u/SpiralCaseMods

Just back from 3 unforgettable days at Andronis Luxury Suites (Oia)

Hey everyone! My wife and I just wrapped up a magical three-day stay in Oia, and I wanted to share a quick trip report since this sub was so helpful while we were planning.

We stayed at the Andronis Luxury Suites, and to put it simply: wow. The property, the views, and the service were absolutely top-tier. It was the perfect base for our time on the island.

Here are a few highlights from our three days:

  • Dining at Lycabettus: We did the Cliff area degustation menu here, and it completely lived up to the hype. Sitting out on that dramatic cliff edge with the sea below us is a memory we'll have forever. The food and presentation were flawless.
  • Sunsets: Instead of battling the massive crowds at the old castle, we watched the sunset from Sparkling Sunset. It was spectacular, relaxed, and allowed us to actually enjoy the moment without feeling packed in. The staff were as wonderful as the view. Especially noting the baklava here, it was awesome.
  • Shopping: My wife absolutely loved the shopping in Oia. She spent plenty of time exploring the boutique steps and winding paths, finding some incredible local pieces.
  • Leaving Oia (Just Once!): Honestly, we loved the vibe of Oia so much we barely left. The only time we ventured out was for a local cooking class, which turned out to be fantastic. Getting to learn the secrets behind authentic Greek flavors was a massive highlight of the trip.

A note on the crowds: We were a bit nervous about the June crowds based on some posts here, but staying from June 7-10, we really didn't notice them being an issue at all. Maybe we just timed our wanderings right, or staying at Andronis gave us a perfect sanctuary, but the whole experience felt incredibly peaceful.

If you're on the fence about booking a cliffside suite or splurging on a special dinner, absolutely do it. Santorini completely stole our hearts, and we're already missing those caldera views! Happy to answer any questions about the hotel or our itinerary if anyone is planning a trip soon.

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u/SpiralCaseMods — 4 days ago

11 Day International Travel Credit Card Setup

Traveling to Europe (France & Greece) for an 11 day trip. I'm wondering what should be my main setup from below.

Between myself & P2 we have the following cards that don't have foreign transactions fees:

Capital One Venture X - 2x - Use travel points eraser for misc. travel charges.

Citi Strata Premier - 3x Dining?

Chase Ink Preferred - 3x travel when not using for Cap1 Travel Eraser.

Bilt Palladium (points accelerator activated) - 3x catch-all.

Robinhood Gold - 3x catchall - cashback version.

Hilton Honors Aspire - 34x Hilton (staying one night), 14x SLH (staying 3 nights)

AMEX Gold - 4x dining (if available)

Which cards would you bring and use?

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u/SpiralCaseMods — 2 months ago

Moving from points to cash back

For those of you who have moved from points to cash back, what has been your experience? Do you travel less? Do you travel differently? What are some pros and cons of ditching travel rewards for cash back?

I've recently moved into hybrid setup and enjoy using my cash back rewards for investing. I'm currently looking at retirement in about 15 years and I'm thinking that little bit extra from cash back multipliers, sign up bonuses, and my bank account churning could turn into some real numbers through compound interest. But I do enjoy my upgraded travel I get through points. So I'm just looking for perspectives.

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u/SpiralCaseMods — 2 months ago