reddy2go2

Fellow Fodorites -

I am taking my 80-year-old mom to Greece mid-March for her milestone birthday and the first two days we will be in Santorini; she is an avid traveler and this is a place she has not gone to before. That said, I see that the island’s hotels are on steep inclines. I don’t know that she will be able to navigate a hotel/villa with too many stairs. If you know of a place that has a great view and is not on a killer slope or has easy accessibility, please let me know. To me this is a priority vs. which part of the island we stay in.

After Santorini we fly to Athens and then drive straight to Nafplio for 3 nights, a base for Epidaurus and Mycenae, then drop the car off at Athens and stay there for 4 days, one of them a trip to Delphi. I would also like to squeeze in Hydra but don’t want it to be too hectic for my mom.

Thank you in advance for your guidance and expertise re. Santorini accomodations. If there are other suggestions for what may work best for the rest of the itinerary I am all ears! Thanks again!

kja

I don't know if it would suit your needs, but for Santorini, you might look at Smaro Studios. If I recall correctly, access was by mostly shallow stairs (the number "38"is sticking in my head, but I can't find my notes) -- no steep inclines -- from the main road, and I thought the view quite spectacular.
http://www.smaro-studios.gr

If you haven't already seen it, you might find some useful information in my trip report:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...-in-greece.cfm

I envy you the chance to travel with your mother -- enjoy!

brotherleelove2004

In Oia check Olympic Villas and Old Oia Houses.

ter2000

In Oia check out Strogili Houses - https://www.strogilisantorini.com/ - they are on the caldera but the ones on the upper level have very few steps to access. They also have a pool on the upper level - again no steps to access.

Your Mum is wonderful to be game for such an adventure! I hope you both have a great time.

travelerjan

Since you are going in Mid-March, when there is much less that is open "up-island," you really should consider Fira Town, and look for places that are open year round, and mention that they have heating AND have a twin-bed room. Frankly the first place I thought of has THE best location, and one of the first hotels built in the island -- Hotel Atlantis. Right next to Museum, on the caldera promenade, few steps; perfect. But when I checked booking.com for mid-March (week of 12th - 16th) It was booked -- as were all the "twin rooms with view" in Fira caldera hotels I checked that are NOt down the cliff. So I went to the best "fallback" area for March .... Firostephani, on the north edge of Fira Town, with front of hotels on the view, and the street behind it is the Main road, with a bus stop going to Oia & Fira. Importanty many hotels access the rooms right off street level. And I found one of my favorites, Sunset Hotel -- twin rooms with heating, communal terrace with caldera view, AND, accessible from street level. I can testify to that lovely terrace, since I enjoyed 2 sunsets there with a couple in 2010. I recommend you book a standard twin-with-view immediately. If you choose a rate slightly higher than the lowest listed, it is no-risk, because free cancellation without penalty up to early march. You'd taxi there from the airport, but the handy bus stop on the street will take you to Oia. If you rent a car, there's room for parking nearby. On a nice day in Spring, Fira town is a nice 20-minute stroll down the rimside path, or along the street, OR, when bus scheds cooperate, a 10 minute ride.

Heimdall

Usually when booking(dot)com says "no availability" that early in the year it means the hotel is still closed for the winter, not that it is fully booked. Indeed, when I just checked Hotel Atlantis' own website, the reservation page included the following statement: "ATLANTIS HOTEL is every year open from April to October inclusive."

Try to find the hotel's own website whenever you can. You will have to scroll down past the booking engine websites to find it. When looking for hotels open all year on Santorini, this website may help:
https://www.santorini.com/hotels/allyear.htm

travelerjan

Thanks for the reminder Heimdall ... and for that good link -- it will save time and frustration.

reddy2go2

@kja, @travelerjan; @ter2000, @brotherleelove, @heimdall,

Thank you all for your replies and guidance. @kja, I spent last evening reading your Greece trip report - it was wonderful,

Alas, all the hotels you recommended are booked and I cannot find the type of easy-access accommodations I need in Fira or towns nearby. I am now booked in Oia, at Zoe Aegean. It has good review but as you mention, travelerjan, the area will be quieter. I will keep looking as my booking is refundable until late February.

Thanks agian - I will post a summary of the trip after I return!

kja

I'm glad you found value in my trip report -- thanks for letting me know!
Enjoy your trip!

travelerjan

do not despair reddy .... as Heimdall says, many times the booking sites say "no availability" just because those hotels do not open until April 1. And there may be some hotels that -- when you contact them -- have changed policy an will be open in March. Keep trying on the direct hotel websites not just onlne agencies.

And to raise a question -- is it your mother who absolutely wants to do a trip ON her milestone birthday?? Or is is you, wanting to do this on the exact day? If she would be at all open to celebrating in April or (best of all) MAY, the experience would be immeasurably more delightful -- Mid May is "paradise time" in Greece for perfect weather, with sun to warm Senior bones -- I know it's done wonders for mine!!

reddy2go2

Hello @travelerjan,

Good question - my family and I want to be with my mother when she turns 80 so March it is! I am also happy to report I did snag accommodation in Fira. Great views and no stairs! We are so excited. Thanks again for your input.

travelerjan

Congratulations on booking what you want. Would you mind sharing the name of the Fira Hotel?? It may be useful when others ask us about hotels with views and no stairs. Pay it forward!

reddy2go2

Hi @travelerjan - As I had mentioned I will do a trip report after getting back as a way to pay it forward, but can certainly share now that we have a booking at Nonis Apartments. It is close to the main road in Fira so they said it has no steep steps to navigate. It seems to be a basic 2 bedroom apartment (we are now five) but has views of the caldera. More details when I return!

brotherleelove2004

Old Oia Houses in Oia should be open and they have some small houses accessible without a lot of step climbing. Old Oia Houses | Oia Old Houses