Executive Summary
(13D12N Switzerland & Santorini for RM9.9k All Inclusive)
Refer to below links for more Santorini April Spring trip blogs:1. Executive Summary: This Blog2. Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli): Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli)3. Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani): Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani) Blog4. Day 3 & 4 (Oia): Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog5. Day 5 (Pyrgos): Day 5 (Pyrgos) Blog6. The Most Instagrammable Places in Santorini, Greece: The Most Instagrammable Places in Santorini
Wanderlust in Europe as part of our honeymoon trip, and we found ourselves lost in beautiful countries namely Switzerland & Santorini, Greece. It was our first visit to Europe and I was so looking forward to it. We have combined two preferred destinations by us throughout our 13 days trip, 1st stop is Switzerland (7 days) handpicked by le hubby and 2nd stop is Greece (5 days) handpicked by me. Now these two places in Europe have definitely raise up the bar and we genuinely feel that they are the most beautiful destinations that we have ever been to (hoping if traveling in Europe can be cheaper..😔). Any other place in the world that you feel is truly breathtaking, please let us know and we are hoping to venture them in future! 😎
During our Santorini spring travel on April 2019, we have completed below bucket lists!
(Note: This post is solely on Santorini, Switzerland is covered in another post)
(Note: This post is solely on Santorini, Switzerland is covered in another post)
💜 Realize the dream to visit one of the prettiest island in the world
💜 Visit the famous blue dome church that appeared in National Geographic @ Three Bells of Fira (Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani) Blog)
💜 Walk along the caldera cliff which offers the most beautiful and serene view we have ever seen (Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli)
💜 Visit one of the prettiest bookstore in the world @ Atlantis Books (Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog)
💜 Visit the most famous sunset spot in the world @ Byzantine Castle Ruins (Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog)
💜 Visit the most photographed places in the world @ 3 blue domes (Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog)
💜 Have the most beautiful teatime moment over @ Melenio cafe (Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog)
💜 Have a taste on the nicest sweet wine @ Santo Wines (Day 5 (Pyrgos) Blog)
💜 Have a taste on the nicest sweet wine @ Santo Wines (Day 5 (Pyrgos) Blog)
💜 Wake up super early for a lot of Insta-worthy photography spots, considered one of the craziest thing we have done during the trip (The Most Instagrammable Places in Santorini)
💜 First travel out of Asia to Europe and Completed our once per lifetime honeymoon vacation in Europe!
Thanks for the great weather, thanks for the great companion, thanks for everything.. as we are so blessed that our honeymoon holidays are so perfect! 💏
1. Flight 🛪
Airline Company: ScootAirFlight Route: Changi Airport (Singapore) - Athens Airport (Greece)
RETURN Flight Price (2 pax): SGD1630 (inclusive of 40kg luggage and meal on board)
Airline Company: SwissAir
Flight Route: Athens Airport (Greece) - Zurich Airport (Switzerland)
ONE WAY Flight Price (2 pax): SGD374 (inclusive of 46kg luggage and meal on board)
Airline Company: Easyjet
Flight Route: Geneva Airport (Switzerland) - Santorini Airport (Greece)
ONE WAY Flight Price (2 pax): SGD326 (inclusive of 45kg luggage and meal on board)
Airline Company: Ryanair
Flight Route: Santorini Airport (Greece) - Athens Airport (Greece)
ONE WAY Flight Price (2 pax): SGD194.71 (inclusive of 40kg luggage and meal on board)
2. Public Transportation 🚍
Transportation Mode: Bus, Taxi, WalkTransportation Price:
(a) Bus: Euro 1.60 - 2.30 (1pax/1way)
Notes: Depends on your travel distance, the price fare may vary from Euro 1.60 to 2.30. You will pay the fare after you board the bus, just inform the bus operator where is your destination will do.
(b) Taxi: Euro 20 (2pax/1way)
Notes: We called taxi on the last day when we wanted to go to airport from Pygros. The total cost for the one way trip was Euro 20.
⭐Tips:
- If you prefer to have flexibility and plan to spend most of the time optimize the route by visiting several places scattered around the island, then the best thing is rent a car.
- Some places even have ATV rental, but it requires driving license as well. There are many reviews online about the difficulty of ATV driving in Santorini, so please read more reviews and consider carefully before renting.
- If you only want to visit the famous towns such as Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, and Pyrgos, and spend most of your time in the town itself rather than traveling on the road, you can consider to take public bus like us. The Pros of public bus is definitely cheap and can store luggages in the bus. However, the Cons of the public bus is the bus schedule is not on time, there are some days which we need to wait under the hot sun for more than 30 minutes for the public bus. Also, the bus signage is poor and the stop location is not clearly stated, we have wasted some time waiting in the wrong stop location.
- If you have more people traveling and prefer comfort, you can consider taxi. It is a fast, comfortable and convenient option to travel around the island. We used once before from Pyrgos back to airport on the last day, the traveling was less than 20 minutes by taxi and they charged us Euro 20, just for your reference.
3. Accommodation 🏡
As we traveled from one place to another, we had the chance to stay in hotels at different location. Half of the trip we splurged in 5 star hotels in Imerovigli and Oia just for pure relaxation, due to our honeymoon celebration. Another half of the trip we spent in simple airbnb room which has strategic location to famous attractions. Although we got to try different hotels every night, however the idea of moving luggage everyday is not a good one. In future when we are traveling back to Santorini, we will stay in our most favorite handpicked hotel for the whole trip!⭐Tips during hotel booking:
➤ Must book at least 6 months or better 9 months in advance for those famous hotel that are especially well raved among visitors.
➤ Please take note on the reviews or comments left from visitors in each hotel and look at the photos so you not come to any surprise during your vacation, especially a lot hotels which are located in the main street of Oia may not have full privacy as what you have expected, such as pedestrians may pass by the staircases nearby your room and so on.
➤ If you are a person who loves the lively village with the must go attractions especially for 1st timer, you can consider to stay in Oia. (most expensive and famous village)
➤ If you are a person who loves the lively village and loves to hunt for cheap souvenirs, you can consider to stay in Fira. (main village nearest to the main bus stop from airport and has the cheapest souvenirs among all)
➤ If you are a person who loves quiet, adores privacy and do not mind to travel a while from Oia (the most famous village) or Fira (the main shopping village), then you can consider to stay in Imerovigli. (not as crazily far as Oia village, only about 10 minutes away from Fira village by car or bus)
a) Day 1: Imerovigli (Luxury stay)
Hotel Name: Absolute Bliss Hotel
Booking Website: Agoda (Link)
Stay Duration: 1 night
Room Type: Classic Double Room with Hot Tub and Caldera View
Hotel Price (2 pax): SGD 282.23
b) Day 2: Imerovigli (Budget stay)
Hotel Name: Villa Libertat
Booking Website: Airbnb
Stay Duration: 1 night
Room Type: Superior room with Private Veranda and Aegean Sea View
Hotel Price (2 pax): SGD 80
c) Day 3: Oia (Budget stay)
Hotel Name: Marcos House
Booking Website: Airbnb
Stay Duration: 1 night
Room Type: Private room
Hotel Price (2 pax): SGD 77
d) Day 4: Oia (Luxury stay)
Hotel Name: Atrina Canava 1894
Booking Website: Official website (Link)
Stay Duration: 1 night
Room Type: Honeymoon Suite with Outdoor Heated Jacuzzi (Canava Suite)
Hotel Price (2 pax): SGD 511
4. Area of Interest / Attractions
Below is the customized google map for my Santorini trip, that shows the most instagrammable places in Santorini island! I have grouped the attractions by areas as below:
a) Oia - red color marker
b) Fira/Firostefani/Imerovigli - orange color marker
c) Pyrgos - purple color marker
OIA (red color marker): Where to Go?
Day 3 & 4 (Oia): Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog
Highlights: Most famous among all villages in Oia, boasts as one of the most photographed place around the world, treasure of Santorini, super beautiful and nice view, romantic dining, luxury and private hotel, relaxing stay, main street with souvenirs and shops
Suits: Nature lovers, romantic lovers, luxury hotel lovers, shopping lovers
Day 3 & 4 (Oia): Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog
Highlights: Most famous among all villages in Oia, boasts as one of the most photographed place around the world, treasure of Santorini, super beautiful and nice view, romantic dining, luxury and private hotel, relaxing stay, main street with souvenirs and shops
Suits: Nature lovers, romantic lovers, luxury hotel lovers, shopping lovers
The list below shows the attractions' names, according to the order sequence of the
photo above:
(Notes: The order sequence is determined from the right most attraction to the left most attraction, which is the end of Oia village, just follow the order sequence for the walk)
1) Saint George Church
2) Parque Oya
3) Panagia Platsani
4) Melenio Cafe
5) 3 Blue Domes
6) Atlantis Books
7) Meteor Cafe
8) Pink Staircases @ Kastro Oia Restaurant
9) Byzantine Castle Ruins
7) Meteor Cafe
8) Pink Staircases @ Kastro Oia Restaurant
9) Byzantine Castle Ruins
10) Amoudi Bay
11) Agia Ekaterini Church
12) The Sunset Windmill
For more details and photos on each attraction, please refer the blog here:
Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog
11) Agia Ekaterini Church
12) The Sunset Windmill
For more details and photos on each attraction, please refer the blog here:
Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog
FIRA/FIROSTEFANI/IMEROVIGLI (orange color marker): Where to Go?
Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli): Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli)
Highlights: Known as 'The Balcony to the Aegean' which is built at the highest point of Santorini caldera cliff (about 300meters above sea level), scenic view, romantic dining, luxury and private hotel, relaxing stay, walking trail from Imerovigli to Firostefani & Fira
Suits: Nature lovers, romantic lovers, luxury hotel lovers
Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani): Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani) Blog
Highlights: Fira+Stefani means crown in Greek, FIrostefani is located at the highest point of Fira and is actually an extension of Fira which is the capital of Santorini, scenic view, romantic dining, luxury and private hotel, relaxing stay, walking trail from Imerovigli to Firostefani & Fira
Suits: Nature lovers, romantic lovers, luxury hotel lovers
The list below shows the attractions' names, according to the order sequence:
1) Skaros Rock/Theoskepasti Church
2) Anastasi Orthodox Church
3) Three Bells of Fira
(Bonus) Walking trail from Imerovigli to Firostefani & Fira
For more details and photos on each attraction, please refer the blog here:
PYRGOS(purple color marker): Where to Go?
Day 5 (Pyrgos): Day 5 (Pyrgos) Blog
Highlights: Most local village in Santorini, least touristy, winery tasting
Suits: Wine lovers, culture lovers
The list below shows the attractions' names, according to the order sequence:
1) Santo Wines
2) Pyrgos Town
For more details and photos on each attraction, please refer the blog here:
The list below shows the attractions' names, according to the order sequence:
1) Santo Wines
2) Pyrgos Town
1) Santo Wines
2) Pyrgos Town
For more details and photos on each attraction, please refer the blog here:
5. Itinerary & Cost Breakdown 💰
I have tidied up and compiled the itinerary and detail cost breakdown for our 13D12N Switzerland & Santorini honeymoon trip. The first 7 days were spent in Switzerland and the rest were in Santorini, Greece. Both Switzerland and Santorini gave us different kind of feeling and experience, it was a truly memorable honeymoon journey for us! 👍Total Price: ~RM19800 for 2 people (inclusive of flight, transport, hotels, foods, souvenirs etcetera!)
Thus, RM9.9k per pax all inclusive for 13D12N Europe (Switzerland & Santorini) trip accomplished!
GROUPING
|
REMARKS
|
COST BREAKDOWN (2 PAX)
|
DAY
1 (FLIGHT ON BOARD) – 18/4/2019
|
||
Flight
|
Changi
Airport (Singapore) - Athens Airport (Greece)
|
SGD
815
|
Athens
Airport (Greece) - Zurich Airport (Switzerland)
|
SGD
374
|
|
Transportation
(Train/Boat/Bus)
|
Swiss
Travel Pass (8 Days)
|
SGD 985.18
|
Foods
|
Lunch
@ Athens Airport
|
EURO
6.30
|
Groceries
@ Zurich Airport
|
CHF
3.80
|
|
Dinner
@ Home
|
||
Accommodation
|
Friend’s
home @ Bern
|
|
Airbnb
cancellation
|
SGD
92
|
|
DAY
2 (Grindelwald & Interlaken) –19/4/2019
|
||
Transportation
|
First
Mountain return cable car (Grindelwald)
|
CHF
60 (Remarks: 50% off with Swiss Travel Pass)
|
Attractions
|
Grindelwald
town (Grindelwald)
|
|
Hoheweg
main street (Interlaken)
|
||
Hohematte
park (Interlaken)
|
||
Foods
|
Breakfast
@ Migros (Bern)
|
CHF
4.55
|
Lunch
@ Bebbis restaurant (Grindelwald)
|
CHF
44.80
|
|
Groceries
@ Coop (Interlaken)
|
CHF
0.70
|
|
Accommodation
|
Friend’s
home @ Bern
|
|
DAY
3 (Thun & Bern) – 20/4/2019
|
||
Attractions
|
Thun
old town (Thun)
|
|
Thun
castle (Thun)
|
||
Lake
Thun (Thun)
|
||
Foods
|
Adrianos
bar & café (Bern)
|
CHF
10.30
|
Groceries
@ train station (Bern)
|
CHF
11.30
|
|
Dinner
@ Kornhauskeller restaurant (Bern)
|
CHF
74
|
|
Accommodation
|
Friend’s
home @ Bern
|
|
DAY
4 (Jungfraujoch & Lauterbrunnen) – 21/4/2019
|
||
Transportation
|
Jungfraujoch
return train (Ascend mountain via Grindelwald and Descend mountain via
Lauterbrunnen)
|
CHF
274.80 (Remarks: 25% off with Swiss Travel Pass)
|
Attractions
|
Top
of Europe (Jungfraujoch)
|
|
Alphine
sensation tunnel (Jungfraujoch)
|
||
Ice
palace (Jungfraujoch)
|
||
Sphinx
observation deck (Jungfraujoch)
|
||
Lindt
chocolate store (Jungfraujoch)
|
||
Lauterbrunnen
town (Lauterbrunnen)
|
||
Lauterbrunnen
– Stechelberg hiking trail (Lauterbrunnen)
|
||
Foods
|
Breakfast
@ Coop (Bern)
|
CHF
3.05
|
Lunch
@ Aletsch restaurant (Jungfraujoch)
|
CHF
28.50
|
|
Dinner
@ Hotel Oberland restaurant (Lauterbrunnen)
|
CHF
53
|
|
Accommodation
|
Friend’s
home @ Bern
|
|
DAY
5(Zermatt) – 22/4/2019
|
||
Attractions
|
Zermatt
old town
|
|
Photopoint
Riedweg
|
||
Foods
|
Groceries
@ Migros (Bern)
|
CHF
2.30
|
Lunch
@ Du Pont Zermatt (Zermatt)
|
CHF
38
|
|
Accommodation
|
Friend’s
home @ Bern
|
|
Misc.
|
Pharmacy
|
CHF
7.40
|
Shopping
@ Laderach Chocolate Store
|
CHF
16.80
|
|
Souvenirs
|
CHF
10
|
|
DAY
6 (Lucerne & Lungern) – 23/4/2019
|
||
Transportation
|
Lake
Lucerne boat cruise (Lucerne)
|
Remarks:
Free with Swiss Travel Pass
|
Attractions
|
Mt.
RIgi (Lucerne)
|
|
Lucerne
old town (Lucerne)
|
||
Chapel
bridge (Lucerne)
|
||
Musegg
wall (Lucerne)
|
||
Lungern
town (Lungern)
|
||
Lake
Lungern (Lungern)
|
||
Foods
|
Breakfast
@ Migros (Bern)
|
CHF
7.90
|
Lunch
@ Made in Sud (Lucerne)
|
CHF
37.50
|
|
Groceries
@ Migros (Bern)
|
CHF
22.45
|
|
Accommodation
|
Friend’s
home @ Bern
|
|
Misc.
|
Pharmacy
|
CHF
14.15
|
DAY
7 (Bern) – 24/4/2019
|
||
Attractions
|
Zytglogge
clock tower
|
|
Cathedral
of Bern
|
||
Bern
old town
|
||
Foods
|
Breakfast
@ Migros (Bern)
|
CHF
5.50
|
Groceries
@ Migros (Bern)
|
CHF
8
|
|
Gelato
@ Bern town (Bern)
|
CHF
7
|
|
Accommodation
|
Overnight
@ Geneva airport (Remarks: Flight to Santorini the next morning)
|
|
Misc.
|
Shopping
(camera lens)
|
CHF
198
|
Souvenir
|
CHF
72.30
|
|
DAY
8 (Imerovigli) – 25/4/2019
|
||
Flight
|
Geneva Airport (Switzerland) – Santorini Airport (Greece)
|
SGD
336.04
|
Transportation
|
Bus
to airport to Fira
|
EURO
3.60
|
Bus
from Fira to Imerovigli
|
EURO
3.60
|
|
Attractions
|
Leisure in hotel (rainy weather)
|
|
Foods
|
Breakfast
@ Geneva airport
|
CHF
11.90
|
Dinner
@ Absolute Bliss Hotel
|
EURO
32.50
|
|
Accommodation
|
Absolute
Bliss Hotel
|
SGD
282.23
|
DAY
9 (Imerovigli & Firosteni) – 26/4/2019
|
||
Attractions
|
Hiking
trail along cliff side from Imerovigli to Firosteni
|
|
Anastasis church (Firosteni)
|
||
Agios Theodori Church/3 bells of Fira (Firosteni)
|
||
Foods
|
Dinner
@ Remvi restaurant
|
EURO
34
|
Misc.
|
Souvenir
|
EURO
24
|
Accommodation
|
Villa
Libertat
|
SGD
80
|
DAY
10 (Imerovigli & Firosteni & Oia) – 27/4/2019
|
||
Transportation
|
Bus
from Imerovigli to Oia
|
EURO
3.60
|
Attractions
|
Agios Theodori Church/3 bells of Fira (Firosteni)
|
|
Atlantis
bookstore (Oia)
|
||
3
blue domes (Oia)
|
||
Planagia
Platsani square (Oia)
|
||
Meteor
bar (Oia)
|
||
Kastro
restaurant (Oia)
|
||
Four
bells (Oia)
|
||
The
sunset windmill (Oia)
|
||
Byzantine
castle ruin sunset point (Oia)
|
||
Foods
|
Tea
time@ Melenio cafe
|
EURO
19.40
|
Dinner
@ Karma restaurant
|
EURO
41.90
|
|
Accommodation
|
Marcos
House
|
SGD
77
|
DAY
11 (Oia ) – 28/4/2019
|
||
Attractions
|
Leisure
walk in Oia
|
|
Leisure
in hotel
|
||
Foods
|
Lunch
@ Ammoudi Fish Tavern
|
EURO
31.80
|
Groceries
|
EURO
4
|
|
Accommodation
|
Atrina
Canava
|
SGD
511
|
DAY
12 (Oia & Fira & Pygros) – 29/4/2019
|
||
Transportation
|
Bus
from Oia to Fira
|
EURO
3.60
|
Bus
from Fira to Pygros
|
EURO
3.60
|
|
Taxi
from Pygros to airport
|
EURO
20
|
|
Flight
|
Santorini
Airport (Greece) – Athens Airport (Greece)
|
SGD
194.71
|
Athens
Airport (Greece) – Changi Airport (Singapore)
|
SGD
815
|
|
Attractions
|
Leisure
walk in Fira for souvenir hunting
|
|
Leisure
walk in Pygros town
|
||
Foods
|
Lunch
@ Mama house
|
EURO
24
|
Gelato
@ Fira
|
EURO
2
|
|
Dinner
@ Santo Winery
|
EURO
42
|
|
Misc.
|
Souvenir
|
EURO
41.25
|
TOTAL
|
Singapore dollar spending (SGD)
|
SGD 4562.16
|
Euro spending (EURO)
|
EURO 341.15
|
|
Swiss francs spending (CHF)
|
CHF 1028
|
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
1 EURO = 1.5264 SGD
1 CHF = 1.367 SGD
|
SGD 4562.16 + SGD 520.73 + SGD 1405.28 = SGD 6488 ~ RM19800 (2 ppl) à RM9900/pax
|
Summary of Cost Breakdown as below:
Flight
|
SGD
|
2534.75
|
Transportation
|
SGD
|
985.18
|
CHF
|
334.8
|
|
EURO
|
38
|
|
Total (SGD)
|
985.18 + 457.68 + 58 = 1500.87
|
|
Foods
|
CHF
|
374.55
|
EURO
|
237.9
|
|
Total (SGD)
|
512.01 + 363.13 = 875.14
|
|
Accomodation
|
SGD
|
1042.23
|
Misc.
|
CHF
|
318.65
|
EURO
|
65.25
|
|
Total (SGD)
|
435.6 + 99.6 = 535.20
|
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
SGD
|
2534.75 + 1500.87 + 875.14 + 1042.23 + 535.20 = 6488.19 (2 ppl)
|
Details for the above Santorini, Greece itinerary are blogged in each link mentioned at the top or below of the page! Click in to get more tips and photos! For Switzerland travel guide, please hover over to the main page under Travel-Switzerland section. Thanks for the support 💜
Refer to below links for more Santorini April Spring trip blogs:
1. Executive Summary: This Blog
2. Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli): Day 1 & 2 (Imerovigli)
3. Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani): Day 2 & 3 (Fira/Firostefani) Blog
4. Day 3 & 4 (Oia): Day 3 & 4 (Oia) Blog
5. Day 5 (Pyrgos): Day 5 (Pyrgos) Blog
6. The Most Instagrammable Places in Santorini, Greece: The Most Instagrammable Places in Santorini
⭐Follow me below:
💗 Author: Ng Mei Lian/ Adrian Yeoh Aun Hong
👉 Date: 18/4/2019 ~ 30/4/2019
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