"An Absolutely Perfect Stay at Aplai Dome, Santorini – A Truly Special Hotel
Where do we even begin? Aplai Dome was, without a doubt, the best hotel stay we have ever experienced. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, everything was exceptional. We genuinely could not have chosen a more perfect hotel for our special birthday holiday in Santorini. Aplai Dome is a beautiful, intimate boutique hotel with just 14 rooms, and that is precisely what makes it so special. It offers something that is becoming increasingly rare: genuinely personal service, exceptional attention to detail, outstanding quality and a team of people who truly care about their guests. From the moment we arrived, we felt completely at home. After parking in the free car park, we were welcomed by Harrison, who primarily works at the bar but seems to be everywhere he is needed! What a fantastic first impression. Harrison took the time to explain a little about the hotel, show us to our room and answer all our questions about Santorini. We asked him for recommendations on places to visit, things to do and where to eat, and he had so many wonderful suggestions. His knowledge, friendliness and enthusiasm were immediately apparent. He made us feel welcome from the very first moment and reassured us that if we needed anything at all, we could simply come and find him at the bar. After travelling, we were hungry, so we decided to have something to eat at the hotel. There is a small bar menu offering club sandwiches and a selection of light bites. It was exactly what we needed, and it was the perfect introduction to the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that continued throughout our stay. The hotel itself is beautiful, peaceful and exceptionally well maintained. The swimming pool is lovely and spotlessly clean, and the bar area, which also serves as the breakfast area each morning, has a wonderfully relaxed feel. Everything about the hotel feels considered, cared for and of a very high standard. Breakfast deserves a special mention, particularly because of the lovely Maria. Every morning, Stamatis greeted us with a smile and such a warm, welcoming attitude. We would often see Maria the breakfast chef she was always happy to see us, and even the occasional friendly wave when passing her made us smile. It is the little things like this that make a stay memorable, and Maria has a real gift for making guests feel welcome. The breakfast itself was wonderful, with pastries, fresh fruit, salad, cooked meats, cheeses, ham, cake, toast, Greek yoghurt, a variety of condiments, fresh juice, water, tea and coffee. Everything was fresh, and there was a lovely selection to start the day. What makes breakfast particularly special is that it is not a conventional buffet. Everything is brought directly to your table, and you are asked what you would like. It is such a lovely, personal touch and makes the whole experience feel much more relaxed and attentive. Tea and coffee are included with breakfast, but for those who particularly enjoy a good coffee, there is also the option to have a premium coffee made with high-quality Arabica beans for just €2. It is a lovely extra touch for coffee lovers and another example of the thought and attention to quality that runs throughout the hotel. The team would regularly ask us about the previous evening, what we had planned for the day, how our holiday was going and whether we needed anything. It never felt forced; it was genuine care and hospitality. And then there is Stamatis Stamatis deserves an enormous amount of credit for what makes Alpia Dome so special. We believe he is the owner, and it is immediately clear how passionate he is about the hotel and the experience he wants every guest to have. He would greet us at breakfast, ask whether everything was to our liking, check that we were happy and offer recommendations for places to visit and things to experience around the island. He is kind, approachable, knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. Nothing ever seemed too much trouble, and he genuinely wanted to make sure our holiday was everything we had hoped for. His knowledge of Santorini is fantastic, and his recommendations added so much to our experience. You can tell that he takes enormous pride in what he does, and that pride is reflected in every aspect of the hotel. One thing that really stood out to us was the quality of everything at Alpia Dome. It is clear that thought and care go into even the smallest details. We were particularly impressed by the emphasis on quality ingredients, from the fresh bread sourced daily from a bakery in Fira to the excellent Greek yoghurt and the olive oil, which was among the finest we tried in Greece. Even the coffee is carefully considered, with freshly ground, high-quality Arabica beans available for a small supplement. These details might seem small to some people, but they say so much about a hotel. It is not simply about providing breakfast or somewhere to sleep; it is about caring enough to make sure that what you offer your guests is genuinely good quality. That philosophy seemed to run through the entire hotel. Another thing we absolutely loved was the location. Alpia Dome offers the best of both worlds. It is approximately a five-minute walk from Oia, making it easy to enjoy the beautiful streets, restaurants, shops and famous views. The iconic blue-domed churches are also within easy walking distance. There are plenty of places to eat nearby, and the bus station is only a short walk away, providing convenient access to Fira. Yet, despite being so close to everything, the hotel itself is peaceful and relaxing. In the evenings, we could enjoy the tranquillity of the hotel without the noise and crowds of the busier areas. For us, this was absolutely perfect. We could spend the day exploring Santorini and then return somewhere calm and welcoming to unwind. The intimate nature of the hotel was another huge positive. With only 14 rooms, it has a personal, relaxed atmosphere that larger hotels often struggle to recreate. It suited us perfectly as a couple celebrating a special birthday. We wanted somewhere peaceful, somewhere with character and somewhere where we could genuinely relax and enjoy our time together. Alpia Dome exceeded our expectations in every possible way. We could honestly keep writing about how wonderful this hotel is, but what matters most is this: every single person we encountered made us feel welcome, every detail felt carefully considered, and the entire experience felt genuinely special. A very special thank you to Stamatis, Harrison and Maria. You each played such an important part in making our stay unforgettable. Your kindness, warmth, hard work and genuine care did not go unnoticed. You made us feel less like hotel guests and more like people you were genuinely happy to welcome into your home. We arrived hoping for a wonderful holiday in Santorini, and we left with memories we will treasure for a very long time. We could not have asked for anything more. If you are considering staying at Alpia Dome, we would recommend it without hesitation. Whether you are visiting as a couple, celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a beautiful, peaceful place to experience Santorini, this hotel is something truly special. Thank you, Alpia Dome, for an absolutely wonderful stay. Stamatis, Harrison and Maria, thank you for making our holiday what it was. You are a credit to the hotel, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have stayed with you. We would return in a heartbeat, and we genuinely hope to see you all again in the future. With our very best wishes and heartfelt thanks, Two extremely happy guests ❤️
Shane & Georgie"
