Touchdown in Athens: Round Two
Completed the Bangkok to Athens trip in one very smooth 18-hour travel day. Thanks, Turkish Airlines!
We already did the full Greece sightseeing circuit back in 2021—during the COVID travel slump when we practically had the Acropolis to ourselves—so this visit was all about slowing down and living like locals in the Koukaki neighborhood.
A few Athens highlights:
A walkabout the neighborhood through local produce markets and cafes
A hike up Philopappos Hill with stunning views of the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea
A late night at an Aussie bar for the USA vs Australia World Cup match. Spoiler alert: USA dominated!
A chance meetup with cousins (well, kids of first cousin) in Athens. Them: summer break from college and on a European backpacking trip. Us: retired and on a forever backpacking trip. Enjoyed an al fresco dinner of excellent Greek food!
Next Stop: Tirana Albania. A few notable travel tips!
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass is not very useful at US airports, but it sure has come in handy in accessing very nice airport lounges in many of the international airports. The business and first class lounges are usually accessible. They are not crowded, very comfortable and quiet, offers a great selection of food and beverages, and in some instances a free massage (Thank you Thailand!).
If an airline offers a “Fast Track’ or priority lanes through security….GET IT! At the Athens International Airport, we flew Aegean Airlines and during the ticketing process we purchased “Fast Track”. We bypassed huge long security and immigration lines, saving us a lot of waiting time.
Aegean Airlines was the first fully-automated online check-in process that we were able to complete successfully from beginning to end. Usually, it appears we can check-in online, but at some point, we’re unable to upload our passports, or their reader cannot read it, or the airline still requires us to show up in person at the check-in counter to verify our passports, or we have to exchange our e-boarding pass to a paper pass, or we have to have an agent check-in our luggage…and on and on and on. Good on you, Aegean Airlines!
