Hilton’s sort-of-luxury LXR Hotels & Resorts brand will be debuting in Greece, with the opening of a hotel in 2026. More points hotels in Greece are always a good thing, so let’s cover the details…
In this post:
Basics of Hilton LXR’s 66-key Sandblu Resort Santorini
Sandblu Santorini, part of Hilton LXR, is now accepting reservations for stays as of April 8, 2026. Interestingly, it seems this property actually opened in 2024 as an independent hotel (with the same Sandblu Resort name), but it’ll just be joining Hilton as of the 2026 season.
Sandblu Resort is located in Kamari, in eastern Santorini, at the foothills of Thira. This isn’t in the famous Oia area of Santorini, but I’d consider that to be a good thing, as it’s a little quieter on this part of the island.
The property boasts a total of 66 rooms, suites, and villas, with 29 of them having private pools. The accommodations are pretty generously sized by Santorini standards, with entry level rooms starting at 377 square feet (35 square meters), and the most premium room being a two bedroom villa that measures 1,130 square feet (105 square meters).
The hotel also has a beach, two infinity pools, a spa and fitness center, and a kids club.
When it comes to dining, the property boasts five(ish) venues. This includes Plateia (the all-day Mediterranean dining restaurant), Nectar (the modern Greek restaurant), Aroma (the wine bar), Santovini (the wine cellar), and Stari (the bakery and coffee shop).
Sandblu Santorini cash rates & points requirements
With Sandblu Santorini now bookable through Hilton channels, what are rates like? As you’d expect, the hotel is open seasonally, from April through October. Rates fluctuate significantly throughout the season.
If paying cash, I currently see rates starting at just over $300 per night (early and late in the season), and going as high as a little over $600 per night (in the middle of the season).
If you’re booking a cash rate, I’d recommend doing so through the Hilton for Luxury program, which offers extra perks when booking through select travel advisors, including breakfast, a hotel credit, an upgrade subject to availability, and more.
For those looking to redeem Hilton Honors points, the hotel seems to be charging 95,000 points per night, assuming there’s standard room availability. Hilton Honors elite members can stretch their points and get a fifth night free, which would bring down the average nightly cost to 76,000 points.
I value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents each, so I’d say that redemptions here represent quite a poor value — it’s an especially bad deal early and late in the season, while it’s just an okay deal in peak season.
Bottom line
Hilton’s LXR brand is expanding to Greece, with the opening of Sandblu Santorini. In reality an independent hotel that opened in 2024 is now joining Hilton, presumably for the distribution power. The hotel looks quite nice, and the rates are also reasonable (by Santorini standards), so this is definitely a points option in Santorini that’s worth being aware of.
What do you make of Hilton LXR’s new Sandblu Resort?
Maybe a good redemption (points or free-night awards); however, for a first-timer expecting the glorious sunsets from Oia or even Fira, beware that this is not that. Kamari is the other side of the island (the non-caldera side), so keep that in mind. Also, it's basically on the flight path of the airport. There is a decent black-sand beach nearby, but this doesn't appear to be on the water either. Meh.
1990, surely any side of an island which keeps one away from the proletariat mob is a good thing …. except when they are low flying above.
On second thoughts, let’s not bother with this tourist trap …. some of us stopped going in the ‘60,s …. :-)
Get real. There's little 'proletariat' about those who visit Santorini on holiday.
And, as to your bloviating on Greece more generally, so, was it the 1950 Liatsikas Dome eruption, or the 1967 coup and junta that convinced you to avoid Greece since the 1960s?
Either way, good riddance. Enjoy that cold rain up north.