It’s been over a year since my Greek honeymoon, and I miss it deeply. It was not only my first trip abroad, but also the first international adventure with my husband. If you ever want to see how well you and your partner handle stress and adapt to changes, international travel is the ultimate test. That week was a mixture of both intense stress and pure joy, but sharing those highs and lows with my husband was worth it. Despite some of the chaos, the experience came with important lessons that we’ll consider for our future international trips.

Lesson #1: Know the Value of Booking with a Local Travel Agency

We booked our trip through Mythesia, a Greece-based travel agency, and chose their “Romantic Getaway” package, for a more intimate, less touristy experience. It focused on smaller islands (Athens, Naxos, and Crete) where we could explore local culture at a slower pace. One thing I appreciated most was how well they worked within our budget while still giving us a touch of luxury. For instance, the hotels we stayed in were boutique—blending charm, elegance, and historic character. The agency also handled all our transportation, activities, and even some meals. Above all, knowing we had trusted support available if anything went wrong (which it did!) gave us peace of mind.

Shot on my iPhone14: Villa Brown Ermou (located in the heart of Athens) offered this delicious and cute complimentary breakfast.

Lesson #2: Avoid Extra Luggage When It’s Not Recommended

As I mentioned earlier, some things went wrong when it came to our luggage. We were warned by our travel agent not to bring checked luggage to avoid delays or, worse, lost luggage. I decided to take the risk anyway, thinking we’d need the extra space for clothes and souvenirs. Sure enough, when we arrived in Greece, our luggage was delayed until the next day. Luckily, our travel agent guided us through the situation, but the stress and anxiety still hit hard. Since we only had one day at our first stop in Athens, we barely had time to enjoy our first authentic Greek dinner and had to cut our Parthenon tour short. The delay threw off our itinerary, nearly made us miss our ferry to the next island, and left us feeling exhausted right at the start of our trip.

Lesson #3: Lesser-Known Islands Offer a More Intimate and Budget-Friendly Experience

We chose to visit less popular islands for a more authentic experience. While Santorini and Mykonos are the go-to destinations for many travelers (and I would’ve loved to see them, too), we opted for Athens, Naxos, and Crete. These islands gave us a more local, culturally rich side of Greece without the heavy tourist crowds or inflated prices. For example, some of the restaurants gave trendy, high-end LA restaurant quality for the fraction of the price! We were able to soak in the history, learn from the locals, and experience the islands in a more intimate way.

Shot on my iPhone 14: The island of Naxos was our second stop and my personal favorite of all the islands we visited. There’s something about its whitewashed architecture that feels chic and serene to me.

Lesson #4: Factoring in Rest Time is a Must!

We didn’t think to build in rest time into our itinerary, something we definitely needed after the delayed luggage ordeal. Even without the delay, I wish we had set aside a full day to catch up on sleep and adjust to the time difference. Jet lag is no joke! Starting our trip well-rested would’ve made it easier to fully enjoy the big Greek meals and activities that followed.

Lesson #5: Choose Activities You’ll Enjoy

Some of our favorite activities were the food tours and swimming in the Aegean Sea. The food tours were a delicious introduction into each island’s culture, combining historical lessons with tasty treats and traditional meals. I don’t know about you, but learning is better on a full stomach. And during a long, hot day, taking a dip in the Aegean was the perfect way to cool off. The sea’s temperature was amazing and we got to see a shipwreck! And to my surprise, swimming left my hair feeling softer and voluminous, thanks to the saltwater’s texturizing effect.

Shot on my iPhone 14: Creamy and rich sheep’s milk ice cream (upper left photo). Boldly-flavored cheeses (lower left photo). Warm and rich Greek coffee (right photo).

Lesson #6: Avoid Traveling During Peak Heat

We traveled in July, the hottest month to visit Greece. We got married in late June, and I was determined to go on our honeymoon right away rather than risk postponing it and regretting it later. I knew it would be hot, but coming from Southern California, I assumed I could handle it. While the Mediterranean climate was somewhat similar, the city walking tours were almost unbearable for me. I’m glad we avoided the tourist-heavy spots because adding crowds to that heat would’ve made it worse.

6 Travel Lessons from My Greek Honeymoon