Grande Murano — Hotel in Municipality of Thira

DO NOT STAY HERE||This was hands down the worst experience I’ve ever had at a hotel. Myself and my friend had been travelling and arrived at The hotel at 1:45pm as the check in time for the hotel is 1:30pm. We had a booking for a tour of the volcano at 3 so we wanted to check in and get ready before that. ||There was no one at reception was no way to get into any shade and it was roughly 32°C. I called the owner of the hotel and asked him where were meant to check-in he explained that he was not at the hotel and would be there in 10 mins. I called him again after 25 minutes as more people started to arrive to check in. He started giving out to me on the phone asking why I was calling him again and not to bother him or else he would not be answering my phone calls. Myself and other tourists called him to ask when we could get to our rooms and he blocked my number and declined their calls. It was one hour and 15 minutes before myself or any of the other people travelling looking to check-in could get into their rooms. When the owner of the hotel arrived eventually he started laughing saying I told you I would only be five minutes. He said we should have filled out a ETA form and we call checked our emails and nothing of the sort was ever sent. He did not try to apologise to any of us and was the most ignorant, unapologetic and rude person I have ever encountered. He intimidated me when I questioned him on why he would not apologise and why you took him so long to leave us outside before any of us can check-in. He completely ignored my question and started shouting at me in Greek which I did not understand. He asked me for €1 of tax in cash which I did not have at the time, I told him that I would bring down €1 When I got a chance to go to the shops. He blackmailed me and said if I didn’t have the €1 immediately maybe he would forget to get up in the morning and forget to give me my passports back as he knew I had a flight home.||||Not only was this the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my entire life I did not feel safe here either. This was due to this man’s demeanour and to the conditions of the room. When we got into a room there was a foul smell, It smelt of mould and rot. There was no shampoo or conditioner but that didn’t matter because when we tried to take a shower the drain was completely clogged and clearly not cleaned as previous residents hair could be seen the shower drain. In the bathroom also there was a small window just up from the shower where it was impossible to close and people on the streets could see you showering. The toilet was filthy and not cleaned and there was stains everywhere. There was also a safety hazard in the room as when I went to charge my phone beside the bed I got an electric shock and this was due to faulty wiring which can be seen below. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone, I would’ve felt safer sleeping on the side of the road. If you want an enjoyable trip in Santorini DO...

If I ever opened a hotel … It would be like this wonderful Boutique Hotel … I really loved this hotel … it’s design, owners and my room and of course the location. A real gem of a place to stay that will make you never want to stay in the many standard international business and leisure hotels again that dominate most destinations.

It might be a wonderful family owned hotel … ut still with everything you need … and an added factor of really being in the heart Fira (only 500 metres from Archaeological Museum of Thera).

Each room at this guest house is air conditioned and has a flat-screen TV. Some units have views of the sea or pool. Every room comes with a private bathroom equipped with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find really great beds and showers. The hotel just works … the Wi-Fi works … the beds lets you really enjoy a good nights sleep!

One of the nicest things about Grande Murano is it’s little design touches everywhere … the owners should be rightly proud of what the created. AND BEST OF ALL … if you can get up in time … just the most brilliant sunrises. I was addicted to getting up and taking photos. The hotel is unique, eclectic, friendly and fantastic value. And boutique does not just mean smaller … you are not just 1 of 200 rooms / guests …. But feel part of a select few who have but at frankly chosen their hotel and want something more more relaxed and home from home.

This is a wonderful welcoming and very well run hotel. Nothing is too much trouble for them. On occasion, Santorini gets a reputation as a place that tourists need to be wary of as they are seen as a pot of gold. Katerina and her husband are the opposite … they have invested blood sweat and tears to make this dream come true … So I began to rely on their suggestions (be it transfers/ where to get a scooter).

This tells me they are in this for the long term … they want you to love this place and come back! They have me hooked.

Thank you Grande Murano … you really made my visit special.

Key things at the hotel include:

Outdoor pool Free WiFi Airport/ Port shuttle Sun deck Outdoor pool Terrace Wi-Fi that works … EVERYWHERE Shuttle service (additional charge) Baggage...

I don't normally write reviews...but this place takes the biscuit. I flew direct from London and arrived at the hotel by 10pm to find the reception closed., no notice on the door and no staff anywhere........after about 45 mins...i found a business card celotaped to a side window...so I rang the mobile...answered by grumpy bloke who seemed to think this was normal||No apology offered, just .. 'which hotel you stay?' I was taken to a small airless room with no way of blocking out the street lights, a TV that didn't work, and which backed onto a very busy road So it was a constant flow of traffic all night long .. mopeds, quad bikes cars and vans, I was forced to make some impromptu earplugs with toilet paper. This didn't work and at around 4am, a group of drunken people piled into the room next to me for an after-party with shouting, screamung and singing for the next hour.||The next day I asked to move and was given a pool room....haha talk about the tricks of a wide angle lens...actually you could best describe this as a paddling pool 3m x 5m and about 1m deep.... It was decent of them to make the effort.......but the same thing happened at 5am! 4 or 5 very drunk guests decided to have a pool party screaming shouting and jumping in the paddling pool...That's two nights with no sleep at 130 euros per night......(mid Aug) It is now the end of August and the online booking sites are showing a drastic reduction in price ..down to £25 per night...This is a more accurate reflection of the true value of this place.....Outside peak you might be OK if you are on a tight budget....but the period I went hotels put their prices up 300%...i would really suggest you look hard before booking this option as clealry the owners just don't give a dam about the guests, ...read the reviews on...