There are an increasing number of iconic tourist hotspots around the World that are now suffering from mass adoration; Amsterdam, Venice, etc. Unfortunately Santorini must be near the top of the list. Prepare yourself for wall to wall crowds. But I digress. When you think of Santorini, you see picturesque cliff top views of cruise liners in the Aegean Sea, cute houses, restaurants and bars, cascading up precipitous slopes and magic sunsets. Some hotels and apartments in Santorini think that if they provide this view, and many do, that they can claim to be luxurious. The Kratiras View Luxury Suites fall into this category. They definitely have the luxurious views but that is where luxury ends. We did have one of the cheapest rooms without a private pool. It is either a private pool or no pool. The management seem to think the view will compensate for everything so why bother about the petty details like the door handle is on the table when you arrive, the key to the safe doesn’t work, the hairdryer falls apart, the table lamp doesn’t work, the air conditioning unit is old and barely keeps the day time heat at bay (we hate to think what it was like during the recent 40 degree heatwave.) The view also comes at a price. Between 2pm and 7pm you will need to keep the suite curtains fully closed to block out the heat and glare of the Western Sun because there is no effective shade. The ‘suites’ themselves (really a room) are very small and compact with a double bed pressed against a wall. Small desk and chair, fridge, small table and 2 chairs, although a table and chairs are also an available on the small patio. The two adjacent suites are open to your patio so there is absolutely no privacy in your room. Most suites have very small pools or spas, the middle ones on the upper two floors have neither. So if you want a pool, make sure you request one, but remember that Western sun, you may get boiled rather than cooled. An evening submersion with a glass of wine might work. The bathroom is very cramped with an open shower so a challenge to keep the water inside. Toiletries are provided and the towels are nice, thick and clean. So works but a bit small. So are there any positives other than the majestic views. The management staff are very friendly and obliging, so if you want a kettle and couple of cups, a couple of sun loungers on your patio, to get some of those malfunctioning items fixed, they are very prompt to act. The breakfast on the “terrace with a view” was fine; nice bread and jams, yoghurt and fruit, bacon and egg or an omelette, fruit juice. Although we found the breakfast timing at 9.30 to 11.00 am painfully late. Like most of the hotels and apartments in Santorini, access is a challenge. Cobbled and uneven paths, steps, and mainly uphill. The hotel will take your main luggage to the local bus stop which is a great service. In terms of getting to and from the airport, we recommend the local bus (an air conditioned coach) for EUR 1.6
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