We recently got a question in our Instagram inbox which read:

Q: Any recommendations for airline carriers that offer good deals or cards that you found useful for your Greece business class trip?

The best airline for this route right now would probably be Air France, using their Flying Blue rewards program. This program is transfer partners with both Chase and Capital One.

Here's what we'd do:

1. Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred which currently comes with an astounding 80k point sign up bonus. (Be sure to read all the details and meet your minimum spend).

2. Check for redemption rates with Air France Flying Blue points. (Find the flight you want first because flights can vary in price from 45k all the way to 300k points) So don't transfer until you find the flight you want! If you don't find a flight you want with AirFrance, be sure to check United and AeroPlan. 

You will typically get the best redemption rates if you search for flights about 6 months out. For example, with just a quick search today we found this redemption below. 

3. After you locate a flight you want, transfer your points to Flying Blue via the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal. After clicking on the icon shown below, just click on Air France Flying Blue and then click 'transfer'. 

Hope this helps and be sure to check out this Athens itinerary to get inspiration for your trip. See you in Greece!

Move over Chase, there's a new credit card on the scene that you should definitely look in to! Capital One Venture X card has a magnificently high 100k point sign-up bonus, and combined with other great perks, it has quickly become our favorite credit card for reward travel. If you are ready for another flight, time to apply.

The biggest perk of the new Capital One Venture X is its insanely high welcome bonus. Spend $10,000 in the first 6 months on the card, and you will get a whopping 100k points. Even better, you will actually net 120k points because you will also get 2 points per dollar for that $10,000 you just spent. 120,000k can get you very, very far in the world of points; for example roundtrip airfare to Europe or Japan in Business Class! 

This card does come with an initially daunting $395 annual fee, but the perks will cover that price (and more!), so don't worry.

The iconic city of Athens has so much history, you could literally explore for months. But if you're anything like us and want to take the cliff-notes version and then head on out to the Greek islands, here is a fabulous 3-day Athens itinerary for you to see the highlights reel!

Day One:
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​The magnificent Acropolis/ Parthenon is the main attraction of Athens, so you have to head there first! FYI The Acropolis is the hill that the famous structure called the Parthenon sits on (so this is essentially one destination). Allow yourself 1-2 hours to wander around all the ruins and take in all the sights. 

After you've toured the Acropolis, walk right on Theorias Street from the Acropolis' main exit for 2 minutes to get to the stairs leading to the Areopagus Hill. This is a great place to get a spectacular view of the Acropolis from a distance. 

After exploring Agora, continue your walk another two minutes to finish out your history tour with the Tzidarkis Mosque and Hadrian's Library.

Finally, since you are so close, continue just another three minutes to 'Lukumades', the most famous place in Greece to get the classic Greek doughnut-like dessert with the same name.

And if you find yourself with a new burst of energy from that sugar treat, the ornate Cathedral Church of Athens is just a four minute walk away.

Day Two:

Start your day touring the Acropolis Museum where you can easily eat up your entire morning admiring all the interesting artifacts. For lunch, head to the top floor of the museum to the restaurant there called Strofi, as it has incredible views.

Take the ten minute walk west to the park at the base of the Acropolis which has several interesting sites. (If you are not feeling up to the walk, there are horse and carriages that line up outside of the museum that can take you there). Moving in a clockwise direction, check out the Church of Agios Demetrios, the Prison of Socrates, and the Filopappou viewing platform.


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In the evening, take the gondola to the top of Mount Lycabettus for dinner with the best view in the city. There are two restaurants at the top to choose from. Cafe Lycabettus is casual with a simple Greek menu and does not require reservations. But for a more luxurious experience, we recommend the upscale Greek seafood restaurant Orizontes, which will require reservations. (We did see many people turned away).

Day Three:

On Sundays at 11:00am there is a huge parade in front of the parliament in Syntagmos Square by the Evzones (Greek men serving in the military). Their costumes and march are incredibly entertaining to watch, so if you find yourself in Athens on a Sunday, be sure not to miss this unique changing of the guards ceremony. 

After the ceremony, as people disperse, make sure to check out the Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front.

​The Parliament is located on the NW corner of the National Gardens, so now would be the perfect time to go explore them. You can stay all day meandering through the paths, visiting the botanical garden, royal garden, play structures, many ponds and even the small zoo inside. But as you make your way south, be sure not to miss Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Zeus, and the Panathenaic Stadium.

Have a terrific trip and eat some Lukumades for us!