Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini

Stay Dates - 26 to 31 August 2025 My family and I are Marriott Ambassador Elite members who consistently travel over 100 nights a year and spend significant amounts with Marriott. Vedema was one of the most disappointing Luxury Collection stays we’ve had, and it wasn’t because of Santorini—it was because of the hotel’s condition and the way management handled our stay from the very beginning. The property has aging units that are overdue for renovation. The first suite (which we booked with points) we were placed in had a moldy-smelling AC unit, visible sand and dust on the floors (It is an arid island, but this should be clean), and even broken glass left on the floor (we have a toddler and that was a huge issue). Before anything else went wrong, I met with the General Manager (Konstantinos Chatzikonstantinou) to address these issues and he said he’d address it in the coming days (not immediately). Even at that point he reeked of cigarette smoke, something I’d never expect from the leader of a luxury property. Then once he moved us rooms two nights later, came a much more serious problem, a staff member entered our villa without knocking. He rang the doorbell once then immediately walked in while my wife was asleep and unclothed, with our toddler sleeping in his crib. A complete violation of privacy and basic guest safety. Instead of handling the situation swiftly, the hotel made it worse. Despite knowing how unsafe and uncomfortable this made my wife, they sent the same employee back to our villa alone the next day to apologize in person. Something we never asked for and did not want. I requested a modest gesture to acknowledge the severity of what happened—50,000 points or €200 off the bill. When I brought all of this to management’s attention, their focus shifted to explaining why we should feel grateful for the “upgrade” they gave us. The hotel was nowhere near full, and the GM openly admitted he was intentionally holding back the newly built private pool villas (1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom) “in case someone booked last minute.” That’s not a gesture of goodwill; that’s unsold inventory. Elite upgrades are a standard Ambassador benefit and not an acceptable substitute for accountability after a privacy breach. This contrasts with our preceding stay in Oia, which made Vedema look even worse. Before arriving, we stayed at Canaves Epitome, a Hilton SLH property in Oia. We are Hilton Diamond members, but spend far fewer nights and far less money with Hilton. Canaves Epitome hotel was near 100% capacity during our stay, yet they upgraded us to a beautiful two-bedroom private pool villa with a caldera view and treated us exceptionally well from start to finish. That’s what true luxury hospitality looks like. Vedema has some units that look nice in photos, but it is night and day between the old original units and the newly built ones. The two bedroom pool villa we finally ended up in was a pleasant space. But luxury isn’t defined only by newly built units. It’s defined by professionalism, responsiveness, and respect for guest safety. Vedema failed on all three. For anyone considering this property, beware that the rooms can feel old and neglected, service is inconsistent, and management seems more focused on protecting revenue than protecting guests. This was not the experience we expect from the Luxury Collection or from Marriott. I don't normally write reviews. I attempted multiple times to resolve my issues at the lowest levels possible within the hotel then directly with my Personal Ambassador. Since I didn't receive a sufficient response in my opinion, I'm posting this review for other potential guests to consider.

Vedema offers a luxury escape in the heart of the small Greek town of Megalochori with its 400 year old cave restaurant (Alati) and some of the best volcanic wines we tasted on the island. Choosing this resort was the perfect way to end our first parents-only getaway. Megalochori’s quiet streets, local vibes, and wonderful people made our stay feel truly relaxing after the busy days in Oia. A special thanks to Meridona and Aris for the warm welcome and hospitality. We hope to return in the future! :)

Excellent service by the staff who have been very well trained and carry out their duties with courtesy and professionalism helps make this an excellent choice of hotel. Thank you to the staff for all your attention during our stay. The resort is tucked away from the busier towns which makes it even more enjoyable to return to after a day exploring. Low level buildings with privacy for all. Limited choice of restaurants in October for alternative dining experiences. We hired a car which allowed us to explore the island which we would recommend. Baikas travel organised airport transfers for us at competitive price and communication was excellent and their drivers were punctual so a good alternative if you do not feel confident driving here. My only niggle is that the aircon was not very efficient but not a big issue mid October. Overall. I would highly recommend this hotel for a relaxing and quiet stay in Santorini.

During our Greek vacations, we went to Santorini and enjoyed a 4-night stay at the Vedema Luxury Collection Resort. The resort is beautifully landscaped and features two pools, a Jacuzzi, SPA, Sauna, and 3 restaurants. We took advantage of a 10% discount on dinner at the restaurant on the first night and enjoyed a first for the resort, a great Lobster night menu with wine pairing in the 400 years old cave. Breakfast was served at the pool restaurant, also the resort provides paid transportation to visit the island. The staff consistently demonstrated attentiveness, professionalism, and friendliness, ensuring an extraordinary stay. The quite town of Megalochori offers has several restaurants and shops around the resort providing a pleasant contrast to the crowds in Fira and Oia.

First class resort from rooms, location staff and food. One of the best resort I’ve stayed in over 40 years of extensive travel.