Santorini's popularity as travel destination has exploded in the past couple of years. A sickle-shaped island created by the eruption of a volcano that now lies dormant at its centre, it offers the kind of breathtaking scenery that performs incredibly well on social media. Increasingly larger swathes of tourists have flocked to the island every summer to experience for themselves the beauty they have seen on their Instagram feeds. While it is great that more and more people are getting the chance to enjoy this magical island, it can make for a draining experience to have to deal with the crowds. Choosing the right hotel can make or break the Santorini experience, and for this reason we highly recommend Astarte Suites.

Astarte Suites is a family-owned boutique hotel nestled in the hillside of the southern, quieter part of the island. Due to its location it offers a level of privacy and seclusion that is impossible to find elsewhere. The hotel features 15 suites which are all facing the iconic volcanic caldera. There is a large infinity pool that can be enjoyed by all hotel guests while some of the larger suites feature private pools (we highly recommend booking these!). The hotel offers sumptuous breakfasts, which taste even better when enjoyed besides a private infinity pool (see below).

Astarte's restaurant "Alali" (meaning "speechless" in Greek) offers menus curated by award winning executive chef Adam Kodovas. The setting is spectacular, as the tables surround the hotel's infinity pool and have an unimpeded view of the caldera. Sunset dinners are particularly magical. The restaurant is so popular, especially with couples, that many diners come from hotels all over the island for the experience. For this reason we suggest booking your table in advance, thank us later!

Extra services offered by the hotel are transfers by Mercedes Viano to any part of the island, catamaran and yacht cruises, wine tours, en suite massages, and of course weddings. These should all be booked in advance to ensure availability and adequate preparation time. A very helpful and friendly staff is always on call to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. For more information and bookings for our favorite hotel on Santorini we invite you to take a look at their website: www.astartesuites.gr