About

I’m Santorini Dave. I’ve been traveling around Greece for more than 30 years, and this site is where I share what I’ve learned along the way. My first trip to Greece was in October 1992, and I first visited Santorini the following April. I lived in Athens in 1998. My wife’s first visit came in 2001, and our two boys have joined us on many trips since.

Everything I write comes from first-hand experience. I try to give readers the sort of practical advice I’d want myself: the best places to stay and eat, the ferry quirks, the hikes, the beaches, the common mistakes, and all the little details that can make a big difference to a trip.

How I Research and Update My Guides

I review and update my guides throughout the year. I travel to Greece regularly, visit the hotels, walk the beaches, ride the ferries, and eat at the tavernas. If a “high-speed ferry” moves with the urgency of a tired sea turtle or a caldera plunge pool just has too many damn bubbles, I’ll warn you off.

I also appreciate corrections from readers. Things change, sometimes quickly. If you find something that’s out of date, please email me.

How I Choose What to Recommend

I recommend places because I think they’re good, not because someone paid me to say so. I do not accept payment, free hotel stays, or corporate sponsorships in exchange for positive reviews. If I rank a hotel as one of the best places to stay in Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, or anywhere else in Greece, it’s because I think it deserves to be there.

How This Site Makes Money

I use affiliate links to keep the site free of display ads, pop-ups, and auto-play video ads. When you click a link on my site to book a hotel room, reserve a tour, or buy a ferry ticket, I may earn a commission from the provider at no extra cost to you. That income pays for the site, my research trips to Greece, my own accommodations, and a fair amount of booze.

Giving Back

I am proud to be an official partner of GiveDirectly. For every hotel stay booked through my site, I donate $5 to this top-rated charity that sends cash directly to families living in extreme poverty. Thanks to my readers, I have donated $848,710 since 2019.

Reader Reviews

The Santorini Dave website has a 100% recommend rating from readers on Facebook. I’m very proud of that. I’ve spent years answering reader questions and helping people plan their trips, and their feedback means a lot to me.

Contact Me

You can reach me directly at dave@santorinidave.com. I personally spend countless hours each week answering reader questions and helping with travel plans. I can’t get to every email, but I do my best to answer as many as possible and give useful, specific advice.

My Other Travel Sites

I also run a few smaller travel sites, including BaliDave, MexicoDave, and SeattleDave. Santorini Dave is my main site and where I publish all of my Greece travel advice.

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