Weekend in Santorini // ft. Skyfall Suites

Our weekend in Santorini began just as the sun was about to set. We'd arrived at the idyllic and peaceful Skyfall Suites in the much calmer and less touristy area of Pyrgos, located in the mid to South Western part of Santorini (and also, interestingly, the highest point of the island).

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SKYFALL SUITES

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We were served a glass of Prosecco each as we checked in, and then treated to a bottle of local white and a simple yet gorgeous cheese board as we settled into our suite to watch the sunset.

In typical Greek fashion, Skyfall Suites is a stunning, whitewashed, minimal hotel with cave-like rooms ... and an incredibly unusual and enormous shower! Despite the simple decor, there was something really charming and comforting about our suite and it felt instantly cosy. It might have been something to do with the adorable kitchen area and teeny tiny dining room table and chairs:

Guerlain toiletries - not too shabby at all!

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PRIVATE BOAT RIDE
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The next day, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and spent some time just hanging out before being picked up by Pelagos Cruises and driven down to the port of Vlyhada (doesn't it sound like something from GoT?) for our private boat tour of the islands. Now, there are two ways you can do this: the first is to pay €150 per person to hire a catamaran...however, the caveat is that there will likely be a few other people.

The second option is to pay €600 total and charter a private speedboat to yourself. Our boat even had two bedrooms, a bathroom and a grill attached to the back - something the captain used to cook us an absolutely delicious local meal, complete with tzatziki he brought from home! Wine, beer and soft drinks were also included, and we were free to change the itinerary as we pleased. 

We passed so many stunning islands, volcanoes and rock structures on our trip. Above, the deep red rock of the gorgeous Red Beach. 

Get the look:

(This particular Jack Wills bikini is sold out, but they have similar styles as above)

 

Our boat ride ended with a gorgeous view of the sun setting directly into the ocean. Absolutely wonderful.

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OIA AND IMEROVIGLI
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On our second full day, we had no concrete plans so decided to check out the famous town of Oia. If you haven't heard of it, you've certainly seen it before - it's the setting for almost every Santorini photo on Instagram, especially that famous blue domed church with the pink bells (see the very first image in this post - you know the one!).

It was beautiful, yes, but also stiflingly hot and crowded. I'd love to return early in the morning when I'm sure it's much quieter and more of a relaxing experience.

Wanting to escape the hordes of other tourists in Oia (and also seeing that most lunch places were very busy!), we drove a short 20 minutes to the peaceful village of Imerovigli to enjoy a much quieter lunch at Aegean Restaurant.

Get the look:

The food was fresh, delicious and healthy and the view was utterly serene. The ideal place to stop for a bite!

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SELENE
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On our final evening, we had booked dinner at one of Santorini's best restaurants, Selene. Conveniently, Selene also happens to only be a mere 3 minute walk from Skyfall Suites!



We arrived just before sunset and were seated at a terrace table in the corner with a perfect view. 

I would highly recommend a dinner at Selene - the food is original, beautifully presented and delectable, service is impeccable and the atmosphere is very romantic.

Our final day, we had enough time for a scenic drive around Pyrgos and up to the highest point of the island where Prophet Elias Monestary sits, before enjoying a leisurely lunch right by the water at The Cave of Nikolas near Akrotiri beach. We had a mini seafood feast here and the lunchtime atmosphere being seated outdoors was lovely - buzzy yet relaxed.

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GOOD TO KNOW

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•  You'll want to rent a car. It's really the most convenient way to get around the island, which isn't very large. It's unlikely any car journey will take you more than 30 - 40 minutes. We used the Europcar branch next to the airport and though there were no issues with the car itself, service was poor...just FYI. Leave yourself plenty of time to return the car at the end of your journey. We were left waiting around for half an hour for the 'owner' to get back and check some detail or other.
• If you do opt for a boat tour you may well end up visiting the hot springs, a popular attraction. The further in you swim the warmer it gets, until the water is almost as hot as a bath. Do be aware though that this WILL likely stain whatever you're wearing a reddish brown colour (something we weren't aware of beforehand...and so therefore subsequently permanently stained our swimwear. Oops).
• Oia does have some unparalleled views and beautiful scenery, however it is extremely overcrowded during the day and if you prefer a more chilled out neighbourhood where you can leave your hotel/villa and just walk around peacefully, I would avoid staying in the area. I found Pyrgos perfect for what we were after.
• Imerovigli is a quieter, smaller neighbourhood than Oia but with very similar scenery, so if you're looking for the same epic ocean views surrounded by staggered whitewashed buildings, I'd recommend stopping here for lunch (or even staying in the area - there looked to be some great options).
• Raki/Tsipouro is the local drink. You might get a small complimentary bottle before or after your meal (sort of like Limoncello in Italy). It's STRONG, but you can dilute it with water (it's not uncommon to do so).

Book your stay at Skyfall Suites here. Rates start at around £280 per night.

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