Tourism was booming in Greece in 2022, with record numbers of visitors topping 30 million. One of the most popular destinations is the Cyclades islands, which include Andros, Naxos and Santorini, where hotels had close to 100 percent occupancy rate. Travel Agent visited Santorini in mid-October at the tail end of the tourist season and were surprised how busy the island was with flocks of tourists still arriving in the village of Oia to dine at authentic Greek tavernas, shop for local crafts and jewelry, and view the legendary sunsets.
The good news: Two new five-star resort hotels opened in Santorini in 2022. Here’s our report about the experience:
Nobu Hotel Santorini
Set almost 1,000 feet over high above the Aegean Sea on the Caldera Cliffs is Nobu Hotel Santorini, the first venture in Greece for the Nobu Hospitality Group. Retaining the idea of offering compact, boutique hotels with all-out luxury, there are only 25 rooms and suites, plus five private villas.
Upon arrival, we appreciated the Japanese oshibori ritual, where the host gives their guests a small, hot towel to cleanse our hands from traveling, in addition to a welcome drink of herbal tea served in a ceramic mug.
We had the pleasure of staying in the Aozora Suite, a duplex cottage with a small living area at the entrance, furnished with a banquette couch built into the wall, two natural wood coffee tables, and a hemp area rug, plus a full bathroom with a rain shower room. An attractive tray of five macarons and a bowl filled with fresh cut fruits were a nice, welcoming touch. Climbing up the winding, white stairway, we arrived at our bedroom suite, complete with white bed linens, woven hemp rugs and a selection of coffee table books on art and design. The "wow feature" of the suite was the outdoor veranda with a plunge pool, a small dining table and black metal chairs—all with incredible views of the Aegean Sea and the mighty Caldera Cliffs
After checking in, we enjoyed a few relaxing hours by the sizable infinity pool on cushy, chaise lounges covered in soft, white canvas. In the evening, we had dinner at the Nobu restaurant, which is set entirely outdoors and covered with a wood-beamed roof facing the pool area. It was a cool night and the staff turned on the fire towers for extra warmth. Executive Chef Ricardo Marin, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Madrid has worked in other Nobu kitchens in Jeddah and Shoreditch, London before arriving in Santorini. We asked him to customize the menu to include some of the iconic Nobu specialties and he sent out a sensational array of small plates, such as wagyu dumplings, the swoon-worthy miso cod and yellowtail sushi. At lunch, a more Mediterranean style of cuisine is served with emphasis on seafood. Room service is offered 24 hours a day.
Although Nobu Hotel Santorini does not have a wellness center, it can provide private, in-room spa treatments. There's also a fitness center with cardio and weight-training equipment.
Tip: The concierge shared with us that just outside the hotel is one of the best and most scenic hiking trails in Santorini, Oia-Thira, extending six and a half miles long, taking about two hours to scale. The hotel can arrange for a private guide to take guests on the trail; it can also arrange wine tastings and volcano visits.
The small village of Imerovigli, with tavernas, cafes, restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques is a 20-minute scenic walk from the property. Nobu Hotel Santorini is open seasonally from May 1 to October 31.
Travel advisors may contact FO & Reservations Supervisor Katerina Vilioura ([email protected]) or visit santorini.nobuhotels.com.
Nous Hotel Santorini
The Nous Hotel Santorini, part of the Yes Hotels portfolio, is its first property to open outside of Athens, where it runs three boutique hotels. Opened in June 2022, the five-star hotel is located on a flatter part of Santorini, near the beach, in the area of Masaria.
As with its other hotels, modern and innovative design is evident at Nous Santorini. The 119 rooms are done in earth and terracotta tones, which are influenced by the natural colors from ancient, nearby Akrotiri murals. An extensive collection of artworks by 12 contemporary artists adorns the walls of the rooms and common spaces and the furniture and lamps are designed by heralded Greek and international designers, including Doshi & Levien, Konstantin Grcic and Faye Toogood. Comfort and space are another important element at the hotel, with the smallest room measuring almost 300 square feet and the largest room being an 800-square-foot, two-bedroom suite with a living and dining area, plus a 350-square-foot private pool.
We stayed in room No. 305, in the Pool Bungalow category, which was a one-bedroom suite measuring about 550 square feet with a separate living area. The luxurious bathroom area came has a separate rain shower room and tub. The private garden area, decked out with a full-size swimming pool, has chaise lounges and a covered area with a couch, along with a dining table and chairs. The hotel has room service, and one afternoon we had lunch at our pool. Not bad!
The massive main pool dotted with black netted chaise lounges and red side tables is surrounded by indigenous plants and greenery.
Although there isn’t a traditional concierge, the front desk staff was quite knowledgeable and helpful during our stay. They recommended an excellent taverna in the small town near the hotel (so good we ate there twice!), Ta Postalia tou Aigaiou, which served authentic Greek dishes such as Spanakopita pie, cucumbers and yogurt, baked feta cheese, and moussaka. The staff also arranges activities and tours and suggested we take a sailboat cruise with Captain Ted’s Santorini Sailing, which was an unforgettable experience. Our four-hour cruise on a small sailboat holding only 18 people, stopped at an inlet so we could swim in the clear azure water and snorkel,; this was followed by a lunch of fresh salads, pasta and grilled chicken and meat, plus wine and soft drinks. Captain Ted’s Santorini Sailing most popular voyage is a sunset cruise.
The Signature Restaurant and Bar at the hotel serves a combination of the finest ingredients from Santorini and the rest of Greece in a spacious dining room, decorated with marble floors and lacquered red and black dining chairs. Located on the second floor, views overlook the pool. An outdoor white marble terrace is dotted with bright colored chaises, couches and dining chairs.
With a rich, volcanic soil, ideal weather and growing conditions, Santorini is known for producing some of the top white wines in Greece, and the sommelier at the Oenous wine bar organizes frequent tastings accompanied by local vintners.
The The Nous Spa is the largest in Santorini, with five treatment rooms (including a couple’s room), indoor and outdoor pool, steam bath, sauna, cold plunge pool, outdoor yoga area and sizable gym. The spa offers an extensive menu of massages and facials, and we relaxed with a vitamin-packed facial. A smart enhancement to the spa is the Vitamin Bar, where smoothies, fresh juices and vitamin drinks are prepared on the spot.
Nous Hotel Santorini offers free transfers from the Santorini Airport (JTR), just seven minutes away. Nous Hotel Santorini is open seasonally from April 1 to October 31.
Contact Reservations Manager Raphael Daskalakis at [email protected] or visit www.yeshotels.gr/nous-santorini.
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