Loizos Stylish Residences

From the outside, Loizos Stylish Residences looks more like one of the neighboring whitewashed mansions than a hotel. Guests enter the property through a white gate and tiled terrace framed with flowering bougainvillea, and into the lobby. The property is a mix of stylish spaces with some unusual elements that don't quite fit. For instance, a blue pencil sculpture next to the front desk and a worn black leather couch near the public computers. Still, the upstairs breakfast room looks fresh with overhead skylights, wicker chairs, and nautical art. Outdoor terraces feature attractive places to sit and there are chic day beds by the rectangular pool. Most of the guests here are international couples on vacation, though some families do stay here thanks to the convenient location and lack of steps. (There are steps leading into the lobby and up to the breakfast room and second floor of rooms, but these are minor compared to the caldera.) Though the hotel is in Fira, it's not on the cliff and there are no famous caldera views to be had from the public areas or rooms. Most guests eat breakfast and then head out to explore for the day. 

The hotel is built almost at the starting point of the pedestrian path that runs along the caldera through Fira. One side of the path leads down the cliff, to hotels and restaurants that hug the cliff over the Aegean Sea. The other side of the path is crowded with a labyrinth of boutique stores, souvenir shops, tavernas, bars, and churches. The ferry port's cable cars drop passengers off here, about a 10-minute walk from Loizos. You can walk all the way to Oia along the scenic pedestrian path, it'll take around three hours and some sections aren't paved, but the views are spectacular. A car or bus ride to Oia takes about 30 minutes. Red Beach is about a 25-minute drive from the hotel. It takes about 12 minutes to drive to Santorini International Airport. 

Closer to Loizos, there's a Carrefour Marinopoulos and a bakery just down the hill from the hotel's front doors (about a two-minute walk). The grocery store is near the public parking lot, which is where guests will have to park and walk to the hotel. 

There are 27 rooms divided into seven categories. Each room is slightly different in terms of layout and decor, and the largest can sleep four people comfortably. And though all are pleasant and clean, some of them are much more stylish than others. Generally, the color palette is muted with tones of white and gray. Some rooms have chocolate colored padded headboards, while other beds look more minimalist with built-in nightstands and modern abstract artwork. All units include a flat-screen TV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, iron, ironing board, safe, and spacious closet area. Apartments include kitchens with burners, sinks, mini-fridges, kettles, and cookware. Each of the rooms has a furnished balcony or access to the courtyard. The Honeymoon Suite has a whirlpool tub. 

Bathrooms have been renovated to include marble and mosaic tiles. Some of the showers are small, but the water pressure is strong. Toiletries, towels, and hairdryers are provided. 

Features are pretty straightforward, since most guests leave for the day after eating breakfast. It's definitely worth spending the extra cash (much cheaper than what breakfast costs at a restaurant in Fira) to pay for breakfast at the hotel, since the self-serve meal consists of delicious hot items like omelets and Greek specialties such as olives, feta, capers, and tomatoes. Specialty coffees and fresh juice are available. For relaxing, there's a rectangular courtyard pool and day beds set on the pool deck. The area stayed quiet during our visit. Apart from airport transfers (for a fee), free Wi-Fi, and public computers, there aren't any additional features. Note that staff is not available to assist with luggage, though there is a small space across the street where guests can quickly park and drop off bags before parking elsewhere.