Kamarela Studios

Privately owned studios, tucked away from the main road of shops, restaurants and tourists. Around the corner from public car park, where you can park your rented car/motorbike or quad bike. Two story building, each room comes with balcony and standard amenities (air con, kitchenette, bathroom, safe deposit box) and of course free WIFI. You will get only ONE key to your room that also has the electric key you need to place in a slot for electric to work in your room. Rooms are spacious, clean, modern and kitchens are fully equipped. Most rooms have double beds and one single bed. For Greece, I was pleasantly surprised that the air con was free, as was deposit box in your room. Cleaning lady came every day, changed towels, and made beds. Very good standard of cleaning I must say. There is no swimming pool here, but hey, sea is only few steps away from these studios. TIPS FOR STUDIOS Take extra washing line as the one on the balcony is metal and may mark your clothes. Also, don’t forget to take clothes pegs as you will only be supplied with very few. Although soap is provided, I suggest you bring your own as you may prefer softer and more moisturizing brand. Even though kitchens are equipped, they don’t provide you with cutting knives (so do that one!). If you are planning to cook (there is a small electric desktop cooker), bring from home: salt, pepper, coffee, sugar, washing up liquid, kitchen sponge, tea towel and serviettes. Although you can buy everything in Santorini, you will find prices for these items to be more expensive than at home + you won’t need 1kg of salt…. KAMARI Small town with promenade alongside the sea. Lined with souvenir shops and restaurants all calling you in to dine in their restaurants. As its close to the airport, you will see planes flying over. Nothing to worry about, it adds charm to your stay. Most restaurants offer free sun beds, providing you do order food or drink. Normally, sunbeds cost 7 EUR (umbrella and two loungers). Pretty town, it will take you half hour to walk from one end of promenade to the other. Its central for everything if you wish to explore the island. Town has about 3 larger food supermarkets that are cheaper than the small corner shops. Main Square is popular with locals and those who wish to visit local cinema. On the outskirts of town, you will find amphitheater (outdoor cinema) GETTING AROUND: Be very cautious where you rent your vehicle. We rented from Damaskinos (few steps from Koralli restaurant) and we were very pleased with them. Professional service, good prices and you are truly fully insured. Cost of the smallest car (Pixo, Alto) is 35 EUR per day, if you hire it for more than one day, price goes down to 30 EUR per day. Add the additional full cover for 10 EUR per day. Well worth it. Cost of the quad bike is 20 EUR per day. Standard custom – you need to return the car with the same amount of petrol as when hired. Drive safely around the island. There are narrow roads and people drive like maniacs on their scooters. Also, only park in designated areas as police dish out fines mainly in Fira and Oia for bad parking. If you wish to travel by local bus, there is a bus stop just opposite of Koralli restaurant that will take you to Fira for 2 EUR. All busses terminate here and if you want to go to other town, you will need to change buses in Fira. Buses run regularly and last bus back to Kamari is at around 11 PM. WHERE TO EAT Anywhere really. Food in Santorini is delicious and really depends on your budget. We cooked in our studios and we also went out to restaurants on the main Kamari promenade. Expect to pay 2.50 EUR per scoop of ice cream, beer cost about 4.50 EUR and a light lunch/dinner will cost you about 40 EUR for two (greek salad, tzatziki, suvlaki, retsina, beer). Don’t forget to visit Koralli restaurant as the food there is delicious and the lady owner is lovely. Also, small tip – if you fancy simple kebab, visit local kebab shop that is above the Medical station, just behind the what they call “garages” (small white buildings where locals use to live). You will get lovely food for two for just under 10 EUR. As we travelled by car, we found Lidl in Fira. Well worth to stock up on water and food here. You will pay less for water or beer here than in a normal shop. SHOPPING: Santorini is a volcanic island, so don’t forget to buy volcanic soap and pemza. These are the standard souvenirs from this island. Prices differ per shop, so do look around and compare prices. Shops tend to shut at 11PM. BEACHES: We visited few of them and the ones we like the most are: Monolithos – just at the end of the airport, clean waters with black small stones. Long beach with hardly any people on it. Easy to park you car alongside the beach. Red Beach – you can park in the main car park and walk to it. Bit of a trek, over red rocks and sand. Make sure you wear good shoes and take plenty of water and food with you. Expect about 15-20 min walk to the beach.. Clean water, some dried up grass on the beach, plenty of yachts and small boats taking tourists to see this beach. You can take a motor boat from Red beach to White or Black beach. Price is about 5 EUR each way. The Beach (B. Gialos) – hidden away, you do have to look out for the sign The Beach!, not far from the Light house. Very nice and quiet beach. Well worth the visit. As not many people know about it and its hard to find, you may be the only people on this beach. Vlichada – long stretch of a beach, plenty of space, not many people. At the end of the beach, you find nudist part. Kabia - my most favourite beach as the water here is crystal clear!! TRIPS: As most of you will travel via Travel agency, they do offer various facultative trips. I personally recommend taking a trip by boat, that will take you to Vulcano and two other attractions. The only way to get to vulcano is by a boat from Athinios port. You dock on island Nea Kameni and walk up to the volcano. Its about half hour walk on a dusty road to see lava stones, so do take plenty of water and make sure you wear sun protection as its very hot here. Next stop is the thermal waters just around the volcanic island, you will need to jump off the boat and swim about 50 meters to the bay where temperature of the water is about 42 degrees. Water is yellow, contains Sulphur. This swimming is not for people who have heart problems or are allergic to Sulphur. Word of warning – do not wear white swimwear, as the water will stain it!!! Next trip is a small island called Thirasia. There is nothing really here, apart from few small shops and few restaurants. What’s well worth the trek of 140 steps is the restaurant on the top. They serve delicious food and the view is spectacular. I recommend you to pay 5 EUR for donkey to take you up those 140 steps. Totally cool experience. Rest you can explore by car or using local buses. Oia is lovely for a day visit as in the evening, there are many tourists here taking photos of sunset and because of the crowds, you may not enjoy it as much. Fira is also perfect place to watch sunset and the town is lovely and compact. Visit Fira in the evening, stroll through the narrow streets, visit the Gold part of the town and soak up the Greek atmosphere. You can even take the cable cart for 6 EUR each way down to the port. All in all, I am sure you will love Santorini as much as I did. Enjoy the island, sea and the food. One last tip - bring water shoes as this island has no sandy beaches and stones do get hot in summer!!