Katikies, Santorini Island, Greece
The Experience > Carved into the red-brown cliffs of Santorini’s volcanic caldera basin, Katikies is a whitewashed multilevel labyrinth of terraces and alcoves set 300 feet above the Aegean. The ooh and ah factor kicks in the moment you step inside and continues on through the two infinity pools that seem to glide seamlessly to the half-immersed crater in the sea. While this is Santorini’s oldest hotel, it’s still only 20 years old, and an extensive revamp in 2000 has transformed a stay here into even more of a romantic experience.
The Rooms > Even standard rooms here are outfitted with the single most essential factor for a romantic stay: a private terrace. Why even bother to stay inside when this view awaits? Rooms and balconies in standard rooms aren’t large, and even superior rooms only have a shower, no tub. Fortunately, every room is a mix of sober uncluttered elegance: The black-and-white-striped bedspreads, wood furnishings and bare white walls were wisely designed so as not to detract from the mesmerizing seaview vistas. Upgrade to a suite for more space and a tub. But the real highlight is the sprawling Katikies Suite (room 25), with a loft bed, airy living room with a fireplace and a huge panoramic terrace with an outdoor Jacuzzi.
The Service > Forget laid-back island rhythms here, the polished, attentive young staff seem to be positioned in each nook and cranny, graciously offering you a iPod for pool lounging, then emerging with platters of Greek meze [finger food] and iced drinks, served at your oversize sun bed. Honeymooner whims are anticipated with the 24-hour room service, and the concierge also arranges private chauffeured archeological tours or catamaran sailing to deserted inlets with the in-house skipper.
The Highlights > Think champagne American breakfasts, wine-tasting at sunset with the hotel’s sommelier, and two mini-gourmet restaurants, which are so intimate they need to be booked in advance. The White Cave, a three-table cozy dining area with a Greek fixed menu, serves specialities like lamb shank with yogurt sauce and mint, and the candlelit, four-table Katikies offers such Mediterranean-style fare as foie gras with black grape sauce and fresh lobster with Greek pasta served on the open-air veranda. There may not be a gym, but the honey-drenched baklavas will melt away with the daily climb up and down the steep stairs from your room to the cliffside pool. Santorini’s black lava sand beaches are a 30-minute drive away, just be back in time to take in the sun’s final rays glancing off the stark white of your private terrace.
The Details > 27 rooms, including 21 suites.
The Address > Katikies, Santorini, Greece. Tel +30 22860 71401. http://www.katikies.com
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