Loucas on the Cliff — Hotel in Municipality of Thira

Loucas on the Cliff—more like Loucas on the Brink of Bedlam. I booked a spacious sanctuary with one double bed, two singles, and sweeping views of the Aegean, imagining a scene straight out of a Homeric epic. What did we get instead? A cramped, claustrophobic cave with two single beds positioned like feuding gods, banished to opposite corners of the underworld. This wasn’t a relaxing retreat; it was more like the kind of exile reserved for fallen heroes. Calling this place a hotel is like calling Tartarus a tourist attraction—sheer delusion.

Naturally, I ventured to the front desk, hoping for a hint of hospitality. What did I get? A shrug as empty as the eyes of the Cyclops after a run-in with Odysseus and a flat, “That room doesn’t exist.” No apology, no attempt to rectify the situation—just indifference that would make a shade in Hades look welcoming. This wasn’t just bad service; it was the kind of hospitality that would make even Cerberus lose his bark.

And the room we were left with? A debacle of mythic dimensions. The toilet didn’t flush, turning each visit into a trial worthy of Heracles himself. The shower was so small that even Dionysus’s wildest revellers would find it restrictive, and it was covered in grime and mould that looked as ancient as the Minotaur’s maze. Mould clung to the walls like a hydra, growing back no matter how hard you tried to ignore it. A relentless, unblinking light above the door refused to turn off, making our room feel more like a chamber in Tartarus than a place for repose. And the power points? About as reliable as the promises of a Trojan horse—occasionally functional, but mostly full of hidden disappointments.

Staying here felt like navigating the perils of the Labyrinth, with each corner hiding a new complication. It was as if we’d been cast away by an angry Poseidon to a deserted island where discomfort was king. Even Odysseus, with all his cunning, would have taken one look at this so-called sanctuary and set sail for anywhere else. The entire ordeal was like being trapped in a poorly written tragedy, complete with comic incompetence.

As I stood at the front desk, attempting to bring some semblance of sanity to this circus, three other guests arrived, complaining that their electricity kept cutting out. It was like standing in the court of King Minos, where every tale was one of misery and misfortune. Faulty wiring, feckless staff, and a complete lack of care—it’s a wonder Zeus hasn’t hurled a thunderbolt at this place out of sheer frustration.

I’ve stayed in hostels with more heart, humility, and hospitality. Loucas on the Cliff isn’t just a disappointment; it’s a farcical fiasco fit for a satire by Aristophanes. I’ve seen bus stops with more warmth and welcome.

The only blessing was knowing we were only condemned to this underworld for a single night before catching the next ferry to friendlier shores. I’ve never been so eager to flee. If you’re considering staying here, let me play the role of your prophetic oracle: don’t. Santorini is full of splendid, sincere sanctuaries that treat their guests like visiting demigods. Loucas on the Cliff is not one of them. Consider this your prophecy—find another place to stay, and steer clear of this Sisyphean nightmare. Trust me, you’ll thank the gods for guiding...

We had 3 nights at Loucas on the Cliff. Views were absolutely amazing and it was right in the heart of Fira. However it was not without its drawbacks, the main one being the number of very steep stairs down to our room.|LOCATION: The hotel has an amazing location on the side of the caldera, looking down over the sea and across to the volcanic islands. It’s a stunning view - we couldn’t stop looking at it. It’s also positioned in the very heart of Fira, so as soon as you step out the of the hotel, you are in the thick of it. |ROOM: I have mixed feelings here. Rooms have a distinctive cave-house appearance which I quite liked because it felt uniquely Santorini, although it might not be for everyone. The bed was comfortable and it was quiet at night time (although our room was several levels away from the bar and restaurant). The bathroom was large and we had no problems with water flow or the shower-head which some others have mentioned. We also had no problem with wifi signal over the three days. There was a kettle and tea and coffee making facilities. The best part was the reasonably private, balcony looking towards the sea. The bad part was that our room was several flights down very steep stairs. Anyone with mobility issues or dodgy knees simply couldn’t stay here. Even without these issues, there were so many stairs that it made my heart sink a little every time I had to climb up them and it was a trek getting up to the breakfast room in the mornings. In hindsight, I should've asked for a room that was higher up the cliffside when booking. |SERVICE: Staff were very friendly. Someone was always available in the reception area to help with advice and local knowledge. They organised transport for us and recommended and booked a sunset cruise, which was fabulous. Importantly, they were quick to reply to emails when we were still planning our trip.|POOL: The pool was disappointing. It was small and was mostly in the shade. It looks glamorous in the photos but it was kind of shabby. We were there in June when the water was cold and we may have enjoyed it more had we been there later in the season.|BREAKFAST: Breakfast was included and was served in a large dining area that turned into a bar at night. Again, the best part was the stunning view from any part of the room but the breakfast itself was pretty ordinary. There was plenty of food but it was not very appealing and included canned sausages and fruit.|GETTING THERE: We pre-booked transport through the hotel (€30). It was waiting for us when we arrived at the port. This was by far the best way to get there. Because the hotel is right on the caldera slopes, the taxi couldn’t take us direct to our door. Instead, it dropped us off at the Orthodox Metropolitan Church, near the main bus stop where a porter met us with a trolley to take our bags the rest of the way. |In hindsight, we could have caught the bus from the port and the porter could have met us there instead. It would have been cheaper but the taxi was much,...

My experience at Loucas on the Cliff was DISAPPOINTING. Let me start by saying the reception staff were SO RUDE. There was one older woman working at the hotel. My family was standing to the side when she walked out and asked them "What are you doing here?". Again at night when my mom and I were taking photos in public access areas of the hotel, she was glaring at us and following us around. She gave the most NASTIEST and DISGUSTING look at us as we were just trying to take photos of the view and even when we were walking up the stairs to exit the hotel. When we returned we asked her for an extra roll of toilet paper and a water bottle to which she responded that room service would give it to us the next day. We told her we were leaving for Oia early in the morning and she still refused. I travel frequently and this is the worst customer service I have ever had; she was so rude and insulting. She was working at the front desk at night around 9pm on Thursday, July 11th in case the owner/manager is reading this and wants to educate her on how to treat paying customers. When I walked into my room I saw that the picture was different than the room I booked so I went to the front desk lady and she told me that "I never booked a specific room". When I showed her the pictures of the room I booked with the name of the specific room I booked using the Loucas website she said, "That's on our website?". The view from our balcony was nice, but the condition of the room was HORRIBLE (as seen in the pictures I added). The sides of the shower had mold, the bathroom smelled so disgusting and felt humid, and there was a large cockroach that climbed out of the drain under the closet. The power went out several times during our stay along with the wifi and these outages would last for at least 30 minutes at a time. The breakfast was average, they didn't serve enough coffee for 3 people, the juice was room temp and tasted spoiled, and there weren't enough bowls to eat milk and cereal. Only one waiter was there to serve so many guests. There is no phone in the room to call room service. The shower/sink water is boiling hot so be careful. Last thing to note is that there are SO MANY STAIRS to climb so make sure that everyone in your party is comfortable in climbing SEVERAL STAIRS up and down. The pictures I added show the drain that the cockroach came out of, the mold around the sink and shower, and the poorly maintained condition of the closets in...