San Marino Suites

Santorini is world famous for its gorgeous whitewashed Cycladic architecture -- but oftentimes the rooms, restaurants, and pools (even in upscale hotels) focus too heavily on the exterior and leave a lot to be desired on the interiors. This isn't the case at San Marino Suites, which was built in 2015, and pulls off traditional Cycladic elements of whitewashed curving walls with updated Mid-century modern accents for an overall fresh style that reads as youthful and fun. The hotel's entrance, front desk, pool, bar, and breakfast room are shared with the sister hotel, Evgenia Villas & Suites. San Marino's suites are located down a flight of steps by the pool, and have more privacy. A large lawn (rumored to be the site of a future infinity pool just for San Marino guests) is sprinkled with large body pillows and hammocks. The Aegean Sea is easily visible in the distance, and the view is especially pretty at sunrise. Most of the guests in the suites are couples and groups of friends, but expect to see occasional kids in the public areas. 

Hotel rates are cheaper on the Eastern side of Santorini because the Aegean Sea is in the distance and none of the hotels have views of the epic caldera and sunset. San Marino Suites is within a 10-minute walk of Fira's caldera and its abundance of souvenir shops, Greek tavernas, and the famous views of the water and cliffsides clustered with blue-domed buildings. The hotel is built off of a quiet stone paved street in a mostly residential neighborhood -- we saw occasional donkey traffic on our visit. It's about a two-minute walk to a mini-market and the Folklore Museum. Fira's central bus station and a strip of casual restaurants are about a five-minute walk away. Farther afield, it's about a 30-minute drive or bus ride north to Oia. Santorini Airport is about a 10-minute drive. The hotel can arrange transportation for a fee. 

There are six suites and each was built in 2015, so interiors are fresh and modern. The suites are divided into two one-story Cycladic buildings facing a large lawn and each unit has a private terrace furnished with chic white cushioned sun loungers under a gray canopy. The five Sea View Suites technically have one large room, but there's a privacy wall that houses a built-in day bed topped with throw pillows. This category can sleep up to four people comfortably. Decor consists of a black, gray, and white color palette jazzed up with bamboo accented furniture and Mid-century modern lighting. Tech features include an iPad dock, tablet, Marshall's Hanwell HiFi speaker, and white LED flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Wi-Fi is free, but not reliable in all of the suites. Creature comforts include a mini-fridge, scented candles, kettle, individually controlled air-conditioning, and safe. The Jacuzzi Suite has the same features and an indoor whirlpool tub, but only sleeps three people. Huge cave-style bathrooms showcase curved walls and enormous walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Toiletries, hairdryers, bathrobes, and slippers are provided. 

For more space, the Aqua Marine Villa can sleep four people and has a private bedroom and separate living room. Guests can partially self cater in a kitchenette with a sink, microwave, and mini-fridge. It features a private outdoor swimming pool with Aegean Sea views and an indoor whirlpool. The cavernous cave-style bathroom is painted a bold blue. 

Features are shared with the adjacent sister property (Evgenia Villas & Suites), so the breakfast room, bar, and pool deck can get crowded -- especially in high season. The pool itself is surrounded on three sides by modern sun loungers, and European dance music softly plays on hidden speakers. The adjacent bar is open all day for cocktails and beer, but doesn't provide waiter service or serve food. This is also where breakfast is served for a fee. The cold self-serve spread includes fresh fruit, spinach pie, croissants, small sandwiches, cakes, hard boiled eggs, cereals, and coffee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but the signal is particularly weak in the suites -- it works better in the breakfast area and by the pool. There's free parking down the street in an abandoned movie theater, but the lot isn't paved and was lined with garbage and debris during our visit.