ALIKI STATHOPOULOS
Mother of three children & Co-Founder of PUNK ANGEL HAIR – Haircare for Kids
FEATURED DESTINATION
SANTORINI, GREEK ISLANDS
Aliki says…
“The Greek islands are such a special destination for my family and me. We can get the best of everything in Greece – an injection of culture, perfect weather, crystal clear water, beautiful food and a great atmosphere. Sometimes the hardest part is deciding which islands to visit.”
Last year we made the decision to return to Santorini, one of my all-time favourite places in the world. It’s no surprise that Lonely Planet call Santorini “the supermodel of the Greek Islands”.
Whitewashed, cubiform architecture clings to bricks overlooking a magnificent caldera. Equally stunning by day and by night. Perfectly imperfect cobblestoned streets that lead you from a chic shopping strip to a cliff-top oasis – a jolting reminder of the island’s unique landscape.
In Santorini you can have it all – shopping, nightlife, great produce, history, sailing, beaches and luxury accommodation. For us, we took it really easy. Resort-style accommodation, which gave us the freedom to chill, swim and connect with one-another during the bulk of the day. We would then arrange a drive into town early in the morning or later in the evening for a meal and a leisurely stroll. It was the perfect combo of rancho relaxo and chic escape!
We stayed at a gorgeous new hotel called Aqua Blue in Perissa, a seaside village on the south east side of the island. Having opened just a couple of months prior to our arrival, Aqua Blue was crisp and inviting, though something tells me it will be maintained to perfection.
Aqua Blue is located right on Perissa beach. It has three pools (including a toddler pool), a great bar serving terrific cocktails and good food, and interconnecting family rooms which are well equipped and luxurious. This was one of our favourite hotels, and a week there didn’t seem long enough. The hotel concierge was very helpful, and arranged all of our dinner reservations, our sightseeing tours, our driver and babysitting services.
Hotel images via http://www.aquablue.gr/
Aliki’s Santorini tips
- We flew to Santorini from Athens. It is a 45 minute flight, compared to an 8 hour ferry ride!
- Instead of hiring a car in Santorini, we called on a fantastic SUV service. For two families travelling together, this was a really easy and economical way to travel. It also means you don’t have the worry of following a GPS, parking and navigating through traffic (which can get pretty bad in peak season). The driver also arranged a car seat, which was a bonus for us.
- Family holidays are great, but adults-only time is really special too. Organise some reputable babysitters through your hotel and enjoy one of the most romantic places on earth with someone you love!
- You must visit Santo Winery. For us this is the best view of the caldera and the sunset is amazing. Aside from the breathtaking view, Santo is known for its fantastic wine-tasting menu and great live music. We enjoyed the experience with our children and friends – a Santorini highlight for sure!
We can’t wait to get back to Santorini. Maybe when our kids are older we will stay in a hotel on the face of the caldera. And we’ll also look into some sailing adventures.
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Images provided by Aliki Stathopoulos.
