9 Muses Santorini Resort

The drinks were good and priced fairly compared with the beach bars. The 9Muses white wine is especially worth trying. July was busy, but the hotel itself was very quiet, with no music or entertainment, which I’m not used to personally. That suited anyone looking for a restful break, and I’d recommend the place for that. The staff are attentive, friendly and professional. Our room was stylish and spacious, with a large comfortable bed. The main pool is clean, roomy and inviting, and the smaller one has a jacuzzi and waterfall. A couple of minor annoyances: there’s only one power socket in a double room, and the air conditioning struggled to cool ours.

The outside looks pleasant, the hotel is quiet, and the bed was comfortable. The rest of our stay was deeply unpleasant, mostly because of the management and staff, and I wouldn't recommend it or return. At check-in they seemed focused on collecting the tourist tax, but offered no help with transport, transfers, local places or even the WiFi password. They barely spoke English, which is hard to understand when the guests are all foreigners. At checkout, nobody asked how the stay had been; they just wanted our room number and to know whether we owed anything. The breakfast buffet was mediocre and unchanged each day. On the first morning there were no plates or coffee spoons. The staff's English was also very poor, and the language barrier led to us being charged nearly 100 euros for a dinner that was probably worth 30 at most. The room wasn't cleaned properly either. After the cleaner had been, there was hair all over the bathroom floor. The furniture was old and chipping, the bathroom tiny, and the shower rusty. The toilet smelled awful every morning. The water is desalinated, so it isn't drinkable, and I really wouldn't recommend brushing your teeth with it. This place doesn't deserve five stars.

Mary at Urania Spa made this year's visit feel magical. I loved last year's massage and thought it was wonderful, so I wanted to come back. The treatment menu has been updated, and Mary clearly loves what she does. Her hands, experience and energy really helped me unwind, body and soul. Highly recommended, and thank you, Mary!

We spent most of our time happily floating in the pool. The resort has plenty of amenities and everything worked well. It's a beautiful place in a lovely spot, with everything important just a short walk away. The hotel staff were incredibly friendly and helpful.