When we booked a reward flight to Santorini, it wasn’t out of excitement. It was out of necessity. Yomi had points due to expire and Santorini was the only destination that made sense with what was available.
We’d already visited Greece twice recently and to be honest, I thought Santorini was a bit overrated. I expected postcard views and overpriced food—not much more.
However, when October arrived and we boarded that spontaneous long weekend flight, something shifted. I didn’t go with high hopes, but I came back rested, thankful and pleasantly surprised.
A Reward Flight That Felt Like a True Gift
After a fast-paced year, especially following our Asia travels, this trip gave us something we didn’t realise we needed: stillness.
The October sun greeted us gently each morning, casting golden light over our private pool patio. I soaked up the warmth, the vitamin D and the silence. It felt like my nervous system exhaled.
One morning, I caught the sunrise and felt deeply moved. A reminder of God’s artistry. His beauty is on display every single day—sunrises, sunsets, but we’re often too distracted to see it.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Magma Resort Santorini – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The design was beautiful and the staff made us feel genuinely looked after—very kind and attentive. I didn’t film much or take photos of our hotel. Normally I would, but this time, it felt nice to simply be present.
Food Highlights Worth Mentioning
Santorini isn’t exactly budget-friendly when it comes to dining, but we did find a few gems:
- Osmo East Side: A small family-run gem. The cheese pastry I ordered? Still dreaming about it. We both had steak, cooked perfectly, and the sunset view made it even better.
- Tholoto: Busy but worth it. Lovely ambience and quick service.
- Hotel Dining: We also ate at Magma’s in-house restaurant. The food was excellent, and since local taxis cost around €50 each way, dining in saved us both money and effort.
A Quick Stop in Oia
We took an afternoon trip to Oia for ice cream, a bit of shopping, and lunch. Sadly, the food there didn’t live up to the rest of the trip, it was too salty and underwhelming. Still, Oia itself was charming and picturesque.
Final Thoughts
That reward flight to Santorini ended up being one of the best surprises of the year. It reminded me that not every trip needs to be planned months in advance or packed with expectations.
Sometimes, a simple pause is the most refreshing thing of all.
We rested, we soaked up the sun and we left with full hearts. I can finally see why people return again and again.
Have you ever taken a spontaneous trip that surprised you? Or is Santorini still on your list?
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