Thera Incognita Studios

The beach was just 20 feet away, and the kids loved it and the attached restaurant and ice cream shop. The rooms worked perfectly for our family, and this was the most relaxing part of our trip. We took day trips around the island and went kayaking, but were really glad to have this as our home base. It was a lovely family-run place, and the staff were absolutely wonderful. We were lucky to stay here for our family summer vacation.

Alexandra welcomed us so kindly and made us feel at home. The apartment faces Perissa's black sand beach and is quite spacious and comfortable for up to four people.

I came to Santorini to visit a friend, as I do every year, and wouldn't stay here again. It wasn't because the place itself was bad, but both proprietors, who have young children you can hear at different times of day, failed to understand what I needed while traveling alone with a one-year-old. I didn't appreciate the dishonesty either, even if it was meant as a little white lie. I'd much rather have frankness. There are plenty of similar places nearby at similar prices. I had originally asked about staying next door at Sunhaus apartments, and ended up here by accident. The two neighboring properties are owned by sisters. I just needed somewhere simple, clean, and comfortable with a small kitchen. I even offered to pay cash, knowing that during the pandemic establishments could save the fees paid to booking engines. I changed my original dates and was told that would be fine, but on arrival I was told I'd need to switch properties midweek. With a one-year-old, that was already a problem, so I didn't unpack for the whole week, knowing I'd have to move and then leave. I spent three nights at Sunhaus and was told I had to move because it was booked. That wasn't true: the unit stayed empty for the next four days, and I passed it daily. On moving day they said the Thera Incógnita apartment would be ready at 11. A friend helped carry everything over, but then we waited an hour in scorching sun with perishable food and a baby who needed a nap. The apartment itself was nice, but it seemed to have been cleaned in a hurry. Ants were the first thing I saw when I moved in, everywhere, even in the bed. For the next four days I kept wiping them off every surface, including my baby. There were other annoyances too: an old fridge rattled, the internet router beeped, an electrical panel flashed right over the bed, and the AC sometimes spat water into the food I was cooking because it was above the stovetop. The kitchen was missing basics like a spatula, so the frying pan was completely scratched, and a coffee maker. There was only a Greek coffee pot. There was no cleaning or service during the four nights I stayed. No garbage pickup, no fresh towels, nothing. The room had no cleaning supplies except dish soap and a broom, which I used constantly to sweep up ants. On the last day I checked booking.com and saw the room wasn't booked for that night, so I asked for a late checkout so the baby could nap in a cool room from 12 to 2. They offered 1 instead, saying new guests were coming.

The studio was very clean, nicely equipped, and close to the beach. Alexandra, the owner, was helpful and hospitable. You can also get a delicious fresh breakfast and great coffee with a sea view.