One week for less than £1k in an absolutely stunning location!

IOS is a beautiful island with some untouched beaches, pure sand and aqua/turquoise warm waters.

Getting to the Island was a flight into Santorini from Gatwick (3.5 hours) and a 1.40 hour transfer by ferry to the Island – very scenic and calming. We travelled the Island of IOS from hiring a quad bike (driving licence needed) for €20 for 24 hours and covered a majority of the island and similarly a 2-man kayak for €12 for an hour to travel a couple of bays down – great experience. All this was available within the bay by the IOS Palace and Spa – ideal.

The IOS Palace and Spa is a very well kept hotel, very contemporary and must be the closest hotel to those shown on the web and in glossy holiday brochures that I have ever booked. The staff are so friendly and very polite with very well spoken English (better than my Greek). We also indulged in delicious hotel food (higher priced than eating out) but very much worth its spend and also indulged in a full aroma massage for 1.5 hours at a very reasonable price of €65. The rooms were again contemporary and extremely well kept with high cleanliness and good shower/bath products left in the room.

Being end of season (20 – 27 Sept) it was relatively quiet, but enough eating places open in the bay. A delicious and reasonably priced Thai and Mediterranean restaurant – cocktails a bit pricey, but delicious and worthy of the fee. An amazing fish restaurant at the other end of the bay with fresh catches of the day to indulge in – cooked as you want. A delightful little snack bar next to the Thai and Med restaurant which was very well priced and served the most tasty fruit smoothies, all freshly blended and Mythos lager at €3 a pint – amazing value. It was cheaper eating here, than buying fresh bread from the local bakery with ham and cheese.

The Port was a bus ride away (10-15 mins only) for €1.50, again good value and there were some traditional eating places and likewise you passed through the town where in the height of season is buzzing with bars and eating places.

A very welcomed relaxing break, as energetic or quiet as you liked, amazing hotel – VERY well recommended!