La Maltese Estate Buddha Bar Beach Santorini

“A Unique Santorini Stay with Incredible Views – But Room for Improvement”

We booked a week at La Maltese Villa for our summer vacation, seeking the full Santorini experience. To make the most of it, we chose a Caldera View Suite with a private terrace and jacuzzi and while we had some initial doubts due to mixed reviews, we decided to give it a chance. Overall, it turned… more

We booked a week at La Maltese Villa for our summer vacation, seeking the full Santorini experience. To make the most of it, we chose a Caldera View Suite with a private terrace and jacuzzi and while we had some initial doubts due to mixed reviews, we decided to give it a chance. Overall, it turned out to be quite a good stay. The hotel is located in Imerovigli, a peaceful and charming village about a 20-minute walk from Fira. The location is ideal, close enough to the action, but far enough to enjoy tranquility and the iconic Caldera views without the crowds. Within walking distance, you’ll find everything you need: supermarkets, great restaurants (both upscale and affordable), car rental agencies, a pharmacy, and a bus stop. It’s important to note that the Caldera View Suites are in a different building from the main hotel. This annex offers breathtaking views of the Caldera and magical sunsets—undeniably one of the highlights of our trip. However, the suite itself had some quirks. Ours was split-level, with the bedroom upstairs and the bathroom downstairs, which wasn’t the most convenient layout. The bathroom design also lacked privacy, featuring translucent glass on both a window and a French door, and the toilet had no door at all making it awkward if someone was in the living room area. The terrace, although beautiful, is semi-private, shared with guests from the other four suites in the building. Access to the rooms is via this shared space, so don’t expect complete seclusion. The jacuzzi was a simple inflatable unit that fits two people. It’s not luxurious, but it does the job, especially with a glass of wine at sunset. That said, when we first went to use it, the water was dirty and uninviting (floating debris, hair, insects). Thankfully, Sultan, a kind and very attentive staff member, changed the water the next morning after we insisted. Sultan was great, he welcomed us at 1:00 AM when we checked in and helped us throughout the stay, including providing fresh towels and assistance when needed. Breakfast is served at the main hotel building, about two blocks away, from 9:00 to 10:30. It’s fairly basic, not particularly memorable. The main swimming pool is also located at the main hotel, though we didn’t end up using it during our stay. Final thoughts: The location is excellent, and the views from the Caldera suites are absolutely unforgettable. The staff was genuinely friendly, especially Sultan, who really made a difference. However, the suite layout, bathroom privacy, and jacuzzi quality could be significantly improved. With a few upgrades, this could easily become one of the top spots in Imerovigli. Would we stay again? Possibly—if those improvements were made.

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