Elysian Santorini

The free breakfast each morning was surprisingly good. We stayed in a cave room for 10 nights and had a wonderful time. The staff were fantastic and went above and beyond, helping us arrange tours and make a few adjustments.

There was no hot water in the shower for any of our three days, and the customer service was horrible. We had no basic facilities or proper contact person, and the stay was really unpleasant. We paid about 240 euros per night for the retreat, but were given a horrible room in the elysian hotels. The room photos didn’t match what we got and the website pictures didn’t live up to expectations. When we raised the issue, we were asked to pay extra.

The villa’s quiet setting and hot tub were the best parts, and breakfast on the terrace each morning was another highlight. I also enjoyed the freestanding bathtub in the room several times. We could use the pool at the neighboring Elysian Retreat as part of the stay, though it meant walking downhill and then back uphill. We stayed four nights in the Cave Villa with Hot Tub and Sunset Views, and it was wonderfully relaxing. The staff were lovely and helpful in person and over WhatsApp. We booked an airport transfer through the hotel, which was well arranged, and someone helped carry our luggage to the villa. The room and bathroom stayed quite humid, probably because of the cave style, though a dehumidifier was provided. The property is only reachable on foot, about a 10-minute walk from the central parking area. That was fine for us, but may be tricky for people with mobility issues or lots of luggage or strollers. WiFi in the room was sometimes unstable, so downloading things in advance could help. It’s a great place to unwind, enjoy the views, and recharge. We’d happily return.

I felt misled about the location. The place is in a farmland village, about half a mile from tourist areas or actual towns and around two miles from the water. There’s no cliffside or caldera drop view, just open land and sea far away. We left after one night and moved to a hotel on the edge of the caldera with breathtaking views for 100 euro less per night. That was a much better short stay. I felt a bit scammed and would like some compensation. How could a cliffside hotel in town with once-in-a-lifetime views cost less than a large farm with a distant sea view? The room and service were fantastic, and everyone was kind and helpful. It’s peaceful if you want quiet time away from everything. But it’s a poor fit if you want shopping, more than 2 restaurants, caldera views, or to do things without a car. People raise eyebrows when you say you’ll walk to town. Maybe that’s the intent, but the website didn’t make it sound that way. It pains me to leave a critical review when the staff were so nice, but I’d hate for someone else to make the same mistake based on the website marketing.