Smarula Villa

We stayed three nights, with three rooms for eight people, and really enjoyed it. The hosts were great, and the maid service was impeccable. Just below the Villa, a cobblestone path made it easy to reach nearby shops and restaurants. The rooms were clean and well stocked with a refrigerator, AC, towels, soap, an electric kettle, and other essentials. The beds were comfortable, and the verandas were lovely for watching sunrise or sunset.

If you can, driving is a good way to explore the island during the day since the speed limit is low and you can take it slowly. Otherwise, you can book transfers to get around. We arranged a port-to-villa transfer for our arrival at 2.30am, after midnight, and it cost less than a taxi. The driver handled the roads really skillfully, especially since there weren’t many street lights from the port.

The hosts, Wocheck and a woman whose name I can’t remember, really care about making sure you have a nice stay and are there when you need help. They’ll bring breakfast to your room whenever you ask and went above and beyond what we expected. We were here for three days after traveling around Europe and Greece for almost three weeks, and this was easily the best value we found. It’s not right on the caldera, but the views are still incredible. I highly, highly recommend it, and I don’t say that often.

The hosts made us a special vegetarian breakfast, and it tasted awesome. They also helped arrange transfers and pointed us toward places to visit and things to do around Santorini. The location is amazing, with a walk to Fira and the main square one way, and Imerovigli the other. If you want a budget stay with great views close to the center, this is a perfect fit.