Our Irish impression of spending a memorable 10 day break in the beautiful Aegean island of Santorini, Greece.
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Santorini Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/FWCOJLX__EU
Link to our How to Sail for beginners video, made in Rodney Bay, St Lucia.
The island of Santorini, as we know it today, was originally a circular single island. Back in 1500AD its volcanic eruption history started, culminating in its last eruption, which took place in 1956. The towns of Fira (Thera) and Oia are built on the western seaward cliff edges of the over-hanging caldera that now remains.
In some ancient myths, the destruction of the island is closely associated with the legend of Atlantis.
A sense of the island of Santorini, Greece 2020
The tourist development in Santorini began in the 1970s and today it is generally regarded as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Over the years, Santorini has also developed as a wedding and honeymoon destination, while many international meetings and conferences take place there in summer.
In terms of its economy, Santorini's primary industry is tourism. Over 90% of its GDP is derived from tourism, agriculture forms the remaining part of its economy, with the island sustaining a successful wine industry.
In Santorini, the tourism sector is the very oxygen, a lifeline on which Santorini almost totally relies, for its survival.
Because of its volcanic origins, the beaches on Santorini are made up of stoney or black volcanic sands. The waters are crystal clear, warm and coloured in an Aegean blue, reflective of the constant cloudless sky. In our experience, we found that the beaches of Kamari and Perissa on the south eastern coastline and those beaches on the south coast, had the more benign seas. Both also offered well established promenades with a variety of food and retail offerings.
Care should be taken on all of the beaches to firstly establish safe entry and exit points as the first few metres when entering the water can be either loose underfoot or very slippery substrate.
- Best time for beaches, swimming and hot weather (more than 28C during the day): June, July, August, September;
- Quiet time to visit, between and including November-March, when many businesses, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars close;
- Most crowded month of the year to visit Santorini: August (prior to Covid-19);
- High season, July and August: partying, buzz, crowds.
We based ourselves in the Veggera Beach Hotel in Perissa, from where we did our sightseeing and spent many sunny days on the beach in front of the hotel. The hotel is lovely with two pools and an all-day restaurant and bar. There are plenty of cheap and cheerful restaurants along the beach front promenades of Perissa and Petivolos. Our favourites were: Fratzeskas Fish Tavern; RaMaya; Terra Nera and Coralli - all within walking distance of our hotel.
Our experience of pricing and costs during our stay on Santorini:-
- Car hire plus insurance per day was €40 for a Renault Clio. Allow at least 2 - 3 days to complete a first pass by hire car of all the main tourist sites on the island;
- If breakfast is not included at your hotel, there ample restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries to partake of a continental or typical Greek breakfast;
- Lunch will typically cost €25 -€30 including 2 glasses wine/ coffee per couple;
- Dinner €50 for main courses, bottle of wine and coffee for two;
- Be advised that portion sizes can be really large;
- Beach beds free at your own hotel, elsewhere €15 for 2 with umbrella but increasingly with the Covid-19 downturn in tourist numbers, beach front restaurants offer free beds just to get customers;
- Cable car experience €6 each way from Fira old port to Fira town. There is a very steep meandering walkway path also, for those fleet of foot;
- Trips by boat to volcano range upwards from €20 per person;
- As in all main centres of tourism and travel, restaurants are more expensive in town centres and tourist hot spots;
- Lots of organised trips are available to all of the tourist highlights, prices range from €40 - €100 each, if you prefer not to drive yourself;
- House wines are generally very cheap and from our experience, really nice, typically €12 per litre carafe;
- Cash is king here, they take cards but they prefer cash, every where on the island.
Greek is the language of Santorini, however, Greek people can speak excellent English, also.
Things to do on Santorini:-
- Sight seeing (historical, architectural, archeological, photographic);
- Boating & cruising ( volcano/hot springs, sunsets);
- Spa & health retreats;
- Winery tours;
- Culinary tours;
- Helicopter tour;
- Hiking & hill walking;
- Water sports;
- Cycling;
- Beach activities;
Modes of transport on the island of Santorini are:-
- Hire of car/motorbike/dune buggy/bicycle;
- Organised tours and trips by minibus/coach;
- Public transport (cheapest but time consuming);
- Hiking/walking.
Our recommendation for a trip to the island of Santorini, Greece 2020:-
Experience the sheer beauty of the towns of Fira (Thera) and Oia. Soak up the wonderful architecture and ambiance of the blue and white traditional Greek vistas followed by a quick swim in the waters of Amoudi Bay;
Watch the golden, syrupy sun slip into the sea horizon from any of the many vantage points, high up around the town of Oia, in the north west of the island or the Akrotiri Light House on the south-west;
Enjoy the variety of dining experiences available, throughout the entire island.
Visit the many beaches on offer and enjoy the marvellous sunsets.
If you are comfortable with being photographed constantly by other tourists, a hotel stay in either Fira or Oia, will not be a problem. Our personal preference, after our visits to both locations, would be to definitely visit but not to stay in residence in either.
The average cost per couple / per week in a hotel including B&B starts at circa €600, however, you could spend multiples of this amount depending on the island location and hotel quality that you choose for your stay.
“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at home, on your return.”
“Happiness is found in the journey and rarely in the destination, alone.”
Comments