Vedema Resort, Santorini, Greece

Luxury hotel Vedema caters to families and older visitors to Santorini who would have problems with the vertiginous steps of the boutique hotels that cling to the island’s volcanic caldera.

Located in the interior of the island, Vedema feels like a village within a village. The many buildings of this former 15th-century winery are screened off from the sleepy town of Megalohori by ancient walls, guaranteeing complete privacy for the many celebrity guests who frequent this luxury hotel.

Vedema has views of vineyards and the sea beyond which are not a patch on the spectacular vistas of Santorini’s extinct volcanic crater from Oia and Firostefani. But this luxury hotel has child-friendly villas that are far more spacious than the traditional cave rooms of the boutique hotels in these villages. Besides, there are regular free shuttle buses to the caldera so guests won’t miss out on those legendary, spectacular sunsets.

The facilities

Vedema has two restaurants. Vinsanto offers a menu of creative, gourmet Mediterranean cuisine in a 400-year-old wine cellar or out on an expansive terrace beneath the stars. Pergola serves buffet breakfasts and simple, Greek dishes under a shady pergola beside the luxury hotel’s large pool. Wine-tasting and romantic dinners a deux can be arranged in the Canava Wine Bar and the Jacuzzi bar serves drinks and light snacks to parents watching their toddlers take a paddle.

The luxury hotel’s fleet of mountain bikes are free of charge for guests, as are the fully-equipped fitness centre and nearby tennis court. Its private sailing boat offers tours of the remnants of Santorini’s extinct volcano, and a speed boat is available for visits to nearby islands. Vedema’s shuttle bus regularly ferries guests to its private beach decked out with sun loungers, parasols and a beach bar. Parents need never miss out on this plethora of activities, as the luxury hotel has a full baby-sitting service.

Vedema’s ethereal, cavernous spa offers the best massages on the island, and is also equipped with a hamam and sauna.

The villas

Instead of the usual, white, minimal interiors favoured by most boutique hotels in Santorini, most of the 45 villas at Vedema are decorated in vibrant pastel shades of turquoise, canary yellow, soft pink and apple green. All have marble bathrooms and the usual mod cons you would expect from a luxury hotel.

The 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom villas are ideal for families. The 10 pool suites and the decadent Presidential Villa have been specially designed for guests who prize privacy over practicality.