Kamari

Aegean Plaza Hotel Kamari

★★★★★

Aegean Plaza sits in the heart of Kamari, about thirty metres from the black-sand beach, close to the promenade of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops that makes Kamari such an easy place for a beach holiday. It is a member of KD Hotels, a Santorini group that runs several properties on the island, and it presents itself as one of the most prestigious hotels in the village: polished, white Cycladic buildings set around a swimming pool with a pool bar, with friendly service and a clear focus on comfort rather than flash. The room range is wide and well suited to families. Standard rooms and studios cover couples and budget-minded travellers; superior rooms and deluxe doubles or twins add space and better finishes; deluxe triples sleep three; and the family suites give parents and children room to spread out, which is not easy to find on an island built around honeymoon suites. A buffet breakfast is served daily in the restaurant, indoors or outside with a view of the pool, and the restaurant also serves Mediterranean dishes later in the day. There is a fitness centre, room service, wireless internet and airport or port transfers on request. Guest reviews quoted on the hotel's site describe it as very family-friendly. Kamari's advantages are all here: a long Blue Flag beach steps away, lots of inexpensive places to eat, frequent buses to Fira, and the airport only a few minutes' drive away. The trade-offs are the same as for every Kamari hotel. There is no caldera view, the beach faces east so sunsets mean a trip across the island, and you may hear the occasional aircraft. For families and value-minded couples who want a beach holiday with easy day trips, it is a very sensible choice.

Choosing a room: families of four should book a family suite; a family of three can manage in a deluxe triple. Couples will be comfortable in a superior room or deluxe double, and studios suit anyone who likes a bit of extra space. Ask for a pool-view room if you want to keep an eye on children in the water from your balcony.

Things to do nearby: the beach and promenade are a couple of minutes away. Ancient Thera is directly above the village, reached by the hairpin road or on foot, and a summer open-air cinema in Kamari makes a lovely family evening. Inland, the Wine Museum in Vothonas and the village of Pyrgos are short drives away, and buses run frequently to Fira for the caldera, the museums and connections to Oia.

Season and practicalities: the official site does not publish opening dates; like most Kamari hotels it is seasonal, so check availability for spring and late autumn and assume it is closed in deep winter. The climate resilience fee is charged per room per night according to category. Book through the official site for current rates and transfer arrangements, and ask about family-suite availability early, as these rooms go first in summer.