LUXURY 'VILLA OLIVIA' LARGE SUN-TERRACE, SPA POOL, BAR, BARBECUE, STUNNING VIEWS

A couple of mates and I have just returned from a week-long trip to Santorini and we could not be happier with our choice of villa. Michael, the owner, very kindly helped us sort out a car for the trip (a quad or car is a must) which we picked up at the airport from Babis who greeted us outside. We followed Babis from the rental place to Megalochori, which was a short drive from the airport.
Our first impression of the village was that it was quaint, being tucked away from the hustle and bustle and tourist traps one might find in a popular destination, but also picturesque, arguably offering up the best views of island – the sunset from nearby Santos Winery gives Oia a run for its money.
We met Michael at the villa. Not much to add to comments made by the other reviewers, the villa was indeed better than the pictures could convey. It was clean, comfortable and inviting. As there were only three of us, we had more than enough space and I only wish a few more of our mates had joined. Michael is knowledgeable and friendly, and he filled us in on the must-see sites, local knowledge, etc. which was most welcome. For those looking to work on their tans, the terrace is perfect and most definitely a sun trap. From our view up top, the nearby villas could not compete in that respect.
The villa is fantastic, but the real gem is Megalochori itself. This traditional village is perfectly placed between all of the spots we wanted to visit (10 min to Red Beach; 15 min to Kamari/Perissa/Fira; 30 min to Oia taking the scenic route) and at no point on our hols did we wish we’d chosen anywhere else to stay. Just a short walk from the villa there are a number of little shops where you can pick up the basics, and a great little bakery where you can get fresh bread and homemade ice cream. There are a number of lovely and reasonably priced restaurants, each as good as the next. The taverna in the square, Raki, is the liveliest of the bunch and seemed to always be full of tourists and locals alike. The little Italian restaurant attached to it is fantastic. The night we dined there, our last in Santorini, there was a woman playing a harp just above. It was truly an idyllic setting to end our Greek adventure.
So to summarise, Villa Olivia in the lovely Megalochori will not disappoint and is highly recommended to those who would prefer a traditional feel of Santorini!

Our family were very happy with our stay at Villa Olivia. The houses were definitely as advertised and in fact the pictures did not do it justice. Reality was better than the picture which is hardly ever the case! This is not a place for a person with difficulty with stairs as the steps up to the veranda are quite steep and treacherous but well worth the climb. We loved the village of Megalohori and the Raki cafe. You will need a car if you stay here but Michael arranged everything for us and it was perfect!

The villa layout, 2 buildings, was ideal for our base for a daughter's wedding. There were 6 of us; we, the grandparents used the house with the kitchen whilst our married daughter/husband/2 grandchildren used the 2 bedroomed house which gave us all some privacy. The ground level patio was secure and gave some shade at most parts of the day. Access to the roof terrace was a challenge due to the steep steps but on one day we had a party for 17 "oldies", some with mobility problems but everyone got to the roof which did not feel crowded. The villa conversion has been very well done and has good furnishings. Megalochori is a traditional inland village, it is a 5 - 10 minute uphill walk to the nearest bus stop, there are 7 restaurants within an easy 5 minute walk. The crunch question, would we return? yes - in an instant, Michael's help and response to queries were fantastic and his local support was always available. I highly recommend.