Dimitris was a fantastic host! Right from the beginning he went above and beyond ensuring our stay was comfortable and interesting. He gave us restaurant and beach recommendations, and even brought us gas when our quad rental ran out (pro tip—if you rent a quad, don’t trust the gas gages/agents and fill up ASAP). When we checked out, he provided a safe location to store our luggage and clean up after one last beach day before our ferry.
The Castle was great and very spacious; modern while retaining its old-world feel. The bed and AC made for comfortable sleeping. The view from the balcony was incredible—overlooking the city, mountains, and ocean—and the jacuzzi was a nice way to wind down the days (not a hot tub per se, but can made be warm w/ sun or hot shower water). There’s a public parking area (good for quads, probably difficult for full sized car) and a small, up-hill walk through the narrow sidewalks of the town to get to the Castle itself (not ideal if a member of your party has mobility issues).
Emporio provided an excellent central location from which to explore the whole island. Emporio is far enough away from the incredibly (*painfully*) touristy areas of Oia and Fira to feel authentic, but close enough for a trip in for dinner or sightseeing. The Castle is close to the Black, Red, and White Beaches, and plenty of shops, grocery stores, and restaurants. I’ve stayed in Emporio, Oia, Fira, and Perissa and would chose Emporio 80/100 times in the future. (Parissa 20/100 IF I wanted to be right on the beach).
Highlights of our trip included exploring the cliffs around the lighthouse, cliff jumping at Amoudi Bay, and taking a boat tour to the active volcano and hot springs. Highly recommend skipping the sunset in Oia and finding any of the island’s hundreds of equally nice but significantly less crowded vantage points.
This was my second trip to Santorini and I’d very much recommend the castle for both its location and Dimitris’ helpfulness. He was so quick to respond, always helpful, and his attention to detail was the cherry on top of a great trip.