there are definitely ways to enjoy this beautiful city without completely breaking the bank.
Transportation: Getting around Santorini by bus is quite affordable and actually not very complicated. Sure, at times you wont get to your destination quickly, but you’ll eventually get there, and without breaking the bank. You can bus from Fira to most other locations you’d want to see on the island. This makes Fira a good point to start for low budget accommodation as well.
Accommodation: For lower budget travelers, accommodation is likely to be more affordable in Fira than in Oia. It will also be more affordable if the hotel is lacking a view, and/or located a bit outside of the main tourist areas. We also find that booking an Airbnb can be more affordable than a hotel, and because you can cook your own meals at home, can stretch a budget even further. Most times, markets are the most affordable places to buy food so this all adds up to spending less money. Traveling with friends and sharing rooms can also reduce costs; when we traveled to Greece, we shared our rooms with a couple of friends.
After a quick search, some options that look good & affordable to me (as of Spring 2023):
“Fira Backpackers Place” is coming in at $53 USD per night for a dorm room in July
There are rooms in dorms as low as $22-28 USD at the hostel “Utopia Guesthouse” & “Youth Hostel Anna“.
Hotels are a bit pricier in Fira on booking.com, but if you are without a vehicle and need to be closer to the town area, then this is likely a compromise you’ll want to make. “Porto Castello” has rooms for $86 per night, and is the only hotel currently listed for under $1oo USD on booking.com. “Melina Hotel” and “Philippion Hotel” also come in pretty reasonably and with decent enough reviews.
If you choose to book any of these accommodations through my links I will make a small commission at no cost to you. This helps me to continue to blog and share all of this info for free!
What to eat: As previously mentioned, you can go to markets to get food items for simple breakfasts, lunches, and even dinners. By shopping for local products (especially produce, meats, and cheeses) and seasonings, you can still enjoy the local cuisine, even if you make it yourself! There are also kabob and gyro places in Fira that are reasonably priced, great for grabbing a quick meal. We also found a few restaurants off the beaten path that were a bit more affordable and still just as good as the “hot spots”.
Things to Do:
-One of the most fun things we did during our time in Santorini, which was 100% free, was the hike from Fira to Oia. We got up early in the morning to make the trek, and it was stunning and really enjoyable. We got a taste of both towns and didn’t have to spend a dime. (Although we did spend a dime on same bakery goods to reward ourselves when we got to Oia.)
-You can enjoy the beaches for a free, or a small cost if you want a chair. Seats in the back rows on the beaches cost less than those closer to the ocean, so you can choose your seats based on your budget.
-Take a boat ride with a group. The bigger the group, most likely the cheaper your boat ride will be. However, all of the views, the sea, and the journey will still be beautiful and enjoyable, no matter the size of your group. Taking a boat ride around Santorini is an epic experience, and if you can squeeze it into your budget, it is well worth it.
-Watch the sunset! There are so many incredible places to watch sunsets on Santorini, and that is another wonderfully free activity! Many people love to watch the sunset in Oia and it is a beautiful experience… even if it is crowded! In some ways it added to the fun, you just have to have a good mindset going into it!
-Workout! We didn’t need any gyms or equipment to work out in Santorini, we went for runs, jumped rope, and used walls and other things around town to help us get our fitness on!
Money To Blow Budget:
Transportation: You could hire private drivers to get you around Santorini, or rent quads for the day to get around. Or, you could of course still take the bus like many other travelers, but you’ve got options!
Accommodation: This is where you get to have a lot of fun if you have “no budget” in Santorini. There are countless amazing resorts built into the cliffs between Fire and Oia, and closer to and within Oia itself. You can book places with almost limitless luxury, including private pools, floating breakfasts, spa services, or anything you could ever possibly think of.
Dreaming way big “Aspaki by Art Maisons” looks incredible and also has exceptional reviews. It has those cave like pools, views of Oia, and seemingly all the amenities you’d hope for! “Art Maisons Oia Castle” looks quite similar and also has similar impressive reviews. Wow, it is really fun to dream on some of these, “Abyss” looks amazing and has cave like rooms as well as amazing private pools and all the extras you’d want. To get an amazing room at a bit lower cost with excellent reviews also “Secret View Hotel” looks like a great choice! If you’d like to look further into any options I am always happy to help! Email planformedani@gmail.com
Where to Eat: With no budget, you definitely have your run of the town. Depending on how luxurious your accommodations are, you may want to have a few meals at your hotel. The restaurants in Amoudi Bay are incredible for both views and food, and not to be missed. One could argue that you should try to eat there once, even if you have a low budget. Another great idea would be to book one of several award-winning restaurants that boast sunset views, so you can enjoy the beauty of the sunset without the crowds, all while having a great meal.
Things to Do:
-I would still highly recommend the hike from Fira to Oia, or the reverse. Although free, I truly believe sometimes money can’t buy some of the best experiences.
-Hit up beach clubs. If you have the budget for it, Greek Islands have some of the most fun and incredible beach clubs in the world. Find a great place to spend the day (or night!) eating, drinking, dancing, and enjoying the beauty of the island.
-Take a private boat tour of the island. Sure, you could share a boat with others, but if you have no budget, why not rent your own private boat with a skipper for the day and enjoy getting to make all of your own decisions to do and see whatever YOU want?!
-Enjoy the sunset, but with an upgrade. With a “money to blow” budget, you can likely enjoy the sunset from your fancy balcony at your luxurious hotel, or from a great restaurant with priceless views and a cocktail.
-Do a wine private wine tour or tasting. Santorini has quite a number of wineries and a high number of visitors. Just like some of the other options mentioned, you could surely do a group tour to see a few of these wineries. But why not get a private tour where you can see what you want, when you want? You can schedule a private tour of the wineries that you want to see along with the necessary transportation for an awesome, worry-free day!
-Workout! If we had the big budget we’d likely find a gym to work out in or a nice hotel with a facility for fitness.
Overall I hope this helps you to start planning and thinking about a trip to Santorini!! It’s a wonderful, magical trip no matter how you do it! Hope this gives you some great ideas to get started! As always if you need any suggestions or advice please feel free to email planformedani@gmail.com
Plan for me dani 