Kastelli Resort

Every so often, you strike gold. You stumble across a holiday hideaway that sparkles like a perfectly polished diamond. A place that splits you right down the middle – part of you wants to dash home and tell all your friends about it, the other part wants to keep your discovery all to yourself. And that’s exactly how you’ll feel about this hotel. They say the best things come in small packages and that’s certainly true of this place. It’s a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which basically means it’s an intimate little retreat with oodles of style. Outside, bright pink blooms splash the pristine whitewashed walls, their gorgeous fragrance mingling with the sweet scent of suntan lotion. Around the pool, bronzed people are stretched out on elegant striped sunloungers, snoozing or sipping fresh fruit thirst-quenchers. Inside, too, is real eye candy. Splashes of modern art seem to make getting anywhere take twice as long, while the trendy-looking spa sees to it any carefully-laid sightseeing plans are ditched in favour of a delicious shiatsu massage. Come nightfall, inviting clusters of sofas are bathed in soft, shimmering candlelight and the mouthwatering aroma of the buffet lures you siren-like to the contemporary dining room. If you don’t fancy a buffet every night, then you could always book yourself in for a meal at the gourmet restaurant. It costs extra but it’s well worth it. Your room’s a chic cocoon of comfort that’s been lovingly pieced together by designers whose fingers are very much on the pulse. Rounding off this little treasure is its setting. You’ll find it 10km from the island’s romantic capital Thira, and an easy walk from the glittering black sands of Kamari beach. Sit back and breathe easy – you’ve found the perfect spot from which to conduct your love affair with sun-blushed Santorini.