SKAI TV open-vote servey began this summer under the title ‘I Love GR‘ and having the aim to elect the most beautiful place in Greece, according to the public, has set Santorini to the top of the parade.

During the first cycle of the project the top-100 places in Greece have been presented by mini-clips in four episodes
To see and comment the mini-clip for Santorini, just click here.

Now voting begins again for the second cycle of the project. The 100 places will be votes in tens. Importand persons will talk about their born or favorite place, trying to convince about their own loving place.

We all are ready to vote once more for our own favorite island…

Germanwings is extending its flights from Cologne, in order to cover interesting european destinations starting by three new connections the coming summer. Taking into account the high tourism traffic of European destinations, like Santorini, German Wings has also included other new destinations, like Madrid and Copenhagen.

Starting from May 2010 Germanwings will fly to Santorini once a week (every Saturday) by an Airbus A319.

Source: www.mysantorini.com

A ‘sweet drink’, inheritance of the Koutsoyannopoulos family, was bottled a few days ago by the winemaker George Koutsoyannopoulos. Just a few bottles of 375ml host visanto inclusively from the vintage of 1959, after being matured for 50 years in a barrel.

According to the winemaker “We bottles the vinsanto of 1959 to protect it. It’s level was being reduced and the oxigen in the barrel could creat abnormalities.” It is the first time that the opportunity to study the behaviour and character of such a mature vinsanto was presented to him. Of special interest was its colour (dark shades of brown) and its aroma, that rises cherry, honey, plum, baked caramel and other aromas. According to Mr. Koutsoyannopoulos “it is a once in a lifetime experience”.

If you haven’t been before in Santorini or you don’t know what is “must see” on the island then you will have some problems finding the best Santorini tours for you and your company. At mysantorini.com we provide all kind of tours for individuals, groups, thematic tours, bus and boat tours, private tours and more. Some of the best things to do or visit by boat is the Volcano, Hot Springs, Thirassia island, see the sunset on board, go across some Santorini beaches etc. If you prefer a bus – land tour then you could go in Perissa or Kamari beach, Prophet Elias monastery, Lighthouse in Akrotiri, wineries, Imerovigli, Oia and more… Here we will post some short descriptions and tips for those who will decide to join us at the above tours.

Here we will mention some very useful tips to have in mind for the Santorini tours you will choose to join.  Be prepared and have one of the most enjoyable tours of your life…

About the port as a meeting point for the boat tours: Santorini has 2 main ports, Athinios and the Old Port. Athinios is accessible by vehicles and, if you join a trip with transfer, this will probably be the port you will depart from. Old Port is the old traditional port of Santorini and is located just at the bottom of Fira hill. It is only accessible by steps or cable car. Going down on foot takes approx. 20 minutes; you can also ride a donkey (€5 per person) or take the cable car (€4 per person). The Fira cable car station is located 500 meters from the central square of Fira. Be Aware of possible long queues to the cable car station.  Also some private or semi-private cruises start from Vlihada Marina, which is located on the south part of Santorini. Accessible only by car or taxi, it takes 15 minutes to get there from Fira.

In mysantorini.com you will find some boat tours starting from Oia. There are  two ports, Ammoudi and Armeni. Armeni is only accessible by steps, so you will need to reach the village on foot or by taking a donkey ride. Ammoudi can be reached both by car and steps. Many trips end at those ports and less start from there.

Also remind to bring with you or wear comfortable shoes and, if your trip includes hiking on the volcano, sneakers will always be a good choice. A bottle of water and a hat will be your good friends, especially during the summer months. If you are to join a sunset tour, bring a jacket or sweater; sometimes during the sunset time, the weather gets chilly. Finally it’s good to have memory on your camera or batteries because the scene is majestic and you will definitely take many pictures..!

Let’s see some more tips regarding the Volcano: It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to reach the main crater. In many points of the path, you will observe fumes coming out of the surface. This is an active volcano and the last eruption took place in 1950 AD. It actually consists of 2 islands, the bigger called Nea Kameni and the smaller Palea Kameni. You will be hiking on Nea Kameni. Entrance in the volcano is not included in almost all the trips and costs €2 per person. There are 2 Hot Springs, one in Nea Kameni island and one in Palea Kameni island. If your boat stops in the Hot Springs of Palea Kameni, you will need to swim first in the cold, deep waters to reach the hot springs. Otherwise, most of the trips that stop in the Hot Springs of Nea Kameni, usually take you inside the actual hot springs, so you swim directly in the hot water.

Thirassia is a small island, once connected with Santorini. You can stay in Korfos, which is a picturesque fishermen port and enjoy your lunch in the tavernas or swim in the tiny beach. Alternatively, you can follow the steps to go on foot or by donkeys to the village Manolas; there you will explore the nice traditional settlement. You can even use your own vehicle (car or motorbike) to explore the island; to do this; you should join the Caldera round trip by ferry boat.

Joining a private land or boat tour means that the itinerary can be adjusted to your needs; however, you’d better make a preliminary research regarding the spots you wish to visit, so that you will be prepared. We offer a large variety of vehicles or private boats, catamarans, speed boats and more for your private excursions within or outside Santorini. You can ask us to suggest you the best private program according to your needs. We guarantee that you will definitely enjoy all of our tours!

Do you have experience on Santorini tours? Please share your feedback and your tips…

Guest post from www.mysantorini.com

In two of the Forbes Traveler top-lists is listed Santorini among other greek destinations. In particular:

- in the 15 Most Romantic Beaches of the Med, Santorini, Thassos and Hydra are listed among famous Mediterranean beaches.

- in the 25 Sexiest Beaches in the World, from Australia to Brazil and from Bali to Florida, Red Beach in Santorini, Paradise in Mykonos and Nissi in Cyprus compose a summer scene among Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, Lhaviyani Atoll in Maldives and South Beach in Florida.

While many outstanding archaeological finds from Santorini will be found at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Historical and Cultural Archaeological Museum of Santorini in Fira contains artifacts from excavations on the island …

It was built in 1960 by the Ministry of Public Works in order to replace the old museum (built in 1902), that had collapsed during the earthquake of 1956.

Noteworthy are a fine collection of geometric red and black vases from the fifth century BC Inscriptions are plentiful among the displays in the museum and a certain amount of Minoan ware is also on exhibit.

The museum also hosts impressive frescoes as well as sculptures of the Hellenistic period, Byzantine works of art and even some remains of prehistoric times.

Collections on Display :

- Sculpture from the Archaic to the Roman period

- Inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman period

- Vases & clay figurines, dating from the Geometric to the Hellenistic periods

Archaeological Museum

Fira Santorini 847 00 Greece

8.30 – 15.00 (Mon closed)

Tel : +30 22860 22217

As of May, a Greek Contemporary Art group exhibition has been launched, where works of art by renowned but also newer artists are on display. The exhibition will last till the end of July. Among others, you will find works of art by G. Lasithiotakis, Chr. Kechagioglou, M. Vlachakis, Chr. Bokorou, Th. Makris, S. Georgiadis, S. Petroulakis, K. Pappas, V. Soulis, K. Georgiou and M. Chalkiadakis.

At the same time, a guided tour in the old winery offers the visitor the opportunity to get acquainted with the pre-electrification methods for the production and ageing of the famous Santorini wines. Kanaves, grape mills and winepresses that seem unaffected by time, witness the history of Santorini’s wine, the renowned “untrodden” Nychteri and the superb “sun-cured” Vinsanto, the “wine of the Saints”. The old rakidio (rake distillery), which has remained at the same place for two ages now, bears witness to the production method of the tsikoudia, the ouzo and the famous brandy of Santorini. In the same premises, the pre-industrial processing center for the Santorini tomatoes was housed, which is the only one preserved until today. Moreover, Art Space displays a modern, high-tech winery where gravity-flow wine making methods are utilized (gravity driven must transfer instead of using pumps). Here, high-quality wines are produced. These are aged in caved wine cellars, 11 meters under the ground, within a thick layer of pumice stone. Visitors can taste but also buy some wine if they wish.

Nefeles Luxury Suites combines natural beauty, luxurious traditional living for those seeking a relaxing holiday. The well equipped suites features (DVD/CD players, cable TV, mini bars, air baths and many others) allow guests to relax in a unique property of luxury. Visitors may choose between seven suites, (Nike, Erinia, Iera, Thia, Afroessa, Dafni, Kameni) the five of those with two stores and one with three stores and amazing view to the volcano from every part of the building. Sightseeing by yacht, helicopter and limo with private guide is something usual to organize. Ultimate experience in an island difficult to find such luxury, well trained staff and services.

All accommodation features include:
air-condition, daily twice housekeeping services, internet access, direct dial telephone, cable TV with over 25 channels, CD/DVD player(small collection of movies), mini bar with a variety of goods, in-room safe boxes, bathrobes & slippers, hairdryer, external bamboo furniture and 16hrs room service.

Nefeles suites:

Petit Standard (NIKE)
A quite cozy open plan style bedroom and sitting area room with panoramic volcano view, marble lined bathroom with air bathtub, king size bed and private balcony with stunning view. 18sq.m. Max. cap. 2 persons.

Petit Suite (DAFNE)
A cozy maisonette suite consisting of one open plan style bedroom and living room with a triple size bed on the second stage, marble lined bathroom on the first stage, air bathtub and private balcony with panoramic volcano view. 25sq.m. Max. cap.2persons.

Junior Suite (ERINIA)
Maisonette suite consisting of a spacious living room with sofa bed and marble lined bathroom with air bathtub. A wonderful ΄΄cave’’ bedroom with queen size bed on the second stage and private veranda with panoramic volcano view. 38sq. m. Max. cap. 2-4 persons.

Superior Suite (IERA)
A two stages suite on the last floor of the building, consist of one bedroom on the second stage with king size bed, separate spacious living room on the first stage with sofa bed and a marble lined bathroom with air bathtub and panoramic volcano view from the private balcony. 50sq.m. Max. cap. 2-4 persons

Superior Honeymoon Suite (AFROESSA)
A three stages suite consists of one bedroom with king size bed and view to the volcano on the 3rd stage and a ‘’cave’’ marble lined bathroom. Separate living room on the middle stage with a sofa bed for two persons, private balcony with panoramic volcano view and a marble bathroom with big air bathtub on the first stage. 50sq. m. Max. cap. 2-4 persons.

Grand Family Suite (KAMENI)
A wonderful and spacious suite especially for families consists of two main bedrooms, one with three beds and the other with a king size bed, in two different stages. The spacious separate living room has a sofa bed and the marble lined bathroom with air bathtub is located on the first stage. Private veranda with volcano view. 67sq. m. Max. cap. 2-5 persons.

Grand Executive Suite (THEIA)
Our spectacular suite located on the last floor of the building, consists of two stages with a large bedroom and king size bed on the second stage includes also a second separate cozy bedroom for one or two extra persons. On the first stage there is a very spacious living room with sofa bed and marble lined bathroom with big air bathtub. Private balcony with panoramic volcano view. 70sq. m. Max. cap. 2-4 persons.

Suite Facilities :

* Individual Sat.TV channel control
* Private bathroom – Jacuzzi Bath
* Internet ADSL access
* Laptop – On request
* Slippers & Bathrobes
* A/C & Central Heating
* Direct Dial Phone
* Mini Bar
* DVD player
* Safety Deposit Box
* Hairdryer & bathroom scales
* Private Balcony – Volcano View
* A Pair of Binoculars

Guest Services:

* VIP check in/out
* Concierge
* Heated Jacuzzi with volcano view (Murano’s glass)
* Sun-beds
* Jacuzzi – roof top bar service ‘’The Old Mansion’’(June-October)
* Sightseeing and shopping guidance
* Doctor on call
* Babysitting available
* Hospital within 10 minutes on foot
* Internet access in all suites
* Manicure/Pedicure/Hair Stylish
* Private Dinning
* Heated swimming pool 30°(Murano’s glass)
* In room massage

An exclusive boutique suite hotel with magical view of the volcano and the blue waters of the Aegean Sea, built on Caldera cliff, located at Fanari area, the closest point to the volcano. The hotel was originally a mansion built in 1764 and owned by an aristocratic family, renovated at 2004 and became this luxury property.

Nefeles Luxury Suites combines natural beauty, luxurious traditional living for those seeking a relaxing holiday. Official hotel website: http://www.nefeles-suites.com/

So, what’s your style? A luxury caldera hotel with magnificent view? A beach hotelto one of the most beautiful Santorini beaches? Or a town economy hotel?

Don’t worry we are here to help you find the perfect base for your Santorini trip. Atwww.mysantorini.com/hotels you will find a big list of hotels for all type of accommodation and budget. Look into all the different options to find the one that will best suit you and your needs.  There are a number of hotels to choose from that range in price and location. Hotels in Santorini are rated from one to five stars, with the five star hotels being the luxury options. Most hotels include service such as swimming pool, spa services and complimentary breakfast.

Another good option for a family or couples, who is on holiday in Santorini, is the self catered villa. These will provide you with more space, more privacy and more freedom than staying at a hotel. They will also give you more of a feel of living in the island as the locals.

You should look into the area that you would like to be based in before you look for accommodation options to choose from. For example if you want to stay in a hotel with nice view to the caldera follow the options of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Oia or Akrotiri. For those who want to stay close to the town we suggest hotels in Fira or Firostefani. An extra option is to stay close to a beach in order to have instant access and then have a look at our hotels in Perissa – Perivolos, Kamari or Monolithos.

Thanks to our cooperation with the hotels we have best web prices for most hotels in Santorini and offers with every accommodation booking such as free transfer to the hotel and a free volcano tour.

We have prepared full descriptions for all hotels and all the information you will need to know for our selection of Santorini hotels.  Just pick your favorite (s) and let us help you organize all accommodation and travel plans to Santorini.

From: http://www.mysantorini.com/blog/santorini-hotels-tips-for-bookings/