At fist glance, Villa Illias looks like your average Greek island hotel from the outside. I must admit I was very tentative when our taxi driver pulled up to the back entrance. But Villa Illias is really something else. If you can brave the two flights of steep stairs, request the private room at the top of the hotel. It is a very small room, enough space for a queen bed in an alcove, a small efficiency kitchen and the tiniest (but still clean and functional) bathroom we've ever had in a hotel room. But all this is worth it for the stellar views and your own private oasis on Santorini. This upstairs room has the entire rooftop balcony to itself, where you can take in 360 degree, mostly unobstructed views of the entire island. You see water from both sides, catching the sunrises and sunsets (most hotels in Santorini are only oriented to the sunsets). The rooftop deck has two comfortable deck chairs and a table and two dining chairs oriented to the beautiful caldera view from which I took many postcard-worthy photos. The hotel innkeepers are wonderful people who truly care about the comfort of their guests and are around most of the day to field questions and help with travel plans. They also put on a tasty included breakfast that gets your day started off right! There is a pool, too, oriented to the caldera, so you won't miss a moment of the fabulous view. Don't let the book's cover fool you, Villa Illias is truly a gem.

Villa Ilias was great from the word go. As soon as we started chatting with them about availability and making a reservation they were extremely helpful and just lovely people to deal with. That sort of service carried on during our week stay at Villa Ilias which was last July. The room was cute and all we needed (we went for a standard room right on pool level) you could honestly step out the room and the pool was 1m away. The breakfast was great as well, they offered breads, cakes, quiches, juices, cereals - a real european breaky. The Villa was a nice walk from the centre of town, but the walk is absolutely breath taking anyway; traversing across the cliffs of santorini. I stayed with my boyfriend, and some friends of ours also stayed there - they upgraded their room and the only real difference was a small balcony on their doorstep which you can live without when you have such an amazing pool terrace! The hospitality was fantastic as i said - they were helpful in every way they could possibly be.

Thank you villa Ilias!

We stayed at the villa in September and had a great R&R 3 days. The owners George & Pauline&staff Tracy were very obliging to all queries and organizing extra requests. Firstly, the location is wonderful, pleasant walking distance to the main town of Fira and great eateries on the way, like Simos Tavern (recomm by George). We had balcony view which was great looking at the caldera and the pool just below had an amazing view of caldera & cruise ships...esp in the evening. We had a wonderful wine tasting selection poolside which was FANTASTIC! Sampling the wines of the island and eating nibbles & cheese overlooking the caldera.. life doesn't get any better than that! On the day of my husband's birthday, Tracy had written a note & left yummy choc in the room. Very special place with beautiful, interesting hosts. Will be back!!!

Our first impression - wow - what a view !!
We spent hours on the balcony with a drink in hand watching the cruise ships below us.
The room was comfortableand clean, if a little cramped. But who cares - look out the window !
George and Pauline were the perfect hosts and made us feel most welcome.