Fira or Ia?
Aug 23rd, 2004, 07:10 AM
#3
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Oia without question. Fira is really crowded and the shop owners are borderline obnoxious. The hotels do not have caldera views either. I stayed in Imerovigli at the Astra apartments. I thought the location was supurb there as well.
Aug 23rd, 2004, 07:37 AM
#4
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Anyone who says the hotels in Fira do not have caldera views obviously has never been there.
It all depends on what you want to do and see. If you want a luxury sort of villa hotel where you will sit and relax and do little, then Oia probably couldn't be beat. If you want to explore the island, Fira is the center of all public transport and is easier for getting around from even driving.
Many of the hotels in Fira are built on the side of the cliffs adjacent to but "below" the village. If you stay there, not only are the views of the caldera magnificent but even the famous sunset views from Oia are overpowered in my opinion. Instead of looking out to the sunset over open sea, you get it with the caldera opposite you totally silouetted (boy is that lousy spelling) against the sunset.
Don't worry about the noise in Fira. If you are at one of the hotels on the cliffs you are totally blocked from it and you won't notice a thing as you are looking out to the caldera. You will feel that you could be a million miles from anywhere -- at least we did at our hotel, the Loucas. Meanwhile the worst crowds we encountered on Santorini in our four days was the afternoon and evening we went to Oia for sunset. Mobs of people go and totally overrun the very limited number of observations points, bars, and restaurants. We couldn't wait to get out of there -- and parking was a nightmare.
Meanwhile if you do want to shop or visit the many restaurants and bars in Fira, you're right there and don't have to travel from Oia to do so. As to Fira getting the day trippers from cruises, that's true to an extent, which is why it's great to stay in Fira at night, but do your trips out to the beaches, the ruins, etc. during the day. The reason most people who stay in Oia say that Fira is crowded with day trippers, is because they usually join them there, instead of visiting at night, when they are gone.
I'm not sure what you want to spend and you may be looking for a very upscale resort, but if looking for a more casual, but authentic and simply charming place at a reasonable price, look at:
http://www.greekhotel.com/cyclades/s...lucas/home.htm
It all depends on what you want to do and see. If you want a luxury sort of villa hotel where you will sit and relax and do little, then Oia probably couldn't be beat. If you want to explore the island, Fira is the center of all public transport and is easier for getting around from even driving.
Many of the hotels in Fira are built on the side of the cliffs adjacent to but "below" the village. If you stay there, not only are the views of the caldera magnificent but even the famous sunset views from Oia are overpowered in my opinion. Instead of looking out to the sunset over open sea, you get it with the caldera opposite you totally silouetted (boy is that lousy spelling) against the sunset.
Don't worry about the noise in Fira. If you are at one of the hotels on the cliffs you are totally blocked from it and you won't notice a thing as you are looking out to the caldera. You will feel that you could be a million miles from anywhere -- at least we did at our hotel, the Loucas. Meanwhile the worst crowds we encountered on Santorini in our four days was the afternoon and evening we went to Oia for sunset. Mobs of people go and totally overrun the very limited number of observations points, bars, and restaurants. We couldn't wait to get out of there -- and parking was a nightmare.
Meanwhile if you do want to shop or visit the many restaurants and bars in Fira, you're right there and don't have to travel from Oia to do so. As to Fira getting the day trippers from cruises, that's true to an extent, which is why it's great to stay in Fira at night, but do your trips out to the beaches, the ruins, etc. during the day. The reason most people who stay in Oia say that Fira is crowded with day trippers, is because they usually join them there, instead of visiting at night, when they are gone.
I'm not sure what you want to spend and you may be looking for a very upscale resort, but if looking for a more casual, but authentic and simply charming place at a reasonable price, look at:
http://www.greekhotel.com/cyclades/s...lucas/home.htm
Aug 23rd, 2004, 07:40 AM
#5
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Oh, by the way, for the unitiated, the "caldera" refers to the open cone of the volcano that used to be the island, but was blown away. Today all that is left is a big sort of circular area of the sea -- the rim of the cone still sticking up in a circle, and a smallish island still exposed in the center. If you look at the view from the Loucas in the heart of Fira on the above mentioned website, you will see that there couldn't possibly be a more centralized and dramatic view of the caldera from anywhere else!!
Aug 23rd, 2004, 07:47 AM
#6
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Oia is the most beautiful and traditional village on the island, but is also furthest from the main beach areas of Kamari and Perissa. There are wonderful restaurants and shops in Oia, just not anywhere near as many as in Fira. There are very many hotels in Fira with a view of the caldera, just be sure when you book your rooms that you ask beforehand if that's what you require. Oia also has hotels with or without caldera views, so ask there too.
Aug 23rd, 2004, 08:41 AM
#7
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I loved Oia, but I don't think I would stay there...It seemed to be to far away from everything..I liked the locations of the Volcano View Villas (where we stayed).From there we explored many areas of the island and were close enough to Fira to visit everyday..But as usual, each traveller has a different opinion on what they like to do and where they like to stay, so it is hard to give a definate answer..But the hotels in Fira do have caldera views..
We watched the sunset everynight from a Mexican Restaurant (Senor Zorba)which was about a 15 minute walk from the Volcano View Villas up hill..Spectacular views!! We also walked further to Santo Winery..It was awesome...Oh, how I wish I was there right now!!
We watched the sunset everynight from a Mexican Restaurant (Senor Zorba)which was about a 15 minute walk from the Volcano View Villas up hill..Spectacular views!! We also walked further to Santo Winery..It was awesome...Oh, how I wish I was there right now!!
