LivingTravelThe 5 best budget hotels in Santorini

The 5 best budget hotels in Santorini

Santorini is possibly the most dramatic and picturesque island in Greece. Next to Mykonos, it is probably the most expensive to visit as well. It is possible to travel to Santorini on a modest budget, but you need to plan well.

To find cheaper accommodations, look to the west side of the island. Rooms overlooking the dramatic Santorini caldera are the most expensive. Those on the other side of the island, in Perivolos, Perissa or Kamari, are much cheaper and are closer to the beaches. Or consider renting a small apartment. There are many available and they are cheaper than hotels when shared with friends or multiple couples. Also, you can make your own kitchen. You might also consider staying in a hotel or guesthouse without a pool – the island is surrounded by great beaches.

The following budget Santorini hotels offer accommodation that ranges from clean and spartan to almost luxurious.

01
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Hotel Smaragdi

Direction
Perivolos, Perissa 847 03, Greece

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Telephone

+30 2286 082701

Web

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Hotel Smaragdi is a few hundred meters from Perivalos Beach, one of Santorini’s famous stretches of black sand. You’re far enough away from this lively strip for a quiet evening yet close enough to take advantage of the bars, restaurants, and taverns that line it whenever you want.

The family-owned hotel is a collection of attractive, ocher-colored, Cycladic-style buildings arranged around a swimming pool, a poolside bar and a snack cafe.

Rooms and suites are spread over two floors and include seven different categories, from budget style to various boutique and luxury suites. All include free wi-fi, heat and air conditioning, hairdryers, satellite TV, in-room telephones, refrigerators, and kettles. Most rooms have balconies or some outdoor space, though in the case of Budget Rooms, that patio space may lack privacy. There are also quite a few comfortable seating in the pool and bar areas.

Unusually, for a moderately priced, budget hotel, you can arrange room service breakfast (although that’s a bit pricey).

The hotel also offers free transfer to the airport or port on arrival, provided you give 21 days advance notice of your arrival time. And it’s close to local bus services for other parts of the island.

02
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Finikia Memories

Direction
Finikia 847 02, Greece

Get directions

Telephone

+30 2286 071373

Web

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In a traditional style, the whitewashed rooms and suites of this hotel seem to fall upon each other practically on the edge of the Santorini caldera. Finikia Memories, formerly Finikia’s Place, is by no means cheap, although it is still a relatively affordable option. Fortunately, breakfast is included in the price of the room.

Finikia is a small town on the outskirts of Oia, one of the most desirable settlements on the island. This family-owned hotel is within walking distance of Oia’s restaurants, bars and shops and has its own well-regarded restaurant.

The hotel has a variety of double rooms and suites, all with private balconies or private terraces and views of the sea or the pool. The fresh decor, whitewashed inside and out with hints of bright blue or pink, is more elegant than you’d expect for the price. And all rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, free wi-fi, showers, and toiletries. The suites have a separate living room with a modern sofa bed.

03
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Akrotiri Hotel

Direction
Akrotiri, Thira 847 00, Greece

Get directions

Telephone

+30 2286 081375

Web

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If it’s its very old history that draws you to Santorini, you can’t get much closer than Hotel Akrotiri. This traditional-style hotel is a few minutes’ walk from the Akrotiri excavations. After Knossos in Crete, these are said to be the best remains of a prehistoric civilization in Greece, including the Minoan wall paintings.

And what about the hotel? Well the prices are very low even in high season and that means you get what you pay for. The hotel has no actual pool or beach to speak of, just a small rocky area from which you can relax in a sea of rocky bottoms. The hotel claims to be close to Santorini’s famous Red Beach, but it’s a pretty rough walk up a rocky headland to get there.

There is a bus stop nearby with frequent buses to the most popular beaches and towns, but if you leave late, you will have to take a taxi.

Rooms are clean and reasonably equipped, though bathrooms and showers could use a facelift, as could traditional decor. There is central air conditioning and heating, all rooms have balconies with sea views, refrigerators and stoves. But with rooms available for around 50 euros, depending on the season, this could be an ideal budget hotel for older couples who want a quiet spot near the island’s famous Bronze Age site.

04
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Hotel Maria Preka

Direction
Kamari 847 00, Greece

Get directions

Telephone

+30 2286 031266

Web

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Visitors regularly rave about this sweet little hotel on a quiet street near the black sands of Kamari Beach. It is a pair of classic white buildings with blue trim, arranged around a small pool. Across the street, the more expensive Hotel Anassa is owned by the same family, and Maria Preka’s guests can generally use Anassa’s pool and small gym.

The Maria Preka has 23 units: 10 doubles, nine studios suitable for up to three adults, and four apartments for up to four people. All were renovated in 2013 and are large, light, and fresh. As with most accommodation on the Greek island, the furniture is simple but clean and adequate. Facilities include air conditioning, satellite TV, safe, fridge, and tiled bathrooms with modern showers. Wireless internet is available in the hotel, but may not be available in all rooms. All have private furnished balconies. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available around the pool.

An advantage for travelers on very tight budgets is that all rooms have some type of kitchen. The hotel’s website talks about fully equipped kitchens, which might be a bit of a stretch. In addition to refrigerators, the “kitchen” can be as basic as a sink, an electric stove, and a kettle. You may not be able to make a three-course meal, but there is certainly enough to boil an egg or make a light dinner for an economy day or two. The hotel also serves breakfast for 6 euros.

Kamari is one of the largest towns on Santorini, with restaurants, bars, and shops for many local distractions. And if you’re really energetic, or want to earn a big drunken lunch, this village is the gateway to the site of Ancient Thira, a steep uphill hike of about two miles in each direction on a paved road. If you like heights, there are brilliant views there along with extensive, if inexplicable, ruins.

05
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The Seaside Beach Hotel

Direction
Kamari 847 00, Greece

Get directions

Telephone

+30 2286 033403

Web

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If you like to be on the beach, this is the place for you. The 27-unit Seaside Beach Hotel and Restaurant has the beach path between it and Kamari’s famous black sand beach (black pebbles, actually). This stretch of beach is packed with hotels, taverns, bars and restaurants, cheek by cheek. So this is definitely the place to go if you like a lot of action and excitement.

Units range from budget double and double ocean view rooms to studios and small apartments. Most have private balconies and kitchenettes with refrigerators and a stove, enough to prepare breakfast or serve meals for children. All have private baths or showers, air conditioning, satellite TV, hairdryer, safe and views of the sea or pool. They are equipped with kettles and coffeemakers and several have traditional vaulted ceilings. There is also daily cleaning service.

The hotel itself has a pool and hot tub, serves a buffet breakfast designed to cater to global tastes, and covers its beach with loungers and palm umbrellas.

Kamari is a large town with good bus connections to other parts of Santorini and quieter neighborhoods. If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing time, the beach here may not be for you until the low season, but if you are attracted to lively places, you will love it.

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