Heliades Apartments — Hotel in Municipality of Thira

Olympia's husband's family home is reception and the rooms built around it. We had room 1 which came with a small private balcony.   It probably had the smallest balcony of the three rooms with just enough space (and it was just enough) for two chairs and table.  The others had much larger outdoor spaces but I think room 1 has the best sunset view.  We did have a little area right outside our door with two loungers on which everyone assumed belonged to our room but we were told they were communal.  Lovely to use in the afternoon although it was baking.  The stairs up to the loft area where the bed is are steep but when you’re up there it is more spacious than I thought it was going to be.   Downstairs, we had THE most amazing view through our balcony doors. ||The room came with slippers, wine glasses, a corkscrew, a fridge, a key safe and a hairdryer on the wall.  The toiletries (shampoo, body wash and a shower cap) were basic.  Although there is a kitchen, previous reviews which refer to this as aesthetic rather than functional are correct.  We had a bowl for olives and two wine glasses but that was it.  It was fine with us as we planned to eat out when here but if you want cooking facilities, maybe look elsewhere.  Beach towels were provided. Check out was at 11:30am and Olympia walked us to our transfer bus (this is paid directly to the driver unlike at other hotels where it was paid to the hotel and so make sure you have enough spare cash!).   There is a boiler switch in the wardrobe which you need to switch on to get hot water and this was fully explained by Olympia on check in.  The bathroom is slightly outdated but everything in the right place and it was fine for 2 nights.||The only thing missing here outdoors is a pool as it gets so hot in the day during summer and even a plunge pool would be nice.  We did ask about a pool and were told about being able to use the one at Sunny Villas below if you buy a drink. Olympia told us she would need to escort us down if we wanted this and so we just gave it a miss as it’s a tiny pool anyway.||People have mentioned a fourth room in the reviews with a terrace area set away from the room.  I think the owner was perhaps using this room as her residence and so only 3 rooms, I believe, were actively being used as rentals.  If this is the case, they could always make that terrace area (which was adjacent to ours) into a plunge pool and still have room to spare.  This would of course add value to the property and increase the room rates and there are other properties you can pick if you want this, and so this is the trade-off here for a great value property on this part of the island.  I also have to say it was very private compared to many others we’d seen.  Even some of those rooms at the very expensive hotels are very overlooked by passers-by and we loved the privacy at Heliades.||Having walked around the area and to Fira and back, I would say Imerovigli was my favourite area and I would not stay in Fira as it was far too busy.  This area provided the perfect sunset in a more peaceful setting with lots of bars and restaurants nearby including the very lovely Grace.  The walk from Imerovigli to Fira and back with lunch stop is around 3.5 to 4 hours (you can of course get a bus or taxi or use your quad/car).  We left after breakfast and it was still pretty tough to do in the heat and we’re pretty fit.  The pathway there (along the coast) is beautiful with lots to occupy you and places to stop and see on the way and so not a hike as such but very few shady spots.  Wear good shoes as it’s pretty slippery in places too.  We also got up before breakfast one day to try and get to the top of the rock you can see directly opposite.  You get there by going around the back of The Grace, down the steps and then up.  It took us about 45 minutes there and back but with pace and it was hot even at that time of the morning!  We couldn’t get to the top as it was too dangerous (coming down would have been difficult). ||Breakfast was served in our room between 8:30 and 9:30.  I am not a meat eater and so my husband had the meaty sandwiches and I had more cake or fruit. It was a lovely setting and nice you didn’t have to get dressed for breakfast if you didn’t want to.||Our pre-booked transfers were waiting at the Port to pick us up and perfectly timed for our return.  Olympia greeted us and said farewell and was very kind throughout our stay.  This hotel is small which we loved, it was very clean and well presented, had incredible sunsets, it was private, nicely located and great value.  If you are staying in the summer for more than a few days you may struggle with the lack of pool unless you can get to a beach.  You cannot get over that view though –...

This property has breathtaking views and is a stunning location.||||We were a group of professional ladies on a short break from work in Greece. This was our final stop after spending time in Mykonos and Naxos. ||We had other properties we could have stayed in but chose to treat ourselves and pay a little extra for the views and to relax in luxury for the final leg of our trip. ||||To say we were made feel unwelcome is to put it mildly! Unfortunately there was an issue every day of our stay here. This property seems to be more suitable to couples, and we immediately got the impression that we did not fit into the desired clientele. I considered writing no review rather than a negative as I have never had such a negative experience before, but thought it better to save someone else the experience and money!||||We booked through a booking website and Olympia claimed to have tried to make communication with us through this website. However we did not receive any of these emails and are baffled as to why she could not communicate directly as she had an email address for us. On arrival we were informed that one of our party had to stay in a neighbouring hotel though Olympia had previously told us all four could stay in the three bed apartment for a higher price, which we agreed to. Inspectors don't approve of an extra person in the room so we agreed to let this go and one person booked into a gorgeous hotel around the corner. Bad start but we would give this lady the benefit of the doubt.||||Naturally we were not going to leave one person on their own but for the sleeping arrangements, and Olympia said they could join us on the balcony for when we were relaxing or eating out there. We had to ask for an extra wine glass, mug, etc....simple things but each time we asked we were made to feel as if were an inconvenience. One evening we asked for ice for wine and were told they were too busy! (This property has four apartments, two of which were vacant at this time). We would have made our own if an ice-cube tray was provided. ||||The property is spacious, clean and fresh and there is limited equipment available in the kitchenette. You definitely wouldn't be cooking dinner there! We were lucky that our balcony was directly in front of the apartment but not all the apartments have this. ||||Simple things like offering restaurant recommendations seemed to be difficult. The owners did not seem to be able to offer too many. Towels seem to be a huge issue too. We had a rule book in the apartment which we duly read. The towels were not be used for the beach which was fair enough. Beach towels were provided on request. On departure we were presented with our towels and told they were dirty. I don't now too many hotels that don't use similar white towels and I presume they would be washed between guests use to eliminate the general grubbiness that comes with use!!! ||||Apparently the owners are not concerned with reviews (they told us on departure) but this property put such a dampner on an otherwise enjoyable trip that I had to inform fellow travellers to avoid it at all costs. ||I have stayed in many many hotels around the world for work and leisure and I place huge value on manners and service. There are many beautiful properties in this area of Santorini with similar views that I'm sure would make one's trip...

Every other review has mentioned the view, I’m sure. They are probably all spot on: it’s unbeatable. If you’re looking for that stereotypical Santorini experience—the view, the sunset, the quaint, white, barrel-vaulted villas—bingo; this place nails it. But it’s everything else that makes it the place to stay. |For starters, Olympia was so helpful from minute one. She booked us on a catamaran cruise (a must-do) and handled everything. We were maybe a little wary at first, as sometimes hotel owners send you to their friends and you aren’t really getting the best deal. But the company she recommended was half the cost of what we were finding online and the experience was unbelievable. (Check out my review of Spirikados Sailing Cruises.)|Olympia also recommended and booked an ATV rental for us (again, slightly cheaper than what we were finding online), and that was an equally enjoyable experience. |Breakfast daily is lovely and more food than you really need. There could be more coffee and a better device to keep it warm, but that’s a minor complaint. |There is a kitchenette, but you really can’t cook a meal as there are no pots or utensils, so it’s really for aesthetic value only. The fridge and nearby market is handy since you’ll need to keep a supply of drinking water on hand. |The bed—at least in our apartment—is in a loft that is low on the sides causing a head-bumping hazard the first time you go up there. And if you’re nervous about climbing a ship’s ladder to get to your bed, then choose another place. It’s slightly sketchy or uneasy feeling at first, but we found it a minor thing. When I’m in my 60s and unsure I might start thinking twice about it. |We love finding unique and wonderful places to stay on vacation, and this is among the best...