Podcast Summary: Smart Travel – Mediterranean Cruise Game Plan: Santorini, Mykonos & the Greek Islands (Feb 18, 2026)

Hosted by Sally French & Meghan Coyle, NerdWallet Travel Experts

Main Theme

This episode dives deep into the logistics, budgeting, and strategies to maximize your travel dollars on a Mediterranean getaway, especially if you’re considering a multi-stop trip through iconic Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos—and want to avoid common transit headaches such as complicated ferry schedules and fragmented currencies. The hosts, along with producer Tess Viglin, draw from personal and professional experience to break down the pros and cons of land versus sea, highlight up-and-coming Mediterranean destinations, and discuss practical budgeting tools and travel-planning hacks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Travel News & Trends

Starts at 02:06

• Southwest Air Updates:

  • Starlink Wi-Fi: Southwest will start rolling out high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi in summer 2026 on over 300 planes, making in-flight streaming and video calls possible.
    • "I want to be offline. No video calls when I'm in the air." – Meghan (02:41)

• JetBlue–United Partnership:

  • Travelers can now book and redeem points on both airlines interchangeably via both websites.
    • "This is really good for travelers because it's a good way to just unlock more options..." – Sally (04:05)

• Spring Break Destinations (Google Data):

  • Most trending: Florida (5 out of top 10), Hilo, Hawaii (cultural events & volcano attraction), Asheville, NC, Southern CA cities, and Vail, CO (only ski).
    • Discussion about why some trending cities are more about airport convenience than intrinsic tourist appeal (e.g. Santa Ana near Disneyland).
    • "I would not call it a top tourist destination...but it's a great airport to fly through." – Sally (07:05)

• Search Trends:

  • Slow travel and easy travel are surging.
  • Sustainable tourism, solo travel, and AI trip planners are record-high search terms.

2. Travel Mishaps & Tips from the Field

Starts at 09:29

• Producer Tess’s Spain Trip:

  • Endured illness, extreme rain, and transit problems, but highlighted how knowing your rights (EU compensation for delays: €250–€600) can turn a bad beat into a “consolation prize.”
    • "So the tip here is it's really easy just to do it for yourself." – Tess (12:39)
    • AirHelp, a third-party service, takes 35% for handling the process, but can be worth it for peace of mind.

• Global Entry Pitfall:

  • Remember to update your Global Entry profile with your new passport number to avoid hassles on return to the US.

3. Why the Mediterranean Is a Different Kind of Europe

Starts at 15:11

• Fragmented Geography = Complicated Logistics:

  • Unlike Western Europe’s seamless rail network, the Med’s archipelagos and coastal fragmentation mean trains and flights often require backtracking to big hubs (Athens, Rome, Istanbul).
  • Example: Getting from Santorini to Corfu often means flying back to Athens first.
  • Ferries' downsides: Expense, unpredictability, motion-sickness, and lengthy travel times (Santorini–Mykonos: 2–4 hours, $100+).
    • "You're either committed to these ferry schedules...the ferries can be long." – Sally (34:34)

• Language & Currency Challenges:

  • Many countries, many tongues: Italian, Greek, Turkish, etc.
  • Currencies not unified (e.g., lira, lek, kuna) – can be expensive and inconvenient, ATMs charge per withdrawal, and cash often required in local spots.
    • "It can be challenging...I want to be respectful and learn the languages of all these places. I was like, no, I'm sorry, sorry. It's too much to learn." – Sally (37:10)

• Travel Planning Advice:

  • Don’t try to cover too many countries/islands. Spend longer in one area (embrace slow/easy travel).
  • Make one place your home base and take excursions from there—reduces currency/language headaches and logistical stress.

4. Mediterranean Hotspots and Hidden Gems

Starts at 21:56, Expanded at 18:33 and 19:14

Most Popular & “Touristy”

• Major hits: Mallorca is the top tourist-magnet for overnights; also, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, and several Greek islands (Santorini, Mykonos, Zante—where there are more tourists than locals).
• Growing Stars: Albania (+277% in 10 years!), Greece, Turkey, and Croatia all up 100–147%.
  • Social media buzz over Albania’s uncrowded, sparkling beaches.

Hosts’ Top Picks (21:56–32:18)

• Cinque Terre, Italy: “Fairy-tale” coastal five-town cluster; connections by walk, short train, or ferry.
  • "It is absolutely storybook fairy tale..." – Sally (22:04)
• Sardinia, Italy: Blue zone longevity, stunning coastal/mountain mix—best explored by car.
  • "They have an unusually high rate of people who live to be a hundred." – Meghan (24:09)
• Kotor, Montenegro: Fortified coastal town, cat-lover’s haven, easy access, scenic hikes.
  • "If you are a cat person, Kotor is your spot." – Sally (25:16)
• French Riviera (Marseille): Bougie coastal escape with diverse food, culture, and hilly views; White Lotus TV connection.
  • "It is a city on the southern coast of France and it is super diverse..." – Meghan (27:34)
• Zadar, Croatia: Easy flights, fresh seafood, unique art features (wave organ, monument to the sun); gateway to national parks.
  • "They have a wave organ where it uses the sea...and the pipes fill with water and create this sound." – Sally (29:43)
• Barcelona, Spain: Sagrada Família nearly finished after 144 years; transformative to see in person.
  • "It is absolutely the most breathtaking church I've ever been inside." – Meghan (31:16)

5. Getting Around: Land vs Sea

Starts at 33:34 and 41:04

The Challenge:

• Hopping multiple Med islands/cities is surprisingly tough; fragmented transit, unreliable ferries, and “domino effect” from travel delays.
  • "Not as easy as planning a trip to Western Europe if you are someone looking to hit multiple cities..." – Sally (15:31)

Cruise Solution:

• Cruises = the Efficient Option:

  • Sally’s 10-night Norwegian Cruise example: Istanbul–Kusadasi–Corfu–Kotor–(and more)

    • No “at sea” (filler) days; every day = new port.
    • Avoids need for ferries, regional flights, complex hotel bookings, and language/currency transitions.
    • Unpack once—floating hotel, daily destination reset, no check-in/out or dragging bags.
    • Comparable mid-scale independent travel (hotels, transit, food) costs nearly the same, but loses the convenience.
    • Cruise pricing: e.g., $6,000/2 people for 10 nights, including ‘hotel’, transit, and food.
    • Some Med towns have very limited hotel inventory (e.g., Santorini), leading to seasonal rate spikes ($900+/night for 5-star).

  • "I realized I loved cruising for how efficient it is. ...its ability to get you to places that are otherwise difficult." – Sally (41:04)

  • "You don't have to unpack in between...it's like you took a red eye flight but in the most comfortable bed ever." – Meghan (44:21)

• When to Go:

  • Shoulder season (spring/fall) is ideal; off-season = some islands/towns shut down completely.

• Cost Saving & Planning:

  • Some Med destinations are among Europe's most expensive for hotels (Greece, Italy, but #1 is Switzerland).
    • Example: Santorini 5-star hotel avg = $940/night, Mykonos = $498, Mallorca = $408.
    • Budget-luxury options: Kotor ($177), Istanbul ($159), Crete ($154) (based on 5-star hotel pricing).

6. Listener Q&A: Travel Loyalty Status on Work Trips

Starts at 52:43

• Question: If all your travel is on a corporate card (not earning your own CC points) and your points/status are scattered, which programs/strategies can help?
• Advice:
  • Credit Card Route: Amex Platinum grants gold hotel status + lounge access (regardless of airline flown).
    • "This maximizes your odds of actually being able to access the lounge." – Sally (54:10)
  • Low-Night Status: Choice Hotels gives elite status after just five nights—good for those booking across brands.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's like you took a red eye flight but in the most comfortable bed ever." – Meghan, on the cruise (44:21)
• "You don't want to learn Greek for one day, but learn Greek for 10 days and make it count." – Sally (40:54)
• "Go when the people are not going. So typically shoulder season, possibly off season, but...some of these beach towns...close entirely." – Sally (48:57)
• "The best way to go to Santorini, I am telling you, is a cruise." – Sally (51:07)
• "I think we had some really spot on predictions in our episode earlier in the year. One of them was slow travel." – Meghan (08:23)
• On booking compensation after EU flight delay: "The tip here is it's really easy just to do it for yourself." – Tess (12:39)

Time-Stamped Segment Guide

• 02:06 – Southwest & JetBlue/United airline news
• 04:46 – Spring break trending destinations, Google travel trend data
• 09:29 – Tess’s Spain “Murphy’s Law” trip, EU compensation, Global Entry tip
• 15:11 – Why Med trips are logistically harder than Western Europe
• 18:33 – Med overview: countries, which are rising, top tourist hotspots
• 21:56 – “If you could pick three Med destinations…” Game (Cinque Terre, Sardinia, Kotor, etc.)
• 32:33 & 33:34 – Why transit is tough: geography, language, currency, seasonal closure, and transit constraints
• 41:04 – Sally’s cruise log: port-to-port efficiency, budget breakdown, and “cruise vs. DIY”
• 48:57 – When to go for best price/experience, hotel cost breakdown
• 52:43 – Listener Q&A: maximizing travel rewards when on work travel

Practical Tips & Takeaways

• For Smooth Mediterranean Hopping:

  • Cruises are often the best value and least stressful way to pack multiple islands/countries into one trip without backtracking, transit chaos, or repeated packing/unpacking.
  • If traveling independently, limit yourself to one or two base cities/islands, and explore from there to minimize logistical headaches.

• Money-Saving Strategies:

  • Book during “shoulder” seasons (May/Sept/Oct) for the best prices and thinnest crowds.
  • Use credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, especially in countries with non-euro currencies.
  • When in doubt about learning a local language, aim for one that's most relevant to your main destination.

• Travel Planning:

  • For infrequent-flyer status seekers, consider hotel programs like Choice for easier status, or Amex Platinum for automatic status/lounges.
  • For EU flight delays/cancellations, file your own claim directly with the airline before using third-party services like AirHelp.

• Destination Inspiration:

  • Don't sleep on emerging destinations like Albania and Kotor for beauty, value, and uncrowded experiences.
  • A cruise’s “floating hotel” can be the ultimate hack—especially for places with little lodging (like Santorini).

End of summary – For the full, engaging banter and added research links, tune in to Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways wherever you get your podcasts!