Hi, i am going to greece on my honeymoon in July 2003. Curious, i don't know which hotel to stay at in Santorini. Its a choice of Vedema or Astra Apartments. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?

Stacey,<BR><BR>Vedema is supposed to a luxery hotel, however, it does not have the caldera view. I believe that the Astra apartments have the caldera view. I have also heard very good things about Esperas, Katikies and Perivolas in Ia.<BR>Perivolas is by far the most expensive -that's why I'm not staying there.<BR><BR>Good luck

I had a bad experience with Dana,s Villas 2 years ago. I had booked for four nights with them through a tour operator here in Canada. When we arrived we were bumped down the path to some other apartments. The reason they gave us(and this is the honest truth) was that the Americans had plugged up the plumbing system making some of the apartments uninhabitable. The next day I went to the office to enquire about the state of things and was told still no room.At that point people were checking out so they must have had some room.I was not impressed with the situation so I checked out. The fellow I was dealing with was Dimitri.

anita: was away for few days....<BR>any changes in your itinerary ?<BR>hope you setelled the hotel issue... are you really gonna book now for next sept.?

Hi Frank,<BR><BR>I think I'm going to stick with Katikies. Porto Fira looks very nice, but I'm don't know anything about their &quot;ecological and organic&quot; breakfast. <BR><BR>However, now I'm concerned with my plans coming home. I'm supposed to fly from Mykonos to Athens, and then fly back, however a lot of people have been telling me that the flights are very unpredictable and I could miss my connection home. I'll have to speak with my travel agent about this. I might have to fly back to Athens and spend another there, because I really want to stay in Santorini for 4 nights. Oh well - always something. All my hotels are booked and now just looking up airfares from MIA to ATH.<BR><BR>Did you book your trip yet? Unlike most people I book my trips early. You could really wait until the new year to book.<BR><BR>Thanks for asking. Keep me posted on your plans<BR><BR>

Katikies -- sheer heaven.

Barnaby,<BR><BR>That is very reassuring. Can you tell me about it? How were the rooms, restaurants, service, etc? Would love to hear it from someone who has been there. Other people have commented that the hotel is &quot;stuffy&quot; - what do you think? Is it easy to get a cab to go to Fira? Thanks for you help.

Anita when are you going to Greece. What month? Where is Katikies located? Is this a really nice hotel. I want to stay in a really nice one we are staying in santorini for 4 nights. I have been hearing a lot of things also about the flights coming home. I am supposed to take the morning flight home too, but I am concerned whether or not to stay in anthens the last night so I don't miss the flight. Whats your opinion? If anyone else has any comments on what the nicest place to stay at please comment. I was originally looking at the Astra Apartments or Vedema now thinking of Katikies? Help??

Stacey,<BR><BR>Katikies is located in Ia about 20 minutes from Fira. It is one of &quot;small luxury hotels&quot; category. It looks absolutely beautiful. I was supposed to go in May, but had to change my plans to Septmeber. I am also thinking of returning to Athens for one evening before returning home. The last thing I need is to miss my flight home. <BR><BR>Vedema also looks gorgeous, but it does not have the caldera view and you would definitely have to rent a car.<BR><BR>I was thinking of staying in Fira, but when I think of all the tourists coming off the cruise ships, that is too crowded for me. If I want to go to Fira I'll just call a cab.<BR><BR>Keep me posted on what your plans are.<BR>

Stacey,<BR>As far as Vedema goes I wouldn't want to stay there because of the location. My husband and I were touring around on our scooters when we stumbled upon it in Melagahori(sp?). Don't get me wrong the hotel looked beautiful and they pick you up in a new shiny mercedes at the port but it really isn't close to anything. And it doesn't have the view that Santorini is famous for.

Trish, where did you stay in santorini? I am not familiar with the santorini the different towns i have to look some of it up. Its so hard to decide where to stay there are so... many places. What do you think of Astra Apartments. We are going for our honeymoon, we want seclusion but not too much, what do you recommend. Alot of people are saying Katikies. <BR><BR>Anita, so your not booked in a hotel yet for santorini? Where else are you going besides santorini and athens? I am going to Mykonos(sp) and Crete. We are going for 2 weeks. I saw you were asking about the rest. and rooms at Katikies, when you find out could you write me and let me know. I am going to go start looking it up on the net. Any good web sites you know of to go to?<BR>Keep me updated

Stacey,<BR>My first trip to Santorini (4 years ago)I stayed in the town of Perissia for the whole 5 days, 2 nights at the Porto Perissia and three at the Vegerra which is a very, very nice hotel right on the beach. That said the beach is probably not where you want to stay. My trip this past September we stayed at Stelios Place once again on the beach in Perissia for 4 nights and 2 nights in Oia at the Esperas. The Esperas is certainly cheaper than Katikies it would in a slightly quieter location as it as at the far end of Oia. As I've said many times on this board I loved Esperas and would recommend it to anyone, we stayed in their basic studio so I can only imagine what their fancy units look like.

I agree that if you are going solo stay in or near Fira. Ia is a good day trip and not to be missed but is more of a couples quiet place. It is easy to catch the bus from Fira and see Perissa and other places on the island.

Stacey,<BR><BR>I've booked all of my hotels. I'm staying at the Electra Palace for 3 nights, 4 nights at Katikies and 3 nights Mykonos at the Belvedere hotel. I was going to switch hotels in Santorini to stay near Fira, but I've decided to stay with my original choice - Katikies. Even though I'm going solo, I don't mind that most the people will be couples - that will be the case everywhere, anyway. I spoke to my travel agent about Porto Fira suites, but she still recommended Katikies.<BR><BR>Katikies has their own website. You can look at magicaljourneys.com, greecetravel.com - just do a search on google and you'll have plenty of sites.<BR><BR>Keep me posted on what you decide.

Anita<BR>any changes in your plans?<BR>major changes in my plans..<BR>Frank

Topping for Jeffdavis.

Like Tricia, I can't say enough good things about Esperas in Oia. We had a room with two balconies with unbelievable views. We found Oia to have plenty of choice for evening drinks, dinners etc. A big warning, our flight from Santorini to Athens was delayed by five hours, with very little explanation. For your peace of mind, stay in Athens overnight.