Be smart about how you spend your money.
The Greek island of Santorini is a popular vacation destination for many jetsetters. From the deep blue water to the starch white buildings, the island is a fantasy. It is no wonder that people from all over the world flock to Greece to live out their vacation dreams.
Due to its popularity and the fact that it is an island in which they have to import most of their food, meals and activities can be very overpriced. My friends and I quickly discovered the simple ways to get the most bang for your buck. Here are a couple quick and easy tips for how to have an incredible vacation on a budget.
The food in most of the restaurants is insanely expensive and the menus are not dazzlingly delicious. That being said it’s worth it to find the nicer restaurants and get a quality meal. However, in general, the street food is very tasty and much cheaper. The gyros and salads sold in the informal food shops is some of the best and most authentic Greek food I’ve ever had. This is definitely a good way to save money.
Another good way is to buy the big bottles of water because two of the smaller bottles sometimes cost more than one large bottle. Doing small calculations on the run can often save a couple extra dollars (or euros) and this definitely adds up over time.
In terms of activities, the best way to save is to go on group trips or tours. My friends and I went on a group boat tour and it was incredible. For only €26 each we got to travel around the island by boat and visit a few important locations in Santorini.
We hiked up the famous caldera, inactive volcano, and admired the view from the top. We swam in a natural hot spring and explored one of the other small islands. It was an incredible experience at a reasonable price. We spent almost all day living our Santorini dream without paying an excruciating amount for it. I highly recommend taking a boat ride for the full Santorini experience.
Finally, if you plan on exploring the island, it is worth it to rent ATVs instead of renting a car. An ATV is more of a short-term commitment while a car is more long-term. My friends and I were able to rent ATVs for only €30 each per day. Two people can ride on one ATV which comes to €15 a person. It is really fun to ride ATVs in the streets and it is a good alternative to renting a car if you only plan on driving around for one or two days. See my article on why ATV is the number one alternative to renting car in Santorini to learn more about this and see photos of it.
Each of these tips are good ways to save money while living your blissful, Grecian vacation. No one wants to limit their enjoyment while traveling but sometimes there are financial constraints. In Santorini it is possible to have an affordable, luxurious experience if you can be smart about how you spend your money.
Storrey visited Santorini for four days in Santorini.
