Mardanza Exclusive

The proprietor was super friendly and explained everything about the apartment, along with ideas for things to do on the island. Breakfast is a generous option and very good value, and the pool and terrace have a perfect view. I loved the place and only wish we’d stayed longer. It’s private and away from many of Santorini’s crowded, touristy accommodations. If you want to explore other parts of the island, I’d suggest hiring a quad bike or getting a cab. You can catch a bus at the top of the hill from Mardanza, but be ready for the uphill walk. This has to be one of the best places I’ve ever stayed anywhere.

The one downside for us was the cold pool, which could have been warmer. Otherwise, we had one of our best experiences here. The rooms are spacious and clean, with amazing sea views from the bed and terrace. Its central island location makes it quick to get around, and there’s a bus stop not far from the accommodation. We’d definitely recommend renting a car for convenience. Marinos was also very helpful with restaurant tips and booking activities.

We had a terrible experience with Mardanza and ended up without accommodation for our Santorini trip. I booked through booking.com in April for a week at £3k, noting on the booking form that our flight arrived at 23.10pm, outside the stated 9am-9pm check-in hours. The property accepted the reservation. A week before we travelled, I contacted them to confirm our arrival time. They repeated the check-in hours and told me to contact booking.com, without explaining whether we could get in after 9pm. They sent an online check-in form, which I completed. It mentioned a 50euro night porter fee for late check-in, which was fine with us. But the property kept sending the same unclear message. Eventually they confirmed we could not check in after 9pm and would have to find somewhere else for our arrival night, then check in the following day. I contacted booking.com because I couldn’t understand why the property had accepted our booking knowing our arrival time, especially when we were willing to pay an additional fee for late entry. booking.com were helpful and agreed to call the property for us. When they called me back, they said the property had told them that if we didn’t check in on the 28th, we’d be marked as a no show and the booking cancelled without a refund. That meant we could have paid for another place for the first night, then arrived on the 29th to find our whole stay cancelled, with nowhere to go for the rest of the holiday. booking.com cancelled the reservation instead so we wouldn’t be defrauded. I’ve never dealt with anything like it. I probably should have messaged the property directly about arriving late when I booked in April, but I assumed they’d seen the time on the original booking and would raise it if it was a problem. We now fly in two days and have nowhere to stay in Santorini, with very limited accommodation left at this late stage. Mardanza have ruined our holiday before we’ve even left the UK. I’d avoid this place, especially if you’ll arrive after 9pm, since they won’t let you in. What if a flight is delayed and you land after 9pm? Would that leave you homeless for the night? I also found them unhelpful and uncompromising, and wouldn’t feel confident they’d do anything to assist if problems came up during a stay.

Marinos was a wonderful guide to the island, and his advice was really helpful. The staff were kind and kept the villa clean inside and out every day. It’s comfortable and beautiful, with a great sea view from an exceptional location. There’s real privacy here, which is hard to find in Santorini. Many thanks to Marinos. Highly recommended for a holiday stay!