Imperial Med Hotel, Resort & Spa

Imperial Med is an expansive property that attracts families and couples alike, including a vast number of Italian tourists -- in fact staff are usually heard speaking Italian, and entertainment may only be in Italian. Decor mixes classic Greek motifs and modern style, with lots of white, black, and teal throughout. The lobby has boxy white-velvet sofas -- though they look a little worn -- and shabby-chic chairs are upholstered in black floral fabric. Light streams into the large restaurant, filled with white rustic wood tables set with black placemats, and some tables sit on a shaded stone patio. The pool area is clean and lined, with lounge chairs and shaded cabanas. A pebbly black-sand beach is located down a short paved path and is mostly used by hotel guests. It’s lined with cushioned sun beds and palm parasols. There have been rampant complaints about rooms not being available or guests being placed here due to overflow at other hotels, and communicating with staff can sometimes be difficult. All-in-all, though, the hotel is a pleasant-enough choice for those seeking all-inclusive rates without being near the island's main sights.

The hotel sits right next to the Santorini Airport in a deserted area of the island with just a couple of other hotels nearby. It’s a two-minute walk to the Aghia Paraskevi beach -- which has plenty of sun beds -- and a seven-minute walk to the nearby Gaia Winery. Kamari -- a busy area filled with restaurants, bars, and shops -- is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. It’s a 15- to 20-minute drive to Fira, on the island's iconic caldera, while Oia -- a town known for its sunsets that's located at the island’s northern tip -- is a 40-minute drive away.

The hotel’s 57 air-conditioned rooms include Double Rooms and a variety of Suites, plus two apartments housed in converted windmills. The property has no high-rise structures, and rooms are set in single-story, interconnected villas. It almost feels like a small retirement community in its arrangement. The look throughout it mostly stylish and modern, with an abundance of soft neutral hues in browns and creams, and pops of soft turquoise or red in fabrics and upholstery. Whitewashed, antiqued furniture has classic lines, but walls are rather austere and lack any significant art. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, and hairdryers, and a highlight of rooms are the private patios or marble terraces with seating. Tile bathrooms have modern vessel sinks and stand-up showers or shower/tub combos. Suites are available with separate bedrooms and living rooms, while Windmill Rooms have jetted tubs. Light sleepers should beware that planes can be heard passing over the hotel starting early in the morning.

The hotel has a large outdoor pool with a pool bar that's surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas, and there’s often entertainment and music for younger guests (though it's often only in Italian). All-inclusive options are available, with both a la carte and buffet-style meals available at the large on-site restaurant. The resort is a short walk to a nearby rocky beach, which has lots of lounge chairs for guest use. Massages and beauty treatments are available in the small spa, which also has a Turkish bath and a sauna. Sports facilities include tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball courts as well as a soccer field. There’s also an amphitheater, a small playground, and table tennis. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.