Aqua Luxury Suites

Aqua Luxury Suites is set on the caldera-facing hillside, nestled between other hotels and apartments, all gazing out over the stunning caldera. The hotel is all about those views, and features are limited here. Winding paths lead through a sea of gleaming white buildings, and it's hard to see where one hotel stops and others start. Pretty potted trees, decorative vases, and ornaments pepper the stone stairways, and the communal pool and deck has plenty of chic white chairs, tables, and loungers for taking in those stunning panoramic vistas. There's a bar in high season, but otherwise there's not much of a social scene here, which will either please or bore travelers depending on their tastes. The complex is favored by young couples on the whole, though the larger suites lend themselves well to families and small groups. It's also worth noting that the staff-to-guest ratio here is quite high, meaning that any requests are easily handled and that the grounds are impeccably kept.

Aqua Luxury Suites sits on the hillside in the small village of Imerovigli, between the island's main towns of Fira and Oia. It's a quieter option when compared to busy Oia, and has arguably better views of the famous sunsets. The reception area is usefully set on the main road, just a few minutes walk from the suites themselves -- porters are available to help with bags. The village has a handful of shops and restaurants within a five-minute walk from the suites, and Fira is a five-minute drive away, or a longer 20-minute walk if you prefer to stay on foot. It's a 15-minute walk from the suites down the hill and up again to Skaros Rock and the medieval castle ruins for spectacular views over the caldera and beyond, passing pretty Anastasi Church with its distinctive blue domed roof (often pictured in images of Santorini). The nearest bus stop is outside and connects with Oia and Baxedes Beach to the north, and Fira to the south, where you can pick up services to the south coast beaches like Kamari -- with its outdoor cinema -- and Perissa -- one of the island's best sandy beaches. Trips to both take about 30 minutes. It's a 20-minute bus trip to either the airport or ferry port, and about the same by car. 

The 25 suites are individually designed, and configurations range from double rooms to private villas. All have a stylish shabby-chic feel with white walls, homey artwork, and whitewashed or distressed wood furniture. Some -- like the Senior Suite that we visited -- are quite compact, though others have plenty of room. A few are spacious enough for families, or have lofted bedrooms accessed by a ladder. The hotel offers welcome gifts that vary from candy to bottles of wine. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. All have a private balcony, many of which include their own plunge pool or hot tub. Bathrooms have rustic plaster walls, with cave-like rainfall showers, and pretty mosaic sinks. Upmarket toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers are provided. Extra perks include turndown service and twice-daily housekeeping.

The main feature of this property, as with most hotels perched on Santorini hillsides, is the breathtaking view out over the caldera and Aegean Sea. As such, much of the hotel is physically oriented toward the caldera, including the tiny pool. It's best used as a place to dip your feet rather than take a swim, however most rooms have their own hot tubs or pools. There's a poolside bar with shaded seating and plenty of tables and chairs. Snacks and daily specials can be ordered from the bar, and breakfast is delivered daily to the suites. Room service is available around the clock, but there is no proper full-service restaurant. A range of spa treatments and massages are available, either in rooms or outdoors. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.