El Greco Resort & Spa Hotel, Fira, Santorini

Review Rating: 4/5

Website: https://elgreco.com.gr/

Date of Visit: July 2017

Introduction

Located a short walk south of Fira with breathtaking views towards the caldera, El Greco Resort & Spa is a luxury hotel ideal for a romantic or family getaway on the amazing island of Santorini.

I treated myself to 3 nights here as part of a 9-island Greek adventure in the summer of 2017 and this review will give you my honest opinion of the hotel and whether it’s worth considering for your next trip.

Location

While many luxury hotels compete for the limited space on the caldera edge in Fira and north towards Imerovigli, El Greco is situated just south of the island’s capital in a more peaceful setting. Still retaining the convenience of a central location, it’s just a 10-minute walk north to the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the main bus station, and from there just a couple of minutes further until you’re right in the centre of town, with shops, tavernas and local attractions all around.

I was initially concerned about being outside the resort centre and how convenient it would be to get around, but actually, it was ideal and turned out to be a huge positive not being in a crowded spot.

Rooms

Travelling solo, I’m not El Greco’s typical guest, but even their smallest standard room felt spacious and luxurious compared with my previous accommodation on the trip. I would have expected nothing less, however, given that I paid just over £220 per night for the privilege!

My room, 203B, was towards the front of the hotel which I liked as it meant I was close to the main entrance for getting to and from Fira. The main reception and restaurant were also nearby, so it was a convenient place to be.

Service

Check-in was quick and efficient and there were always plenty of staff around reception to deal with any questions or queries during my stay. On my day of departure, I was able to secure a late checkout and keep my room until 2 pm which was handy as my ferry wasn’t until late afternoon. The hotel also arranged a transfer to the port for €12 which felt quite reasonable, though the ferry port is just a few kilometres away.

Facilities

The hotel has several swimming pools. I visited the main pool a few times, which has a spacious setting and plenty of sun loungers. There was also a smaller pool just around the corner from my room, which I used a few times for a quiet dip.

I didn’t use any of the other facilities during my stay, wanting to save money having splashed out on the hotel itself.

Food and Dining

I had one evening meal at the hotel, choosing to eat at their buffet on my first day rather than venture into Fira. It cost €20 which was more than I would usually spend on dinner, but the food was pretty good and as it was a buffet, I got my money’s worth!

Breakfast was included in the room rate and was also a self-service buffet. The selection and quality were pretty much as I expected from an upmarket resort hotel: fresh bread, meat, cheese, tea/coffee, cereals etc.

Price

As mentioned above, the hotel wasn’t cheap at £220 per night, but it is a luxury resort and this is Santorini in peak season so it didn’t seem totally unreasonable. Had I stayed longer and used more of the facilities, it might have seemed better value but as it was, I didn’t mind spending the money to treat myself, having stayed in some pretty budget places on previous islands.

Overall Experience and Conclusions

If you want a nice luxury hotel in Santorini but don’t fancy being in the cramped setting of the caldera side, this is a great option, with easy access to Fira but a spacious, open feel. The pools are lovely and the staff definitely make you feel welcome.

Links

Find more Santorini Accommodation or check out our Santorini Island Guide.