Big Blue Villa by Caldera Houses

The hotel was the most beautiful place I’ve ever stayed, with a lovely view, and just a two-minute walk from Oia’s famous street. It was very clean and well equipped. The service, though, left me disappointed. An email said I could get 10% off my full booking by paying cash on arrival, with a refund to my credit card once I paid. When I called, they said the 10% applied only to fees and other things, which was confusing since the email clearly said it was off the full booking. I also felt the child pricing was unreasonable, as they count kids only up to age five and charge older ones almost like adults. When I asked about paying cash, I felt ignored and got confusing answers, so I dropped it rather than spend time arguing. It’s not okay to promise an offer and then change it or act as if the question doesn’t matter. It felt like money came before good service, and they were also quite pushy about getting me to use their transfer.

The staff were so friendly and helpful, especially Mary, who was easy to reach. The apartment itself was beautifully decorated and had everything we needed: coffee capsules replenished daily, toiletries, towels, a microwave, TV, iron, and even pots for anyone wanting to cook. There was air conditioning too. Breakfast came to the door in the morning and had a nice variety. The apartment is in a beautiful spot, with amazing views of the white houses and blue church domes Santorini is known for. It’s hard to imagine a better place for a relaxing holiday, and I’d really recommend it. A few small things could be improved: the outdoor tub’s water was heated, and I’d have liked an option to turn that off, plus a folding umbrella for shade. There were only two dining chairs, though four would fit better, and a motion sensor for the outdoor door light would be handy.

The landscape was stunning, and the setting felt open and spacious, with beautiful scenery all around.