Review: Mystique Santorini Hotel

I stayed in Oia (at a different hotel) roughly around the same time as you and my assessment was similar. Great service and very special views, but the "hard product" of the rooms were disappointing considering the price and the place felt like an adult theme park with nothing but hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. Unlike you though, we weren't impressed with most of our dining experiences. The one exception was the delightful Armeni Fish Restaurant which featured the laid back atmosphere we'd been looking for right on the water at the bottom of the cliffs with excellent fresh seafood.

I actually just got back from a trip to Greece and my family and I stayed at Mystique and Amanzoe as well! I read your original post about Mystique while I was at the breakfast restaurant and saw your comment about Alexandra and how she used to work at Aman. We had just come from the Amanzoe a few days before and the first person who greeted us was Alexandra. We said we heard from someone in the hotel that she used to work at Amanzoe and told her how much we enjoyed it. She couldn’t have been more gracious and professional throughout our stay and we actually went to her for “concierge” recommendations every morning (we found the service at the front desk to not be very friendly, not sure if you felt the same way). Anyway I felt like her level of service was a bit out of Mystique’s league and I hope they give her promote her to higher level management! Can’t wait for your Amanzoe review

A Greek salad for €13,00? You can have great meals in family run restaurants everywhere in Greece for a fraction of the cost.

Thanks for the review, but exactly one year ago I stayed at the Honeymoon Petra Villas, I think that hotel is a lot better than the Mystique even without any point earnings. The views from that hotel are outstanding.

@ pepe -- Sure, I mean I think that's always the case for any hotel. You can always find food that's cheaper somewhere else. But for what it's worth, the prices outside the hotel and in Oia were comparable. Of course that's a really touristy area, but still...

@ paragary -- So thrilled to hear you got to interact with Alexandra as well. Funny enough when I got to Amanzoe I had to tell the GM about how great Alexandra was, and that he needs to do everything he can to poach her back. She was exceptional, even by Amanzoe standards (which is saying a lot).

At those prices I’m not surprised the sushi restaurant was empty, although in fairness greeks eat ridiculously late.

Just FYI, vat is 25% in Scandinavia, 21% in the Netherlands, 20% in France and the U.K., so Greece really isn’t that far out with their 24% rate.

It looks like somebody stole all the art and paintings from your room just before your stay and they didn't had the time to replace them. I don't think it's possibile that a 700EUR per night room can look like that.

Also, the 24% VAT is not a good excuse for the expensive restaurant prices. Anywhere else in Greece you can have the most amazing lunch for less than 25EUR per person. And by the way that menu looks too much international, there are so many typical greek plates missing...

You truly are lucky, sir! 🙂

Also keep in mind that all the pricing on the menus includes Greece’s outrageous 24% VAT.

Considering that service is not included, the price in any U.S restaurant is 20 to 30% over the menu price, not too dissimilar from Greece.

Is this a category 3 World of Hyatt property?

I just had a 4-night stay there about a month and a half ago in June. It was fantastic. I agree with almost all of your review, except as to the ASEA restaurant. We loved our dinner there. We also had a dinner at the private wine cave. While the 7-course meal was not the greatest, the experience was just wonderful. While we also ventured out during our 4-night stay, I must say that we all loved the food and service at the hotel way more.

We also were offered the opportunity to enjoy the black-sand beach at their brand-new sister property at the opposite end of the island. It was a great way to spend the afternoon!

I loved this property so much that I am bringing my mother and my aunt back next year for my mother's 70th birthday. However, given the fact that the Canaves hotels will become part of the World of Hyatt, I am very tempted to split our stay. I might end up booking at both properties so I can earn qualifying nights with both programs!

Also, our breakfasts were included in the room rate (the lowest available at the time of booking) so we had whatever we wanted (no limits!) for breakfast (3 adults!). It was a great value. We all just loved this property.

Santorini is just full of American tourists.

Nice review!

You should have stayed in Firostefani or Imerovigli. Bucket loads of hotels, insanely good restaurants and they are a little bit less touristy than let's say Fira or Oia, however, you will see your fair share of Chinese weddings.

Lucky - You mentioned this property has limited SPG participation, but given that, did they still recognize your Platinum status for complimentary breakfast?

We stayed at the Allure suite next to you a couple months back. Actually liked the indoor jacuzzi as it's private. You can open the window and enjoy the view. I think my wife jumped in like twice a day! We mentioned to management that we liked the bath amenities and they gave us an entire bag to bring back home with us!

We also dined in the Secret Wine Cave which was very romantic as it only serves one party at a time. Breakfast is also served at the Captain's House which gives a higher view but both are good and the food is the same. Totally agree that 8 am is a late start but they wouldn't budge for us either.

Alexandra is a treat! She somehow makes every guest feel like she's known you for years. They definitely need to keep her!

why did it take you so long to post this review???

Thanks for the informative review.

I'm currently staying at Domes of Elounda (a full 14 nights using two travel certs), and am very interested in the perceived different value propositions of these two properties given that Domes is shooting up to new Cat 7 (8) once the Marriott / SPG merger completes.

From what i read, Domes doesn't appear to be lagging too far behind Mystique, particularly in terms of room / suite and other property facilities (gym, pool etc). As I would have expected, Mystique is somewhat more expensive for food and beverages, and from your photos, the view is to die for (though Domes comes in a close second with the outlook over Mirabello Bay and the island of Spinalonga). Either way, while Domes is a steal at current Cat 9 rates, based on your review, I'm undecided about trying to find a post merger redemption award night for Mystique.

The sushi prices are just crazy. No wonder the restaurant is empty!

Great review! Makes me want to visit Greece. Completely understand why you’d eat sushi while you’re, since I’ve gotten sick of eating amazing local food before too. I know, #firstworldproblems . At least the seafood would be moderately fresh!

I take it that Oia isn’t the side of Santorini with the black sand beaches? Are the town’s views the main attraction? Maybe someone in the comments could indulge me.

The breakfast looks INCREDIBLE. Overall I’m impressed per usual at how you go in depth.

@Trey:
Oia, like Thira and Imerovigli, is located several hundred meters above sea level on top of the crater of the (collapsed) volcano, so there are no beaches directly there. As far as I know all the island's beaches (which are located on the opposite side of the Island, away from the crater, mainly to the east and southeast) consist of black (or at least grey) sand. The biggest (and probably most crowded) beaches are at Kamari and Perissa (which is located almost at the completely opposite corner of the Island).

Probably you found no European tourists because normally Europeans prefer to be hosted in family runned hotels, B&Bs or flats than big chains hotels when they are traveling in Europe. And points fidelity credit cards are not so widespread in Europe.

Looking at the pictures it's seems more a 4 stars basic hotel, more than a 700euro/night one... Surely the service and soft product are outstanding but the hard product is not sexy if i had reserved the hotel online looking only to the pics, i would prefer an other hotel...

Stayed here 8-10 years ago. Beautiful views but you really get that anywhere in that area. Room was rediculously hot even with the 3 fans in the bedroom! Shocked to hear they have not remedied that. 2 nights was perfect as was location and service. Could not handle getting dressed in that bathroom one more night. Kinda laughing not fixed.