The Greek Islands are one of my favorite places in the world. One of the best things about them is that there’s so much variety. Whether you’re looking to hike, learn about the history, or just lay out on the beaches, you can find the perfect island(s).  Read all about Mia and Evan’s awesome honeymoon below:

When and where did you honeymoon? 

Greek Islands (Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes) [September, 2011]

How long was your trip?

12 days

How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)? 

We were looking for something easy, where we wouldn’t be overwhelmed by activities and choices and “overdo it” like we ALWAYS do.  This option seemed obvious since the islands have great weather in September, they are small with not a ton of stuff to do (but just enough to not get bored), and we could travel to two or three of them without having to worry about flights and pre-planning.

The best part about our honeymoon was…

A day on a catameran in Santorini.  Our friends got us as a wedding gift an excursion on a catameran including lunch, bottomless booze and multiple stops around the island to jump in the water, see the hot springs, and “snorkel” (in quotes because of lack of living things to see in the Mediterranean).  We booked through Spiridakos and don’t regret a second of it.

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

my expectations. I don’t know why, but I pictured myself sitting pool side in a lounge chair and having drinks brought to me like it was Hawaii.  First off, legitimate sized pools can be found in Mykonos for a reasonably priced hotel, but on Santorini, the pools are the size of a glorified hot tub.  There are also very few nice beaches.  I realize I am spoiled from California, but the beaches were really not that awesome.  So, if you are picturing white sand, large pools with lounge chairs and butlers, stop now.**   Go there for the amazing views, the beautiful towns, the feta, and the sunsets.

How much planning did you do in advance? 

Just enough.  We booked our hotels, thought about transit between the islands, and read a travel book about what to do during the days on the plane ride.

What was your biggest honeymoon splurge?

Oia in Santorini is ridiculously expensive.  Our biggest splurge was just a hotel in Oia.  If you are on a budget, it may be best to stay in Santorini and do a day trip to Oia. It is a very small town and can definitely be seen in a day.

Where do you want to go on your next big trip?

We are headed to Belize next, then Hawaii, and then I am going to Japan.  I will definitely update the honeymoon worthiness of each location :)

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**My two cents? It’s true – some islands’ beaches are much better than others.  My personal favorite beaches were on Ios and Paros, not Santorini.