I am still floating on a cloud weeks after my visit to Andrew's amazing home. It has quite the story behind it, so make sure to look into that too (if you're a design/architecture nerd like me).
First of all, if you've got a zillion other tabs open as you compare and contrast which AirBnb to select, save yourself the time and close them all except Andrew's place. If you're lucky enough to find it available like I was, book it. You will not regret it.
Now that that's handled, I want to say I have never felt so cared for during an AirBnb stay. Five stars isn't enough. If I could have doubled the stars, I would have. Andrew makes you feel so at home right away. Not only was I picked up at the airport, so there was no stressing or guessing, but Andrew also met me at the village square (which you will immediately fall in love with) and carried my bags up the stairs. I think I actually lost weight during my trip with all the exercise I got. At the very least, it balanced out all the delicious food I ate.
I had booked a catamaran tour through Andrew (highly recommend—just save yourself the guesswork), but realized I didn't pack my swimsuit! Who books a catamaran tour w/o bringing a swimsuit? This girl, apparently. I told Andrew my situation and he ran around checking all the shops in the square while I unpacked. Spoiler alert—pack your swimsuit if you are going to an ISLAND—there were no shops that sold swimwear in the village. I had also checked the airport, but those teeny bikinis were not goin' on this body by Cheez-It. (Seriously, just pack an old trusty swimsuit.) Anyway, Andrew messaged me and said his friend had a swimsuit she'd only worn twice and didn't want anymore. I thought, "that is so nice, but there's no way it's going to be fit." Well, not only did his friend have stylish taste in swimwear, wouldn't you know it fit as if it were made just for me? The moon and stars aligned! All this took place within around 15 minutes. I was carefree the rest of the evening.
I ate at Johnnie's and enjoyed the johnnie pizza, but I truly wish I had more days to try every restaurant. Andrew will be more than happy to recommend his favorites—I truly think you can't go wrong. Johnnie also serves up freddo espressos. Which is a must-try style of coffee I hadn't had until visiting Greece. I had one of those in the morning before heading off on my catamaran adventure. (Three swimming spots, a day on the boat, lunch and drinks [beer/wine/soda] served all day.) Make sure to get in the water with one of the masks provided. You will see all the "Dories" (Blue Tang). Someone in our group also saw a massive sea turtle! Wow!
I got back from my adventure in the late afternoon, showered, changed and took Andrew's advice to take the bus to Fira. I had every intention of doing the hike from Fira to Oia (ee-ah) and got about 20 minutes in before realizing I'd be too tired for the full 2-3 hour hike. The shopping and restaurants of Fira were calling to me. The bus depo is right at the base of the hill. So, you literally just walk up the hill to some amazing shopping. I lucked out as, by the time I got back, it was almost sunset. I happened to choose a restaurant called Marinera. I was traveling solo and they had a table inside by the window just for me. I'm sure other restaurants are lovely too, but I really enjoyed the greek cuisine here. It was presented well and tasted delicious. If you are looking for a romantic view of the sunset, call them and make a reservation! Call any restaurant ahead of time and make a reservation. Check what time sunset will occur. This way, you have a front-row seat and aren't bothered by the crowds of people gathering to watch the sunset. The couples I saw that were smart enough to do this definitely looked like they were having a romantic moment. Cheers to them! As a solo gal, I will definitely still book a table in advance next time I visit. It's a lovely view.
Make sure to ask the bus station attendant which bus to get on for Santorini for your return trip home. The bus drivers don't know. The buses don't go all the way up the mountain after a certain point in the evening, so if you stay in Fira for the sunset, just know you'll have a fun little hike back up to the village. It will drop you off at the base by Santos Wines. I was still floating from my adventurous day, so I didn't mind the exercise. The hot tub at Andrew's place was the perfect way to end my evening after all that walking. It is pure bliss. Who knew cave dwelling could be so posh?!
My flight left early the next day after some other cancelations (I was traveling for work and needed to make sure I'd be back on time). Andrew arranged a cab for me and was there bright and early to assist me with check out. I think you need at least a week in Santorini, but even a day can be magical. I went back and forth, worried about a solo trip and wondered if I should go or not. Just go! You are like family when visiting Santorini.
Thank you so much for your hospitality, Andrew! You really don't get that kind of treatment anywhere. For people booking this AirBnb, I hope you experience the same magic I did. I will definitely be back some day. Cheers and safe travels to all!