Caldera Villas

Caldera Villas is about as Santorini as it gets -- with its whitewashed exterior, Cycladic decor, and breathtaking Caldera and Aegean Sea views. There's not too much in terms of common areas around the hotel, besides the sun terrace and pool area -- decked out with sun lounges and umbrellas. The relaxing atmosphere at Caldera Villas allows guests to completely unwind, mostly chilling out on their private terrace or by the swimming pool, or heading out for the day. The hotel is geared towards couples, and while some rooms can accommodate families, the strenuous and slightly dangerous stairs leading to and at the hotel aren't ideal for young children.

Caldera Villas is centrally located in the middle of the Oia Village. The hotel is situated at the bottom of the cliff, which means lots of stairs to get to the hotel, though on the plus side it's a quieter location with less crowds passing through. It's about a two-minute walk into Oia Village (back up the steep, often slippery, steps), where there is the bus stop, shops, bank, bars, and restaurants. Armeni Beach, a small beach suitable for swimming, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. For those looking to explore outside of Oia, the Sigalas Winery is a seven-minute drive, and Fira's Old Port is a 22-minute drive. It's a 30-minute drive to the Santorini Airport -- it's recommended to ask the hotel to organize the airport transfer to pick you up, as trying to find the hotel can be a bit tricky.

The 25 rooms, studios, and suites at Caldera Villas include a mix of traditional and modern elements with cave-style architecture and stylish modern furniture. The traditional Cycladic decor includes white furniture and neutral colors throughout -- with a few wood-inspired furniture pieces and simple artwork on the walls. All rooms come equipped with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, free Wi-Fi, and private terrace. Private terraces include outdoor seating areas overlooking the Caldera and Aegean Sea. The suites have an additional living area and kitchenette; some include a hot tub on the terrace. The bathrooms are moderately sized with stall showers (covered by a shower curtain), hairdryer, and free toiletries.

As with many Santorini hotels, Caldera Villas doesn't offer too much in the way of additional features -- apart from the stunning views. There is no on-site bar or restaurant, the only meal available is the free buffet breakfast served on the sun terrace each morning -- offering a selection of local foods like Greek yogurt, cold meats, and fruit. There's a small swimming pool on the sun terrace, surrounded by sun loungers and umbrellas. The hotel can arrange airport transfers and provide porters to help carry luggage up and down the stairs to guest rooms. There is free Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel, however guests have complained about a weak signal in the rooms.