Hotel Makarios — Hotel in Municipality of Thira

Where to start… my honest and comprehensive review of Hotel Makarios where I stayed for a week a few weeks ago.

The Good:

The rooms are clean, well-equipped, and tidily maintained. The housekeeping team really does an excellent job – everything felt fresh, and the beds were especially comfortable. The location is fairly quiet, though it is directly under the flight path with planes landing nearby. Iys around 10 minutes from the airport in a taxi that will set you back between €30 and €40. That said, it's only about 10–15 minutes on foot away from the lively Kamari beachfront, which is convenient.

The Not-So-Good:

Unfortunately, there were several areas that needed improvement. The pools were okay – the water appeared green and murky, and the surrounding tiles looked neglected and in need of a deep clean. The poolside toilets, although plentiful, are located underground behind a damaged door. The lighting is so poor that you can barely see anything inside, and there are no signs for gender designation or locks on the stalls, which is a concern.

Breakfast was underwhelming. It’s quite limited – occasionally, some bacon and beans, overcooked scrambled eggs, a few pastries, and some scattered continental items. The dining room itself is stiflingly hot, which may be intentional to avoid overcrowding, as none of the windows are opened. The staff do work incredibly hard under these conditions, but it doesn’t make for a pleasant experience. Breakfast is only available from 8–10 AM, which, if you're travelling from the UK, feels like 6–8 AM – not ideal when you're on holiday.

The maids start cleaning early. So if you plan on sleeping in, expect to be woken up. Our room was cleaned at around 9.30 Greek time (7.30 GMT) there is no 'do not disturb' marker for the doors - this would go along way.

The bathroom shower was decent in terms of water pressure, but with no door or curtain, it floods the floor every time, and there’s no mop provided – meaning you have to use towels to clean up, which isn’t ideal.

Other Notes:

The pool bar is run by a genuinely friendly guy who makes an effort to connect with guests, which is a highlight. However, the drink prices are quite steep (€6 for a beer, €10 for a cocktail). There is a minimart just five minutes away with much better value, and while you're allowed to bring your own drinks to the pool, it felt like this wasn’t particularly welcomed.

Reception staff were mostly friendly, but things shifted after a billing issue arose with 2 of the receptionists. Despite confirming with our booking agent that everything was paid, there was some back-and-forth with the hotel, and after that point, we felt somewhat dismissed. It’s understandable that tourism is a demanding industry, but kindness and professionalism go a long way, even when resolving disputes.

One of our rooms was missing a TV remote, making the TV unusable. Air conditioning worked well, but only with the key fob in place and the door shut – so you can't leave the AC running or charge devices unless you're physically in the room. It feels like a cost-saving measure, but it’s inconvenient nonetheless.

Would I stay again? No. Would I recommend it? Only if you need a basic place for a night or two. Otherwise, there are definitely better options nearby.that Star rating? It’s marketed as 3★, but in reality, I’d say it’s closer to 2.5★. Speaking with locals, they said the hotel has really downhill hill over the years with the place ignored by the owners to make the small improvements it needs. If it improves the small bits above this 'could' be a really...

I would NOT recommend this hotel to anyone. The staff are rude not interested in helping or making things easier for guests. It's far from anything apart from a tiny rip off supermarket and a good walk to anywhere unless you have trasport. No meals available and no snacks in the hotel unless you would like a greek salad thats it! Whats worse is the cleaning staff placed things in my partners bag which was left out on a bedside table! that alone is invading privacy... We arrived May and all that was for breakfast for the whole 7 days warm food wise was Scrambled egg and pretend bacon that was all made in a microwave. The bar for 2 drinks €30 euros. They were awful cocktails also.

Hotel Makarios does not state on all booking platforms that you also need to pay €5 per day for the room which is for tax. This should be stated on the booking platforms.

Rooms were clean apart from air conditioning leaking outside leaves water on balcony. The beds wow be ready for a bad back, They are so uncomfortable.

View was also awful with rubbish across the way.

Have travelled around the world and yes Santorini is a beautiful country and the scenes are amazing. Unfortunately this was a very overpriced holiday and they expect far too much for what you receive. 7 days is far to long and the vibe in the hotel was a 0. Doesn't help with staff just sat around watching TV in the lounge and talking their language which makes you feel very uneasy. If you do travel best you find a more remote accommodation with life as this was a depressing holiday. This review was not easy to write, has to be said as I see a lot of fake reviews and it's not the case. Unless you are retirement age and have money to burn I would not...

Min veninde og jeg drog atter til "vores" kærligheds-ø Santorini d. 2.aug-9.aug. Vi rejste med Suntours/Bravotours, som er et selskab nu. |Vi boede på Hotel Makarios, og valgte denne gang All inklusive.|Hotellet var prima, god mad/varieret. Hotelpersonalet var søde og hjælpsomme, havde humor, som bestemt baner vejen for en god ferie.|Vi valgte, at leje bil i to dage, gennem Suntours. Det var i top. Men HUSK, at tage godt med € med, for udlejningsfirmaet kan ikke tage imod visa-kort.|Vi valgte, at dele øen op i syd- og nordlige del. Vi kørte på X og tværs og så hver en lille by og steder. Øen er ikke så stor, 35 km mellem Kamari og Oia. Vi kom ikke meget over 60 km/t. Det går op og ned - mange hårnåle- sving. |At have all-incl. på hotellet er lidt overdådigt, når vi tog 2 dage ud. Det kostede os 2x frokost og 2x aftensmad, udover, hvad vi havde betalt for All incl. Det var bare ærgerligt! Så næste gang vi tager en tur bliver det kun med morgenmad.|Af højdepunkter: |1. Dag: Vi så Den gamle by "Akrotiri", som var blevet gravet ud i 1967, af en fransk arkæolog, som desværre omkom efter et styrt. Byen er blevet overdækket med tag og mure, vi går rundt på hængebroer derinde. Den ligger på vej ned mod "Den røde strand". Det hedder sådan pga. af de røde klipper og ikke som nogen tror, at strandsandet er rødt.|Vi nåede ud til lysfyret på den sydlige spids, kunne se op til den nordlige del af øen. Fira og Oia som kravler rundt på de stejle bjergsider, et forunderligt syn.|På tilbagevejen ligger der helt ud til vejen en hyggelig familie-terverna, "The God Heat", som overvejende er selvforsynende. Vi valgte, at indtage vores frokost der. Blev modtaget så hjerteligt af en søn med en bakke med tapaslign. små godbidder og små glas med rød- hvidvin og to forsk. Cherry- lign. drikke. Vi spiste og det var ikke dyrt. Ingen påtrængende salgs- trick, men vi rundede lige deres bod.|Vi gjorde mange stop på vores vej.|Sidst på eftermiddagen kom vi ned til byen Vlichada, som er kendt for deres tomat-museum. Øen er kendt for deres gode tomater og tomatpuré. Det smager helt vidunderligt.|Vi tog et forfriskende havbad, uden alle de store lava stk. som er i Kamari.|Vi valgte, at spise på tervanaen "to psaraki", på kanten af skrænten. Der sad vi og kiggede på en fantastisk solnedgang og efter den ved mørkets komme, alle katamaranerne og småbåde med lys (lyd) på, sejle ind i den lille havn. (det myldrede med mennesker i godt humør efter tøjringen af katamaranerne, efter en god sejltur).|Vi (jeg ville ha' kørt langs med kysten til Perissa, byen der ligger på den anden side af "mit bjerg". Kamari ligger omme på den anden side. Men man kan ikke køre op ad bjerget.|En lokal rådede os ikke til at køre den vej efter mørkets frembrud. Ingen lys eller nogen at spørge om vej.|Så måtte vi køre tilbage til byen Megalochori, Pyrgos og Exo Gonia for at komme tilbage til Kamari.|2. Dag: vi kørte til Pyrgos, op ad de snoede veje til Santorini's højeste punkt " Mnt. Ilias", hvor der øverst oppe ligger et kloster. "Profitis Ilias Monastery". Ov, for en udsigt. Igen kan vi se hele øen, (den virker meget lille"! |Turen går videre til Fira, finder en p-plads tæt på centrum. Går på "guldgaden". Det hele er så dyrt. Priserne er lagt, for de mennesker, som ankommer med de store krydstogtskibe, antageligt rige amerikanere. (og ikke os fattige danskere). Vi fik dog købt et par småting, men ikke over 10 €. Bortset fra vores frokost, der blev vi godt nok taget ved næsen. Vi var dybt- rystede og lænset, da vi gik derfra. PAS PÅ!!! Giv agt!!! Inden i vælger spisestedet. Da vi fortsatte rundtur de små gader, på vej ned til bilen. Kunne vi da heldigvis grine ad det. Vi betalte nok også for udsigten. Vi kunne kun tage billeder med hjem af det.|Vores dagstur endte i Oia. Vi spiste inde på vores favorit-terverna, (hvor vi spiste den bedste pizza i verden, kæmpestor, og selvfølgelig thatziki og to store fadøl), vi gav under halvdelen af den frokost vi indtog i Fira og så fik vi faktisk mere at spise. Tervanaen ligger inden de store p-pladser for de mange turist- og lokalbusser, mange ATV, scootere og biler, der valfarter derop for, at få 1. parket til den ultimative solnedgang.|Vi så Den mens vi spiste, jo vi kunne også være heldige.|Da solen var gået ned og pizzaen fortæret, ventede vi på, at alle busserne blev fyldt op og kørte. Vi ville nemlig op og gå i de små gader, uden at blive mast til puré 😄.|De sidste dage gik med afslapning og gåture, ned til "vores" lille lokale "super-marka". En hyggelig mand. Hans kone arbejdede på "vores" hotel og vi blev budbringere med hilsner og "big kissies"....