Santo Maris Luxury Suites in Oia, Santorini

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by Santorini Dave • Updated: June 19, 2019

Review of Santo Maris in Oia, Santorini

Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa – Luxury, all-suite resort with 6 pools and the best spa in Santorini.

This decadent resort sits in inland Oia, near the village’s best restaurants, shops, and attractions. Santo Maris boasts unique sunset views over the Aegean Sea (rather than the caldera) from their fine dining restaurant Alios Ilios, as well as from most of their suites. All suites and both villas here are spacious and private, all with outdoor, heated jacuzzis, and a few with their own pools. The spa is the crown jewel of the resort, offering a holistic approach and outstanding facilities, including an indoor heated pool, cryotherapy, a sauna, and hammam. 5 outdoor pools and 2 bars are spread over the grounds, and genuine hospitality completes the experience.

Santo Maris Oia – Location

  • Area: Excellent, quiet location at the western end of Oia, north of the Castle Ruins and Maritime Museum, and about 350 meters from the bus terminal with service to all of Santorini’s villages. Though the area itself feels secluded, it is less than 300 meters from some of the best restaurants, bars, and boutiques in Santorini. The famous caldera sunset is only 500 meters away.
  • How to Get There: The hotel sits on the main northbound road out of Oia, making it very easy to travel to and from, whether by taxi, driving yourself, or riding the bus. There are always buses at the ferry port for every ferry arrival, as well as buses departing hourly from Santorini airport (both buses will stop in Fira, where you’ll get a different bus to Oia – the entire trip from port or airport to Oia will take at least an hour). The hotel is only 350 meters downhill from the Oia bus station, so it’s very easy walking on arrival, but a bit of a climb on the way back. Taxis are also available from the port or airport, though there are only about 25 taxis serving the whole island, so there is often a wait; schedule ahead to avoid this – or rent a car. A taxi from the airport to Santo Maris Luxury Suites will cost roughly €25. A taxi from the ferry port to Santo Maris will cost roughly €30. For those driving themselves, Santo Maris offers free parking on site.
  • Handy to: The Oia Bus Terminal (6-minute walk), Byzantine Castle Ruins (12-minute walk), and the heart of Oia’s pedestrian area (4-minute walk).

Santo Maris Oia – The Basics

  • Ages: 12 year and above only. Guests tend to be honeymooners or couples celebrating a special occasion, as well as a few families with older children. About one third of the guests are American, while the rest tend to be from the UK or Western Europe. Their target demographic enjoys privacy, peacefulness, and a romantic ambiance.
  • Beach: The closest swimming spot (though it is not a proper beach) is at Ammoudi Bay, the port immediately below Oia, 1 kilometer (17-minute walk – it’s a steep hill) from Santo Maris Oia. This is a popular spot for swimming and cliff diving; though it’s too rocky and small to do much lounging. Ammoudi Bay is the main port of Oia, and is served by several spectacular seafood restaurants. It’s a steep trek down and back again, but it’s relatively easy to catch a cab at the bottom to bring you back up the hill. (Buy a snack at one of the restaurants and the waiter will be happy to call one for you.) Katharos Beach is another rocky beach nearby (23-minute walk), with one beach bar. It is off the beaten path, so much quieter than Ammoudi Bay, but not as beautiful.
  • View: Most rooms offer a sea view or sunset sea view, with a few pool view suites too. The sunset and sea views are over the Aegean but not the caldera. This is a spectacular sunset spot from a unique vantage point.
  • Kitchen: All suites and villas have a hideaway kitchenette with a sink, Nespresso machine, kettle, a mini-fridge, and a minibar.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: All suites include a heated, outdoor jacuzzi on a private veranda with sunbeds. Villas and some suites add a private, heated pool.
  • Parking: Free parking onsite
  • Extras: All suites include a pillow menu, turndown service, and a complimentary bottle of wine and sweets. Facilities include a holistic spa with an indoor, heated pool, hydrotherapy baths, and themed days (meditation, nutrition, etc); 5 outdoor, unheated pools; live music 3 nights a week (harp, piano, or saxophone).
  • When to Book: The hotel operates from early April until late October. Reserve at least 3 months in advance (4 months is better) for stays during high season from June through September, and about 2 months in advance for the low and shoulder seasons.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +30 211 2340063
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: santomaris.gr

Santo Maris Oia – Amenities

  • Pool: 1 heated, indoor pool in the spa. 5 unheated, outdoor pools spread throughout the property; the main pool has a bar.
  • Spa: Awesome, holistic spa with top-of-the-line facilities (heated pool, hydrotherapy baths, cryotherapy, sauna, and hammam) and an extensive selection of services based on Greek and international healing traditions. The spa offers thematic experiences that change regularly, such as meditation or nutrition.
  • Fitness Center: Small, well-equipped gym open 24 hours with cardio machines, free weights, and a cable machine. Yoga trainers are available on request.
  • For Disabled Guests: Since the hotel is not in the caldera, it has fewer stairs than most hotels in the area, but no elevator. Good for someone who has mild to moderate issues walking up and down steps, but not accessible for those in wheelchairs.
  • For Families: Only ages 12 and older are allowed, but there are no special facilities or amenities for kids. The largest villas and suites are 2 bedroom/2 bathroom units with 2 king-sized beds and 1 or 2 sofa beds.
  • Activities: Live music 3 nights a week, concierge service to arrange tours and experiences.

Santo Maris Oia – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant: Alios Ilios is their fine dining restaurant, offering Cretan cuisine with influences from all over Greece, and an exquisite selection of local wines. In addition to their regular menu, they also offer a 7-course degustation menu with wine pairings. Located on the main level with the pool and facing the Aegean, this is a perfect vantage point for watching the sunset. This restaurant is open to the public, so reserve a table to ensure the best view. Open for dinner from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  • Pool Bar: Offering a Mediterranean selection of snacks and lunch, fresh juices, and cocktails. 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Romantic Bar: Gorgeous sunset viewpoint offering signature cocktails, wine, beer, and other beverages. No food menu. Open from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  • Breakfast: Complimentary breakfast buffet with hot and cold dishes, fresh juices, and coffee. This breakfast has been certified by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels as an authentic Greek Breakfast. Served at Alios Ilios from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Early breakfast available on request.
  • Room Service: Available during restaurant opening hours.

Santo Maris Oia – Rooms

  • Room Types: Suite Pool Front • Junior Suite Sea View • Suite Sea View • Deluxe Junior Suite Sunset Sea View • Deluxe Suite Sunset Sea View • Exclusive Sunset Junior Suite Sea View • Honeymoon Suite Sunset Sea View • Royal Suite Sunset Sea View • Exclusive Sunset Suite Private Pool Sea View • Luxury Villa Private Pool Sunset Sea View
  • Smoking Rooms: Santo Maris Oia does not allow smoking inside any suite or villa. It is allowed on private verandas and in the outdoor, common areas of the hotel.
  • Best Room: For couples, the best choice is the Exclusive Sunset Suite Private Pool Sea View. This is in the newest wing of the hotel, and offers the most privacy and a completely unobstructed sunset view. This spacious, 1-bedroom suite has a king bed, separate living and dining areas, as well as a private pool.
  • For Families: The best options for families are the 2-bedroom Royal Suite Sunset Sea View or the 2-bedroom Luxury Villa Private Pool Sunset Sea View. The Royal Suite measures an ample 97 sqm and sleeps up to 6 guests, with 2 king beds, 2 single sofa beds, and 2 bathrooms. The 2-bedroom, 4-bathroom Luxury Villa is an enormous 190 sqm, but accommodates only 4 guests, with 2 king beds and 1 sofa bed, a full kitchen, private parking, plus butler’s quarters (bring your own or hire theirs). The Luxury Villa includes a private pool and outdoor jacuzzi, while the Royal Suite has an outdoor jacuzzi.

Santo Maris Oia – Local Transport

  • Walking: The hotel is located northwest of Oia’s center, with its fine dining, luxury boutiques, and few bars only a 4-minute walk away (uphill, though). Oia Castle ruins are just 12 minutes away. Ammoudi Bay is accessible via a steep and winding path, an easy walk southwest and down the caldera, but arduous going back up; many people taxi or take a donkey back to the top.
  • Bus: The Oia Bus Terminal is only 350 meters away (uphill and to the east), and serves all of the major villages and beaches on the island (sometimes with a change in Fira). Tickets are bought on board and range from €1.80 to €2.50 per person in the daytime, depending on the route. Night buses (12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) run less frequently and cost a little more, from €2.30 to €3.10. Buses can get very crowded, especially during the high season, so much so that they often fill to capacity and are unable to take on more passengers. There are only 23 public buses serving the island.
  • Taxis: The nearest taxi stand is at Stathmos Taxi, also 350 meters uphill and east near the Oia Bus Terminal. There is often a wait here as there are only 25 taxis serving the entire island (with guests from about 1,000 hotels, villas, and Airbnbs). Book ahead to avoid the wait, plus you can have them meet you directly at the hotel. There will be a small surcharge for advanced reservations and for carrying luggage, usually just a couple of Euros. The average rate from Oia to Fira is €15, and from Oia to the airport runs about €25.
  • Scooters/Motorcycles: Just don’t, unless you’re Evel Knievel! Scooters are the main mode of transportation for the locals, but if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain, it can be very dangerous. The roads here are zigzagging, hilly, narrow, and have sheer drop offs with no guardrails and no street lights in most areas. Lots of dirt roads and potholes.
  • ATVs: This is a super popular mode of transportation with tourists, but the locals absolutely hate them. They move too slowly and hold up traffic in an area where getting around is already a hassle. ATVs with smaller motors have been banned from the roads, and a full ban is expected to pass soon.

Santo Maris Oia – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants

  • Candouni: Cozy, family-owned restaurant with live, Greek music and absolutely delicious food. 4-minute walk.
  • Roka: Authentic, Santorinian menu with solid dishes, especially the meatballs and octopus. 6-minute walk.
  • Lotza: Simple, honest Greek comfort food with stunning caldera views. 7-minute walk.
  • PitoGyros: Hands-down, the best gyros in Oia. Seating is limited. 7-minute walk.
  • Melitini: 100% Greek menu, using local Santorinian, Cycladic, and Greek ingredients only. Quaint, cozy interior and stellar caldera views from the rooftop terrace. 11-minute walk.
  • Ammoudi Bay Restaurants: Each of these waterfront restaurants is phenomenal, offering the freshest fish on the island. The steep 17-minute walk down takes longer coming back up, but your waiter will be happy to call you a cab.

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

Best Nearby Cafes

  • Meteor: Excellent coffee and breakfast with sweeping caldera views, though a little on the pricey side. 7-minute walk.
  • Vitrin Café Creperie: One of the best breakfasts on the island, plus AMAZING sunset views if you arrive early enough to snag a table. 9-minute walk.
  • Passaggio: The best coffee in Santorini, solid breakfast, killer cocktails, and pretty okay sunset views from the balcony, just a little back from the caldera. 12-minute walk.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

Nearby Attractions

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

  • Proton Supermarket: Small market, but usually has the best prices. This is where most locals shop in the area. 5-minute walk.
  • Asteras Supermarket: Small but solid selection with a surprising amount of fresh produce for its size, along with prepackaged deli cuts, snacks, beer, wine, and some beach gear. 6-minute walk.
  • Elliniki Diatrofi Supermarket: Great selection of local cheeses, wine, liquor, fresh produce, and staples. Open until after midnight, sometimes as late as 2:00 a.m. 7-minute walk.

Santo Maris Oia – The Hotel

The Santo Maris Oia is a 5-star resort.

The 5-star Santo Maris Oia resort.

The hotel has a private parking lot with valet.

Lobby exterior. You can park your car yourself or use the valet service here.

The lobby with its contemporary decor is very welcoming.

Lobby décor is decidedly contemporary with its glass fireplace and wall art, but with local architectural style, using lava rocks and pressed concrete.

The Romantic Bar near the lobby also offers sunset views.

The Romantic Bar is next to the lobby on the way to the main pool and Pool Bar. Though indoors, it offers sunset views in the area closer to the pool.

The outdoor seating of the Alios Ilios Restaurant is by the main pool.

The main pool, Pool Bar, and Alios Ilios (serving breakfast and dinner) are all right next to each other. Alios Ilios’ outdoor space is the best common area in the hotel to see the sunset from…

The interior of the Alios Ilios Restaurant features traditional designs.

…though the interior of the restaurant also features fantastic design, inspired by the ruins of Akrotiri.

The resort has 5 outdoor pools.

There are a total of 5 outdoor pools. Here is one example…

Other pools at the resort are just as nice and big.

…and another one.

The spa features an indoor heated pool.

The indoor, heated pool is located in the spa.

The Luxury Villa is the best accommodation with its own private pool.

Luxury Villa exterior with pool. This is their top category accommodation.

The Luxury Villa pool faces the sea.

View from the pool facing the sea.

The Luxury Villa had fantastic sunset views.

View of the Aegean sunset with part of Thirassia Island on the left.

The main bedroom opens onto a west-facing terrace.

First bedroom with westward facing glass doors that open to the terrace…

The villa's main bathroom has a traditional design.

…and the ensuite bathroom in a traditional, pressed-concrete style.

The villa's second bedroom faces the west.

Second bedroom also facing west…

The villa's second bedroom also has an ensuite bathroom.

…and its ensuite bathroom.

The villa's living area has a fireplace and a sofa bed.

The living area features a sofa bed and a fireplace…

The living area also connects to a terrace with sea views.

…and opens to a sea-view terrace.

The Luxury Villa has its own private gym.

Luxury Villa guests enjoy their own private gym…

The lucusry villa features a decent kitchenetter.

…and a kitchenette.

The villa's Butler's Quarters has a full kitchen.

There is also a full kitchen in the butler’s quarters, along with an extra bed and bathroom.

The living room of the Deluxe Suite is large and bright.

The one bedroom Deluxe Suite Sunset Sea View offers a large living room…

The Deluxe Suite has a small dining area.

…with a separate dining area…

The Deluxe Suite also features a small kitchenette.

…and a kitchenette.

The Deluxe Suite's bedroom is very spacious and nice.

The bedroom is spacious and well-appointed…

The Deluxe Suite bathroom has a Cycladic open-style shower.

…with an ensuite bathroom, featuring a Cycladic, open-style shower…

The Deluxe Suite's terrace has a jacuzzi and sunbeds.

…and a private terrace with a jacuzzi and sunbeds facing the sea.

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