Imerovigli, Santorini: Mardanza Exclusive Deluxe Private Villa with Pool and Sea View
Friday, February 02, 2024
Greetings from Santorini! With 2024 in full swing, I wanted to get back into my writing roots and make more of an effort to publish blog posts. For those who have kept up with me on Instagram and/or YouTube, thank you! I shared my travel highlights on those platforms but I have an ever-growing album of photos waiting to see the light of day.
In October 2022, I took my mom on a birthday trip to the infamous Greek island of Santorini. Known for its exquisite Mediterranean gastronomy, impeccable caldera views, and serene ambiance, we were fortunate enough to experience this bucket list location. I was actually planning this trip to celebrate my grad school graduation in 2020 but of course, the pandemic took everyone on a loop. Long story short, this vacation was a long time coming. I definitely splurged. From business class tickets to a private villa and suite, no detail was overlooked.
No picture can do this island or private villa justice.
Once we landed at Santorini Airport (JTR), our driver met us at arrivals and drove us to our private villa at Mardanza Exclusive. Even though it's a fairly small island, driving on it seems a bit nerve-wracking. With all the curves, lack of barriers, and constant cutting in front of slow drivers, I'm glad I opted for a private driver for the entirety of the trip. As we approached the gates to the hotel, I was a bit ambivalent; it seemed bare and nothing like the pictures online. However, this was a classic case of not judging a book by its covers. The gates opened and our host was there to greet us. He carried our luggage through the grounds and up the stairs to our private villa. Within seconds, my perception of this villa flipped. The unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea, the spacious villa with a private pool, and the lack of noise pollution brought such a huge smile to my face.
After the host gave us a tour of the villa and his recommendations, I washed up and jumped into the pool faster than I would like to admit. The sun was setting so it got pretty chilly. The 25 mph wind didn't help but I was too excited to let anything damper that feeling.
For most people, a vacation is all about visiting landmarks and getting your steps in. I happen to also be one of those people but during the first leg of this trip, my mom and I stayed in. We enjoyed the villa so much so that we never left! We occasionally walked out to the busy parts of Imerovigli and explored nearby churches when housekeeping came by to work their magic. However, we spent approximately 98% of our time at our villa. Mardanza Exclusive has room service and all of our meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and drinks were hand delivered by the chef himself!
We spent a majority of our time outdoors so it was no surprise that we came back to California the darkest we have ever been. Safe to say that I got a year's worth of Vitamin D from the sun during my trip!
For as long as I can remember, I've been working towards a tangible goal. I spent most of my life as a student and there's always something looming in the back of my head. Whether it's a deadline, an exam, research, or my future, my brain is constantly on a whirlwind adventure. I went on a solo trip to Europe earlier in 2022 but I was constantly on the move. Absorbing the culture, seeing all the landmarks, and trying authentic French cuisine kept me busy. However, this trip to Santorini allowed me to relax and just live in the moment.
I'm generally NOT a morning person. It takes a substantial amount of effort for me to roll out of bed. However, I'm the exact opposite on vacations. I like to be an early bird and that was certainly the case in Santorini. I woke up before dawn each day so I could see the sun rise. It was cold and the winds were in the upper 20's but that did not prevent me from sitting on the loungers outside and watching the sun flood the skies with cotton candy colors. It gave me an adrenaline rush that lasted throughout the day.
I brought so many hats and swimsuits for this trip because I knew I would spend most of my time in the pool!
I could classify this villa as a wellness hotel. I indulged in so much self-care and the environment was perfect for meditation and relaxation. We had neighbors in adjacent villas but it was beyond quiet. People are respectful and the only thing you could actually hear were occasional splashes in the pool.
We ate most of our meals outdoors though we did have all of our dinners indoors since the winds hit around 30 mph in the evenings!
The feeling of the sun hitting your face and seeing it overcome the darkness is unparalleled.
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XO,
Adrienne
1 Comments
Love this post! Santorini looks awesome!
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