My friend and I will be traveling to Santorini in Sept around the 12th for a couple of days. My friend does not want to book lodging ahead of time but rather she wants to just look for the people with signs that greet you as you walk off the ferry. She wants to experience staying with locals. Do the locals really greet you as you walk off the ferry with signs of rooms to rent in their homes? Is it wise to not book a room in advance? I am a little hesitant to go with out a room booked in advance.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3122 posts
It will be difficult for you to discern the random locals with available rooms from those there from hotels waiting to pick up already-booked guests getting off the ferry. Any one of these will be happy to take you with them if they have rooms. Be sure you know where on the island you want to stay and take an island map with you. http://www.motorinn.gr/santorini-map The ferry port is called 'Athinios'. There are also a couple of room finder businesses at the ferry port.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2622 posts
I really enjoy nice lodging that still fits within my budget. To make this work, I book my lodging in advance, using lots of research tools and looking at lots of photos. That way I waste no time trying to sort through lodging options when I am tired and ready to be done for the day. Your friend can still get a feel for staying with locals by simply choosing a small B and B or Inn.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3320 posts
Lee is right, it is confusing when you get off the ferry in Santorini -- crowds, cars, busses, people calling out ... not the serene, old-timey thing that your friend imagines. Actually that "rooms in their homes" thing is somewhat out of the past ... most people with "rooms to let" are not sharing the bath or the dinner table with you... most often now its separate from where they live. And Valerie is right, you can get the feeling of locals, and still have convenience for your short stay, by picking a Pension.
You do best in Santorini if you book ahead ... it's only 3 weeks or so away, after all! If you are lucky, there might be a room at my "secret gem," Villa Fotini. http://www.santorinivilla.com It's MADLY convenient .... in Firostephani, just on the north fringe of Fira Town, but only a 10-minute walk to the towns center, yet VERY quiet (no busses or tour groups). Just 12 rooms, plain & sparkly-clean, crisp linen sheets, balconies, and a rooftop with views … owned by a lovely couple and run by their wonderful college-educated English-fluent daughter Maria. Breakfast included, free transport to/from Ferry, free use of a pool at a neighboring hotel. They even have a water cooler in their tiny lobby, for you to fill your water bottles! What's not to love?? Contact directly, tell Maria Janet from Philly sent you. You'll thank me! If Fotini is full, I have some other small pensions to suggest, but this is my all-time favorite.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3320 posts
Forgot to add, about Villa FOtini, it's just about 30 yards from the rim-side path and the famous Caldera View. When looking for small pensions and inns, scrutinize the google map CAREFULLY on location. On the Caldera side of the island, the HIGHEST point is actually the rim-side path or promenade. from there, the terrain slopes down... 2 lanes or so downhill is the main n-s road, from there on it descends more sharply. If you choose something below the Main street divide, it's a steep uphill walk to the view... a fact that the maps don't convey.