Today Santorini, Greece gives a seemingly untouched backdrop of white hills, turquoise beaches and blue seas. The gem of Santorini is the Ikies Traditional Houses, sits high atop the archipelago of islands in the village of Oia. Ikies houses are divided into studios (one bedroom), maisonettes (loft bedroom), and suites.

Each house offers private patios, jacuzzi and own swimming pool, all of which are carefully crafted for viewing of Oia’s famous sunsets. Ikies has become famous for its obsession with service. One magazine review read,”Their staff lives for nothing more than to refill your cocktail.” Continental breakfast, light fare and cocktails are all served to your room (or terrace or pool area). For the romantically-inclined, Ikies also offers a full service honeymoon package, with champagne breakfasts, flowers, satin sheets and the works.

Ikies is a great example of what this region has to offer. Stay tuned to Wayfaring to learn the ins and outs of the best places to vacation in Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens.

Perivolas Hotel is a restored group of 300 year-old caves, once the homes, wineries and stables of fishermen and farmers, now a complex of 17 private houses. The hotel is nestled between an amphitheaterical landscape of curves stepping down to a central stone terrace, with a pool that flows over the edge of the cliff into an Aegean horizon. Perivolas encompasses 14,000 square metres of vineyards, wild fig trees and abundant flora.

The hotel is situated in Santorini, Greece. Santorini has the oldest vineyards in Europe, producing mostly white wine – and surprisingly good. They are scattered all over the island. One of the most welcoming is the Santo winery, close to Pirigas, where for a few euros you get a tour and a tasting of some choice bottles.

The rooms are all whitewashed walls, with no hard edges. Santorini’s fishing folk, it seems, had a thing for curves, and the effect it has on visitors is quite astounding.

Drinks in the charming town of Oia are walking distance away, and a spectacular cliff side dinner at Ambrosia. Although the restaurant occasionally overreached itself in terms of trendy food fusion, the quality of the produce shone through.

With a full service spa, impressive infinity pool and an exclusive restaurant serving a feast of Mediterranean delights and Greek delicacies, Perivolas offers both modern and ancient beauty. Prices start at €368

Santorini is a place that doesn’t need much introduction- it’s a small circular archipelago of volcanic islands. Aigialos Hotel is among them in the island’s capital of Fira.

 

It’s a collection of antique villas from the eighteenth and nineteenth century, each one updated and renovated but hardly redesigned — the charm here is in the traditional architecture, the original period detailing, and the classic antiques and furnishings throughout. Floors and bathrooms are marble, and balconies and terraces look out over the caldera, inside the arc of this crescent-shaped island. As views go, it’s hard to think of many better ones, and Aigialos likes to boast that it’s privy to the world’s loveliest sunset — and they may have a point.

 

Room service is available 24 hours, a surprise in a hotel this sleepy and a town this small. There’s a pool as well, but not much more than that — Aigialos, and Santorini in general, is for getting away from it all, and a hike down to the black sand beach or a stroll into town for dinner is about as hectic as it gets.

The lands of the great gods of Greece and Rome come to life on this unique eight-day cruise across the beautiful Aegean Sea. Throughout this exciting journey, experience the rich history and culture of ancient Greece and Turkey and the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires while cruising aboard the m.s. Le Diamant This superb vessel is one of the finest cruisers in Europe and offers well-appointed, deluxe accommodations, as well as excellent service and gourmet cuisine.Begin with the resort island of Mykonos, known for its picturesque seaside villages and windmills, and the nearby island of Delos, mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis Next, explore the stunning volcanic cliffs of Santorini, experience the fantastic Greco-Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture of Rhodes and visit the ancient Monastery of St. John on the island of Patmos. Conclude with a tour of some of the world’s best-preserved Greco-Roman ruins at Ephesus, and the legendary city of Troy, immortalized by Homer Throughout the cruise, expert guides will lead the excursions and special onboard lectures will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the region.

To make your Aegean experience complete, join a low-priced, optional two-night pre-cruise program in the ancient Greek capital of Athens and/or an optional two-night extension in legendary Istanbul.

Santorini is the most extraordinary island in the Aegean. You sail into a strange, enclosed sea, shut off by the Burnt Islands. The volcanic cliffs of Santorini are red, brown or greenish, surmounted by a string of white villages. It is rather like a model of a monster’s jaw made by some infernal dentist; a sinister and alarming place, like nowhere else.

Jetting out from the deep blue sea its volcanic sheer cliffs topped with gleaming white village homes and churches, resemble snowcapped mountains. The thunderous fury of nature left its mark on the island, the home of Greece’s last active volcano which still smolders today. Layer upon layer of red volcanic rock interspersed with white buildings and specks of greenery form a visual demonstration found nowhere else.
The entire center of the circular island sank into the sea during the tremendous volcanic explosion of 3.500 years ago. The eruption caused tidal waves which virtually wiped out the advanced Minoan civilization of Crete 70 miles to the south. Some scholars believe that the island is part of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis which supposedly slipped underwater during the disaster.

From the sheer cliff-top, where the villages are built, you look down on the gentle, green outer slopes of the mountain: the sea has filled the crater of the volcano. The contrast between these two faces of Santorini is dramatic and extraordinary.

The beauty of Santorini must depend on light and line; there is hardly any vegetation apart from vines, and the volcanic earth has no charm of color, unlike the earth and rock of the limestone islands. Yet it has a strange and uncanny fascination of its own. It has rightly been called the black pearl of the Aegean.
The sunsets of Santorini, with the Burnt Islands in the foreground, the islet of Thirassia behind, Sikinos and Folegandros farther off, and the great rock of Christiana, are among the most exciting aesthetic experiences that the Aegean can provide.

The official name of the island is Thira, but foreigners refer to it by the name given in honor of the island’s patron saint, St. Irene of Thessaloniki, who died here while in exile in 304 A.D.Santorini, which covers 73 square kilometers and is located 127 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus, has an important wine trade. In September visitors may tread the grapes and taste the wines. The rich volcanic soil also produces popular small sweet tomatoes. The island also exports pumice stone, china clay and pistacchio nuts. Two million tons of volcanic soil is exported every year for use in the cement industry. A member of the Cyclades group of Aegean islands, Santorini has a permanent population of aapproxiimately 10.500 but during the tourist season this number swells dramatically.

Santorini has 13 villages. Fira, also known as Thira or Hora, is the island’s capital. It is situated 27,5 m. above the sea and may be reached from the port of Skala climbing the steep, 566 broad steps. This should only be attempted by the untiring while the traditional way up the zigzag path is by renting pack mules or donkeys. For those who prefer modern conveniences, a funicular lift is available.
The cable car lifts 800 persons per hour. The duration is only two minutes and offers unforgettable views of the volcanic island.

In Imerovigli, the most beautiful village of Santorini, you will find Santorini Princess Luxurious Spa Hotel Apartments.

It is situated on the enchanting and world famous caldera, 300m above the sea, having the most fascinating and unique view of the volcano and the little islands of the Aegean Sea, and of course the breathtaking sunset.

The Santorini Princess Luxury Spa Hotel, is only 2,5 km away from the capital city of Fira. It is a new hotel, built in 2004, following the traditional cycladic architecture, with a single purpose to offer its guests modern convenience and service of high quality

…the ACCOMMODATION

Santorini Princess Luxury Spa Hotel has 22 fully equipped luxurious apartments for 2, 3 or 4 persons. All the apartments, including the bathrooms and the balconies, have marble floors.

Each of the apartment provides:
• Kitchen and Fridge
• Digital safe-box
• Direct-dial phone
• Make up miror
• Bathroom with Jacuzzi
• Hair-dryer
• Satellite TV and Music
• Air-condition (warm-cold)
• Bathrobes, sleepers and other comfort amenities
• Large private balcony from where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

…the SPA

Since we always wanted to fulfill your most demanding needs, we have built a wonderful and atmospheric SPA center, where you can have moments of pleasure and absolute relaxation.

The pleasure can begin with a relaxing massage with essential oils, foot massage, special facials, waxing, manicure and pedicure, make up and ends with the experience of deep relaxation in the sauna and the jacuzzi.

…the RESTAURANT
Our a la carte restaurant, decorated in a modern and idyllic way, offers a variety of traditinal Greek – International cuisine and Santorinian wines.

The tasteful dishes in combination with the atmospheric environment and the sensational view will make this experience unforgettable.