Old Castle Oia

The sunset and private pools made this hotel worth staying at. My wife and I spent one night here to see the sunset in a quiet part of Oia, and the view lived up to what we’d hoped for. Vlassis was a wonderful host who went out of his way to help us find traditional Greek food and suggest places to go. Muhammad also helped us carry some of our bags on the walk to and from the hotel.

We really loved having our own infinity pool. Sitting on the sofa inside our room and looking out over the ocean felt luxurious, and watching the beautiful sunset from the Old Castle was one of our favorite moments in Oia. We emailed ahead to ask about luggage help and transport to the airport. They replied quickly and kindly, and arranged everything smoothly. Thanos was warm and friendly, and we really appreciated his help.

Room 7 seemed to offer the most privacy. We stayed one night mainly for the sunset, and the location is both the best and worst part: great for the view, but there are plenty of stairs, which is fair enough. The receptionist or owner seemed rather indifferent, though they clearly explained everything we needed to know. We tipped the porter even though he broke part of my suitcase. It must be a very tough job for anyone.

For what we paid per night on our honeymoon in Santorini, the room was a huge disappointment. The view was the only good part, and it feels like that’s what the owners are relying on. The room was dingy, with crumbs and dirt on the floor. The bedding had obvious marks and the pillows were dirty. It also hadn’t been changed after the previous guests. In the shower, the floor sloped away from the drain, so the water collected in a pool on the opposite side. That was gross, and reception said they already knew about the problem but were still renting the room out. Our jacuzzi had debris and algae in it. It also drained by itself and never refilled, while water ran all night trying to fill it. We contacted reception, but because it was after 9 p.m. they said they couldn’t help until morning. The next day, the only solution they offered was to wait for another room to become available. We were completely unhappy with the stay, so we left that morning. We’re trying to get a refund, but so far they’re refusing.