Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini

Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini, offers a unique and serene luxury experience nestled amidst the vineyards of Megalochori, away from the bustling caldera crowds. This Michelin Key Selected property is celebrated for its distinctive charm, excellent service, and rich history as a converted 15th-century winery.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Vedema generally receives very positive feedback, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Marriott and Booking.com. Guests frequently describe their stay as amazing, exceptional, and a perfect getaway. The sentiment is largely one of relaxation, luxury, and feeling well taken care of.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Vedema for several outstanding features:

• Unique Setting & Design: The resort is built around a 400-year-old winery and a 100-year-old mansion, showcasing classic Cycladic style with whitewashed villas and pastel-colored buildings. It offers a "village within a village" feel, surrounded by stunning vineyards.
• Tranquil Ambiance: Many appreciate its location in the quieter village of Megalochori, offering a peaceful escape from the more crowded areas like Oia and Fira.
• Exceptional Wine Experience: The 400-year-old Canava Wine Bar, located within the Alati restaurant, offers an intimate and highly recommended wine tasting experience.
• Luxurious Amenities: The resort boasts two outdoor pools (one unheated, one large heated jacuzzi), a full-service Asian Spa built into a converted wine cellar, a fitness center, and a boutique.
• Private Beach Access: Guests have complimentary shuttle service to Vedema's sister property, Istoria Hotel, at Perivolos Beach, providing access to a full-service beach area with sun loungers and umbrellas.

3. Room Quality

Vedema offers 74 fully furnished suites and villas, all with private verandas. The accommodations are described as spacious, quiet, and private, with traditional Greek décor featuring white walls, smart furnishings, and generous sitting areas.

• Design & Comfort: Rooms utilize a soothing color palette of whites, grays, and soft blue accents, or white, grey, and bright yellow in some suites. Modern amenities include satellite TV, premium Wi-Fi, individually controlled air conditioning, in-room safes, and luxury linens.
• Variety: Options range from Ionian and Dorian Suites (538 sq ft/50 sq m) to larger Athenian Suites (up to 861-1076 sq ft/75-100 sq m), and various villas including Olympian, Corinthian, Grecian, Presidential, and the expansive Nafsika Estate.
• Private Features: Many suites and villas include private outdoor jacuzzis or plunge pools. Some, like the Presidential Villa, even come with a full kitchen.

4. Dining Experience

The resort offers a diverse culinary experience with multiple dining venues:

• Alati Restaurant: This signature fine dining establishment, located in a 400-year-old wine canava (cellar), specializes in Mediterranean seafood and is considered one of the best on the island. It also features a rooftop dining terrace for sunsets and stargazing.
• Pergola Pool Restaurant: Serves breakfast, lunch, and its bar is open until midnight. Breakfast, often described as excellent and plentiful, offers a la carte options including traditional Greek pancakes, cheese pies, and superfood bowls.
• Trataro Restaurant: Offers an al fresco dining experience around the pool, focusing on Italian recipes with local produce.
• Privé Dining: An intimate private dining room available by request in the renovated wine cellar, perfect for couples with multi-course degustation menus.
• Circe Bar & Pool Bar: Provide refreshing beverages, signature cocktails, and light snacks.
• In-Room Dining: Available 24 hours with an extensive menu.
• Quality: While breakfast is highly praised, some past reviews noted that the general food, while satisfactory and living up to the price point, might not be "exceptional" across all offerings compared to some traditional Greek cuisine outside the resort.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Vedema is frequently highlighted as a strong point. Guests consistently praise the staff for being incredibly attentive, welcoming, friendly, professional, and responsive to requests. Many feel pampered and well-cared for, with staff going above and beyond, such as providing special anniversary treats. Housekeeping and groundskeepers are also noted for their excellent work. However, one past review mentioned slow service and understaffing possibly due to a last-minute large group booking and end-of-season operations.

6. Location & Accessibility

Vedema is located in the south-central part of Santorini, in the traditional medieval village of Megalochori.

• Peaceful Setting: This inland location offers a calm and collected side of Santorini, surrounded by vineyards, and a partial, distant view of the ocean, rather than the iconic caldera views found in Oia or Fira.
• Local Exploration: The resort offers direct walkability into the charming village of Megalochori, with its local restaurants, shops, and a church and bell tower, providing a genuine Greek village experience.
• Transportation: It's about a 15-minute drive from Santorini Airport (JTR) and Fira, and 30-40 minutes to Oia. The resort offers free valet parking and complimentary shuttles to Fira and Perivolos Beach. Taxis are available, though booking a private car service in advance is recommended due to limited availability on the island.
• Accessibility: While the resort offers some accessible rooms and entrances to facilities, its cobblestone paths, uneven ground, and lack of elevators (with steps into rooms) can make it challenging for guests with mobility issues.

7. Value & Pricing

Vedema is considered a luxury 5-star resort. While prices can be significant, some guests feel it offers relative "deal" compared to other high-end resorts on the island like Mystique, especially considering the spacious accommodations and array of facilities. Typical room prices can start from around €436 to $333 USD. Its value for money is generally rated positively, at 4.3 out of 5.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms have been noted:

• Lack of Caldera Views: For some travelers, the inland location means sacrificing direct caldera views, which are a hallmark of Santorini.
• Steps and Accessibility: The resort's layout with cobblestone paths and steps into rooms can pose challenges for guests with mobility issues, as there are no elevators.
• Gym Equipment: The fitness center, while available, has been described as "lacking in pizazz" and having "slightly dated" equipment.
• Seasonal Closure: The resort is not open year-round, typically closing from the end of October to early May.
• Service Inconsistencies (Past): While generally excellent, one review highlighted a past instance of slow service due to unexpected understaffing.

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