Stylish Escape at Meli Suites

Imagine for a moment that you are soaking in the warm rays of the Greek sun in your own private swimming pool overlooking the sea. It feels nourishing and healing- as all your aches and pains just fade away. Welcome to Meli Suites in Skala Potamia, a little piece of paradise!

We visited the Meli Suites Isle before and loved every single bit of our stay. Having chatted with the staff it sounded like we shouldn’t leave the island without taking a look at the Meli Suites, the original hotel of the Meli Suites hotel collection.

Meli Suites is mainly comprised of stylish suites embracing a mixture of Scandinavian and Aegean architecture with private swimming pools and sea views. Inside the suites, the luxury brief is taken seriously with eye-popping decor and details that recall the famous, white-washed Cycladic islands.

Insights Greece - Stylish Escape at Meli Suites
Insights Greece - Stylish Escape at Meli Suites

Lavish interiors aside, Meli Suites is located in Skala Potamias centre, right next to the busy seafront with a number of bars and restaurants, making it the perfect launchpad for exploring the village on foot. It didn’t take much to persuade my husband that we had to extend our stay on the island. Thankfully, the idea was equally appealing to him, too.

We stayed at the Superior Suite and our time here can only be described as indelible!

Insights Greece - Stylish Escape at Meli Suites
Insights Greece - Stylish Escape at Meli Suites

With a private balcony that featured our very own swimming pool, big, comfy sunbeds and spectacular sea views, we didn’t see any need to leave the hotel and travel further afield. In the morning, we would indulge in our homemade breakfast by the main swimming pool, then sunbathe on our private balcony and would only leave to take a quick dip in the sea before lunch. At night, we would drop into one of the seafront bars and enjoy a cocktail while gazing at the sea.

But enough with the words, let the pictures speak for themselves!

Insights Greece - Stylish Escape at Meli Suites
Insights Greece - Stylish Escape at Meli Suites

If you are thinking of visiting the verdant green island of Thassos, then Skala Potamia is a good place to start. From here you can embark on daily trips to the nearby villages of Panagia and Limenaria, and explore beaches like the Giola Lagoon with its crystal emerald waters. Beyond this, Meli Suites is the most luxurious and stylish hotel in the area so book your stay in one of their luxurious suites and let the positive vibes of this unique hotel work wonders for your mind and body.

Images by: Alexandros Iconomidis ©
Architecture design: BMMB Architects 

Greece’s Tourist Season 2022 to Begin on April 1 

Greece plans on extending its tourist season in 2022, as it will officially kick off on the 1st of April, announced Greece’s Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Friday, during the annual general assembly of the Rhodes Hoteliers Association.

“We must be ready by the end of March, as in any case, the new tourist season will commence on April 1st,” said Minister Kikilias, during his speech. 

“The Greek government’s aim is to extend the tourist season. And what we seek is quality in tourism, as well as higher hotel occupancy numbers,” he stressed.

According to the latest reports, Greece welcomed more than two million international visitors in the months of July and August 2021 alone- the highest of any other European nation- with the country looking towards a very optimistic 2022. 

The minister added that the contacts he made at the International French Travel Market, during his recent visit to Paris were very positive, with Greece being a favourite destination for the French this year. More than 450,000 French tourists visited the Greek islands this summer and according to the latest travel agent bookings, those numbers are expected to increase in 2022. 

Minister Kikilias went on to thank the hoteliers of Rhodes and the Association’s President Manolis Markopoulos, for supporting not only the Dodecanese island but the Greek tourism industry in general by operating quarantine hotels and for increasing the salaries of the employees during the challenging last two years. 

Exploring Santorini’s Active Volcano

Greece’s romantic island of Santorini is on top of the list on many bucket lists; seeing the breathtaking Caldera, magical sunsets, charming blue-domed churches, and the village of Oia. But one thing that shouldn’t be missed is getting up close to Santorini’s active volcano. 

One of the greatest attractions of Santorini and of utmost importance to the island is the
 volcano, whose former intense activity gave the island its current shape and morphology. Before the several volcanic eruptions that occurred throughout the years, the size and the shape of Santorini were quite different. It was a much larger, round island, which is why its name used to be Strogili, which means circular.

History of the Volcano

The Minoan eruption that sunk most of Ancient Strogili date back to 1613-1614 BC. The prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri was buried under tons of lava, every island within a 60km range was burned to the ground and a massive tsunami swept everything in its path, even reaching the coast of Crete. That is when Caldera was formed, a sea basin with a diameter of 10km. Later, over the centuries, the volcano islands of Aspronisi, Therasia, Palea, and New Palea also emerged. 

Insights Greece - Exploring Santorini's Active Volcano

Santorini’s Active Volcano 

One of the best-known volcanoes in Europe, it is a cluster of five islands in the southern Aegean Sea and lies about 100 kilometres north of Crete. The main islands of Thira and Thirasia trace out the edges of the Caldera, which formed during the major explosive eruptions. This lively volcanic past is spectacularly exposed in the multi-coloured layers of volcanic rocks that form the cliffs that mark the edge of the caldera.

The Five Islands Surrounding the Volcano

Today the result of these eruptions is the creation of five separate islands, Santorini, Therasia; an uninhabited island called Aspronisi, and the volcanic islands of Palaia Kammeni and Nea Kammeni. They compose a nice sight across the Aegean Sea, facing Santorini, and the great thing is you can visit all of them. The existence of the volcano is visible all over the island of Santorini, especially on beaches that are covered in black sand and pebbles made of solidified lava; the red volcanic rocks at Red beach are one of the most popular spots for international visitors. 

Insights Greece - Exploring Santorini's Active Volcano

The Caldera

The formation of the volcanic caldera that covers a great part of the island is what makes Santorini such an exceptionally beautiful island today, as the settlements that are built on the caldera cliffs offer a wild beauty and a stunning view. You can enjoy your time gazing at this natural beauty and the volcano that lies in the sea opposite the romantic isle. 

Exploring the Volcano 

At present, it is an underwater active volcano but you can wander on the two residual islands of black lava. There you can explore the volcano, see its crater, touch the lava rocks and feel the steaming volcano underneath your feet.

On the island of Palaia Kammeni there are hot springs known for their beneficial and therapeutic effects. The waters there contain sulfur and here you can enjoy an alternative mud bath. It is essential to swim in these waters if you wish to take your experience to a whole new level. From here you can take in the breathtaking caldera from a different point of view.

Insights Greece - Exploring Santorini's Active Volcano

Daily Boat Tours to Santorini’s Volcano 

There are daily boat tours to the volcano where visitors are able to get out and step on it, swim in the springs, and learn more facts about the volcanic activity. The boats depart either from the port of Athinios or from the old port in Fira. There is a variety of tour packages, from short excursions to more complete full-day boat trips that even transfer you to the nearby island of Therasia,  the second-largest island in the archipelago, and at the hot springs on Palea Kameni, where boats moor at Erinia and you can swim to the springs beneath the tiny church of Agios Nikolaos. Boat trips can get crowded in high season, so opt for a small-group guided tour or catamaran tour if you would prefer a more personal experience.

Tips

Wear hiking-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes. Don’t forget to pack a hat, sunscreen, and water bottles. Visiting the volcano requires about 30 minutes of uphill hiking, so may not be suitable for young children or those who are not strong walkers.