September 2024 The Cliff Nest room is tiny but wonderfully intimate; perched high up on the property with stunning views out onto the Aegean Sea and caldera and, looking back up, the iconic blue domes! Like something out of a dream! The manager, Alexia, was super helpful and professional – from the time we booked through to the end of our stay we were well looked after. She arranged for the private transfer from the airport, and we very much appreciated not only the help with our carry-on only luggage but also having someone to navigate the way to the property as there is a bit of a walk from the drop off location. Although small, the room was well-designed and well-appointed. The bed was comfy, the shower and products lovely, and the roof-top terrace with hot tub spectacular - with two caveats - the two chaise loungers could not sit level due to the curve of the rooftop on which they are sitting and left us feeling a uneasy getting on/off them – especially as there is no wall or safety railing on the rooftop, and the shade umbrella could not be moved to block the sun as it moves through the day as there is not enough space to do so. Favourite places to eat nearby were Karma and Pitagyros. Loved the 5-hr catamaran sailing experience – booked in advance through Alexia. Tip for watching the sunset – people are perched literally everywhere in Oia to watch the sunset – for front-row viewing and to situate yourself just outside of the crowds, make your way to a little spot just outside of Thea’s Market - pay the “minimum” charge (25 euros) to get a seat – the fee includes a drink so it’s not as pricey as it sounds. We each enjoyed a generous Campari spritz and would 100% do it again if we find ourselves back in Oia some day. Tips on the Oia to Fira caldera hike: • It takes about 30 minutes to bus from Oia to Fira and costs 2 euros per person • The hike is about 6.5 miles and takes about 3 to 3.5 hours to complete. • What to bring: A packable backpack with insulated bottles of cold water (~1 litre per person), electrolyte tablets, hat, sunscreen, Band-Aids or moleskin (just in case a blister starts). • What to wear: quick-dry athletic wear and proper footwear (we both had trail or running-type shoes, and they were perfect). Opportunity for improvement: we departed too early on our last day to have the incredible breakfast spread on site and while we were impressed to learn that a breakfast box would be provided to take with us, it left much to be desired (a dry sandwich – single piece of bologna, an apple, a hard-boiled egg, a plastic bottle of water). This could easily be improved to align even minimally with the on-site offerings, which were amazing (a pastry, a fruit bowl, Greek yogurt, juice). Although “included” in the price of the stay, at check-out the price allocated to breakfast each day of our stay (including the last) was nearly 30 euros, which could easily cover the cost of a few modest improvements... Highly recommend. Jeri & Tim Canada