When we got to Santorini, it was the usual busy scene with people shouting about buses, cabs, rental cars, hotels, and tours. We mostly ignored them and hopped on the bus to the capital, sharing a crammed taxi to Perissa, where our hotel was. We had booked an apartment at Sandy Villas online and were impressed by the room quality in Greece once again.
The first room they showed us was pretty nice, better than most places we’ve stayed, but we knew to ask for a different one. Hotels often show the less impressive rooms first, saving the best for choosier guests. The manager, Sandy, was incredibly friendly and already making us feel like family. She happily gave us what we thought was the best room in the complex—a two-level condo with a stunning view of the big pool and the towering rocky cliffs. For just $23 a night, it was the best value we’ve ever seen. With a kitchen, balcony, dining area, and queen-sized bed, we felt like we were in paradise. It was great that we planned to stay for eight nights.
Santorini is a small, rocky island known for its beautiful sunsets, wineries, and white buildings with blue domes. We rented a scooter for our stay and explored everything the island had to offer. We went to the quaint town of Oia, where charming white and blue stone buildings cascade down the cliffs toward the sea. We watched the sunset many times; they were breathtaking, even if not the absolute best we’ve seen on our travels.
Each night, we would ride our scooter to a secluded spot on a cliff and watch the sky turn purple, orange, and yellow as the sun set into the ocean. We’d set up a little seating area with a bottle of wine and some snacks, chatting until it got chilly once the sun was gone.
Other days were spent wine tasting and visiting Red Beach, which is set below striking red rock cliffs and covered in red sand. We also went to a black sand beach near our hotel and spent countless hours relaxing by the pool. This was our break from backpacking, and we felt completely at ease the whole time.
One night, Sandy hosted a large barbecue featuring chicken and pork skewers, Greek salad, vine leaf wraps stuffed with rice and spices, tzatziki, bread, wine, and many other Greek treats that I can’t even name. The food was delicious, and she even gave us a half-price deal. While you shouldn’t expect discounts on all your food, Sandy is very accommodating to budget travelers. Her family is kind, generous, and fair, and we got along really well with them.
After more than a few nights in one place, we start to develop a comfortable routine, and it begins to feel like home regardless of how far from home we actually are. Making our own meals, enjoying wine whenever we wanted, lazing by the pool, and watching the sun set into the Mediterranean each night was an easy routine to fall into.
Saying goodbye to Santorini was tough. It felt like having to go back to work after a vacation. The night before leaving, the thought of getting up early to catch buses, boats, or planes loomed over us. But once our backpacks were on and we were on the road again, the sad feeling disappeared, replaced by the excitement of a new adventure.
And so it goes with travel: each destination brings a new adventure. While we may leave, the memories stay with us, waiting for the day we might return to relive the magic.
