N 47 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 AED 20 POL 0 RAe I N G L FESTYLE www.equestrio.com ISSN 2224-4816 911~~~~~~11~~\1!1!1~ II
Once there, the question is of course, where to stay, and The Villa at Grace Santorini is an ideal combination of private villa and hotel with unrivalled views. Once there, the question is of course, where to stay, and The Villa at Grace Santorini is an ideal combination of private villa and hotel with unrivalled views down on to the Caldera - the rugged landscape left behind after the volcanic eruption. The Villa, opened in spring this year, is a major redevelopment of the luxury boutique hotel with two bedrooms, its own private spa with hammam and hydrotheraphy pool, kitchen, private terraces and private swimming pool with the obligatory eye watering view. It is the perfect getaway for a mature family or small group holiday, or an indulgent hideaway for a couple as it is also available as a one bedroom suite. The hotel also styles it as a venue for small wedding receptions. At 400m square, it is the largest suite of any in the Grace group, which has hotels in Greece, Rhode Island in the USA. Beijing, Argentina and Panama. Grace has prided itself on producing a truly unique and bespoke experience for its customers, and the Villa is no exception. The hotel itself dings to a cliff but the Villa is on a plateau ensuring privacy for guests. There is a cosy fire place for winter visits, luxury amenities on hand including a masseuse, personal trainer, chef and even a chauffeur for exploring the island in style. Even the kitchen has its luxury touches with a wine and cigar bar. Where Grace really goes above and beyond is with the bespoke VIP touches which can be planned in advance. There are options for luxury connections from Athens or Santorini airports, an unpacking service, ipad and smartphone preloaded with useful local numbers, personalised stationery. bathrobes, fragrances and pillows and a personal chef to cook meals to order. Other bespoke services such as fresh strawberries and champagne each day for honeymooners and other romantic touches can be ordered in advance. RIGHT: Let there be light. Villa Santorini embraces the wonder of white to deliver an ethereally indulgent atmosphere. 124 E Q1J EST R [0 September IOctober 2012
Vintage pink champagne on arrival shows you that from the word go you are going to be treated to a truly indulgent experience. It is not just the romantic and indulgent that Grace excels in, there is also a practical side for the high-powered holiday maker who may need assistance preparing for their break. The playfully named Saving Grace app for iphone allows the user to download and use an online packing check list. There are pre-tailored packing lists for winter, summer, activity and other types of holidays which can be changed to suit the traveler's needs and saved to be used again and again. If you can tear yourself away from The Villa, soaking up the sun and the breathtaking views, there is plenty to keep you occupied on Santorini. It may not have the party reputation of its fellow Greek islands but in many ways that is part of his charm. There are plenty of restaurants in the villages dotted over the islands and even nightclubs in the towns of Fira and Kamari. Cruise tours to the volcano and hot springs are available but many prefer to view them from afar from the cliff tops. A typical tourist activity, which can be very crowded in summer, is a donkey ride. The best place to start is the old port where Exquisite use of colour mimics the villa's surroundings bringing the wonder of outdoors within.
It is not just the romantic and indulgent that Grace excels in, there is also a practical side for the high-powered holiday maker who may need assistance preparing for their break.... I I j the donkeys carry both locals and tourists to the capital, Fira. Until 1979, the donkey was the only method of transport up and down the 600 steps to the harbour, a timely reminder of the pace at which the island is now developing, yet still manages to retain its old world charm. It really is the best way to see the island as a whole uninterrupted by noisy quad bikes, scooters, buses or cars. Being Greece, you are always in spitting distance of ancient relics of a once world-beating empire and civilisation. Highlights are the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the Minoan City of Akrotiri - true indications of the proud and ancient history preserved for generations of Santorini residents and visitors. Really, though, just being on this magical island is enough and most are content to sit back and enjoy a frappe - the local iced coffee - and simply watch the world go by. ~ www.gracehotels.com