Sandy Villas

11 readers found this review helpful

We have been holidaying to the Greek Islands for many years as it is one of our favourite destinations. Santorini was lovely but unfortunately Sandy Villas is the worst accomodation I have ever stayed in. Upon arriving we were told what room we were in and that we would get the key to the room once she had personally greeted us all. After at least 1/2 hr she got round to our room, during which we could not leave as there was no key to secure it. The personal greeting was infact a list of orders (e.g. you are not allowed to open the windows in a hot stuffy room as there are no hooks and the glass will break which you will have to pay for ) and a hard sell for a fan, a safe and some water (which is more expensive that the nearby supermarket). A further three times during the holiday she knocked on the door, told us to stop what we were doing and listen and procceded to try and sell us overpriced tickets to her BBQ.
The first room we received had a broken shower, chairs with the middle missing, the springs in the bed meant you could only lie in one position and we were disgusted to see live wires hanging from the light above the bed. The metal shutters had no hooks on meaning that you had to keep them shut or risk a gust of wind causing them the bang loudly - a sound which echoed arounf the hotel at night. When we were finally moved (after a week) the second room was much better decorated but unfortunately was connected to the garage. Any wind (and Santorini is a windy island) caused the garage to bang, echoing a terrible sound through the room and preventing any chance of any sleep. Our complaints about this were met with comments such as what do you expect from cheap Greek holiday accomadation and that we were too sensitive to noise so should get drunk to sleep through it (a solution that we tried but made no difference at all!) and that her room was close to where we were and she did not hear anything (her room was not connected to the garage). After 4 days of asking for something to be done it came to a head one night when the banging meant that it got to 5 in the morning with no sleep and we were due up the next day for a tour. We had to go and ring the bell of Sandy's house, getting her out of bed, and then, after a few heated words got her to open the garage door, therefore preventing it from banging. She did not close it again.
We always stay in basic, self catering accomadation in Greece and know what basic is. In this accomadation the rooms and the service we recieved were dispecable so we highly reccommend you stay somewhere else so you can enjoy your holiday! We have also never come across someone as rude, aggressive, unhelpful and generally unpleasant as Sandy.
The rest of the holiday was great. Santorini is a lovely island. Perissa is well located for getting to places whilst still being on the sea front. There are some great walks up the steep hill-side to ancient Thira - a sight definatley worth seeing, and a boat around to the next resort, Katelios, which is just a busier version of perissa. The air-conditioned buses are great, both regular and cheap, taking you into the center of the capital Thira, from where you can get to any of the other places of interest on Island. The rep gave us a map of walks and their relative time and one I would recommend is to Vlachad, a small port with lovely boats and a great beech.
Perissa itself is just right for a resort. There are a number of nice resturants and cafes along the seafront but the ones on the road parrallel to this seemed slightly better, having to rely on reputation rather than location. Atlas bar, opposite the youth hostel, was great for both meals and drinks and Sirocco served fantastic food, both Greek and stone baked pizzas. Yazz bar on the front had a great atmosphere, especially when there was live muic. The staff at all these places were friendly and helpful and everyone seemed to know everyone else, with many going back year after year to work there. Tours were easy to book and while some seemed a bit rushed at least they gave you ideas of where to get back to on the great bus system. Take a camera with you every where, each place will have at least one place that looks amazing and most have enough to easily fill up your camera!
We will probably be going back, and if we do will definatley stay in Perissa. But we will not be staying in Sandy Villas ever again.

12 readers found this review helpful

just returned from two weeks staying at sandy villa - will definately not be going again. we have been to numerious greek islands over the years and we know what basic means in greece, but sandy villa takes the biscuit. this place in below basic and to describe as self catering is brochure misrepresentation. the utensils consisted of two rusting knives forks and spoons and for some reason one very large ladel. nothing to boil water for tea or coffee. plastic plates and an assortment of glasses. no way could you cater for yourself in any way. the swimming pool is the show piece of the complex but pop music is played from early till late (except when olympic rep is due) the apartments are clean but in both rooms that we had, 20 and 1 (we moved because of the noise at the pool)the showers in both rooms were broken and one was tied up with a bit of old towelling. Dont fall for BBQ night - a rip off. sandy will try to get as much money out of you during your stay. If hireing a car, dont go through the rep, she charged 58 euros per day, were in perissa town you can hire the same car and conditions for 20 euros. Resturants are good and plentiful and there is lots to see around the island, which is great.

6 readers found this review helpful

We have just had a wonderful week in Sandy Villas. They accommodation is basic, but you get what you pay for. The pool is great, large and clean, with plenty of sunbeds and parasols.
The location is good too as it is a couple of hundred yards from the centre of Perissa so it is very easy to walk out to some very good restaurants and the beach, but the hotel itself is very quiet.
Sandy herself is lovely. Admmitedly she does charge for fans and safety deposit boxes, but the place is so cheap it seems fair. Or pack your own fan! It is a real family run place and they cannot do enough for you.
Every week Sandy does a barbie aound the pool for fifteen euro.
The food is great and you get wine as well!
We hired a quad bike for 25 euro for two days and explored the island. The holiday rep does not advise this but we got one from Mark's bikes just along the road from Sandy's.
All in all we had a great time and will be returning for another relaxing break.

4 readers found this review helpful

Just Back from a week at Sandys Vila if you want a cheap break £300 each go we have been to greece quite a few times so we know "greek basic" but this was very basic no curtins on the windows we had to hang blankets over the window the self catering was 2 pans one with out a handle 2 forks both differant 2 knifes 1 chopping board 1 ladale that was it
bed linen clean but very poor quailty towels clean but ive used sand paper that was smoother
Sandy herself is a nice enough woman who makes you welcome while charming the euros out of your pocket pool area and bar are both very clean
Perissa itself is a little down at heel but for a cheap week away its not to bad

2 readers found this review helpful

When we arrived all of us, about 20 couples, were kept waiting because the rep had booked the rooms incorrectly. It took her two hour to remedy this. Some people had to be moved to other accommodation. This was down to the area manager of Olympic holidays.
We were put in a dungeon below ground which was very small and had poor ventilation.
The owner was very good at extracting as much money as possible from people. For example, on our last day she said we could use the room for an extra two hours for an extra 20 euros. She also wanted a similar amount for a fan - even though we were in room 13 the dungeon.
Santorini as a whole was expensive with coffees costing as much as 4 euros in some towns. The beeches were dirty and poor for swimming from and there isn't a great deal to see on the island because it is so small. There are much better Greek islands to see than this one, such as Crete and Kafalonia. The main attraction on Santorina is Oia with its blue domes and white buildings and the so-called volcanno which really isn't worth the trip and cost to another very small island with little on it.

5 readers found this review helpful

Booked this holiday as a last minute treat to myself..How pleasantly suprised I was to find my self staying at one of cleanest, prettiest appartment accommodation I have booked at such a reasonable price. Sandy's villas are beautifully kept, the pool area is superb suntrap all day round and the pool itself is a great size and perfectly landscaped. Sandy herself is ever ready to offer any assistance or service required and truly goes out of her way to ensure an enjoyable stay. My appartment was delightful, outstanding cleanliness and so homely. I had a spiral staircase in the living area which lead to the bedroom upstairs. The kitchen had all the utensils I required and lead on to a seating area on the balcony. I had a wonderful and relaxing stay at Sandy's, and would highly recommend a visit to anyone wishing to chill out and enjoy the infamous Greek hospilality.
THANKS TO SANDY AND HER FAMILY FOR THE LITTLE PARADISE THEY HAVE CREATED XXX

4 readers found this review helpful

Having read some of the reviews i was a little worried about what we would find but we were pleasantly surprised. Having said that we did book last minuite so didn't pay the full brochure price but we thought the standard of accommodation was good. We had one of the so called basement rooms but were thankfull as it was lovely and cool not having large windows with sun streaming in. Yes the rooms are basic but this is typical of anywhere in greece unless you are paying a lot more money. The pool is fantastic and we found Sandy polite and helpfull. Yes she does try to encourage you to go to the BBQ but we sisn't go and she was fine about it. Perissa is great with some fantastic restaurants and bars but we did find it was helpful to have a car as we ate out in Fira and Oia quite a lot. Also walk furhter down the road towards perivolos and there are even more great restaurnats including sea side which is cosmaploitan but expensive. The best in Perissa was Gods Garden and Atlantis Island.

5 readers found this review helpful

The accommodation was very disappointing. when we first arrived we was put in the dungeon. Room 10.The rooms where like being in prison. No air con. No windows in The bathroom. No windows and one door which opened out into the main opening to the road.You could not leave this open at night. All the rooms on this floor should not be rented out without air con. We complained the first night and was told we could not be moved for a week. I never normally complain about anything, But believe me if you was in the dungeons then you would. The second week was much better and the second room was OK. The staff who clean the rooms and look after complex all live underneath the swimming pool. On barbecue night, the food is made by the staff and brought up from underneath the swimming pool. We sat and watch this one night.Sandy the owner pesters her guests for money for fans and the safety deposit box when you first arrive. Now on a positive note perissa is a lovely resort. nice restaurants and beaches and some lovely bars. The resort made up for the Horrible accommodation.

2 readers found this review helpful

We have been to Sandys a few times now and she welcomes you as if she has knowm you all her life. She can be a little "over the top" sometimes but I am sure that this is because she genuinely cares that you enjoy you stay.
The pool is very good, and there is always a breeze to cool you, be careful though the breeze can make if feel cooler thatn it is.
Sandys family are amazing, Young Manolis is always smiling, Lefkeris is very hard working and Vangelis is amazing, only 7 but already speaks passable english. Be careful though, if Vangelis becomes your freind during your stay, you will have to deal with floods of tears when you leave, as you will with Sandy.
Sandys husband, Big Manolis, seems quiet at first, but is a real Laugh, and atypical Greek "mans man" after a few drinks.
The weekly BBQ is Greek style so don't expect burgers and sausages, the is however more food than you can shake a stick at.
The rooms are clean and tidy, in high season you WILL need a fan, and safes are always a good idea.
We will return in 2009

2 readers found this review helpful

We have been for holidays this year in Greece and especially in Santorini.
We booked in Sandy Villas as many friends tell us that this place is amazing. So when we arrive outside we saw the manager (Sandy) and she gave to as so useful informations.
The hotel is so brilliant, we got room 22 and it was so spacious as i have never seen in other hotel. The swimming pool is extremely large and i think it may be one of the largest in santorini. Around the pool there are plenty of trees which make brilliant atmosfaire and you may think that you are in a palace.In the pool bar they provide the best beer Mythos and all the people say (yamas!) which mean chears.The food they make are of the best I have ever taste that's and the reason we booked twice at the BBQ which is organised once a week.Sandy is really helpful staff who can make you feel happy and smile all the time!!! Finally I would like to say that the reps were also very helpful, I think they called Sammy and Zoe who describe the island to us.
We will go back to Sandy Villas as possible we can!!!!!