La Perla Villas - Adults Only

The room was always spotless and stocked with amenities, with cleaners coming twice a day. Staff were wonderful, polite, and ready to help, and the hotel felt like a peaceful spa retreat. We could walk to plenty of great restaurants and get out exploring easily. Breakfast was brought right to the room, and it was so good we took a while to feel hungry again 😊. The views were stunning, including a sunset from our room. We’d originally booked the sister hotel in Imerovigli, but on the morning of our flight got a WhatsApp saying it wasn’t available. They offered an upgrade to La Perla Oia and a complimentary airport transfer. We hesitated at first, but it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. We couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon. It was the most perfect holiday, and I’d recommend La Perla to anyone. You won’t be disappointed!

The on-site team were friendly and fantastic, and the views are great. Without a car, the location is very convenient. Still, the room situation left a bad impression. We booked a honeymoon suite through a travel agent, but the room wasn’t what we expected from the booking.com photos. Management insisted the pictures were accurate. We were first offered an upgrade for €150 a night, even though the hotel had plenty of capacity. That may make business sense, but it felt more focused on profit than guests, and I’ve seen similar complaints in other reviews, along with some very confrontational management replies. After the first night, our travel agent spoke with them and we were moved to a very good room for free, much closer to what “honeymoon suite” should mean. They should have done that in the first place. If they had, I’d be writing a positive review and would return. It’s a business, not a charity, but the room and management’s response were a real shame.

The cave-style Caldera Suite with Hot Tub worked well for us, with two bedrooms, three beds, and breakfast delivered to the terrace each day. The hot tub was a nice extra, and the pool area was beautiful. Beds there were limited, but we always found one. Everything was immaculate, the sea and caldera views were breathtaking, and the staff were kind and helpful. George at the pool bar looked after us, and Lio and the other staff carried bags up and down the stairs in the heat. That was impressive. There are a lot of steps, though. Our room was about halfway down the cliff near the main pool, around 80 steps below the main street. It’s manageable, but hard work in the midday heat, and rooms nearer sea level mean even more steps. The pool isn’t heated, so it can feel chilly. You can’t see the sunset directly from the hotel, so you’ll need to go to an Oia viewpoint or take a sunset catamaran cruise, like we did. None of that spoiled our stay. I’d come back in a heartbeat.

The food was amazing, and the place made my Santorini trip unforgettable. I spent three nights here and loved the room, the clean surroundings, the service, and the staff. I’d recommend it to anyone after a quiet, relaxed getaway.