Latest news with #Sandblu
Vogue
11-08-2025
- Vogue
This Sleek, Serene Resort in Santorini Offers Respite From the Crowds
Sandblu also has relationships with a variety of local vendors who can cater to your various travel whims. Tell the front desk that you want to go horseback riding, and they'll make a call so that you're trotting along the beach and through the mountains in no time. You can also rent a boat for a sailing tour of the island, where your own personal captain will take you to some of the best swimming spots that Santorini has to offer and even cook a fresh seafood lunch onboard. If you're in the mood for some self-guided exploration, on the other hand, the resort's entrance is right across the street from a charming scooter rental agency called Santoride Rent-a-Moto. The owner is a spirited Greek woman named KiKi whose cropped and colorful haircut reminds me of the singer P!nk. (I had a feeling her music must have reached the shores of Santorini, and further research on P!nk's Greek chart numbers supports the fact she was a likely inspiration for the 'do.) While there are multiple means of transportation for getting around Santorini, including taxi services and a public bus system, motor-bikes came most highly recommended by Sandblu staff and locals. Depending on your preferred mode of transportation—ATV, scooter, buggy—a rental at Santoride will run you anywhere from €40 to €70 a day if you include fuel and insurance. KiKi will even provide a map where she circles her recommendations for the best beaches, restaurants, and hidden gems on the island before sending you off. A sampling of dishes from Kaliya. Photos: Courtesy of Keaton Bell A view of Oia at dusk. Sandblu's discreet location is a welcome refuge from tourist-dense hubs like Thira, where you could easily waste a day sampling olive oils and fine linens at the variety of shops. After buying ashtrays and soaps for friends back home, I ended my day walking around Thira with dinner at the Greek fusion restaurant Kaliya, which came highly recommended by the Sandblu staff. Built out of a 1950s-era building at the top of a caldera overlooking the Aegean Sea, it's worth braving the crowds for some fabulous food and jaw-dropping views. My table sampled everything from the wild lobster spaghetti to the braised lamb over rosemary potatoes, with each dish more decadent and perfectly seasoned than the last. Located on the northern tip of Santorini, the village of Oia is famed for the blue-domed homes built directly into the cliffside (the type you see on the cover of every Greek travel guide). Compared to the relative serenity of Sandblu and its surrounding villages, both Thira and Oia are where the bulk of restaurants, resorts, and shops are located. Home to less than a thousand permanent residents—but always bustling with the nearly three million tourists estimated to visit Santorini each year—the village is somehow even more picturesque than its popularity as a postcard would suggest. It's delightful enough just to walk through Oia soaking in the views, but the village also boasts some of the best shopping on the island. Whether you're looking for a locally made pashmina or a stack of Greek Playboys from 1996, there's a variety of treasures to be found.
Mid East Info
15-04-2025
- Mid East Info
Sandblu Opens for its First Full Season, Bringing Thoughtful Luxury to Santorini's East Side - Middle East Business News and Information
Sandblu, a new luxury resort in Santorini overlooking the seaside village of Kamari from the foothills of Greece's ancient Thira mountain, is opening for its first full season on April 17, 2025. With 66 rooms, suites, and villas, various dining concepts, the indulgent Aurora spa, high-end retail, sophisticated amenities, and a peaceful location on the island's east side, Sandblu is setting a new standard for thoughtful luxury amongst the sparkling Aegean Sea. 'We eagerly await the opportunity to welcome international guests to our first full season at Sandblu,' said Leonidas Anagnostou, General Manager, Sandblu. 'We have meticulously curated a five-star, luxury retreat experience with intention, assembling the best in wellness, gastronomy, design, and hospitality rooted in local connection. We are proud to offer a home away from home where cherished memories will be created.' Sandblu also includes a posh kids' club with daily programming, two immaculate pools, and a VIP concierge to arrange specialized island excursions such as horse-riding along volcanic beaches, wine-tasting at local vineyards, and yacht trips around Santorini's caldera, a UNESCO World Heritage site. DESIGN Sandblu features cascading geometric architecture that appears to tumble down the mountain to meet the sea, a seamlessly intertwined juxtaposition of cliffs to coast guided by the natural landscape. Designed by Rockwell Group, Sandblu embraces the beauty of the outdoors from within, featuring natural local stones, white-washed woods, and luxurious marbles punctuated with pops of blue and sage green as a nod to the sea, lush greenery, and bold bougainvillea. The hotel is comprised of spacious and elegantly appointed rooms and suites designed in a modern, Greek aesthetic, with many of them featuring outdoor terraces and private plunge pools set against sweeping sea views. ESPA bath amenities, thoughtful turndown service, bathrobes, and slippers among other luxe touches ensure maximum comfort. Sandblu's three immaculate villas set the bar for Greek luxury. Spread across two floors, Villa Orama and Villa Oniro suit families and groups with each boasting a spacious living area, fully equipped kitchen, two lavish bedrooms with en-suite marble bathrooms, and a private terrace featuring ample space for entertaining or a secluded dip in the infinity pool. DINE & DRINK Sandblu presents a variety of distinguished food and beverage venues that showcase the best of Mediterranean gastronomy, wine, and spirits. Nectar, Sandblu's specialty restaurant, serves modern Greek cuisine and fresh seafood served alongside smooth beats of a resident DJ against the backdrop of a stunning alfresco setting. Plateia, the resort's main restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, offers Mediterranean cuisine for breakfast and lunch with live cooking stations, traditional dishes, and poolside dishes. Aroma wine bar delights guests with a refined selection of wines curated by the house sommelier, an expert on Santorini's viniculture, including the Assyrtiko grape, which gives rise to the island's mineral white wines and sweet Vinsanto wine. Stari provides the authentic charm of a Greek kafeneio serving homemade sandwiches, delectable pastries, fruit tarts, and hot and cold beverages from local coffee and tea to nutritious smoothies. BE WELL With inspiration rooted in Greek mythology and the awakening of beauty and energy, Aurora spa invites guests to an oasis of eight treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, and an indoor pool. The portfolio of customizable treatments featuring 111SKIN and ESPA ranged from de-puffing cryo facials to celestial black diamond facials and deep muscle massages. Guests can also book multi-day wellness retreats and tailored programs promoting health, beauty and well-being. Manicure, pedicure, and haircare services are also available. In addition to a fitness center outfitted in the latest TechnoGym equipment and with personal trainers on demand, there is a daily program of indoor and outdoor yoga and Pilates classes. SPECIAL OFFERS Sandblu features specially curated opening packages that offer immersive experiences into the best of wellness, gastronomy and local culture. These include: 'Santorini Inside Out' promotes experiencing the island in full, inclusive of a special rate and exclusive benefits such as one cooking class and one wine tasting session per person, early check-in and late check-out, complimentary airport transfers, and dedicated concierge service. 'Sandblu Opening Offer' is available for bookings before April 30 and provides 20% off all stays throughout the 2025 season. Sandblu's 2025 rates start at USD 980 per night for suites, USD 1'580 for a villa with one bedroom, and USD 1'940 for a villa with two bedrooms. Prices are for double occupancy and inclusive of breakfast. For more information and reservations, please visit
