Review: Canaves Oia Epitome Santorini

Easily one of the best on the island. How flat it is, the sunsets, and the service are cherries on top. Glad you got to experience the villas!

How lucky (!) you have been to experience some of the warmest hospitality the world has to offer: Fogo Island Inn in Canada, Singita Boulders in South Africa, the Aman Sveti Stefan, and now Canaves Oia Epitome in Greece. You also help make it more attainable for folks through loyalty programs. Isn’t this what they are meant for?

Nice!
We're splitting 3 nights in Santorini in October before returning to the Maldives a third time. 1 night here, 2 at Santorini Sky. Now I'm hoping I didn't make the wrong decision splitting the stay.

Woah this looks amazing! I'll totally add that to the bucket list!
Speaking of bucket list, Amanzoe is also right there at the top for me. How would you compare the 2 properties? Canaves is a fraction of the cost, but rooms look significantly nicer at Amanzoe, so wondering how you'd compare them in terms of service etc.

Looks very good, but I don't think this is hugely unique amongst Santorini hotels other than the partnership with SLH/Hyatt, there are many really spectacular properties in Santorini. Andronis Arcadia comes to mind as a pretty similar location to this but arguably better facilities, and food too, judging by those photos. I'd take any of the more modern hotels in / around Imerovigli for the sunset views over this (Grace, Cavo Tagoo, Andronis Concept, OMMA, etc.). Basically the less full of Americans looking for a bargain on points, the better the service generally is to be able to compete...

Ben, I do find it interesting and maybe even an ethical dilemma but when only 1 or 2 people (those 2 sleeping in the same room) staying in a room, is it almost wasteful to request or accept an upgrade to a 2 bedroom or higher suite etc?

@ Morgan -- Personally I don't see any dilemma here at all. It's not like the hotel has the ability to resell a villa day of (at least not with any sort of reasonable yield), so it's not like we were displacing others. While we would have happily shared a single two bedroom villa, I certainly wasn't going to complain to be given two!

@ Clem -- That's a great question. I'd say Amanzoe had all around better facilities, and in particular the beach club is very impressive. That being said, I thought service at Canaves Oia Epitome was more personalized, and the property also felt more intimate.

One other consideration here is being in Porto Heli vs. Santorini. What makes Canaves Oia Epitome unique is that it's so close to one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations. For those who haven't been to Santorini, that's a huge selling point. For those who have been to Santorini several times before, it might be a drawback.

For example, I'd love to return to Canaves Oia Epitome, but I also have little interest in going back to Santorini anytime soon, since I feel like it now fits in the "been there, done that" category for me. Porto Heli in general is much more relaxed and laid back.

@Ben, how was the pool temperature both at your villa and the main pool?

Hi Ben.

This was a great review. You mentioned it was one of the best hotels you’ve ever been to, which got me wondering…..which hotels exactly are on your Top 10 list? It would be interesting to know (and to be able to read any reviews you’ve posted about them in the past).

@Ben thank you! I was wondering if the price difference between the 2 properties' base rooms can be justified, but then Amanzoe's room are 4+ times bigger so I guess that would be it. Thanks also for the insights about location, very good to know!

@Ben - Yeah fair that's a good point.

Completely agree with Ben here. There is no dilemma - it's not his responsibility to know the hotel's guest load and reject an upgrade. If the hotel upgraded him, they did the math and found it to be acceptable for everyone, otherwise they wouldn't have upgraded him in the first place.

Looks really nice but geez, that's A LOT of points to burn. Sucks that Hyatt doesn't have 5th night free like the other programs.

I ate dinner here 2 years ago. Nice property, but way-way out of the way... I prefer their other property right near the center of Oia. Incidentally, I just returned from Greece on Saturday. Took a Seabourn cruise and I can not say enough about how well organized it was. Cheers!

That outdoor dining area is SUPER cute! I love small hotels with personality, and 2 bedroom villas/apartments are perfect.

We are in the early stages of planning a Greece 2022 trip and I am hoping to find something similar, though since I anticipate I will be traveling with a couple college students, I might book our Santorini stay in Fira so they can go off and do teenager-y things on their own in the evening.

Hi Ben, curious if you had considered any of the other Canaves properties or visited other than the Epitome? Heading to Santorini for the first time in September, and have both Canaves Suites and Epitome booked for the same - deciding which one to keep (or if worthwhile to split the stay). Thanks!

@Ben - Would you choose this over Mystique for a 3 night stay next month? Never been to Santorini before. Young and can handle the stairs. 255K + $500 for Mystique (Allure Suite) vs. 120K Hyatt points. I am very torn.

Stayed at the exact same villa two years ago with my family. We can't wait to go back this year. Love this property but the stars of Epitome are the workers!

I'm at the Empitome now and just came from the Mystique prior.

Choose the Epitome hands down. We did take advanatge of the 24hr free shuttle to Oia Centre via Whats App, and within 5 min there was always a driver waiting.

Food and pool are lackluster at Mystique. There was also an odd sulpher or sewage smell in all the outdoor spaces.

Im trying to decide which Canavas to stay at Help! The Empitome or the Botique Canavas caledera facing. They have such a different style contrast, yet both seem beautiful with great service. Any thoughts? Its or first time going to Santorini!

2024 availability for this hotel just opened up! Just booked the suites for 2 nights in June!