It’s not often that an Air BnB, or any accommodation for that matter, looks better in real life than in photos, but such was the case with Casa Itaca.
My girlfriend and I recently returned from a six night stay and the comfort, unique decor and spacious apartment made the holiday extra special. The outside area is perfect for eating al fresco meals, reading on the sun loungers or chilling in the hot-tub/pool (and occasionally features a sweet village cat who pops by to say hello). Inside, the cooking/living area feels separate enough from the bedroom, which in turn feels as if it’s a good distance from the shower and toilet. It’s so spacious, you never feel cramped. It’s also got an awesome history as a former winery, which adds to the atmosphere. Daniele makes ornaments by hand that give it a cosy, stylish feel and shows the care and love he’s put into the place. We didn’t use the mezzanine area, but it looked clean, tidy and spacious.
The location, Finikia, is the best of both worlds: quiet and separate enough to feel like a real retreat, yet local enough to the buzz and atmosphere of Oia, which is a fifteen minute walk. At the end of a wonderful evening, we found ourselves racing “home” and we quickly got used to it as if we’d been there forever! People say that hotels and apartments are irrelevant to a holiday as “it’s just somewhere to sleep”, but Daniele’s place felt like an exotic version of home, which helped us appreciate Santorini more than we would’ve in a hotel.
We can’t recommend Daniele enough. Not only did he offer a transfer to and from the apartment, which made everything so much easier, but he also carried my girlfriend’s suitcase the entire way, gave us lots of advice in “the purple folder” that was much like a Santorini bible, and was super helpful with anything we needed. He is friendly, professional, kind and very knowledgeable.
All in all, staying at Casa Itaca was a treat that added so much to our holiday. Having a super-host like Daniele meant we didn’t have to worry about the little - or the big - things, meaning we could kick back and enjoy the beauty of Santorini (and it really is the most beautiful of places!)
We would return in a heartbeat - thank you, Daniele!
Side-note: we heartily recommend the mocha ice-cream and waffle bites from the ice-cream stand next to Flora!
Nick & Maria