kbh1234

My husband and I stayed here in 2015 on the first day the hotel opened after renovations. The facilities were all very nice - our SNA cleared and we were upgraded to an oceanfront suite. The only downside to the hotel is that it is a bit of a hike to Mykonos Town, but the hotel does have a shuttle that leaves at set times. The little village right outside the hotel gates has some good restaurants, so you aren't confined to hotel food if you don't want to go into Mykonos town (the hotel food was good, I just like to try local places). This hotel is perfect if you are looking to relax, but if you are going to Mykonos for the party scene I would look for a hotel in Mykonos town.

Here is a photo of the living room and bedroom portion of the oceanfront suite. The walk-in closet and bathroom portion take up the entire length of the suite to the right, and the bathroom has both a soaking tub and a rainfall shower. We also had a covered patio with two lounge chairs and a small table. There is also a work desk in the living room but it was behind me when taking the picture.

travelexpert

Dear Starwood Lurker:

Let me rephrase my question.

Is it within SPG rules for a property not to offer any award inventory many months (or even a year or more) ahead IN ANTICIPATION that all standard rooms COULD be booked up?

Starwood Lurker

1. If there is a standard room available for sale at a paid rate via Starwood channels that is on the SPG award rate plan, no it isn't.

2. If the rooms on the SPG award rate are all sold via Starwood channels, yes it is.

Feel free to cite some dates where #1 applies and I will be more than happy to follow up on it.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

travelexpert

Is this property worthy of being an SPG level 7?

kbh1234

I would say yes - I don't remember exactly what the rack rates were when we were booking, but they were high enough that I did not even consider a paid stay. I was happy with our stay and would not hesitate to use my points there again. We stayed at the Grand Bretagne in Athens after this and I did feel like 12k per night was a much better value than 30k, but I don't feel like I "wasted" my points at the Santa Marina. YMMV.

mbluecpa

Not much activity in this thread, so I figured I'd post a few impressions of our stay from mid-May, shortly after it re-opened for the season.

Our room was a Seaview Suite, upgraded as a gold from Deluxe Seaview. It was similar to but smaller than the photos posted above, and all one oversized room with no divider. The bathroom had a very large shower, two sinks, and a glass-enclosed () WC. The balcony overlooked the beach and water and had a table with two chairs. Furnishings looked new, which reflects the recent renovation.

The property is situated on several levels, so there was plenty of climbing to and from the room, lobby, and restaurant/bar (though as we later discovered, not nearly as much as at Mystique). There are two pools and a fairly small private beach. As noted in the thread, the property is somewhat tucked away but an easy 10-minute or so walk to Ornos with a beach and several restaurants. Scheduled shuttle service runs to Mykonos Town. We did arrange a car rental through the concierge to explore other beaches and Mykonos Town on our own schedule.

Our rate included breakfast, which was served as a buffet in the Le Colonial restaurant. We found the selection very good, and items were kept fresh and replenished through the 11am close.

Service had some glitches and was definitely weak compared to the other LC and St. Regis properties we'd stayed at on this trip. We attributed that to the hotel having just opened for the season, but from reading this thread and the SPG reviews, perhaps that's the norm. Bar service was friendly but very slow: two mixed drinks twice took 15 minutes with us being the only people in the bar. Housekeeping went into our room while the DND sign was posted. We got misinformation from the concierge on shuttle times. We also overheard two shuttle drivers talking very negatively about American guests in Greek (apparently not realizing that one of us understood them).

One last random observation - in-room coffee service is provided but not complimentary: Nespresso pods are charged at 4 Euros each. This isn't disclosed anywhere in the room.

SPSTiger

What's the standard room here? I'm researching a trip for the first week of July 2017 and there doesn't seem to be any SPG award inventory for a standard room, or any room type for that matter.

I see a Superior Seaview Room available for sale at a paid rate on spg.com and the description of that room seems to match the room description that is listed on the Santa Marina resort page on the site.

jmanirish

It's the "non smoking superior" room. They might not have loaded July bookings yet. I believe they just got to June (I was checking a week ago and nothing was available - but is now).

Starwood Lurker III

Hi SPSTiger,

The standard room at this hotel is Superior room. Superior Seaview Room does not attached to SPG Free Night Award rate plan.

Best Regards,

Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

SPSTiger

Thanks jmanirish and Christina! I do see there are free night rooms available through end of June so will keep monitoring for when July dates are loaded.

I LOVE EWR

Planning a trip here for June 2018. When will the rates/packages be released and bookings open for this hotel for that time period? Also, I see golds having good luck with upgrades in the past. Is that still holding true?

Thank you!

markzz2

Just finished a 4 night stay at the Santa Marina. Plat Lifetime member and booked way in advance for a Superior Sea View room.

Love the resort. The room was exactly as booked, enquired about an upgrade but none offered so we got a lovely Sea View (In fact we were told it was the best view room they have), lovely big balcony but tiny room. Nowhere to open a suitcase except on the bed. The room was well furnished and clean but was it worth EUR700 a night? We had a bottle of wine in the room as a welcome gift (not sure whether that was an elite member thing or everyone gets it?).

We paid for a room with breakfast rate so actually no Plat benefits were received. I asked for a late check out (we had hotel transport booked for 1pm) and just wanted to go straight from the room to the bus......... I was reluctantly given until 12.30 which was a bit annoying. (normal check out time 12pm)

When I went to pay the bill I noticed that they had charged EUR 8 for mini bar use (we had not opened the mini bar), and was told it was for the coffee machine and two coffee pods we used! Never in any hotel have I ever been charged for using an in room coffee maker...... the lady refused to take it off the bill and said I was not the first to mention it.

The breakfast was lovely the staff were lovely, we liked the quiet location near Ornos, and we ate in the village twice rather than go in to hectic Mykonos town which is gorgeous but very busy and crowded. Overall a lovely stay, great staff and genuine service.

Things I didn't like about the hotel:

Mood music everywhere! (including on the beach). I really hate the way hotels inflict this stuff on us. If I want music I bring my own and use a headset which does not disturb everyone else. I just wanted to hear the waves and the birds, instead loud Buddha Lounge Music blasted everywhere including breakfast and pool areas.

The coffee machine charge (which sadly really left me with a bad taste as I left the hotel.....small thing but annoying.)

The way I was encouraged to "tip" the front desk staff at checkout by adding to my bill........ I felt embarrassed to say no, they were nice, and very helpful but I truly hate this tipping everyone thing....... when I pay EUR700 a night I assume the resort pays the staff a fair wage and I do not want the embarrassment of it all.

The charge for water by the pool and on the beach (EUR4-50 ++) when in most resorts around the world you are given drinking water by the pool or beachside for free (it also helps build a relationship with the pool staff and increases the "feel good" factor with guests) . At other resorts you get the fruit/smoothie/token cold towel. But here nothing......... as a result I buy six bottles of the same water in the local shop for EUR 1-80 and just bring one to the beach myself.

I would go back, but would actively look for a better value option. Didn't feel like they made much of an effort for elites, I adored the views, but many resorts on the Island have views that are equally as good.

Assuming after August a breakfast would be allowed as a Platinum benefit so this would perhaps make me feel a bit more valued and that I was getting something "extra" which I didn't feel on this stay.

christianj

markzz2 thanks for the review as we will be at the resort next week for 3 nights. Being nickeled and dimed to death in resort areas doesn't surprise me...what does surprise me is the mention of the front desk wanting a tip! Exactly for what? Checking you in and out? As a Platinum, I am not expecting much given the season and understanding that the resort is usually pretty busy. Will report back with our experience after our stay.

markzz2

If you have booked (or lucky enough to be upgraded to a Superior Sea View).... the view in room 233 is spectacular and you will not be disappointed!

Have a great stay and look forward to hearing what you think of it all.

christianj

We are on an award stay so I don't think there will be much in terms of an upgrade even as a Platinum. But who knows I haven't gotten lucky in a while so maybe it's my time for a nice surprise upgrade.