Perissa

Meltemi Village Perissa

★★★★★

Meltemi Village is a good example of what Perissa does well: a comfortable, well-run hotel at a fair price, a few steps from a long beach. Part of the local Meltemi Hotels and Resorts group, it is built as a cluster of low whitewashed buildings in Cycladic style around a palm-fringed pool with a pool bar, so it feels more like a small village than a block. The hotel describes Perissa as the island's most famous wind-protected beach, and that is a real advantage: when the summer north wind blows hard across the island, the south-east coast in the lee of Mesa Vouno is usually the calmest place to swim. There are 56 rooms and studios, and the range is unusually wide for a mid-range hotel. Double rooms and superior rooms suit couples on a moderate budget, while the studios add a little kitchen space, useful for families who want to prepare simple meals or snacks. At the upper end, junior suites, honeymoon suites and maisonettes come with outdoor whirlpools, and a junior suite with its own private pool gives a taste of Santorini indulgence at a fraction of caldera prices. There is a gym on site, guests can use the spa at the group's sister property nearby, and the concierge can organise boat trips, wine tours and transfers. The hotel advertises a complimentary arrival transfer for guests who book four nights or more directly with it, which is worth checking when you book. The trade-offs are those of any beach-village hotel. There is no caldera view, so sunsets mean a bus or drive to Fira, Imerovigli or Oia, and Perissa's beachfront is lively in the evenings in July and August. In return you get the beach on your doorstep, plenty of inexpensive tavernas within walking distance and better value than anywhere on the cliffs.

Choosing a room: couples on a budget should look at the double or superior rooms; families will find the studios the most practical, and the maisonettes, set over two levels with an outdoor whirlpool, can suit a family with older children who want a little separation. The junior suite with a private pool is the treat category, ideal for honeymooners who want privacy without paying caldera prices. The hotel does not advertise a separate children's pool, so families with toddlers should ask about the pool depth.

Getting around: buses from Perissa to Fira run regularly in season, taking about twenty to thirty minutes, with connections onward to Oia. Emporio, Perivolos and Vlychada are minutes away, and the walk up to Ancient Thera starts in the village. The airport is about a quarter of an hour by road.

Season and practicalities: the official site does not publish opening dates, and like most Perissa hotels it runs a seasonal calendar, so check availability for early spring and late autumn and assume it is closed in deep winter. The climate resilience fee is charged per room per night according to hotel category. Book directly to check the transfer offer.