Our family of seven, including three adult children and two spouses, spent five nights at Seahorse on Santorini. Though we have traveled extensively, this was one of the most extraordinary travel experiences any of us have enjoyed. Seahorse villa is tucked into the beautiful rock hillside of Firastefani, away from the hustle and bustle of Fira. It includes four levels of comfort, with each bedroom having its own ensuite bathroom. The main gathering place for your family is a deck and hot tub overlooking the Aegean Sea and Santorini's spectacular caldera. The view is west-facing, so you will see extraordinary sunsets daily!
The villa is very comfortable and well cared-for, exceeded in quality only by the service provided by Chantal and her team: quiet, understated, perfect. Each morning at the time you select, a beautiful Greek breakfast is served including Greek yogurt, fresh fruits and breads and another dish. The team who prepare and serve the breakfast have it ready at precisely the time you select and then disappear so you can enjoy your morning repast in privacy. Several bedrooms have ensuite coffeemakers in case you rise early. During the day, other members of the team provide fresh linens, empty trash, refresh water so that things are always ready when you return to the villa.
The location of the villa is ideal from a number of perspectives. Fira is the main place tourists enter the island from cruise ships and can be incredibly busy. Although some of them come to Firastefani, it is a 15-minute walk so foot traffic is not as intense. Yet, it is easy to walk into Fira or Firastefani for dinner after the cruise ships leave; there are literally dozens of restaurants within easy walking distance. The hike from the villa to Oia took us a little less than three hours and is spectacular. It is also an easy cab ride to Oia if you want to explore less rigorously.
Chantal helped us arrange a half-day catamaran cruise and a van rental for four days so we could explore the island. There are numerous vineyards to visit, the Donkey brewery, archeological sites, beaches and the beautiful village of Pyrgos. The well-known hike from Fira to Oia is a wonderful activity for early morning before it gets to hot. Every place on the caldera side of Santorini has a beautiful view, but none more special than at Seahorse.
Our time at Seahorse was memorable. There is nothing I would change about the experience!