Art Maisons Oia Castle Reviews

Imagine a sitting in a private pool with your special person, with the pool partially hanging on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea and partially wrapped inside a cave hollowed out of the volcanic cliff. Sitting directly above you but out of your view is Oia Castle, the very best place in the entire island to watch the sunset. You can either watch the sunset from your pool or climb up a few stairs to sit on your private sunbeds while enjoying a bottle of wine and a plate of greek appetizers. After the sun sets, you can either make your way back to your modern, comfortable room or step down the path to one of many restaurants. From your private balcony, you can watch (or join) the tourists and donkeys climbing the stairs from the port directly below you. Hotel staff is never far away but never too close - a perfect balance. This is Art Maisons Oia Castle. If you cannot fall in love here, you are perhaps a lost cause. There are few practicalities: (1) it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. It is a small property where everyone gets individual attention, and it is very unique real estate; if you want a bargain - this is not it. (2) You need to take them up on their offer to meet you at the bus station and deliver your luggage. Like all hotels in that part of the village, you cannot drive directly to the hotel. You have to walk. We were met by a very nice guy who is tremendously strong - hefting one full size suitcase over his shoulder and carrying the other by a handle up and down many flights of crowded stairs - definitely a life saver; (3) There is no restaurant on the property. You order breakfast to arrive at a designated time the night prior, and they bring it directly to your suite where you can sit outside and watch the village come alive; (4) getting to your hotel right at sunset when four or five cruise ships are in town can be challenging since the entrance is about 10 meters from Oia Castle which is a VERY popular destination for Instagram photos. Finally, if you are old enough to have lived through the 1980's, you may remember a movie called Summer Lovers with Darryl Hannah (Cathy) and Peter Gallagher (Michael). This hotel (prior to a major renovation) was actually the location of Lena's villa and looks directly across at the villa of Michael and Cathy. Lena's room is now Room 205. We stayed in Room 206 which shares a common entrance.