Iliada Odysseas Resort

Iliada is a very chic boutique style hotel. Very beautiful and quaint. My whole group love it there. There are 2 pools on property and the back pool had a bar. Across from the pool is where brakfast was served. Breakfast was absolutely terrible. The eggs were often cold. We would definitely go back but not have Breakfast there.

I usually think of beach resorts on our annual get away from the snow trips to the Caribbean not our European trips, however that is the best description I can give to our two night home away from home in Santorini the Iliida Odysseas Resort. The hotel is in Perivolos on the eastern side of Santorini, opposite Fira the capital and the Caldera. It is located about 180 metres or a two-minute walk form the beach and the assorted restaurants and bars along the shore. It is listed as a four-star property with only 25 rooms in several one and two story white washed buildings. There are two pools one with a large patio and pool bar, a jacuzzi (sadly empty during our stay) and a breakfast room. WIFI is free for guests and available throughout the property. There is also plenty of parking across the street. Check in was quick even though we were part of a bus tour. As per our usual method, my wife went ahead with both Passports to handle check in while I dealt with the luggage. Our room, number 14, was in the older section but clean and spacious if a bit dated. There was air conditioning, a wall mounted TV with local channels and a small fridge and coffee maker. The wardrobe had sufficient space and hangers for both of us and there was also a desk and space to store our clothes and suitcases. There was a standard digital safe for valuables. There was also a small front patio with table and chairs. The bathroom was a bit small, but no more so than other hotels we stayed in in Greece. It was also a bit dated, however we never had issues with either water pressure or lack of hot water during our two-night stay. The small reception building by the pool also had info on local tours and car rentals for those who needed them. As noted, there was a breakfast room in the rear the second pool and continental breakfast was included. It was the standard hotel fare, steam tray scrambled eggs and a selection of fruits, cold cuts, cereals and breads and pastries. There was also a selection of juices, coffee and tea. One had the choice of eating inside or at the large pool side patio. As we had some free time here, I tried the pool but found it too cold. The jacuzzi had it been working would have been refreshing but it was late in the season and shut down and empty. The pool bar did see a bit of business especially in the evenings as guests gathered to share stories and compare notes on the sights they’d seen. The location was perfect. As I said it was only a two-minute walk to the beach itself and the large selection of places to eat and drink there. There were two convenience stores each about a 2–3-minute walk away. The Open Market shop was by the beach and had a large selection of souvenirs and a coffee shop. Equal distance the other way walking inland brought one to Euromarket which had most items Including a fair selection of fresh produce. There were local bus stops across from both stores where one could catch a bus to Fira the capital and from there anywhere else on the island. Check in was at 2:00pm and check out at 11:00am and there was luggage storage at reception for those with later departures. Room costs were part of our package, but we were levied a 10 Euro tourist tax per room per night.

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.