Where?
Part of the Cyclades islands in the southern area of the Aegean Sea, the volcanic island of Santorini is renowned for its whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches and stunning sunsets. Formed from a volcanic eruption, its dramatic cliffs encircle a breathtaking caldera filled with azure waters. You’ll find the newly opened SandBlu resort seamlessly built into the foot of the ancient Mesa Vuono mountain in Kamari, on the south east coast with elevated panoramic sea views and its famous black sand beach just minutes away. Direct flights into the island’s small airport will have you sipping on a Grecian cocktail within four hours of leaving London. What are you waiting for? Yammas!
Style
The white stoned complex boasts 27 rooms, 22 suites and 2 villas that gently cascade down from the mountainside which are all elegantly designed with the true essence of Greece in mind. The epitome of luxury in every detail and the most sophisticated hotel of Santorini by far. The islands’ radiant sunshine naturally lights up every living space giving a sense of tranquillity and calm. Each room has all the amenities you could wish for including air con, wifi, mini-bar and a fully-equipped en suite bathroom.
Whichever you choose, you’ll take comfort in the opulence that surrounds you, along with the elevated views and privacy that the architecture of the complex creates - so much so, I dared to skinny-dip in our pool each morning. I especially enjoyed the garden areas giving life to pomegranate trees and the landscaping of the green roof gardens.
Food and drink
Our first evening was spent in the hotels main restaurant, Apnea, which translates to ‘breathless’ and the al fresco views of the Aegean sea as you tuck into the modern Greek cuisine certainly take your breath away. Local fresh seafood dishes are the head chefs speciality and we enjoyed fresh Cretan cherry tomatoes with carob rusks and sea fennel, grilled Scorpion Fish with kakkavia sauce and fennel, milk-fed lamb with fermented grains, eggplant and grape leaf, all washed down with a local cocktail created by the restaurants’ mixologist.Breakfast and lunch is served in their other restaurant Plateia which is nestled into the heart of the complex with a sunkist terrace and poolside dining tables. Start your day with traditional Greek dishes such as milk pie or strapatsada (scrambled eggs combined with a rich tomato sauce and salty feta) or my favourite - the Greek pancakes (the head chef Theodore’s grandmother’s recipe – delicious) ... all washed down with a Greek coffee and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. For lunch, we opted for a meze of Octopus with wild greens, Greek salad and the classic Charcoal Beef Soutzoukaki but the star of the show was the Garides Koiladas – intensely red king prawns fished at a depth of 300 metres in the Valley of Ermionida – a very sought after delicacy and an absolute must if you love your seafood. The majority of the staff are of Greek origin and service was warm and natural. Being an independent hotel, it benefits from not having ‘over-trained’ staff.
You’ll also find an artisanal bakery onsite serving sandwiches, pastries, fruit tarts, tea and smoothies for a more relaxed and informal refuelling. We took our pastries and juices to the central chill out area to soak up the sun whilst devouring them.And finally, onto Aroma the charming onsite wine bar which features a curated collection of local and international wines. Paired with local cheese platter or Greek tapas. Divine. Like your ‘κρασί’? (greek for wine – you’ll need this word in your vocabulary), book their wine tasting class for an elevated experience.
Facilities
If you’re looking to unwind and slip into a world of tranquillity, head straight to the resorts Aurora Spa and treat yourself to a choice of massages, facials or body treatments. We opted for a couples massage which was 80 minutes of pure relaxation and rejuvenation whilst being soothingly kneaded by their expert masseuses who took in our specific areas of need. The spa also boasts an indoor pool with soothing sea views, a sauna, steam room and rain showers. Feeling more energetic? Make full use of the fitness centre and training classes on offer. Maybe next time for me…
The complex also boasts two pools – the main ‘Blu’ infinity pool situated in front of Plateia so you can dip in and out between snacks whilst soaking in the sea views. The pool also has a separate area for kids making it an ideal hangout spot for families. If you’re in need of some child-free time, book them into ‘Bala’ the onsite kids’ club that combines the history of Greece with playtime. Educational fun! On the lower level you’ll discover ‘Aqua’ where you can laze around in the loungers and enjoy the resident DJs tunes whilst sipping on a cocktail (or two).You’ll also find several on-site retail shops scattered around so if you’re looking to treat yourself to a fancy holiday pair of shades or summer wear you won’t have to look far.The famous black-sanded beach of Kamari is a few minutes away (or an even shorter hotel buggy ride) which is an idyllic place to sunbathe and swim during the day or enjoy the lively evening tavernas at night. Sandblu offers its own private sunbed area away from the others with waiter service from Hook Bar so if you love to lose yourself for a few hours with a good book whilst sunbathing and taking the odd dip into the sea as I do whilst sipping on an ice cold drink and devouring a lamb souvlaki, this beach is the most popular of the island and a must. My only advice would be to wear sand shoes as the black sand gets pretty hot! (my wife chuckled as I did my best impression of a gecko on burning desert sand).
Extracurricular
If you do one thing in Santorini, take the Catamaran sunset cruise around the island to take in the stunning views and learn about the volcanic formation history of the area from the lively boat crew. Our Spiridakos Sailing Cruise took five hours which included Insta-opp views of the Red Beach of Aktotiri, the island’s iconic White Beach and several ‘jump in and snorkel’ moments – including one in the hot springs for a natural spa in the thermal volcanic mud waters - and concluded around 8.30pm as we watched the rather magnificent sunset. A truly magical experience. The trip also included drinks and a barbecue served towards the end. There are several tour operators but ours offered a transfer to and from our hotel making the whole excursion seamless. The boat captain, Leo, and his team really made the day a memorable one and Ibizan tunes played out throughout the trip.
The island is renowned for its guided walks along its dramatic cliffs for the optimal views of the azure waters. Head to the capital Thira for shopping inquaint Greek cobbled streets or Oia for unforgettable sunsets.
Which room?
Choose from rooms, suites or villas (17 of which have their own private pool) all within walking distance to the hotels restaurants, pools and spa. The higher you go, the more stunning the views are. We opted for the sea view suite with a pool to enjoy the early morning sunrises on the private terrace over a Greek coffee. Bliss.
Best for
Our trip was as a couple looking to escape our hectic lives for a bit of much needed time out. Families are also well catered for and the hotel’s location makes for an ideal base to explore the rest of the island (the islands’ bus service is well run or order a taxi).
Details
Rooms start from £739 per night. BOOK HERE
