"We stayed at the Costa Grand Hotel and can say without hesitation that it was a wonderful experience.
A BEAUTIFUL RESORT
The hotel itself is truly special, very well maintained and thoughtfully designed. Despite the hotel being practically full, we never had the feeling of being in a crowded resort. Staying at the Costa Grand gives you the feeling of living in a typical Greek village, with small two-storey white buildings harmoniously arranged and surrounded by beautifully maintained spaces.
The resort also has eight swimming pools of different sizes, all very well maintained and equipped with umbrellas and extremely comfortable sun loungers, available free of charge to guests.
One small point worth mentioning concerns the sunbeds: as unfortunately happens in many hotels, some are “reserved” in the morning simply by leaving towels on them and then remain unused for several hours. It would be appreciated if the hotel could monitor this a little more closely, out of consideration for all guests.
THE BEACH AND THE SEA
The black beach is certainly one of the resort’s most distinctive features.
Getting into the water requires a little care because the volcanic seabed is made up of rocks and stones, some of which can be slippery. We therefore recommend using water shoes.
IMPECCABLE CLEANLINESS
Another major strength is undoubtedly the cleanliness. We found the hotel immaculate at all times of the day: the rooms, pools, common areas and indoor spaces are all maintained with exceptional care.
THE REAL HIGHLIGHT: THE PEOPLE
From reception and guest relations to the bar, restaurant, waiters, lifeguards and wellness centre staff, we met extraordinary people who were always smiling, kind, helpful and genuinely attentive to their guests’ wellbeing.
We had the feeling of being surrounded by a very close-knit team that works with passion and succeeds in creating a genuine sense of hospitality. It is precisely this personal attention that turned a beautiful holiday into a truly special one.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE RECEPTION TEAM
A special thank you goes to Thanos and Anna, who were extremely helpful and kind on the day we arrived. They helped us enormously, especially at the beginning with our room arrangements, listening to our needs and quickly finding the perfect solution for us, and they continued to be very attentive during the following days. Moreover, the entire reception team was always, friendly, helpful and smiling, and took a genuine interest in our stay throughout.
GIORGIA, OUR “MULTITASKER”
Another person who absolutely deserves to be mentioned is Giorgia, who works in guest reception and guest services. We jokingly nicknamed her “the multitasker”.
Always available and generous with her advice, she helped us with information about excursions, restaurants, transfers and so many other things. Her helpfulness and knowledge of the area were truly invaluable.
BREAKFAST AND THE RESTAURANT TEAM
An extraordinary thank you also goes to the entire team at the beachfront restaurant and, in particular, to Amalia, the manager of the restaurant by the sea. She is impeccable, always present and extremely attentive to making sure that everything runs perfectly. Her friendliness towards guests is truly remarkable.
We had chosen the Bed & Breakfast option, so we cannot give a complete review of the restaurant for lunch and dinner. However, the breakfast buffet is very good and varied, with a wide choice of food. We particularly appreciated the fresh fruit. Our only small observation is that the orange juice was perhaps a little too sweet for our taste, but of course this is entirely a matter of personal preference.
We must also mention the kindness and warmth of Dora, who welcomed us every morning with a wonderful smile and such genuine friendliness. Amalia and Dora are the two people we had the most contact with, but the entire team was fantastic.
A WELLNESS CENTRE NOT TO BE MISSED
We also greatly enjoyed the hotel’s Wellness Centre, located on the lower floor, directly underneath reception.
It is a lovely environment, perfect for enjoying moments of relaxation during your holiday. The centre is run by Eleftheria and Esmeralda, who are highly trained and professionally competent. The massages we received were incredibly relaxing.
IN CONCLUSION
We liked the Costa Grand Hotel very, very much.
It is a beautiful, well-maintained, exceptionally clean and well-organized resort in a wonderful location. But above all, it is a hotel where we felt welcomed, pampered and genuinely cared for as guests.
We will almost certainly return to Santorini and the Costa Grand to see everyone again.
Fabrizio"