Iliada Odysseas Resort

You never really know how an hotel will turn out, so thanks to Tripadvisor reviews we eventually settled on the Iliada Odysseus in Perivolos and were glad that we did. First impressions were lovely, with a smart entrance and plenty of parking over the road from the entrance made travelling through the week in the rental car really easy. A warm and friendly welcome and were shown our double bedroomed apartment, which was very comfortable and we settled in. (It later materialized that the wifi didn't reach the room so the TV and our devices didn't work, so we were kindly changed to other rooms without hesitation and with a great deal of pleasant charm). We noticed quite a range of ages, from younger set in the first part of the week, which shouldered school and university holidays, to a maturer group later in the week. Neither group was noisy as you'd expect as I think people choose Santorini for a quieter time than some of the other islands. There was a good breakfast buffet spread: hot eggs sausages and baked beans, cold meats and cheeses, breads cereals, yoghurt, breads pastries and fruit, and every day a different Greek dessert. Hot and cold drinks. The rooms were cleaned very day and fresh towels provided. Cleaning staff were as congenial as all the staff we encountered at this hotel. The location served us perfectly, the whole island is only about 20 miles long, so you can drive from one end to the other in 30 minutes. It is close to Perrissa from where you can get a cheap ferry to Kamari, which is one day out. If you want to see the ruins at Akrotiri that is also nearby. Finally also within close proximity is Vlichada port, where you can rent a boat (I recommend Santorini Blue Waves - see my other review) or take a cruise on the large catamarans that are also based there. We didn't do this, but it looked like a lot of fun. The beach at Perivolos is what I'd call micropebbles, so easier to rinse off than sand and more comfortable than shingle. As it is dark volcanic material it does get hot, so take flip-flops to prevent burning. We watched lots of people take their shoes off at the end of the boardwalk and after 2 or 3 steps suddenly realize their feet were burning and break into a sprint or retreat to the boardwalk. I was one of them! If you want a sunbed and grass umbrella, we found the zone in front of the minimarket and bus stop to be the easiest and cheapest as it is a day rate and you can get whatever food and drink you need at the minimarket. If you plan on eating at one of the beachfront restaurants, they provide the sunbed and umbrella in front of the restaurant for free. There is also water sport equipment hiring service on the beach, from SUP boards to parasailing. Oia, Fira and Pyrgos are all worth a visit, in order of tourist business and facilities. If you visit Oia and Fira in the afternoon, you will find there are few cruise ships as they typically dock in the morning so the towns are busier. We had a lovely stay and if the owners or staff are reading this, thank you for your part in a memorable family holiday.