Jo was recommended to us by a business associate when we were planning our belated honeymoon. We got married in May 2023 and, thanks to the generous gifts from our guests, we were able to book something special.
Emma had her heart set on Santorini, and once she had that in mind, there was no changing it! Neither of us had been before, but she just knew it would be perfect for us.
Jo organised a 7-night stay at the Art Hotel, a small boutique property with minimalist all-white suites and stunning views - intimate, stylish and serene.
Jet2 were brilliant, as always, and our transfers were seamless, with excellent drivers who made the journey smooth. Since we arrived at night, we didn’t get much of a first impression, but after dropping our bags, we took a 10-minute walk into town, had a lovely meal and then called it a night.
The next morning, we woke up to the most breathtaking views from our hotel room – it was magical.
The hotel itself was great, with courteous and attentive staff. We had a small hiccup with our original room due to cold showers, but the hotel moved us to another suite, upgrading us slightly and treating us to some Prosecco.
The infinity pool in our first room was incredible but a little chilly due to the time of year. However, the hot tub in our new room was just what we needed – perfect for relaxing and reading.
Breakfast at the hotel was top-notch, either served in our room or outside on the balcony. It was the only meal offered at the hotel, but every breakfast was excellent.
We were pleasantly surprised by the food across the island. Every meal we had in Santorini was fantastic, and we never had a bad experience. The variety of cuisine exceeded our expectations, and the local house wine, sold by the half-litre for just £7.50, was a delightful discovery!
We splurged on a €350 wine tour and were lucky to be the only guests, so we were treated like royalty.
The tour took us to three wineries, one of which served an incredible dinner paired with wine and ended with a visit to the highest point on the island to watch the sunset – a truly unforgettable experience.
Our hotel in Pyrgos was centrally located, which was a huge advantage. We walked to three of the places we wanted to visit: Perissa, Kamari, and Fira. Each walk took about an hour and a half, and while challenging, they were worth it. We took pricey taxis back at first but later figured out the buses, which we used to return to Perissa and visit Oia.
The locals were warm and welcoming wherever we went, and the weather was perfect – around 22°C and clear skies most of the time. It did get breezy on a few days, especially at higher altitudes, which kept us from having breakfast outside or using the infinity pool, but otherwise, it was a refreshing change.
The highlight of our trip was Perissa Beach – it was everything I dream of in a holiday. Beautiful sand, calm waters, comfortable loungers and top-notch service.
Early April was the perfect time to visit Santorini. There were fewer tourists, but the weather was still great, and enough restaurants and bars were open to keep us satisfied. We would absolutely return to Pyrgos and the Art Hotel – this time armed with all the knowledge we gained from our first trip about the best beaches, restaurants and transport options.
The holiday exceeded our expectations in every way. It was our first time using a travel agent, and Jo absolutely nailed it – she took care of all the paperwork, chose a fantastic hotel and picked a central location that worked out perfectly. If we had booked it ourselves, we probably would have chosen somewhere closer to the coast, which would have been a mistake. Jo even booked us into the lounge at Stansted, which was a first for us and a massive treat.
Thank you, Jo, for giving us such a memorable honeymoon – we couldn’t have asked for more.
