IKIES, Oia, Santorini

Located in the northwest of the island, IKIES is in Oia. On your doorstep is the Oia-Fira hiking trail, while in the town you'll find plenty of museums, the castle ruins and Church of Panagia of Platsani.

The centre of Oia is a 15-minute walk, from there you can get a bus to the island's capital Fira.

By plane: London or Manchester to Thira takes around 4 hours, after which, a taxi takes 25 minutes. Free on-site parking available. Book flights to Thira.

Typical of the area, the hotel is a maze of little whitewashed terraces and rooms hollowed into the hillside. Cave-like rooms have hand-sculpted walls and ceilings and are full of character. IKIES is on the edge of Oia, so you'll feel removed from the bustle of the town.

Staff are helpful and friendly. IKIES has few facilities - there's a swimming pool overlooking the caldera and in-room beauty/wellness treatments can be booked. There's no bar or restaurant, so private dining and drinks can be brought to your room. It's ideal for a romantic getaway.

• In-room dining
• Terrace
• Swimming pool
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Accommodation is built into the rock - cave-like with domed ceilings, they are minimalist and painted white, with spacious terraces and sun loungers. While they are all different shapes and sizes, they each have a metal panel displaying some traditional Greek poetry or prose. Book a suite for a living area and jacuzzi - some even have steam rooms.

Room types: Studio, Maisonette, Suite, Villa

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, terrace private in-room dining, TV, free Wi-Fi

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and drinks menus are all brought to your room for private dining, as there's no bar or restaurant. The cuisine standard is high. For dinner, we recommend the catch of the day - we loved the perfectly baked sea bass, with spinach in olive oil and lemon, sun-dried tomatoes and a purée of celery root.

Ikies: private in-room or terrace dining, daily. Breakfast served, 8-11am. Lunch and dinner served, 12-10pm.