Airbnb Apartment Rental In Santorini, Greece

August 19, 2020 by Roni Filed Under: Greece, Public Transportation, Rentals, Santorini, Travel

Airbnb in Santorini

As you know, I’m a big fan of apartment rentals and this Airbnb gem in Santorini was absolutely perfect. The place was simply lovely, it was compact and had everything I needed. I didn’t plan on doing any cooking so the hot plate provided was fine for me. There was a small fridge, plates, glasses, cutlery and a toaster so if you plan on making elaborate meals, this probably isn’t the right spot for you.

But the highlight of this apartment isn’t the actual place, it’s the incredible view. These pictures were taken from my balcony or from the landing above my apartment. The location couldn’t have been any better and as you can see the view was spectacular.

There was a local grocery store about 3 minutes away by foot which had all that I needed for my breakfast and lunch. I was able to buy delicious Greek wine for less than $10 a bottle! There is also a car rental agency directly across the street which is really convenient if that is what you decide to do. Another perk of this location is that the bus stop is almost directly in front of the complex.

The studio is small but with these surroundings, I didn’t spend much time inside. There is one double bed so keep that in mind if you decide to book and you are not a couple. If you are two people renting this space you need to be alright with being in close proximity to each other. Make sure to check the sleeping arrangements before you book your apartment.

When you stay in Santorini, make sure to rent your place with the Caldera view. Then you will be guaranteed to get views like these everyday of your vacation.

If you like this apartment, here are a few that are similar to this one and make sure to use this coupon to get $40 off your first stay:

1. Villa Fegari

2. Pura Vida Villa

3. Morfes House

4. Ananda Junior Suite

5. Luxury Villa

Does this look like the type of place you’d like to visit?

5 Tips to Determine Your Vacation Travel Budget

July 9, 2019 by Roni Filed Under: Public Transportation, Rentals, Roni's Reasons, Travel

Recently someone asked me about budgeting for their vacation. I know that is something many people struggle with so I decided to share my 5 tips for developing a vacation travel budget.

How long are you going to stay?
how much money are you going to spend on your airfare?
Where are you going to stay?
What do you want to see while traveling?
What kind of vacation do you want?

Vacation Travel Budgeting doesn’t have to be hard!

1. How long are you going to stay?

Think about it, how long you will be in a country/city will affect your budget. There is a big difference between staying a few days in Paris or staying a week (and if you’re staying in Paris, be sure to get my Paris guidebook to help you navigate the city!). The longer you stay the more money you will need. There is no set time you should stay at your destination. You have to figure out what you want to see and how long that will take.

If you stay longer that will give you more options as to what you can do, but can you afford it? Figure that out before you book your hotel and airfare. For instance, if you want to go to Jamaica and stay in a fancy resort like this one that Tomiko from Passports and Grub discusses, you have to think about the exchange rate (if that applies to your travels), how much things cost in your destination, and how you will get around the city to see everything you want to see.

Will you take taxis? Is there a metro? Can you ride the public bus and if so is it safe? Do you need to rent a car? All of these things need to be factored in because it will affect how long you can stay at your destination.

2. What will your airfare cost?

Airfare is something you can’t get around paying, it’s one of those fixed expenses in travel. I’m a big advocate of waiting for glitch fares or error fares to travel because you can travel for a substantially lower price.

If you can wait for one of these fares you will have more money to spend in your destination but if you choose to book your tickets without waiting for a sale, it wouldn’t make sense to plan everything else out and then wait until the last minute to get your airfare.

Start with your airfare and do everything else afterwards.

You need to be certain of your dates because it is no longer free to change the dates of your flights once you have paid for your ticket. Many airlines charge at least $50 to change your flight.

3. Where are you going to stay during your vacation travel?

This is the next thing you should do when budgeting. You have to know where you are staying and how much it will cost. Are you renting an apartment? Staying in a hostel? Getting a hotel? Or do you have friends in the area you can stay with? Whatever you decide, it needs to be confirmed so that you know what you will spend on accommodations.

These first three are crucial in budgeting. Why? Because once these major things are out of the way, you can then figure out how much money you need to bring with you. More than likely these first two expenses will be paid with your credit or debit card, and you just need to figure out how much more money you need to access.

4. What do you want to see while traveling?

I am not a museum person so unless it’s a famous museum that people would say to me, “Roni/Faida! You didn’t go see (insert famous museum here)” I skip it. Don’t worry, I have seen The Louvre, The Hermitage, The Prado, and I enjoyed them. However, I will skip a museum in a heartbeat. Museums just don’t do it for me so I hardly ever budget for seeing those. I don’t really buy souvenirs and I’m not a shopper so I don’t need money for any of that.

However, I love to eat. Eating out while I’m traveling is one of my favorite things to do so most of my money goes for food. If I’m going somewhere for a couple of weeks, I have to figure that I’m going to eat out at least twice a day because for breakfast I can eat local fruit and yogurt, and I normally fix my coffee (after I buy it at a local supermarket). You have to figure out what’s important to you and how much you are willing to spend on it.

5. What kind of vacation travel do you want?

I went to Italy and Paris with two girlfriends a couple of years ago (I talk about it here in a FB live) None of us were traveling with deep pockets but one of my friends (let’s call her Missy) CONSTANTLY complained about money. Before we left she asked me how much she should budget for the day. After she told me what she wanted to do I told her about 100 euro. She said she could do it on 50. Um…ok.

Well, how do you think that worked out? Everywhere we went she would comment on how much things were, complain that the food wasn’t enough for what she was paying, and just made things really uncomfortable and annoying for us.

She was so uptight about spending her money that it permeated everything she did. I personally don’t like to travel like that. I think it’s stressful and when you are traveling with other people, I think it’s rude. Neither of us had an unlimited supply of money but we did the things we could and enjoyed them.

Missy, however, radiated negativity because she was always upset if we wanted to eat at a nice restaurant or do anything that cost money. If you are comfortable traveling like that, then that’s fine. If that will stress you out, figure out what you realistically can do with the money you have and stay within your budget.

Using these 5 tips, you can easily come up with a vacation travel budget that lets you see what is important to you and enjoy your trip. It is always best to know how much you can spend while you are away before you leave.

The Travel Guru’s Buddy Pass Travel Guide

July 4, 2019 by Roni Filed Under: Flying, Planning, Public Transportation, Rentals, Roni's Reasons

Have you ever considered using a buddy pass?

Buddy pass travel is a perk that airline employees can share with those they choose. Almost every employee who works for an airline gets several buddy passes each year, it’s one of the perks of working for an airline (click here for 5 tips on using buddy passes).

Buddy passes (or pass riders) are standby tickets that can be used by family and friends in order to travel at a very reduced rate. You can’t buy a buddy pass from an airline, you can only get them from an airline employee. Buddy passes are not supposed to be sold for profit, you are only supposed to pay the taxes on the flight you want to take and nothing more.

For instance, if the taxes on a buddy pass are $150.00, that is all you should pay. You shouldn’t be asked to give the employee anything more, but there are many employees that do expect to be given cash in order for you to use their pass. People have misconceptions about flying with a buddy pass, and the ones listed below are the ones I hear most often.

1. A Buddy Pass gives you a guaranteed seat

I have seen the look of surprise on people’s faces when they don’t get on the flight they thought they were going to get on.

A buddy pass does not guarantee that you will get on the flight. It is only a guarantee that if there is enough open space, you will be able to fly. When you fly on a buddy pass, you are at the bottom of the priority list. If you are traveling with the employee who gave you the pass, then you get to fly with their priority.

2. You can wear whatever you want

No. There are dress codes for every airline when it comes to pass riders (buddy passes/companion passes). Make sure you know the standards before you try to board. I have been told I couldn’t board a flight if I didn’t change my clothing because I didn’t adhere to the standards of the airline. It wasn’t a big deal, I simply went into my carry-on bag (which had packing cubes, of course) and got an appropriate outfit.

Here are 7 ways you won’t ever get a buddy pass from anyone else ever. Not dresing properly is one of them.

Contrary to popular belief, the standards are set in place and must be followed. If not, you can be denied boarding. It is better to know and follow the rules than not know them and not be able to fly.

3. Buddy passes are great when you are planning a trip in advance

No. This is not true at all. Buddy passes are great for last-minute trips. There is a substantial difference between buying a last minute ticket and paying the taxes with a buddy pass. For instance, if someone lets you have a buddy pass, you only pay for the taxes. The taxes are the same if you buy the pass a year in advance or an hour in advance.

So if you want to go to Europe at the last minute, your taxes can be around $500 (of course taxes will vary from airline to airline) but that price is the same whether you decide to pay for your buddy pass a couple of days in advance or an hour in advance.

Have you ever priced a last minute trip to Europe? It’s several thousand dollars. Isn’t paying around $500 instead of $5,000 worth standing by? However, if you have exact dates you need to stick to, or you are planning your trip months in advance, you are better off buying a ticket because there is always a chance when you fly standby that you won’t get on the flight you want to be on.

4. You don’t have to abide by the same rules as everyone else when it comes to luggage

Yes, yes you do. While we do sometimes get perks like not getting charged for an extra bag, or maybe not having to pay for heavy bags, we still have to follow all the rules just like everyone else. A friend of mine told me that one of his family members asked if they could take a piece of checked luggage as a carry-on. Um no. You cannot. We are still under all the rules and regulations of TSA and we can’t carry anything in our bags that isn’t allowed.

5. Flying standby is hard

No, it is not. I have flown standby for the past 12 years and I can count on one hand the times I wasn’t able to get on the flight I wanted. Flying standby is pretty easy once you understand how to work the system. Trust me, the earliest flight is best because that is the easiest time to get on the plane. Even though I am not a morning person and I hardly want to fly in the early hours of the morning, but I am almost always on.

I don’t mind checking flights when I am on vacation. I realize I may have to leave a day or two earlier than I originally thought because the flight I wanted to go on is getting full. It shouldn’t bother you at all. Instead of focusing on the fact that you have to leave early, realize that without the buddy pass, you may not have been able to travel to the destination at all.

I have literally traveled all over the globe with standby status, it isn’t hard. You sometimes have to have a bit more patience but isn’t the reward of traveling at such a reduced rate worth it?

6. You can fly any time of the day you want to

No, you cannot. I always put buddy pass riders on the earliest flight out. Those are the flights that have the most open seats. I have had buddy pass riders tell me, “I really want to be on the afternoon flight and not the early morning one. That’s so early!” Well yes, that’s true. But if you want to take advantage of a buddy pass, you must do what the airline employee tells you, ok?

It is always better to fly out on the earliest possible flight when you have a buddy pass. Early flights are the best chance to fly out. Many people oversleep and don’t make it to the airport on time. When you get a buddy pass, you give up the right to choose what time is best for you to fly. You have to fly when you have the best chance to get on the plane.

I told this to one of my girlfriends who was flying to Los Angeles. She decided to try for a later flight. Well, she eventually got to her destination but it literally took her all day. Had she listened to me she could have flown direct. Instead, she had to connect in Philadelphia, have a long layover and she didn’t get into Los Angeles until late that night.

One of the things I do if I happen to not get on a flight is head to a lounge. I have Priority Pass thanks to my American Express Platinum card. However, you don’t need Amex to get this perk. You can use the link below and get Priority Pass and enjoy lounges all over the world!

Travel Smarter with instant airport lounge access – up to 10% Priority Pass membership

7. You can act however you like

Well, you can but you will likely never get another buddy pass from your friend. You see, employees who give buddy passes can get in trouble if the people they give them to behave poorly. I’ve covered the things you MUST NOT do in my posts about how to never get another buddy pass. Just don’t do it.

Have you flown standby? Did you have any trouble?

How To Take The Ferry From Athens To Santorini

January 13, 2019 by Roni Filed Under: Greece, Public Transportation, Rentals, Santorini, Travel

When I was in Athens, I had to decide how to get from Athens to Santorini. I knew I wanted to travel leisurely so I chose to take the Blue Star Ferry Athens to Santorini. I’m so glad I did! Traveling from Athens to Santorini was easy, here’s how I did it and what you can expect.

How To Catch The Ferry From Athens to Santorini

Before I arrived in Greece I bought my ticket on Ferries.gr but you can book directly with Blue Star Ferries. I would recommend buying your ticket in advance so you don’t have to worry about standing in line when you get to the ferry.

NOTE: The departure city leaving from Athens is Piraeus. It took me forever to figure that out!

When you make your Blue Star ferries reservation, you have several choices of where you can sit. It all depends on how much you want to spend and the level of comfort you’d like to experience. I chose an air seat, see those pics below. NOTE: The website for Blue Star Ferries has been revamped since I purchased my tickets, but you can still choose your seat on the new site.

My air seat was comfortable but I wouldn’t have minded having a business seat or a cabin. The air seat armrests do not lift so you can’t lay out and relax. I kept my carry-on bags with me and I was able to put them underneath the seats in front of me.

Being able to keep my carry-on bag right under my seat was very convenient. And because I had paid for an assigned seat, I didn’t have to worry about a place to put them as each seat has ample storage.

If you choose an economy seat instead of an air seat, there are no assigned seats. You have to sit where you can find seating. There are seats inside and out but if you sit outside the wind is strong and can be chilly. Traveling with a stylish wrap or travel blanket will definitely come in handy.

These girls had economy seating, which means you will have to take whatever you can find, wherever you can find it.

If you don’t mind sleeping on benches and floors, than economy seating is your best bet.

There are several different places you can sit if you don’t buy an assigned seat. However, keep in mind if you don’t buy a seat, you will have to search for a place to sit and none of the options have a comfortable cushioned seat. The pics below and above show you how some passengers were sitting.

Sorry this picture is blurry but I wanted you to see how some people slept on the trip. These guys didn’t pay for these seats (I know because they told me) but they slept in the paid area anyway. They took a chance to get some sleep in nicer seats. You can try this too, but don’t be surprised if you are asked to leave and find another seat.

The ferry ride to Santorini was really smooth. I didn’t feel any rocking and I didn’t get seasick. However, if you are afraid of getting sick, please make sure to get what you need to help, you can get these bands from Amazon.

It takes 8 hours to get from Athens to Santorini and the ride is relaxing. There is WiFi available on board for a fee. The signal is strong and I was able to stay connected throughout the journey.

You don’t go directly to Santorini, you have one stop in Ios before you get to Santorini which is a lovely view from the boat.

The Blue Star ferry left fairly early. Make sure to check their timetables to choose the best departure time for you.

Taking the ferry It was a relaxing way to travel to Santorini. It left me calm and ready to see Santorini and check into my Santorini Airbnb. Make sure to read about my Santorini adventures included the great food I enjoyed, my fish pedicure and figuring out Santorini public transportation. It was such an amazing trip! I can’t wait to go back.

What do you think? Would you choose a ferry when deciding how to get to Santorini from Athens?

Public Transportation In Santorini

May 5, 2018 by Roni Filed Under: Public Transportation, Rentals, Travel

If you’re in Santorini and want to see various parts of the island, you can easily see all that you want with the local bus. Public Transportation in Santorini is relatively easy with local buses. There are no day passes and each time you get on the bus you have to pay the 1.60 euro fee (as of October 2014) and there is a different fee for locals. The buses run all over the island with the central station being in Fira. From Fira you can take a bus to your destination but make sure you keep your ticket until you get off the bus as you may be asked to show it throughout your journey.

Most buses are green but there are a few that are different colors and each bus has their destination in the front window. When you get on the bus you tell them where you are going and they will make sure they stop where you need to go. There are no bells or buttons to request your stop, you have to tell them your destination.

At the central bus station there are restrooms but they are not modern, you have to squat and you must pay a small fee before entering. There is a small snack bar at the station in Fira where you can buy some snacks (nuts, candy, gum etc), those are allowed but don’t break out your sandwich or drinks as you aren’t allowed to eat or drink on the bus. There are no assigned seats, you simply sit where you can find a place and the seats are leather and comfortable and each bus is air conditioned.

In Oia (where I stayed) you can hop on the bus at a bus stop or you can get it from the square in the center of town where it drops off and picks up. You can also stand on the side of the road and flag down the bus. There are bus stops but if you wave at the bus along the street it will stop for you.

The next few pictures are the square in Oia where you can get the bus. It normally comes every 30 minutes with the last bus leaving at 9:45pm.

So if you’re in Santorini and want to sightsee, the bus is the way to go!

Twin Peaks In San Francisco, California

July 18, 2017 by Roni Filed Under: California, Flying, Public Transportation, San Francisco, Travel

Have you heard of Twin Peaks? (Oh the jokes I could make…). “free things to do in san francisco”

One excellent option for free things to in San Francisco is Twin Peaks. They are actually two peaks in San Francisco where you can get crazy views (180 degree!) of the city. Twin Peaks is one of those places that people who live in the Bay Area very rarely visit but it really is a fantastic way to see the city.

There is a parking lot and there is one way in and one way out. There are often tour buses visiting throughout the day so keep that in mind when you make your plans. There is a paved viewing area for you to enjoy the vista so the buses won’t get in your way.

Check out the video below which give you a great perspective of Twin Peaks.

This is one of San Francisco’s best points of interest but you can’t get to Twin Peaks by public transport. It’s at the top of a very steep, curvy hill so you would need to either be on a tour, have a car or be riding a bike (which some do but the streets are curvy and there are no bike lanes).

Sometimes in San Francisco it can be pretty foggy because it’s almost completely surrounded by water but when you can get it on a clear day you can see for miles! Can you see The Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge in the distance?

You can enjoy the views from Twin Peaks from sunrise to sunset and there are restrooms but I would suggest skipping those and make sure your bladder is empty before you get there.

It’s also very windy up there so bring a sweater or a jacket if you tend to get cold. I took these pics with my cell phone, what do you think?

Have you been to San Francisco? Have you seen any great views lately?