A couple of months ago I was contacted by Jet2 who asked if I would like to go on one of their Jet2 packaged holidays to Greece. It’s hard to believe that I haven’t been to Greece until now, or on a package holiday for that matter. They offered me a choice between Crete and Santorini. I chose the latter as I thought that Santorini is a more suitable destination for a four day holiday because it is a small island, and Crete is too big to be explored in such a short time.
Santorini is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades, a group of islands in the Aegean Sea. It takes four hours to fly from London to Santorini.
Santorini has a rough terrain, formed in the 16th century BC, after one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world. The island is often chosen by couples for their honeymoon destination, as well as solo travellers who want to explore its unmatched beauty. The whitewashed houses clinging over the cliffs, in Oia and Fira, are reason enough to come and experience Santorini for yourself. Is Santorini expensive? Yes, but you can also travel on a budget to Santorini, through a Jet2 package holiday.
About Jet2 Holidays

This July, when the chaos hit the UK airports, Jet2 was the only airline which didn’t cancel one single flight. Over two million passengers arrived at their destinations and enjoyed their holidays this summer because they chose a Jet2 package holiday.
Jet2 is a budget friendly tour operator that offers flights as well as package holidays to different popular destinations around Europe. You can customise your holiday to the smallest detail, choosing from a large range of destinations, dates, hotels, areas, facilities, and meal plans. All holidays include a 22kg bag allowance, 10kg hand luggage, airport door to door transfers, as well as an ATOL Protected certificate.
My Trip to Santorini with Jet2 Holidays

I travelled to Santorini with a friend over the August bank holiday weekend. We both fully enjoyed the trip, and now we can’t wait to return to Santorini. It was such a fantastic holiday!
The Flights

Jet2 operates flights from London Stansted Airport, approximately 30 miles north east of central London. They also fly from other airports around the country, such as Bristol, East Midlands, Belfast or Glasgow. Living in London, I chose to depart from Stansted.
As it was the beginning of the August bank holiday, the airport was packed. There were so many people that the 4G on my phone didn’t work. Despite this, the security was relatively fast and I did find a spot where I could have a quick drink before the flight at the large pub, with a runaway view from the waiting area. The Jet2 flight to Santorini was supposed to depart at 5:20pm, but, due to restrictions by traffic control in Germany, we left two hours later. The storms in Germany were so violent that the planes weren’t allowed to fly though them. We flew around them and it was quite fascinating see the lightening below us through the windows.
The boarding process was fast on both departures. On the way to Santorini we flew on a Boeing 737-800 and on the way back on an Airbus A321. Both planes were very clean, smelling fresh, and had lovely cabin crew. I liked that both pilots were very communicative and informed us about the timings, weather, as well as our progress during the flight. I also loved that on the way back we had a female first officer – in all my years of flying, very few of my flights were piloted by women.
Transfers

After we landed, cleared customs and picked up our luggage, we were greeted by a friendly representative, who handed us the welcome pack and guided us to the bus going to our hotel in Santorini. In the welcome pack we had all the information about the island, as well as excursions that we could book. I also received a text from Doromie, our Jet2 representative, with the hours she would be in the lobby of the hotel, with any information or guidance, for a chat, or to book excursions.
The transfer from the airport to the hotel took about 30 minutes. Out hotel was the second stop.
We received a text three days before our departure, with the time the bus would pick us up and take us back to the airport.
Santo Miramare Hotel

We arrived at Santo Miramare Resort at 3 am, and we were greeted with a warm welcome by the reception staff. They checked us in quickly, and provided us with a bottle of water free of charge. Before taking our luggage and leading us to our room, they told us that the water on the island was not drinkable.
The room was beautiful. Located at the ground floor just next to one of the pools, the room was like a little apartment. In front of the door we had a patio with two garden chairs and a table, as well as a sun lounger. We opened the door and stepped into the living area, which had a comfortable couch, a table and a tv. In the corner closest to the door there was a small kitchen area. The bedroom was at the far end of the apartment, featuring two beds, a cupboard with a safe, a rocking chair and an open wardrobe with plenty of hangers.

The apartment had two bathrooms: a small one with a toilet and a sink, dividing the living area from the bedroom, and an ensuite with a large shower, toilet and sink. All toiletries, including hair conditioner, were provided. The shower was amazing, with good water pressure.

I loved the Mediterranean design of the room, with lots of white and blue paintings on the wall. I really felt that I was in Greece even before seeing the surroundings in the daylight.
Location:

Santo Miramare is located in the South of the island, right on the beach, in the village of Agios Georgios. It is surrounded by many restaurants, taverns, and beach clubs. The area is not at all as touristy as the North of the island, so we got a real feel of Santorini. The prices at the local restaurants are also much lower than the ones in Oia and Fira.
Facilities:

Santo Miramare has three pools and a jacuzzi, as well as a private beach with sun loungers and umbrellas. The on site restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, whilst the pool bar serves lunches. You can book a bed and breakfast or half board package – we were happy with just the breakfast as we wanted to enjoy the local gastronomy of the island at traditional taverns.

The resort caters for every type of traveller, so two of the pools were for adults, whilst the third was very shallow, for children. The pool bar was open until 1am, but the music wasn’t loud enough to be heard from the rooms. In the evenings, the atmosphere at the pool bar was lovely and I really enjoyed ending each evening there with a glass of Santorini wine and chilled music.

On the Saturday the hotel organised a Greek night at the pool bar. They had a live band who engaged the public in traditional Greek dances, as well as keeping the rhythm of the music going on the tambourines.
Breakfast:

Breakfast at Santo Miramare resort is served every day between 8 and 10am. It includes a great hot and cold selection, as well as traditional Greek foods such as feta cheese, dolmas and Greek sweet cornbread. Each day there was a different hot dish special, from cheese filled pies to sweet bougatsa – a Greek breakfast pastry with custard cream encased in phyllo, dusted with cinnamon.
The Experiences on the Island
We decided to book two excursions through Jet2 Holidays. We didn’t have much time to explore the island, and we felt that we would see much more on an organised tour, than we would on our own using public transport.
For the first day, we booked a bus tour around the island. We were picked up at 11:20am from the bus station in front of our hotel and met up with the rest of the group in Pyrgos, one of the most charming less touristy towns in Santorini.
Monastery Of Profitis Ilias

Our first stop of the day was the Monastery Of Profitis Ilias, which is located on the highest peak in Santorini. From here you can see the entire island, as well as the caldera. The panoramic view is breathtaking!
Pyrgos

I had heard many great things about Pyrgos before going to Santorini so I was looking forward to exploring it. Pyrgos is a small town located in the middle of the island, on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards. The streets of the old town make a proper labyrinth, leading to the top where the ruins of the old Callisti Castle lie. Pyrgos is one of the best preserved medieval settlements on the island of Thira. Here you will find all the charm that Oia and Fira have to offer, but without the crowds.
Akrotiri

The Ancient Village of Akrotiri is often referred to as the Pompeii of Greece. The village has been covered by lava and destroyed by a volcanic eruption sometime during the Bronze Age in 16th century BC. There weren’t any human remains found in Akrotiri, which suggests that people knew it was coming and they evacuated the island. The ash has preserved the remains of the frescoes that decorated the houses, as well as many different objects and art works.
Akrotiri was only discovered in 1967, after the excavation started. It is very hard to imagine how the village used to look, but there is a video played inside the site, illustrating the way the locals built their houses back then. It’s quite impressive, as the same techniques are used in building homes today. Another astonishing detail is that two millennia ago, the locals developed flushable pedestal toilets.
The Red Beach

The red beach is accessible via a short hike from Akrotiri seafront. I wished we were able to have had more time there, to actually descend to the beach and enjoy the crystal clear water, but we only had 40 minutes. I did get it though, as we were on a bus tour so there was no time to sunbathe. But, if I would have had an extra day in Santorini, I would have loved to have gone back. The scenery was spectacular, and the sea was inviting me in for a dip.
Fira

I really, really liked Fira. I loved its narrow alleys full of shops selling shoes, dresses, and handmade souvenirs, as well as the gorgeous views over the caldera. There are plenty of things to see in Fira, from the Three Bells of Fira church to the Catholic Church of Saint Stylianos, from the Megaro Gizi museum to the charming Fira Theotokopoulos main square.
We chose to first have lunch at a lovely rooftop restaurant, and then just explore the capital of Santorini, getting lost in the streets and just taking in the vibrant atmosphere.
Oia

Oia gave me very mixed feelings. Yes, it is a gorgeous town, but much too crowded. To envision how crowded, imagine that the population of Oia is around 1,200 people. The passenger capacity of a cruiser is about 3,000. During my trip, there were three big cruisers anchored in the bay of Fira, as well as a few other smaller boats. And this is without adding the tourists who actually visit Santorini and stay on the island. Oia is the most popular town for watching the sunset, and during this time the town can’t even breath. There are flowy dresses everywhere, queues to the view points for taking photos, and people sitting on every single wall two hours before the sunset. Whilst Santorini is a beautiful island, I think Oia is overrated. You can watch the sunset from many other places and avoid the crowds – Pyrgos for example.
The cost of this excursion was 43 euros, with an extra 12 euros for the entrance fee to the Akrotiri archaeological site.
The second day we opted for a sailing trip around the caldera. The bus picked us up from the same place at 9am, and after we called at a few more hotels, we headed towards the Athinios harbour. The road to the harbour is pretty spectacular, with hairpin bends descending on the side of the steep cliff. It’s definitely an adrenaline ride, especially if you sit at the front of the bus, as we did.

We boarded the King Thiras ship and managed to get a seat right at the front. King Thiras is an impressive 32 meter long wooden ship with three sails. It also had a bar on board serving ice coffees, drinks and sandwiches.
Nea Kameni

Our first stop of the day was the uninhabited Nea Kameni island. Nea Kameni is an active volcano that you can hike on, in the flooded caldera of Santorini. When we reached the summit we could see the smoke rising from Giorgios – one of the most recent craters of the volcano. The last eruption of Nea Kameni was in 1950. There is even a small hole which you can put your hand into and feel the warmth of the rising gases.
The path up to the crater is not difficult, but you do need to have proper shoes as the gravel is pretty loose and easy to slip on. The summit is at 130 meters high, and offers pretty views over the surrounding islands. You can also walk around the rim.
The Hot Springs

I was very excited about the trip stopping at the hot springs. I have always wanted to jump off a ship and swim in the deep sea – but never got the chance until then. I really didn’t jump off the ship as it would have been quite a big drop, I took the stairs. But I really loved swimming around, getting closer and closer to the shore, where the water became warmer and warmer. The sea was really salty and I automatically started to float when I stopped swimming. It was such a nice feeling!
A tip: don’t wear a white bathing suit. The minerals in the water will turn it yellow, and there is no way to get it white again.
Thirasia Island

We stopped for lunch at Thirasia Island, which has a lovely small harbour at the bottom of the rocks. The water here is crystal clear and even though there is no beach, there are plenty of places to jump into the sea from, for a swim.
There are many restaurants with terraces extending over the water. The prices here are so much lower than in Thera – the main island in Santorini. Most of the restaurants here specialise in grilled fish and seafood – which you can choose from the fridges near the kitchen, where you can see how fresh everything is.
Sailing Along the Coast

Before we returned to the harbour, the ship headed over the main island of Santorini and we sailed just below the main towns: Oia, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Fira. It was a relaxing cruise, on a very still sea. Most of the people lie down on the benches and enjoyed a nice tan session with a pretty view.
Oia

We opted to end the trip in Oia when we booked the excursion, not knowing what we would be experiencing the day before. This time though, we knew better than trying to find a spot for the sunset. We explored the town for a little while, then we found a lovely rooftop terrace with a clear view over the sea, right near the car park, and we watched the sunset from there over a glass of Santorini wine.
The cost of this excursion was 48 euros, with an extra 5 euros for the entrance fee to the Nea Kameni volcanic park.
Overall I had an amazing time on my Jet2 package holiday to Greece. I loved that I could combine sightseeing with relaxation, and have a balanced schedule over my four days on the island. I will definitely love to return!
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Please note that I was invited on this holiday by Jet2, which covered the cost of the packaged holiday. All other activities on the island were paid by myself. This article is a result of my own opinions and experience on the island and hasn’t been influenced in any way by the invitation.
I love that you got so much done in such little time and Jet2 holidays was able to provide that type of trip for you.
I have never taken a Jet2 holiday though I have flown with them a few times. When you think of Santorini you only ever see pics of Oia so it was lovely to hear about other parts of the island. It looks beautiful and I would love to explore but like you I would hate the crowds. I also loved the look of the day trip on the boat you did. I will certainly be there one day for a visit and it’s great to know there are better locations to stay.
It has been a long time since we did a packaged tour. We spend a lot of time booking all the separate things. So it must have been nice to head off to Santorini with Jet2. The hotel right on the beach looks great. And I love that there was an adults only pool. We have not spent a lot of time in Fira so we will have to head there when we get to Santorini next. A sailing trip around the caldera would be perfect. A good post that reminds me we need to get back to Santorini.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Jet2. Will definitely consider them for our future trips. Happy to know that the planes are clean and smell fresh.
It’s nice that you can also book excursions through Jet2 Holidays. They truly provide a stress-free holiday with everything taken cared of.
You have a great time on your first visit to Santorini. I enjoyed reading it as if I was there experiencing it myself. I like your honest thought about Oia as many bloggers never mentioned how crowded the town is and how many people you will see during your visit. It’s probably a high season, but still, an honest review is really important. I want to swim and float in the hot springs. It looks and sounds awesome! I will keep these tours in mind for when I get a chance to go to Santorini.
Ah! I love that they are budget-friendly and include so much. What a win! I always worry about transfers, especially if a location isn’t super close to the airport. I love that they take care of it all. What a great company!
I wouldn’t normally think of booking this kind of vacation to Santorini as I like independent travel. But, Jet 2 sound really great. I like that they didn’t cancel any flights, and the generous baggage allowance too! I love seeing the places you visited. Fira and the Volcanic area look wonderful. You have my vote!
I don’t ever book packaged trips like this but it sounds like you had a really nice experience with Jet2, especially on such a busy travel weekend. The property you stayed at looks gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Ahh Santorini is so high on my bucket list!! And somehow I had never heard of Jet2. It looks like you had the most perfectly planned trip!
Looks like you covered it all. The red beach is so cool., as is their black beach. I would love to visit Akrotiri next time I am In Santorini. Was closed for renovations when I was last there.