“No one has ever said no yet...,” says Christos, Santo Maris’ charismatic manager on a tour of the hotel’s 65 suites, spa and five sparkling infinity pools. She is referring to proposals, which they get a lot of here (the hotel even has its own on-site church, in case you fancy getting married in the same spot - or never leaving).
It’s not hard to see why. Despite jetting out to Santorini with an old school friend, we spend every sunset sundowner and candlelit dinner joking that we’re celebrating our friend-moon. Where else could be more fitting to celebrate 20 years of friendship than a five-star suite with our own hot tub and infinity pool on one of the most romantic islands on earth?
The dazzling Greek island is undoubtedly a key proposal spot, wherever you stay. But there’s something about Santo Maris and its more secluded sunset spot, five minutes from the buzz of Oia town but a short stroll down the hill away from the caldera, that feels more intimate. If you are going to get down on one knee or kick back on your honeymoon, it’s quite nice to know you’re not going to be constantly overlooked by the crowds of selfie-takers pouring through the main street of Oia town.
So why do guests love it here so much? From eight-course tasting menus accompanied by a live harpist to the hotel’s dazzling new set of wellness suites, here’s what to expect.
Where is it?
Right in the thick of picture-perfect Santorini, a five minute walk from the tourist hotspot of Oia, but away from the main hustle and bustle - perfect for some breathing space if you’re visiting in high season. Take the quiet uphill path from the hotel and you’ll be right in the thick of things in less than five minutes (depending on your choice of footwear and how willing to get your sweat on pre-dinner).
Style
The hotel opened in 2016 but it could have opened yesterday, by the looks of its dazzling white buildings, pristine restaurants and glittering pools. Expect true Santorini elegance, with plush white sofas, chic wicker seats and pools lit up a deep electric blue at night.
Inside, it’s more stripped-back and contemporary than the rooms at sister hotel Creta Maris in Crete, with higher ceilings, boho-chic grey furnishings and artwork and minimalist king-size beds lit up at the base.
Expect plants, candles and elegant gold lamps dotted around the place and formal, smiling staff who offer thoughtful touches like late checkouts and seem happy to be there (Christos insists they are - she moved islands to work here, and the team spend all their free time together, too).
Which room?
The nature of Santorini is that rooms are often small, in order to cram as many hotels onto the caldera as possible. Not at Santo Maris. Here, the beauty of being on the other side of the island to the sharp cliffs of the caldera is that even the smallest junior suites are 44 square metres plus, and each of the hotel’s 65 suites and villas comes with a rustic kitchenette, plush beds and sofas and a private veranda with an umbrella, cushioned sun loungers and its own heated jacuzzi or private pool. Some even have both (hot tubs are heated but pools are not, as part of the hotel’s climate-conscious environmental policy).
You also won’t get rows of terraces overlooking each other like you do at some hotels: instead, it’s cleverly designed to look more like a sprawling village, with plenty of privacy and five “neighbourhoods” named after parts of Greece: the North Sporades, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades and the Ionian Greek island complexes. Having your own pool or jacuzzi makes it ideal for couples, but each neighbourhood also has its own communal infinity pool. Book two or three suites together and you’ll essentially have one of these to yourself, too.
The categories on offer are dependent on the view, but it’s the same style inside for each: airy living areas with grey and cream cushions and hanging wicker seats, minimalist boho artwork and crisp cotton bedding (including a pillow menu). Black volcanic rock is sourced from the surrounding landscape, rooves are shaped in Cycladic-style domes and rooms are finished with earthy tones, boho-chic touches and ethnic and colonial aesthetics. Expect Argan Source toiletries and thoughtful, sensory welcome gifts in the room on arrival.
Three of the suites can accommodate wheelchairs and view-wise, you can choose from a sunset suite, a sea view suite, a honeymoon suite, cave suite, pool front suite or a wellness suite, one of a series of new rejuvenation and nature-focused suites opening for the summer season this month in April 2022. Each is built into the hillside and inspired by traditional “yposkafa” cave style architecture, with natural touches designed for relaxation and a private pool with hydromassage.
New for this year is a Santo Wellness Junior Suites Private Pool package, which includes alfresco fitness sessions, yoga classes, two bespoke 60-minute massages and in-room treats such as ritual cards, wellness journals, sleep spray, Aegeo products, body serums and face masks. The highlight is a five-hour bicycle tour of neighbouring island Thirasia, where you’ll wind your way through villages, bakeries and an old winery serving local and Cretan delicacies, wine, raki and refreshments.
Food & drink
Champagne buckets, truffles and fruit platters in your room. Tuna salads and gyros by the pool. Eight-course tasting menus by candlelight. You won’t leave Santo Maris hungry.
Breakfast is a buffet affair, from classic Greek yoghurts and traditional marmalade to freshly baked breads and an amazing honeycomb display for your morning toast. Order from the room service menu if you prefer your croissants next to the pool on your own private terrace.
You can order lunch to your room, too, if you’ve found a good sunbathing spot. Or swing by the poolside bar, Akratos, for a smoked salmon bagel and chunky fries after your morning hike or a fresh chicken salad washed down with a glass of local wine.
Akratos is also a prime spot for watching Santorini’s famous sunset with a Greece-inspired cocktail - favourites include the Paloma, the Vedema and the Cosmopolitini - and the hotel’s award-winning Alios Ilios restaurant serves stylish plates every night of the week, from lemonato with rash fish, lemongrass and coriander to a sweet sphere of chocolate, saffron, ice cream, buckwheat and blood orange for dessert.
The eight-course tasting menu with paired local wines is a must and perfect for date night - choose your night carefully and a live pianist, harpist or saxophonist will serenade you over your sunset dinner beside the pool. There are live music nights twice a week.
Facilities
Alongside its eclectic pool collection, Santo Maris boasts a fitness centre, a free parking lot for guests, a business corner for printing and making calls, and a small library where guests can borrow books, DVDs and games.
Staff can also help with tours, from private yachting experiences to helicopter rides, but the highlight is its subterranean Anassa spa centre, featuring an indoor pool heated to 31 degrees Celsius, sauna, pre-treatment relaxation area and candlelit treatment rooms offering everything from traditional Cretan massages to private yoga classes.
Choose from five types of treatment: peels, body masks, facials and massages. Staff will treat you to a herbal tea and a traditional Greek foot rub before your massage and highlights include the Ice Queen cyrotherapy facial, a Worship My Body anti-cellulite massage, a Prince Charming men’s facial, couples massages and an Aloe Vera moiturising body mask perfect after a few days in the sun. Aegeo Spa products are available to purchase and take home after.
For guests in the wellness suites, outdoor massages are available under the hotel’s luxury alfresco gazebo.
What to Instagram
Santorini’s incredible orange sunset, from your private jacuzzi. Order a champagne bucket to your terrace for the full effect.
Best for?
Couples celebrating, whether it’s a honeymoon or engagement or simply a few days away without the kids.
How to get there
Flights from London to Thira airport take four hours, then it’s a 25-minute transfer at the other end.
When should I go?
Between April and October. Temperatures hit highs of 29 degrees in July but a lower-season trip at one of the quieter ends of summer is ideal if you’re keen to avoid the crowds (or have a tendency to burn). The upside of a September getaway is it’s still warm enough for tanning and sea swimming in the day, but you won’t get a Sula on your way to dinner.
Details
Rooms from £320 a night based on two adults sharing on a B&B basis (includes opening offer of private transportation to the hotel, and a bottle of Santorinian wine with local sweet delicacies in your suite).
