Kapari Natural Resort

We were lodged in a setup where three rooms shared a terrace, complete with a petite jacuzzi and an adjacent utility office for the workers. Privacy was a luxury in short supply and although the view of the sunset from the terrace was genuinely breathtaking, it was marred by a disco beat courtesy of a nearby restaurant (Sade serenade, anyone?) and the unattractive eyesore that was the construction site right below. My friend and I took two out of the three rooms, and we were fortunate that the third room was unoccupied on our second night (mid- October) so we had the terrace to ourselves . However, new arrivals checked into the third room on the third night, just as the sun was sinking. "Hey, how ya doing, let us get our stuff out of the way -sorry bout the swimming trunks hanging off the communal picnic table,...Charlotte NC? No kidding. Huh." The room itself was big but poorly designed IMHO both practically and aesthetically. Listen, I like minimalism as much as the next person but trust me, a couple of throw rugs on the painted shabby chic floor would make a world of difference. Kilim? Sisal? The windows are small and placed on the same wall allowing little light to penetrate the room and the only view they offer is of the workers office across the way. There is a constant intermittent low-grade electrical hum inside the room that comes and goes day and night. It's source is a mystery but it's annoying, although not nearly as annoying as hearing my buddy next door yowling in pain as he smacks his head once again negotiating his way around the cave. Three times in three days and we don't even drink. My room has a small low-to-the-ground mattress with two pillows on top of it. This is the sofa. You rest your head against the stucco wall while watching TV after vacating the terrace so the new neighbors can have their turn and happily the dead remote is finally working with fresh batteries installed at last (3rd times the charm!!"). There is a nice shower. Coffee is free but the bottle of water is 3.50 a pop, and since you need water to make coffee etc etc --- anyway, drink up at the complimentary breakfast which is excellent I am happy to say. The servers at the restaurant were to a person, wonderful. But my Waterloo was the jacuzzi, my primary reason for booking this place, only to find it disappointingly cold upon arrival. “Weren’t you expecting us? We sent a bunch of money weeks ago, no?” When it was eventually heated, it reached the underwhelming temperature of lukewarm. I ventured to the office, where the man at the desk kindly and thoroughly explained the many reasons the temperature, which is carefully monitored from the office, could only be set at a maximum to 36°C (around 96.8°F). I argued that the human body is warmer than that, so shouldn’t a “hot” tub live up to its name? Alas, no dice.I asked for a refund for the next two days so that I could leave and go to another hotel. Denied. Instead, I was offered a free upgrade -certainly generous - with a private jacuzzi in the bathroom, but once again, the max temp would be capped at 36°C,, so I didn't see how that would help. I'd rather be lukewarm on the deck. Throughout the conversation, Mr. X remained polite and professional, though steadfast in his stance. I couldn’t help but feel like just another inconvenience to be “handled.” I understand it’s the tail end of a long season for the overworked staff on a tourist-packed island. Santorini is undeniably beautiful, and I’m grateful for the experience, but from now on, I’ll opt for one of the less touristy islands. If I do return to Santorini, it will definitely be in a different hotel.

The views and staff of the hotel are amazing. A 5 star review for that. We wouldn't have been able to make it to the taxi if it weren't for George. Thank you George!! Having a hotel room built into the side of a thousand foot cliff is a neat idea. However, the practicality of it is not that great. One thing that is a drawback is that all of the furnishings are made of concrete and set very low to the ground. There should be a least 1 chair set at a normal height for people with mobility issues. Also, the number of stairs is something we did not take into consideration. There are a lot of stairs. We walk a lot and can go for a while, but we do have some trouble with stairs after a couple of days of up and down and down and up...and on and on. The pool was right outside our room and made for some beautiful views. Breakfast was typical of all the food on the island. Good quality, but portions sizes are small, and the seasoning wasn't to our liking. Not their fault it's just what you get anywhere on the island. It's just worth mentioning that the TV would lose signal over and over and over. Lol TVs in our room didn't work. It's not a deal breaker, but it's also worth noting that The hostess was also very nice and helpful.