Where to stay on Santorini

As we mentioned in a previous blog, we moved three times in 7 days on the island of Santorini.

The villa is furnished to perfection—when I say perfect, I truly mean it. The owner clearly takes great pride in this, even going so far as to say that if we noticed anything that we believe was yet needed, we should let him know. He strives to ensure that his guests have everything they could possibly need, and he actively adds any suggestions guests offer to make the experience even better.

Let me list a few little things that you don’t usually get: Netflix, an iPad (which was used to order breakfast), Uno playing cards and 2 sets of regular playing cards, a Marshall portable speaker for music, a hat, flip-flops, a beach bag, make-up remover, sun cream, a list of restaurants nearby that offer delivery with phone numbers, and the tablet was loaded with tourist locations that the owner recommends visiting ….. And I could go on until tomorrow.

On top of all that, we were greeted with a welcome drink, which included a snack and homemade wine. The next day, while we were relaxing by the pool, the owner surprised us with homemade cheese and ouzo*. It may sound like I’m praising this accommodation too much, but I truly appreciate hosts who go the extra mile and do more than simply hand over the keys. Besides, the proof is in the reviews. All 57 guests before us have given it a perfect 10, so we’re happy to add our own 10 to the list as well.

*Ouzo is the aniseed-flavored national spirit of Greece. It is typically mixed with water, turning it white like milk.

Hint: Santorini is famous for its sunsets, which crowds of tourists flock to see at the former Castle of Oia,

but as the sun moves during the year, if you visit Santorini in May, the sun sets lower, so you can see the perfect sunset from this villa.

Price: 223€/night for 2 persons (in 2022)

Breakfast was included in the price and served by the pool every morning at a time of our choosing, with 8 different menus to choose from.

My wish was to spend at least one night in Oia, but since most accommodations there are incredibly expensive and require a minimum stay for several days, we searched for one that we liked, had its own pool, and would allow us to stay for just one or two nights at a more reasonable price. That’s when we found Oia Spirit Boutique Residences. It’s beautiful, well-maintained, and in a great location—practically right next to those iconic blue domes that you see on all Santorini postcards, so prepare to be on many tourist photos if you’re sitting outside :)

Staying here gave us a completely different perspective on the island compared to our previous accommodation. Oia truly is a bustling tourist hub, with narrow streets and trendy “Instagram-worthy” spots around every corner. The only downside for me was the abundance of cats on the island, which unfortunately meant that the pool water had some cat hair floating on the surface. As a result, we decided to skip the pool, but everything else was fantastic.

For our last accommodation, we decided to stay a bit further south on the island to experience the beach and the nightlife of Santorini, specifically in Perissa.

We chose a smaller hotel called Stelios Place, a lovely family-run guesthouse. We arrived on the 3rd of May, and it turned out to be a very special experience as we were the very first guests of the season—this was the opening day for the hotel in 2022. It was great to have such a warm welcome, and the hotel quickly filled up with other guests as the day went on.

The room was comfortable, clean, and well-kept, and the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. The hotel also had an outdoor pool, and the beach was just 100 meters away, making it an ideal spot to enjoy the sun and sea.

It was definitely much more simple and less modern than the other two, but for the price we paid, it was a great value choice that I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Santorini.

Price: 50 € / night for 2 persons (no breakfast included)

A blog post is based on personal experience and reflects the author’s opinion, which may not apply to every reader. Each traveler should plan their journey in their own way, according to their preferences and needs.

All prices quoted were May 2022.