Santorini June 2020

Alkers

Thinking about this for a holiday for myself and the OH this summer.

Reading a lot of contradicting guides etc online so looking for some first hand recommendations.

We would be looking to go for a week long trip, would prefer to stay in AirBnB than hotels if anyone has any recommendations?

Happy to rent a scooter / quad for transport for the week but would like to be within walking distance of bars / restaurants. Might have one or two party nights.

Otherwise like to explore, swim, scuba etc so any other recommendations appreciated.

Thinking we would fly there via Athens and maybe ferry back to the mainland for the return trip. Have been to Athens before and wasn't impressed.

Tenzor07

Alkers wrote: »

Thinking about this for a holiday for myself and the OH this summer.

Reading a lot of contradicting guides etc online so looking for some first hand recommendations.

We would be looking to go for a week long trip, would prefer to stay in AirBnB than hotels if anyone has any recommendations?

Happy to rent a scooter / quad for transport for the week but would like to be within walking distance of bars / restaurants. Might have one or two party nights.

Otherwise like to explore, swim, scuba etc so any other recommendations appreciated.

Thinking we would fly there via Athens and maybe ferry back to the mainland for the return trip. Have been to Athens before and wasn't impressed.

I'm not sure that AirBnB is that widespread, maybe in a couple of small areas, in the busiest places like Imerovigli/Oia it's all hotels...

Stay over the other side of the Island where Kamari beach is for example, loads of little restaurants and bars and not so expensive. More likely to find a few AirBnB's there too....
The other side of the island where Imerovigli and Oia are €€€€€ expensive places to stay and dine etc. Tends to be more wealthy tourists or wedding parties over there..

My advice, don't rent a quad or a scooter, the ferries back to Athens in the summer have many people coming off them arms and legs in casts, and on crutches... the roads are pretty much all narrow roads, some are quite steep/winding...and in particular if you're not used to driving a quad or scooter..... I wouldn't even hire a car in Santorini, parking is an absolute nitemare, I wouldn't want to spend my vacation time driving around the congested roads of the north west of the island....

The Island is small enough to easily get around by Bus which I highly recommend, and less stressful too, a ticket costs about €2 and they go to every corner of the island to and from the central bus station and back...

Loads of boats doing Island tours, and various scuba diving places too, not sure which to use however.

You'd spend the best part of 2 days return getting to and from the Island from Athens ferryport and further back to the airport, so just catch a connecting flight to make the most of your time on the Island... even though it's possible to see everything in about 3 days max.

On a side note, what's wrong with Athens? Amazing city, at night time it's so lively and is a 24 hour place if pubs and clubs are your thing, nothing nicer than a rooftop bar in the shadow of the Acropolis. If you like a quieter life, head towards Vouliagmeni for some nice beaches and watersports, and it's not full of boozy tourists, cheap accommodation too.. And of course go see the Acropolis, the museum etc. And all the street markets and Greek restaurants, the list goes on!

Stratvs

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'm not sure that AirBnB is that widespread, maybe in a couple of small areas, in the busiest places like Imerovigli/Oia it's all hotels...

Stay over the other side of the Island where Kamari beach is for example, loads of little restaurants and bars and not so expensive. More likely to find a few AirBnB's there too....

Re Santorini agreed. We stayed in Perissa. And while it seemed terribly rural the first morning we soon realised we were only a short hop from the other side of the island.

I hired a car for couple days big mistake, took half a day to sort it, was v expensive couldn’t park anywhere and in the end we used the bus which was always jam packed but cheap as chips and way more fun.

I really enjoyed visit to Santo wines and sitting on the terrace watching the sunset with a selection of their wines and cheeses all for a tenner.

Do take trip to Nea Kameni. The bit at the centre of the caldera that’s above water.

DuffleBag

I'd be on the other side of the fence re: quadbike. We rented ours through the hotel, not through one of those rental companies and it made the holiday. Having the freedom to go where we wanted when we wanted was ideal. You are also not at the mercy of the buses, and can see the different sunsets in the hidden spots. Think it cost us €150 for the week we were there. Stayed in Thea Studios, walking distance to Fira, but far away enough that you're not in the town.