Cilon Suites | Santorini — lostwithlina.com

I’m sat in the private jacuzzi of our honeymoon suite; sunlight is dancing across the roofs of the whitewashed caldera, and I’m gazing out to the horizon, admiring the views of the dazzling blue Aegean below.

Steeply spread over the cliffside of the stylish and quiet village of Imerovígli, in a secluded setting 1000-feet above the sea, Cilon Suites exudes drama. This gleaming white minimalist marvel is one of the smaller cliffside luxury boutique Hotels on Santorini, which only adds to its appeal. Cilon Suites offers a true sense of calm amid the crowds and provides guests with a feeling of total exclusivity and privacy amongst the serene backdrop of Imerovígli.

Stairs coil down past the white and pale blue façade to a subdued entrance with breathtaking views out to the Aegean. Tottering up the cliff face, Cilon is steeply spread over different levels with panoramic views out to the volcanic island; and features a rooftop terrace with two jacuzzi’s and sun beds. You’re so high above Imerovigli here, that you can watch clouds form below until they sweep up and cover the skyline of Santorini.

Merely five-minutes after check-in, I’ve thrown on a bikini and some linen trousers (because everyone knows a holiday hasn’t truly begun until there are linen trousers) and headed straight out onto our sun-drenched terrace, perched atop the cliffside in Imerovigli village, the highest point on the island, to admire the spectacular view. You could laze in the private pool all day, watching clouds and cruise ships drift by, until sunset bleeds into the horizon.

LOCATION & HOW TO GET HERE

On Santorini, location is everything. Oía, the picturesque town at the northern tip of the island, suffers from an overabundance of tourists and streets clogged with tour buses. Firá, in the island’s centre, is equally crowded. Thankfully, Cilon Suites is located a leisurely 40-minute walk from Firá, in a quiet village of Imerobigli. Here, the illusion of seclusion is complete, especially when the morning mists shroud the high ground.

Santorini’s Fira airport is just under half an hour away by car. You can fly direct to the island from London Gatwick every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday during the summer or connect from Athens in 45 minutes. You’ll find parking in the village square, where the porters will greet you and assist you in locating the hotel and delivering your luggage. Athinios Port can also be reached by boat from Athens/Piraeus and other locations such as Mykonos or Crete, and you can arrange your transfers to and from the airport or port through reception.

THE CILON EXPERIENCE

Aside from spare splashes of colour, Cilon Suites minimalist style invites the bright blues of Santorini’s sky and sea to diffuse across its walls like watercolour paint on a blank canvas. However, as delightfully mod and monochrome cave-style rooms are, top billing goes to the hotel’s magnificent setting at the highest point of the caldera. The staff at Cilon Suites go out of their way to fulfil requests from the ordinary to the outlandish, and the breakfast is superb; but really, the view is the star here. Pretty Imerovigli village, merely steps from the hotel, is Santorini’s best side. It’s jumble of white cubed buildings look like a sugar-bowl spilled down the cliff to the caldera and the Aegean beyond.

If the sweeping vistas from Iconic Santorini’s terraces aren’t quite enough for you, you can follow the steep trail down to Skaros Rock, just a short walk away from the hotel. The locals say this particular spot, on the ruins of a 15th-century fortress built to protect Santorini from pirate attacks, is the most romantic spot on the island to admire a sunset. Should you wish to explore the island in more detail, Cilon Suites will happily assist you in arranging any excursions or transport that you require. You can hop on a sailboat (Cilon Suites can help with hiring one) for jaunts out to islands of Nea Kameni and Thirassia.

SUITES & ACCOMMODATIONS

Cilon Suites consists of 5 suites, of various categories, designed to offer guests absolute peace and calm. For our two-night stay here, we stayed in the Honeymoon Suite, and it lived up to its romantic title. An expansive terrace with blue views, a secluded private jacuzzi from which you can snoop on the caldera and crisp white interiors conspire in a romantic fashion. With blue Greek doors opening out onto a private terrace, the Honeymoon Suite is bright and airy, with a rather special curved open shower, and a raised platform king bed.

*The Honeymoon Suite with Outdoor Hot Tub*

*Petite Cave Suite with Outdoor Hot Tub*

BREAKFAST

At Cilon Suites, you can enjoy your breakfast under the Santorini sun, on your balcony or even as you relax in the jacuzzi and take in the panoramic views. During our stay, I had the nutella pancakes and some Greek yogurt sprinkled with local pistachios and honey, scrambled eggs with Greek sausages, fresh juices, and smoothies. It was delicious!