Fira, Santorini hotel recommendations?

You have not mentioned your travel dates, how many people in your party or your maximum combined daily room budget. You can search for hotels in Fira that have pools by using the filter system at www.booking.com There are lots of hotels with pools and most of them are in quiet areas. Once you've identified some you like come back with their names and I'll try to determine if they're in a good area.

Renting a car is by far the best way to explore the island at your own pace. It's a lot cheaper than taxis and a lot more convenient than using the bus system since you're not waiting around for them to arrive. The island is an easy one to navigate.

Be sure to bring an International Driving Permit from your local AAA office, no test or membership required. Bring 2 passport photos with you to save a few dollars.

Planning way ahead, but September 2019, two people, my wife and myself. Thanks for the recommendation on renting a car. Parking in Fira could be an issue. We were in Fira on a cruise and therefore want to go back and explore the island.

Rental car or not? It depends on how long your stay is in Santorini.

If it's short, then you can use the bus. Driving from Fira to Oia can be a little tricky because of crazy traffic (cars, buses, and ATVs) and narrow roads.

Driving in Greece can be more stressful than driving in the US/UK/Ireland. Also, don't forget that there are many tourist drivers from all over the world. They have different levels of driving skills and etiquette. Frankly, I don't know how some of them got their driver's license...

Hello. Yes, you can have a quiet booking in town in Fira; things quiet down considerably at night after the cruise ships sail. Until then, it’s noisy, chaotic and can try your patience-go in with your traveler’s attitude (I’m game for anything!) and you’ll be fine.

Parking is DEFINITELY a problem on Santorini, and the roads are narrow, treacherous, and filled with crazy drivers-especially on ATVs. I wouldn’t want to drive there-not my idea of a good time. My sister and I had zero problems getting around the island on their buses that stop, and go! everywhere. Get the occasional taxi for a special experience :)

I would also recommend a boutique hotel, the Theoxenia Hotel, that has a walk-up entrance right on the main drag in Fira: http://www.theoxenia.net/. It has only 9 rooms, with either a caldera or street view, and was cozy, comfortable and friendly for our 5-day stay. The staff delivers your daily breakfast (OMG so yummy-fresh pastries, fruit, meats!) either to your room or the community terrace at the top of the building, which perches on the lip of the volcano. We had a street view room directly overlooking the tourist drag and had silence at night. Great experience and I hope you enjoy Santorini as much as we did.

I just came back from Santorini and stayed in Firostefani, about a 10 minute walk to Fira. It is much quieter yet close to everything. Firostefani has good restaurants and shops as well. Very close to the bus stop to go to other parts of the island.

Thank you, what was the name of your hotel in Firostafani?

I would not advise to pick a hotel upon the comment of one traveler... why not explore the full gamut. Just go on booking.com and specify "Firostephani" then put in some "Dummy dates'' example September 15-18 2018... you might also be able to "filter" for pool. you'll get a list. Go to the top one at random & click, and then click on its Google Map. You will see the whole Firostephani area... enlarge several times & more hotels appear. Each will be a blue "balloon" (full-up hotels will have red centers, ones with availability will have white). Each will have price beside it, you can go to top of screen and specify $ or € or£ etc. From map you'll see which ones are right on the cliff edge, and which ones are the closest walk to Fira town... The ones that are way to the right of the main N-S road are way downhill; avoid these. Click on pool hotels with good locations within your budget range, and check booking.com reviews... also check Trip Advisor for these. When you have a selection, come back to the forum and say, I'm looing at hotels A,B,C,D -- does anyone have exprience with these. NOTE: Since it's midJune and Santorini attracts the most tourists, by now many of the best Firostephani values may be full for THIS september - and hotels will not be showing Sept 2019 yet. You could put in "dummy dates" for late May 2019, and see more choices.

On a personal note, I have stayed 4x in Firostephani, in a nonpool budget hotel about 50 feet from the rimpath. I have found the location to be the "goldilocks" of Santorini ... Great views, not too isolated, not too busy, easy stroll to FIra, a few good rimside restaurants if you want to stay put of an evening, plus a convenient bus stop to get to Oia. Tour groups don't know about it, their busses zoom by to Oia. Staying here, you could rent a car for 1 day of a 3-day stay (plenty of parking by hotels) and use it to zoom around the other parts of island besides Oia-Fira ... for instance, go up to top of Eastern high bluff for Ancient Thera ruins.

Thanks for all the valuable information.

Firostefani is ok. I stayed at Imerovigli and loved it. It's more remote, but walkable to Fira. I couldn't stand the crowds in Fira and Oia.

I do want to advise you to check your hotel location carefully at the highest zoom level of Google Maps. Make sure that it's NOT along a major walking path.

Also, as in all cliff-side hotels, each room can be slightly/massively different. The photos shown on booking.com or TA or whatever website may NOT reflect what you really get. Ask the hotel for the precise room/room type before making a non-refundable payment.

Thank you everyone for this thread. Janet, your overall Greece recommendations are fantastic. It's my first time going, can't wait to see Delphi.

I currently looking at Gaby Apartments in Firostefani, for the nights of Sept 16 - 18. Does anyone have any experience with this place? The room is "ocean view", and the price was good. The reviews are great, though they do mention some tourist noise, and there is no pool. I don't think I will mind the tourist noise. I would like a pool, but the price jumps significantly.

Janet, have you minded not having a pool? I'm more interested in being a great location with a great view, within my budget, I think.

Gaby Apartments, 147 Reviews: https://tinyurl.com/yb2oekqz

David, a quick tip, since I see you are a new poster on this forum -- when you ask for good advice, you MUST please provide the key information ... most importantly, WHEN your trip is. It makes a big difference!

In APril-May-earlyJune or Sept-Oct, no problem in hotel w.o. pool access, especially if yours is a short stay... Santorini is mainly about the Famous Caldera View, and perhaps the Akrotiri dig, and some nightlife? Swims aren't the big draw. However, mid-June thru early Sept it can get pretty HOT, and you may long for a dunk. If you stay on the "view side" the East beaches are a long & crowded bus-ride away, and IMHO, & aren't that cooling, since the beach is black & gritty, and you'll heat up again on the busride back. I've mainly been in Santorini in late may, or September. Plus, The place I stayed used to have a pool arrangement with a nearby hotel, but cannot say now, since I don't know if that has changed.

Thanks for the response Janet. I will arrive in Santorini Sept 16th 2018, and leave on the morning of Sept 19th 2018. I'm actually happy to get that reservation at all I think, considering I am booking somewhat last minute. I have a refundable reservation in Firostefani, and yeah it's a short stay, so I'm not too concerned with the pool i think. Also, I will most likely do some type of day or sunset cruise where I can swim in the ocean. Thank you again!