Updated on 16 April 2026 · Reading time: 12 min · By TravelLux.be

Greek Islands in Luxury: Business Class + Boutique Hotels with Membership Rewards

Mid-September, 06:40 in the morning. I was sitting in the Lufthansa Business Class lounge at Brussels Airport with a cappuccino and a croissant while the first autumn mist crept across the taxiway outside. In three hours I would land on Santorini via Munich, that island where every photo looks as if someone has put an Instagram filter over reality. The difference: I hadn't paid 1,800 euros for that business class flight. I had used Membership Rewards points. Greek islands in luxury, booked with points I had saved throughout the year on my Amex Platinum.

To be honest, I had hesitated for a long time. Greece felt like an "ordinary" destination. No Maldives, no Japan. But after ten days of island hopping between Santorini, Milos and Mykonos, with business class flights and boutique hotels that served me freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast on a terrace above the caldera, I knew for certain: this was the best trip I had ever booked with points.

Business class to the Greek islands from Brussels: routes and points

Let's be honest: a direct business class flight from Brussels to Santorini doesn't exist. That sounds like a disadvantage, but it actually opens doors. From Brussels Airport, as a Belgian traveller you have several smart routes via strong airline partners.

My favourite route? BRU → MUC → JTR with Lufthansa and Aegean Airlines. The flight to Munich takes barely 55 minutes, just enough to drink an espresso in the business class cabin. In Munich you transfer to an Aegean flight heading to Santorini. Total travel time: approximately five hours including the layover. Aegean Airlines is a Star Alliance member, so you can use Miles & More points, which are directly transferable from Membership Rewards.

What does such a trip cost in points? Via Miles & More you can expect around 50,000 to 55,000 points for a business class return in the low season (May, June, September). In July and August that rises to 70,000 to 80,000 points. That's still a fraction compared to the cash price of 1,200 to 2,200 euros that Lufthansa charges for those same seats.

Another route that works well: BRU → ATH → JTR, where you stopover for a night in Athens. Personally, I actually find that the most beautiful option. An evening in the Plaka district, a Greek salad with a view of the illuminated Acropolis, and the next morning a short domestic flight to the island of your choice. At Athens International Airport, with your Priority Pass you also have access to the Goldair Handling CIP Lounge, where the feta salad is surprisingly good for an airport lounge.

Santorini and Mykonos: booking boutique hotels via Fine Hotels + Resorts

This is where it gets really interesting for those with an Amex Platinum. The Fine Hotels + Resorts programme (FHR) is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated benefits of the card. On the Greek islands there are several participating hotels, and the extras you receive are absurdly good.

On Santorini I stayed at the Canaves Oia Epitome, an FHR hotel perched on a cliff above the caldera. Upon arrival I received a complimentary room upgrade to a suite with a private pool. Daily breakfast for two on the terrace, with that famous sunrise over the Aegean Sea included. Late checkout until 16:00, allowing you to have a leisurely lunch by the pool on your last day. And then there was a welcome gift worth approximately 100 dollars, which the hotel translated into a bottle of local Vinsanto wine and a plate of fresh figs.

On Mykonos, the Myconian Ambassador is another FHR option I can recommend. Slightly more modern, less intimate than Canaves, but with a spectacular view over the bay. The same benefits: upgrade, breakfast, late checkout. I estimate the total added value per stay at 400 to 650 euros, on top of the room rate you pay regardless.

To be honest: you don't pay for those rooms with points via FHR. You pay the regular room rate (expect 350 to 700 euros per night in peak season) and get the extras for free. Do you want to pay with points? Then you can book via the Amex Travel portal and use your Membership Rewards as a payment method. The rate is then typically 0.8 to 1 cent per point, depending on the hotel.

Island hopping with points: Milos, Naxos and the hidden gems

Most Belgian travellers I know limit themselves to Santorini and Mykonos. Understandable, because those are the names you recognise. But if you're already in the area, also take a look at islands like Milos, Naxos or Paros. Domestic flights with Olympic Air (a subsidiary of Aegean) often cost just 60 to 120 euros each, and you can pay for them with your Amex Platinum without currency conversion fees, since Greece is in the eurozone.

Milos was the surprise of my trip. Fewer tourists than Santorini, wilder beaches, and a village called Plaka that looks as if it was built by a film crew. I stayed in a small boutique hotel, the Milos Breeze, which isn't part of FHR but which I was able to book with Membership Rewards points via the Amex travel portal. Three nights for approximately 45,000 points. Reasonable, when you consider that the room rate was around 280 euros per night.

My tip for island hopping: book the inter-island ferries via SeaJets or Blue Star Ferries. These can't be booked with points, but cost only 35 to 70 euros per route. Simply pay with your Amex and earn points in the meantime. With the Booster option (4 points per euro for 10 euros per month) you'll quickly earn back 200 points on a ferry from Santorini to Milos.

How much does a luxury Greece trip cost in points? A realistic cost breakdown

I know numbers help. So here's an honest overview of what my ten days in Greece cost me, in points and in euros. This was in September, just outside the absolute peak season.

• Business class return BRU → MUC → JTR via Miles & More: 55,000 Membership Rewards points (transferred 1:1)
• 3 nights Canaves Oia Epitome, Santorini (FHR): €1,050 cash, plus free breakfast, upgrade and welcome gift worth ~€500
• 3 nights Milos Breeze, Milos via Amex Travel: 45,000 points
• 3 nights Myconian Ambassador, Mykonos (FHR): €980 cash, plus free benefits worth ~€450
• Domestic flights Santorini → Milos → Mykonos: €195 cash (paid with Amex, 780 points earned back with Booster)
• Restaurants, taxis, activities: ~€600 cash (2,400 points earned back)

Total: 100,000 Membership Rewards points + approximately €2,825 cash. For comparison: the same trip paid entirely in cash would have cost me at least €5,800, if you include the business class flights and the missed FHR benefits. That's a saving of nearly 3,000 euros.

And here's the beautiful part: via the TravelLux.be referral link you receive up to 150,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus on the Amex Platinum. That's more than enough to cover the flights and the hotel nights from this cost breakdown. The card costs 65 euros per month (780 euros per year), but if you look at what you get back in lounge access, FHR benefits, the Fast Lane at Brussels Airport and the travel insurance, the card pays for itself after one or two trips like this.

Practical tips for Belgian travellers to the Greek islands

After multiple trips to Greece, I want to share a few things I wish I had known sooner.

Amex acceptance in Greece is inconsistent. In the larger hotels and restaurants on Santorini and Mykonos you can pay with Amex almost everywhere. But on the smaller islands, and at local tavernas, it's often Visa or Mastercard only. So always bring a backup card. I personally use a Visa card as a supplement, but the Amex remains my main card for larger expenses and the points.

Book your FHR hotels at least three months in advance. On Santorini the popular FHR properties in July and August fill up quickly. September is my favourite month: still warm (28 to 30 degrees), less crowded, and lower room rates. The first two weeks of October can also work, although the water is just slightly cooler by then.

The lounge situation on the Greek islands themselves is limited. Santorini Airport (JTR) has no Priority Pass lounge. Mykonos (JMK) neither. That's a bit of a shame, but on the way back via Athens or Munich you more than make up for it. The Lufthansa Business Lounge in Munich Terminal 2 is personally one of my favourites in Europe: freshly prepared pasta, Belgian beer (yes, really), and a quiet workspace.

Don't forget to check your travel insurance. The Amex Platinum automatically provides comprehensive travel insurance via Chubb and Europ Assistance, provided you pay for the trip (partially) with the card. This covers trip cancellation, baggage loss, flight delay insurance, and medical expenses abroad. For most European trips this is more than sufficient, but always check the specific terms and conditions at americanexpress.com/be to be sure.

Frequently asked questions about Greek islands in luxury with points