Uncover Santa Maura's Secrets: Lefkada's Hidden Gem Awaits!
Uncover Santa Maura's Secrets: My Lefkada Love Affair (A Review That's Actually Honest)
Okay, so the brochure promised “Lefkada's Hidden Gem.” Honestly? After my stay at Santa Maura, I'm pretty sure the gem part is accurate. Hidden? Maybe not anymore after I'm done gushing (and griping) about it. Buckle up, because this isn’t your typical, perfectly polished hotel review. This is my Lefkada diary, warts and all.
Metadata & SEO (Gotta play the game, right?):
- Keywords: Santa Maura Hotel, Lefkada, Greece, Hidden Gem, Accessible Hotel, Spa, Pool with a View, Luxury Hotel, Family-Friendly, Romantic Getaway, Wheelchair Accessible, WiFi, Restaurants, Reviews, Lefkada Hotels.
- Description: A brutally honest review of the Santa Maura Hotel in Lefkada, Greece. Discover if this "hidden gem" lives up to the hype, covering accessibility, spa experiences, dining, cleanliness, and everything in between. Prepare for unfiltered opinions, personal anecdotes, and a touch of Lefkadian magic.
Accessibility: The Good, The… Not-So-Good?
Alright, let’s start with the elephant in the room (or, perhaps, the slightly wobbly ramp). Santa Maura advertises itself as accessible. And it's mostly true. There’s an elevator, which is a godsend. The lobby is spacious, and some of the rooms are specifically designed for wheelchair users. Big thumbs up there.
BUT… and this is a big but… the pathway to the outdoor pool area? A little… uneven. And one or two of the staff weren’t entirely clued in on the nuances of helping someone with limited mobility. One time, I swear, a waiter tried to carry my wheelchair across a slightly challenging patch of paving! Bless his heart, he was trying to be helpful, but it was a comedy of errors. Ultimately, the hotel tries very hard, and that matters a lot.
On-Site Oasis (and the occasional minor meltdown): Restaurants, Lounges, and All That Jazz
Okay, the food. This is where things get interesting. There are multiple restaurants (more on that later), and a poolside bar (essential). There’s also a coffee shop, which is a dangerous place for someone like me.
- Restaurants: The main restaurant, boasting both Buffet in restaurant and A la carte in restaurant options, was generally excellent. They even had a Vegetarian restaurant option and Alternative meal arrangement options which was important to my friend who is vegetarian. The International cuisine in restaurant really shined. My favorite was the seafood… fresh and perfectly cooked. I think spent more time there than I probably should have, and I'm okay with it. The other restaurant, the one with the Asian cuisine in restaurant, wasn't quite my cup of tea, but hey, variety is the spice of life, right? The Breakfast buffet was a glorious spread – definitely worth rolling out of bed for.
- Poolside Bar: Now this is my kind of scene. The perfect Poolside bar! Cocktails with a view, sun on your face… chef's kiss. They do a mean Mojito. And the setting? Unreal. The infinity pool literally bled into the sea. You can't not relax! Plus, the Happy hour was definitely a highlight of the day.
- Coffee Shop: Warning: This is a trap. A delicious, caffeinated trap. The coffee was amazing. But the cakes? Oh, the cakes… My willpower (and my waistline) didn't stand a chance.
Relaxation Station (And the Price of Pampering)
Let's talk about the Spa. My god. Just… my god. The Steamroom, Sauna, and especially the Spa/sauna experience were incredible.
- Spa: I indulged. Full stop. Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage… the works. The masseuse was a miracle worker. I went in stressed to the max from the flight etc and came out feeling like a limp noodle – in the best possible way. The Pool with view at the spa gave the experience a major upgrade.
- Fitness Center: I intended to go to the Gym/fitness center. I really, really did. But the pull of the pool and the promise of another Mojito… well, let's just say my muscles got their workout from lifting cocktail glasses.
Cleanliness & Safety: A Sigh of Relief
This is a big one, especially post-pandemic. Santa Maura gets top marks here. The Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays. and Anti-viral cleaning products were reassuring. The staff were diligent about wearing masks and it just felt… safe. There was also Hand sanitizer everywhere! I also appreciated the Safe dining setup and the Individually-wrapped food options during breakfast.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Stomach's Paradise
I already touched on the restaurants, but let's drill down. Food is crucial!
- Room Service [24-hour]: A lifesaver after a long day of sunbathing. Ordering a late-night snack (or a whole meal, let’s be honest) was incredibly convenient.
- Snack bar: Convenient for grabbing something in a bind but the snack bar fell a little short.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Coffee was superb, the tea selection was above average, too.
- Bar: Good bartenders, a solid drinks menu, and atmosphere was relaxed and social.
Services & Conveniences: Smooth Sailing (Mostly)
- Concierge: Super helpful. Managed to get me a Taxi service, but also pointed us in the direction of local gems.
- Laundry service: Much needed after a week by the pool.
- Luggage storage: Easy and reliable.
- Air conditioning in public area: Absolutely essential, especially in the summer months.
- Elevator: Crucial for accessibility, as I mentioned.
For the Kids & Family-Friendly Vibes:
- Family/child friendly: Yes! They seemed to have plenty of options and arrangements for kids. But since I didn’t have any kids with me, I couldn’t test all of them out.
- Babysitting service
The Rooms: Comfort and Charm (and a Few Minor Quibbles)
My room was lovely. Gorgeous View!, comfortable Bed, Slippers, and all the amenities you’d expect.
- Additional toilet: It was very helpful to have this extra fixture.
- Air conditioning: Kept me cool and comfortable.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Excellent speed and reliability.
- Wake-up service: They actually got me up!
- Blackout curtains: Very handy for beating jet lag.
- Private bathroom: Clean and well-appointed.
- In-room safe box: Peace of mind.
- Coffee/tea maker: Perfect for early-morning caffeine fixes.
- Desk: Useful for working briefly, although I spent most of my time relaxing.
- Refrigerator: Great for keeping drinks cool.
My one little gripe? The shower pressure was a bit… anemic. Seriously, it felt like a gentle drizzle rather than a proper shower. Not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy
- Airport transfer: Convenient.
- Car park [free of charge]: A huge plus if you're renting a car.
- Valet parking: Available, but I didn’t use it.
The Verdict: Is Santa Maura a "Hidden Gem"?
Mostly. Yes. It’s not perfect, but the pros far outweigh the cons. The location, the service, the spa, the views… all top-notch. The staff are genuinely friendly and helpful (even if the accessibility execution isn’t quite seamless).
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Just maybe I'll bring my own shower head.
Escape to Fairytale Bavaria: Your Dream Haus am Markt Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this itinerary is NOT going to be smooth. Forget those pristine, picture-perfect travel blogs. This is real, okay? Santa Maura, Lefkada, Greece… let's see if my sanity survives. (Spoiler alert: probably not.)
Santa Maura: Ode to Chaos (And Seriously Good Gyros)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Ferry Fiasco (aka, My First Existential Crisis on a Boat)
- Morning (ish): Arrived at Preveza Airport. First, the sheer beauty of Lefkada from the air almost made me weep. Then, the rental car… a tiny, battered Fiat Panda named “Hercules.” I swear, this car looked like it had seen more of the world than I had. The drive to Vasiliki, our base camp for the week, was… well, let's just say I spent most of it praying Hercules wouldn't spontaneously combust on the ridiculously windy coastal roads.
- Anxiety Check: I swear I forgot how to drive. The curves! The sheer drops! The other cars! Had to pull over several times, pretending to admire the view while actually just taking deep breaths to avoid throwing up.
- Mid-Afternoon: Arrived in Vasiliki. Checked into our (thankfully) amazing apartment with a balcony overlooking the bay. Relief washed over me! A quick unpacking, then a desperate lunge for the nearest taverna.
- The Gyro Revelation: Found a little place right on the harbor. The gyro? Honestly, life-altering. Seriously. The pita bread, the perfectly seasoned meat, the tzatziki… I think I actually shed a tear of pure joy. Sat there, just absorbing the atmosphere – the sun, the salty air, the happy chatter of fellow tourists. Perfection.
- Evening: Attempted to find the nearest supermarket to get snacks (which is vital, by the way- snack game NEED to be top tier) the supermarket was a 10 minute walk from the apartment. I got lost. Several times. Finally stumbled back, arms laden with feta, olives, and enough Mythos beer to float a small boat. (Which, considering my ferry experience, might be useful.)
- An anecdote: I accidentally went down the wrong road and found a local cat's party! The little furballs were quite the welcoming committee and I actually spent at least 15 minutes being greeted by the fluffy furries. I felt like a cat whisperer!
Day 2: Beaches, Bleakness, and Becoming a Beach Bum
- Morning: Drive to Porto Katsiki beach. The photos… the photos are a LIE! Seriously, they're breathtaking. But getting down there… that was an experience. Winding roads, parking that resembled a medieval battleground for spaces, and the sheer crush of humanity. I considered turning around.
- The Beach Itself: Okay, yes, the beach is beautiful. The water? Crystal clear. The sand? Fine and white. Spent an entire hour pretending I was a bronzed goddess. Sunk into my beach chair, the sound of the waves, and the sun on my face. The peace was incredible.
- Afternoon: Visited Egremni Beach. The road to get there was closed due to a landslide - seriously, this place is a MESS. It all felt slightly biblical. And after an hour of driving in the wrong direction… We opted for a quiet tavern lunch.
- The Tavern Lament: Ate a truly delicious Greek salad. But I also felt a pang of… loneliness, perhaps? The beauty of the island was almost too much. It highlighted how alone I was.
- Evening: Back in Vasiliki. Ate more gyro. Drank more Mythos. Watched the sunset. Tried to capture the beauty on my phone, but honestly, my photos never do it justice. Lefkada is just one of those places you have to experience.
- Anecdote: I got a sunburn despite my best efforts. Slathered myself in after-sun, swore a lot, and plotted my revenge on the sun.
Day 3: Exploring the North and the Great Olive Oil Debacle
- Morning: Drive north to Lefkada Town. The drive was gorgeous - the island changes as you go.
- The Town: Lefkada Town is a pretty place, but also very touristy. I liked wandering the small streets and popping in and out of the little shops.
- The Olive Oil Debacle: I got obsessed with finding authentic Lefkadian olive oil. I mean, obsessed. Went into every little shop, interrogated shopkeepers about the pressing process, and tasted more olive oil than was probably healthy. Ended up buying a bottle that cost more than my plane ticket.
- Afternoon: Spent a glorious afternoon swimming in a hidden little cove. Found a quiet spot and just floated in the incredibly clear water, feeling completely weightless. Washed all my anxieties away.
- Evening: Ate dinner at a taverna on the water in Nidri. The food was good, but the view… the view was the star. Watched the sunset. *Emotional reaction: I tried to enjoy everything, but I almost felt empty at some point. So I try to tell myself that every journey has its challenges, and I have to go through the rough patches to find the beauty that can come with it.
Day 4: Sailing and the Existential Dread of the Deep Blue
- Morning: Embarked on a boat trip! Sounds amazing, right? Well, it would have been, if I hadn't spent the entire morning battling seasickness. Seriously. The boat bobbed. The waves crashed. I clung to the railing for dear life, praying to Poseidon to spare me.
- The High Seas: The boat anchored in a gorgeous bay with bright blue water. I swallowed my nausea-induced fear and jumped into the water.
- Lunch: The food on the boat was surprisingly good. The sun was nice. I didn't throw up! Winner!
- Afternoon: The boat trip went on. I felt much better! The landscape of the island was a sight to behold!
- Evening: Back in Vasiliki. Ate yet more gyro. Honestly, I might just live off this food for the rest of my life.
Day 5: The Melancholy of Departure
- Morning: Woke up with a knot in my stomach. The dreaded packing. The dreaded thought of leaving this beautiful, chaotic island.
- The Last Beach: Dragged myself to Porto Katsiki one last time. Sat on the sand. Watched the waves. Tried to memorize every single detail.
- The Packing Problem: I spent at least an hour trying to jam everything into my suitcase. Didn't succeed. Ended up sitting on the suitcase to get it closed.
- The Farewell Feast: Ate a final amazing meal at our favorite taverna. Said goodbye to the owner, who’d become a friend of sorts.
- The Drive Back to Preveza: The scenery was now less scary and more… beautiful. I think I was finally beginning to understand (a little) how the island worked.
- The Airport: Preveza Airport. Depressed, tired, and already missing the gyros.
- Refection: I think I might change a few things when I come back to Lefkada.
- Emotional reaction: In the end, no roadtrip is perfect, but the chaos and imperfections made Lefkada all the more beautiful and real.
Day 6:
- Morning: Home and the inevitable post-trip blues. The house feels empty.
- Afternoon: Start looking for flights back to Lefkada.
So, there you have it. My Lefkada adventure. A mess. A riot. A beautiful, chaotic, gyro-filled experience. Would I go back? Absolutely. Just… maybe I'll take a Dramamine first. And definitely, ABSOLUTELY, another gyro. Because, seriously, those gyros are divine.
Rayong's BEST Beachfront Escape: E144 Condo Suite Awaits!
Uncover Santa Maura's Secrets: Lefkada's Hidden Gem Awaits! (And Maybe a Little Bit of My Sanity?)
(Okay, okay, deep breaths. Here goes nothing… This is Lefkada, right? And I'm supposed to tell you all about it... buckle up, buttercups.)So, uh, what *is* Santa Maura? (Am I saying that right...?)
Alright, first things first: YES, you're saying it right! Santa Maura, or Agia Mavra, is the fortress right at the entrance to Lefkada, Greece. It's... well, it's a fortress. Old, kind of imposing, and strategically placed. Think of it as the bouncer to Lefkada's epic party. Which, by the way, is an amazing party, but more on that later.
Honestly, when I first saw it, I thought, "Whoa, history lesson incoming!" And you know what? I was right. It's got a pretty wild past, lots of battles, empires, and all that jazz. But really, it's the gateway. Once you're past Santa Maura, Lefkada opens up…and trust me, you *want* it to open up.
Why should I go to Lefkada? Seriously, why?
Okay, let me get my pep talk on. Because, HONESTLY? You SHOULD. Lefkada is… well, it’s intoxicating. Like, the *water* alone… oh my god, the water! Electric blue, turquoise, crystal clear… you can see straight to the bottom, even when you're, like, a mile offshore. Seriously. It's *that* good.
I took one look at Porto Katsiki beach, and I swear my jaw hit the sand. Pictures? Photos don't do it justice. They just… they *can't* capture the sheer, breathtaking beauty of it. You have to *be there*. You have to feel the sun on your skin, the sand between your toes, the wind whipping your hair. It's… it's life-affirming, okay?
And then there's the food! Oh, the food. Gyros, souvlaki… and the seafood? Fresh. Amazing. I actually ate so much fresh fish, I nearly sprouted gills. (Kidding! Mostly.)
And it’s not just about the beaches; the interior is just as beautiful. Mountain villages, hidden waterfalls… exploring is a part of the experience. Seriously, it's an experience.
Best beaches in Lefkada? Spill the tea!
Alright, fine, you want the dirt? Porto Katsiki is the superstar – the one you see on all the postcards. Steep steps down (prepare for a workout!), but absolutely worth it. Pure paradise. Then, there's Egremni. Used to be even MORE of a paradise, but a big earthquake messed things up. It's still gorgeous, a little rougher to get to, but that adds to the adventure, and makes it feel even more special.
And don't forget Kathisma! Much easier to access, but just as amazing. Great for swimming, sunbathing, and grabbing a drink. I spent a whole afternoon there just… existing. Seriously, just *existing*. It was glorious. And Vassiliki is fantastic for windsurfers, it was absolute chaos to watch those guys, but so much fun to be near!
Honestly? The "best" beach depends on your vibe. But all of them are worth a visit. Bring sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen. And maybe a hat. And… yeah.
Okay, so… what about getting around Lefkada? Do I need a car?
Okay, here's the lowdown. You *can* get around without a car, especially if you're staying in a main town like Lefkada Town. Buses run, but they're… well, let’s just say they operate on Greek time. Which means… unpredictable. I tried it once. Once. After a two-hour wait in the scorching sun, I gave up and hitched a ride with a friendly local. They were great, and that’s one reason I was able to get so many great local tips!
Renting a car? HIGHLY recommended. Gives you freedom, flexibility. You can explore at your own pace, find those hidden coves, and go searching for those perfect meals. It's honestly the way to experience Lefkada properly. Just...be prepared for some narrow roads and hairpin turns. I may or may not have held my breath on a few occasions. (Okay, more than a few.)
Also, scooters are an option, but I’m… not a fan. Seen too many scraped knees and nervous drivers. But hey, your choice.
What about the food?! Must know all the food!!
Oh, the food. Sweet mother of Zeus, the food! Okay, you *have* to try the Lefkadian lentils. They're a local specialty, and they’re… I can’t even describe them. Hearty, flavorful… perfect. Just perfect. And the local wine? *Chef's kiss*. (I may have overindulged.)
Seriously, though, the seafood. Fresh grilled octopus, the fried calamari, ohmygosh the grilled sardines. Find a taverna on the beach, order something fresh, and watch the sunset. You will NOT regret it. Make sure you try the *saganaki* – fried cheese. It’s… well, it’s cheese. Fried. What more do you need to know?
Also, the street food. Gyros are your friend. Souvlaki, too. Cheap, delicious, and perfect after a day at the beach. Just… be careful not to spill on yourself. I may or may not have ruined a white t-shirt.
Anything else I should know, like, "hidden gems" or something?
Oh, absolutely! Besides the obvious beaches, explore the interior. There are charming villages like Agios Nikitas and Karya. Agios Nikitas is just adorable. Tiny, with winding streets and inviting restaurants. Spend an afternoon wandering around. Karya is the capital, has some amazing local crafts. You can find true treasures there.
Also, check out the waterfalls near Nidri. They're a bit of a hike, but totally worth it for the experience. Cool off in the pools, and enjoy the scenery. And the sunsets? Find a spot on the west coast and watch the sun dip below the horizon. Breathtaking. Literally, breathtaking. I almost died from the beauty.
My personal hidden gem? Find a bakery that sells *bougatsa*. It's a custard-filled pastry that's pure heaven. Seriously. Heaven. Find it. Eat it. Thank me later.
