Santorini, Greece: Average Review Ratings

Weather

It’s Cruel to the Mules…

I have personally witnessed handlers severely mistreating the donkeys. PLEASE, do not support this!

The abuse takes several forms. The donkeys are forced to climb up and back down a pathway with around 600 VERY STEEP steps, making as many as seven trips a day between 9 o’clock in the morning and sunset. Often, the animals are required to carry tourists who, putting it bluntly, are obese and may weigh considerably more than the donkeys themselves.  And the mules must do this exhausting, grueling work in blazing sunshine and searing summer heat, often with unsatisfactory food, water and rest periods, plus few if any breaks in the shade. To add insult to injury, they may be wearing ill-fitting harnesses that inflict cuts and sores on their bodies, while their owners or handlers may frequently strike them with sticks to make them move or hurry up. In short, they toil under cruel and deplorable working conditions.

Holiday

It’s Cruel to the Mules…

I have personally witnessed handlers severely mistreating the donkeys. PLEASE, do not support this!

The abuse takes several forms. The donkeys are forced to climb up and back down a pathway with around 600 VERY STEEP steps, making as many as seven trips a day between 9 o’clock in the morning and sunset. Often, the animals are required to carry tourists who, putting it bluntly, are obese and may weigh considerably more than the donkeys themselves.  And the mules must do this exhausting, grueling work in blazing sunshine and searing summer heat, often with unsatisfactory food, water and rest periods, plus few if any breaks in the shade. To add insult to injury, they may be wearing ill-fitting harnesses that inflict cuts and sores on their bodies, while their owners or handlers may frequently strike them with sticks to make them move or hurry up. In short, they toil under cruel and deplorable working conditions.

Places Recommended

It’s Cruel to the Mules…

I have personally witnessed handlers severely mistreating the donkeys. PLEASE, do not support this!

The abuse takes several forms. The donkeys are forced to climb up and back down a pathway with around 600 VERY STEEP steps, making as many as seven trips a day between 9 o’clock in the morning and sunset. Often, the animals are required to carry tourists who, putting it bluntly, are obese and may weigh considerably more than the donkeys themselves.  And the mules must do this exhausting, grueling work in blazing sunshine and searing summer heat, often with unsatisfactory food, water and rest periods, plus few if any breaks in the shade. To add insult to injury, they may be wearing ill-fitting harnesses that inflict cuts and sores on their bodies, while their owners or handlers may frequently strike them with sticks to make them move or hurry up. In short, they toil under cruel and deplorable working conditions.

Recommend Santorini to others

No

Weather

I have been there for the last two years and have booked again for this year.
The weather is as perfect as you could hope for.

Holiday

We stayed in Kamari.
Lots of very good restaurants which are all clean & friendly, even one owned by an English couple (Liver Birds)
Beach is black sand but don't be put off by that.
The people are very friendly and the food is great. Members of the party I travel with are fussy but love this place. Not for 18/30's as the nightlife is more subdued than they would like. Highly recommended.

Places Recommended

You must visit everywhere on santorini. Its only a small island so getting about doen't take long. Hire a car, go by bus, go by boat or join an excursion. Dont miss the famous sunset.

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes

Weather

We stayed at Perissa, and the weather was absolutely beautiful.

We went in July and it was really hot during the day, and the evenings were very warm, you didn't need sleeves.

Holiday

We were there to attend a wedding and stayed for 8 nights, so we had a holiday as well.

We went on some really nice excursions, which are very easy to book, there are many places to do this.

The Island is really beautiful, but didn't like the black beaches, but that is just a personal opinion.

Places Recommended

I would recommend that you take the boat trip to the volcano, the hot springs, Therisia and then Oia for the sunset. Be prepared to either walk up the cliff or go by donkey when you get to Oia, as you get dropped off at the bottom of the cliff!

We also had a coach trip, lasting most of the day, which went to the monastry, the winery, lunch by the sea and a walk through a typrical Greek village. Ended up at the Aktari ruins before being dropped off back in Perissa.

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes

Weather

In July August weather fantastic every day. . loved it so much went in may of this year. had fantastic weather again!high 70s to mid eighties.

Holiday

A great resort to stay in is Perivolos.
We stayed at Illiada Studios which is in great position for beach and tavernas.
Staff great .
A very relaxing holiday.
A boat at end of Perissa takes you to Kamari.
Trip takes about ten minutes . !

Places Recommended

Gods garden in Pertissa is great value and Bob's Bar is very friendly and he makes great cocktails!
The Santos winery is lovely place to visit.
You can see the magnificent view of the Caldera whilst sipping wine and eating cheese.

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes

Weather

The weather was good, the days were sunny and warm but at night it was cooler.
Somedays had high humidity but it didnt bother us.

Holiday

I dont know were to start! it was great!
Santorini is a unique island it has the volcano and the caldera and all the houses on the cliff blue and white!
We stayed at Alexanders Boutique Hotel of Oia.
Really nice hotel good service great stuff and Alex the owner was the best host, very friendly and funny!
In Santorini i saw the best sunsets of my life, the sun was going down and the sky had all these colours as the sun was sinking in the sea, drinking a glass of champagne and relaxing music in the backround.. and ammoudi the little old port right above us with all the little boats.. unforgetable, really Greek!
The beaches are different the sand is black usually because of the volcano and there is also a red beach actually it was crowded and i didnt like it but it was good to see because it was something different.
The best beaches are perivolos and kamari i didnt like perissa.
We were supposed to stay just 5 days but we changed our tickets we HAD to stay more!
So we stayed an extra 10 days!
Santorini is in my heart and my friends so we will DEFENATELY go back very soon at the same Hotel Alexanders in OIA cant wait to watch that sunset again.....

Places Recommended

Oia, walk around the traditional little Greek streets and do some shopping as you are on your way to see the sunset!
Ammoudi, little old port to have lunch or dinner, really nice fresh fish, kalamari and tzaziki! at Paraskevas taverna!
Roka restaurant, little challenging to find but worth going.
Canduni Restaurant, nice ambiance great food great people.
1800 if you want an luxury restaurant.
or for something quick and cheap there is always the Greek SOUVLAKI.

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes

Weather

The weather was the best thing about our holiday this year. High 20's to mid 30's every day.
A high factor sun cream is essential.

Holiday

Our holiday was a real disappointment, we have been to Crete for the last 2 years and thought we would be slightly diffrent this year WHAT A MISTAKE.
Our accomodation was very very basic and a 2k walk from Perissa so every evening was a hike to get to the Taverna's.
The Taverna's are a very mixed bag some are excellent (God's garden highly recommended) others ranged from acceptable to awful.
We took one of the boat trips to the volcano, hot springs and sunset in OIR (prononced EAR), the volcano is worth while take plenty of water it's a bit of a hike but worth it, our boat moared near the hot springs but you had to be a strong swimmer to actually go to the springs, so my girlfriend could go but I could'nt Dissapointing.
OIR was OK you get dropped in the harbour and have to climb 280 steps or pay 5 euros for the donkey ride up the steps but note they are mental we loved it but the donkeys scared others. The famous Santorini sunset is worth seeing.

Places Recommended

If your in Perissa go see Spiro and his horses the 40 Euros each for the 2 hour horse riding is the best thing we did.
A really nice guy who's known by all the locals, you start off riding through the streets but cut through to the beach and ride in the sea and along the beach Fantastic.
In my opinion he saved our holiday from being a complete disaster.

The boat trips to the Volcano, OIR(ear) are OK.
Sad to say the airport to go home was the best bit of our holiday!!!!!

Recommend Santorini to others

No

Weather

We stayed in Santorini during the last week of September and the weather was quite mixed. We had some warm days when the temperature was low-mid 20's and it was sunny enough to lie by the pool but also some slightly cooler & breezier days and a bit of rain. The wind quite often picked up in the evening and it was a little cool so I would recommend taking a jacket at this time of year, we didn't and regretted it! However, it's not a bad time to visit if you don't like excessive heat and want a quiet holiday as most pf the restaurants were fairly empty.

Holiday

Very relaxed and chilled out. We spent as much time as weather allowed just reading by the pool. Hired a quad bike one day which was a great way to see the island. Were glad to be staying in a hotel with facilities (the Majestic in Fira) the day it chucked it down with rain as we could at least occupy ourselves with the gym, sauna, spa, internet etc. Food was lovely everywhere and fairly reasonable but drinks quite expensive, especially cocktails in Fira & Oia (you're basically paying extra to have a sunset view).

Places Recommended

For views, shopping, great little cobbled streets & sunsets head for Fira or Oia. Perissa and Kamari both seemed to be nice beach resorts.

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes

Weather

The weather was really really hot , bout 40 - 45 c , over 100 f !
Really nice , never 1 cloud in the sky , needed high factor suncream , shorts and vests all week.

Holiday

The holiday was brilliant , we stayed in the Hotel 28 boutique , it was lovely could'nt fault it at all , the pool was clean , food was excellent , people were friendly everywhere you went.
Very baby friendly too , we have a 9 month old and they were always happy to help .
Really nice places to eat all along the beach , would recommend Santorini to anyone .

Places Recommended

Ancient Thiara , its a mountain you can higher a quad to go up to the top to see the fantastic veiws of the island .
Splash, its a cafe on the beach front that do excellent english and greek food for everyone

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes

Weather

Fantastic, not a cloud in sight all week. temperatures in mid 30s.

Breezes made the temperature bearable.

Frequent dips in the pool were needed and high factor sun cream is a must.

Holiday

Great.
The most chilled week we could have wished for.
The resort is really laid back and casual which was perfect. plenty of eating and drinking places.
The beach is available to all - although sunbeds are charged at approx 7euros per day for 2.

Places Recommended

Anywhere - but Perissa is great

Recommend Santorini to others

Yes