Off Main Road, Imerovigli, Greece
Scenic and walkable location in Imerovigli village; near restaurants, bars, and Skaros Rock
Mostly cave-style rooms and kitchenettes; some have whirlpools and most have Caldera views
Beautiful outdoor pool overlooks the Caldera
Continental breakfast served in rooms or on terrace
Roof garden set with sun loungers features wonderful views
Nefeli Suite includes a grotto-style bathroom with a small indoor pool
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Baggage assistance available
Lots of steps to navigate and cramped public areas (common in Santorini)
Some rooms don't have views and some bathrooms need updates
Breakfast not included
No full bar or restaurant
The three-pearl Nefeli Homes is crowded into Imerovigli village's gorgeous Caldera-facing cliffside. The narrow property has three entrances, 11 rooms, and four floors -- which means lots of steps and not a lot of space. But a lack of privacy is common on this part of the island and the location is walkable to Skaros Rock, restaurants, and Fira. There's just enough space for a beautiful outdoor pool, rooftop garden with Caldera views, and small kitchen that cranks out a continental breakfast every morning (can be included in rates). Most of the rooms are cave-style and have kitchenettes, some feature private outdoor whirlpools, and the gorgeous Nefeli Suite has an enormous grotto-style bathroom. The Heliotopos Hotel is a good alternative with a hot breakfast and fun bar, and is even closer to Skaros Rock.
Scene
Whitewashed Cycladic architecture crowded into the cliff for Caldera views
Like most of its neighbors, Nefeli Homes is a small boutique hotel artfully built into cliffs facing the Caldera and Skaros Rock (made famous in "Mamma Mia!"). The main color scheme is bright white, and steep steps wind around four floors of rooms, the terrace lined with sun loungers, and the pool. The reception desk is partially walled in by glass, and there's a small bench underneath a hand-painted mural of the village and cliffs. With little space for lounging and no restaurant, guests spend most of their day exploring the island or having a glass of wine in their private whirlpool (in rooms that have them). Kids are allowed here, but the majority of guests are honeymooners or groups of friends on vacation.
Location
In the heart of picturesque Imerovigli village
Imerovigli village is right next to Firostefani village and on the pedestrian path that cuts through the Aegean sea-facing Caldera and eventually leads to Oia (about a two-hour walk on a gorgeous hiking trail or a 25-minute drive along the road). Imerovigli is most famous for providing access to Skaros Rock (where scenes from "Mamma Mia!" were filmed) and providing the same gorgeous sea, sunset, and Caldera views you'll find in Fira (walkable in about 20 minutes). However, Imerovigli doesn't get as chaotic with tourists as nearby Fira and Oia, since it doesn't have the same plethora of restaurants and shops. There are still several excellent restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops to be found. The hotel itself has three entrances, and we recommend entering the hotel from the top of the cliff, where it's better signed. Entering from the bottom is more picturesque, but means more stairs and it can be difficult to find the hotel in a maze of similar looking structures. The nearest public parking lot is across a busy road. Porters are available to assist with bags.
Rooms
Mostly cave-style with kitchenettes and Caldera views; some have private whirlpools
Booking a room at Nefeli Homes can be a bit confusing, as there are lots of exceptions to the rule. The vast majority of the 11 rooms are traditional cave-style with rounded white ceilings and small windows, but there are a few regular hotel rooms with large windows. The units include kitchenettes with sinks and mini-fridges, and some upgrade to full kitchen spaces with dining rooms. Some of the rooms have gorgeous Caldera views and private furnished terraces, while others don't have any view at all. Units with outdoor whirlpool tubs are available and some are quite private, while two of the rooms have hot tubs almost on top of each other. Flat-screen TVs, kettles, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi are the standard amenities.
Bathrooms range from an over-the-top grotto-style bathroom with an indoor pool, cave-style shower, and double sinks in the Nefeli Suite, to a clingy fabric curtain covering a jetted tub in the Double Room, to a dated handheld shower in the Junior Studio. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided.
Features
Delivered continental breakfast, outdoor swimming pool, and free Wi-Fi
Due to space constraints, features at Nefeli Homes are quite limited. Guests can add breakfast to their room rates, and the nice spread of eggs, cold cuts, pastries, olives, and cheeses is either delivered to rooms or served on the rooftop terrace. No other meal service is available. There's a medium-size swimming pool with excellent Caldera views, and an adjacent small deck with sun loungers and parasols. Guests can order from a small drink menu. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Staff is on hand to arrange excursions, tours, and transfers.