What to Do with Two Weeks in Europe

Last year, Shawn worked his mileage magic and snagged a ridiculous deal on business class flights into Heathrow and out of Frankfurt, with 14 glorious days in between. So naturally, we did what any mildly overthinking duo would do: we spent 6 months trying to figure out what on earth to do with those two weeks in Europe.

The wishlist:

• Somewhere we haven’t been as a couple (aka new memories, new opportunities for visits to foreign pharmacies)

• No long flights within Europe (across the pond is long enough)

• The most fun possible on a smart budget (maximum value, minimum spend)

After endless Googling, mapping, and “what if we just...” conversations, we finally have a plan!

Drumroll, please
We’re hitting up:

Athens

Corfu

Mykonos

Kotor

Dubrovnik

Split

“How are you fitting all that in without losing your minds or your luggage?” Great question. The answer: we’re going on... another Virgin cruise. (Pause for judgment.)

When we did the math—hotels, food, transit, marriage counseling—it turned out a 7-night cruise was the most budget-friendly, logistics-light way to do this. We’ll fly from London to Athens, chill there for a couple nights, then hop on the cruise that hits all those beautiful places except Split. That’s where we’ll spend three post-cruise nights walking off our sea legs while enjoying the local markets & fresh seafood. Then a couple nights in Frankfurt to wind down and boom—home again.

Now, I know what you’re thinking:
“Are you... cruise people?”
Honestly? I think we might be “floaters” now. Just for now. It’s efficient, low-stress, and lets us pretend we have our lives together.

To be fair, Virgin is basically “cruising for people who hate cruising”:

• No kids at the pool, in the elevators, in the restaurants, or anywhere

• No main dining rooms with tuxedos and hotel catering food

• No super-spreader germ buffets

• No announcements every 4 minutes

• No tipping or upselling you into oblivion

Just smooth sailing and one time to unpack. Once my retirement hits, we’ll do the long, slow travel thing. But for now? This works. And we’re leaning in.

Trip report to come, but first, we’ve got a quick overnight to see my bestie and a weekend with my folks. Oh, and we somehow have 15 flights scheduled for the rest of this year. FIFTEEN. Who do we think we are—international jet-setters with a personal assistant and a travel sponsor? Nope. Just two people with a spreadsheet and frequent sailor status.

Stay tuned for tales of sun, snacks, and sea vibes. 🌊✈️🍷