About

I’m Santorini Dave. This site is built on a simple principle: to give you the most detailed, honest, and genuinely helpful travel advice for Greece that I can. Everything I write comes from first-hand experience and a deep, ongoing connection with the country. 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 wonderful trips since. This site is my way of sharing what I’ve learned: the best places to stay and eat, the ferry quirks, the hikes, the beaches, the common mistakes, and the small details that make a trip work well.

How I Research and Update My Guides

Because travel logistics change quickly, I review and update my guides throughout the year. I travel to Greece regularly, step inside the hotels, visit the beaches, 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. But I also appreciate corrections from readers. If you find something out of date, please email me.

My Editorial Standards

My recommendations are based on reader usefulness. I do not accept payment, free hotel stays, or corporate sponsorships in exchange for positive reviews. If a property is ranked as one of the best places to stay in Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, or anywhere else in Greece, it is because I genuinely believe it offers a great experience for the right traveler.

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. This income helps pay for 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 $840,665 since 2019.

Reader Reviews and Reputation

The Santorini Dave website has a 100% recommend rating from readers on Facebook, built over years of practical travel advice, direct reader help, and detailed answers to real trip-planning questions.

Contact Me

You can reach me directly at dave@santorinidave.com. I love hearing from readers and helping with travel plans. I personally spend countless hours each week answering questions on the site. Due to the huge volume of inquiries, I can’t get to every single one, but I do my best to provide detailed, practical answers to as many people as possible.

Other Travel Projects

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

---

---

Recent Travels & Favorite Moments