BLUE SAND BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SUITES – HOTEL REVIEW
Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites in Folegandros, Greece truly is one of the places I would recommend to everyone. I fell in love with Folegandros over and over again and it is hard to put into words why.
Maybe it is the simplicity of daily island life, maybe the humility of people living on Folegandros, or this unpolished almost rough beauty of this island.
Find below my honest account of what staying at Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites really is like, including tips on what to do and not to do to enjoy your stay to the fullest.
Enjoy!
BLUE SAND BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SUITES – BASIC FACTS
LOCATION:
Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites is located at Agalibay, at the island of Folegandros, in Greece. You have not heard about Folegandros before? Then you are in for a treat, it is one of my favourite Cycladic islands, and it still seems to be a bit off the radar! So make sure you visit before it changes, and it becomes the next Mykonos!
You can only reach the island by ferry, which takes around 3.5-4 hours from the port of Piraeus in Athens. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Santorini which takes about an hour, that is exactly what I did after flying in directly to Santorini from Frankfurt.
GETTING THERE:
You can only reach the island by ferry, which takes around 3.5-4 hours from the port of Piraeus in Athens. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Santorini which takes about an hour, that is exactly what I did after flying in directly to Santorini from Frankfurt.
Once you reach the island you really should rent a car, otherwise, you will not be able to explore the island, which would be a pity! The car drive takes about 15 minutes from the port to the Blue Sand Hotel.
BOOK BLUE SAND HOTEL HERE
ARRIVING AT BLUE SAND:
Check-in starts at 3 pm and Check-out at 11 am. If you arrive earlier than the check-in time the concierge at the Hotel will happily take care of your luggage until your room is free so you can go for a swim in the Agilbay and start enjoying your Greek holiday.
ROOMS:
Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites has 15 rooms & suites across 10 different room types.
So which room should you choose? This remains, after years, one of my favorite hotel rooms I have ever stayed at. And it is the view you get from your bed. And how not hyped the whole of Folegandros is and how unknown this hotel is. It is a genius combination!
My first choice would be the ‘Senior Suite‘ (Room 110) as shown in the photo below. It had a perfect size, and the views were unbeatable.
In case you cannot get this room, then try the Blue Sand Sea View Suite, which is the Hotel’s most luxurious option. The room has around 40 square meters and includes a shaded terrace with an outdoor sitting area and a day bed where you can lounge the day away as you take in the majestic views of the sea.
PRICES:
This will not come as a surprise – the high season in summer is the most expensive and rooms start at around 450 EUR. Should you come outside of the peak season the prices start at around 280 EUR. I visited Folegandros around four years ago and prices were considerably lower. This means that the island is becoming more and more in demand, so make sure to go soon!
My tip would be to visit Folegandros towards the end of May or the beginning of October when prices are still cheaper compared to the high season. It also seems that one gets the best price while booking directly through the Hotel. If Booking.com offers a cheaper rate than what the Hotel website offers, try contacting them and see whether they can match it up, or even offer a better deal.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites really is one of my favourite hotels to recommend to friends and family. Why? I think it may be is the combination of a very authentic small greek island and a family-run design hotel that is down to earth. And those killer views are just unbeatable.
It is difficult to put it into words, but I just remember feeling so grateful and happy throughout the stay. I hope very much that that will also be your experience.
You may be asking yourself – is there anything about Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites that is not ideal?
POINTS WORTH CONSIDERING:
- You will need a car to get here as well as to enjoy the island. Public transportation is not very reliable and generally unavailable in the evenings.
- The Hotel does not have a pool. But this really shouldn’t be a problem given that you are less than one minute away from the sea.
- Some of the rooms are relatively small and may lack a feeling of privacy. Should this be a problem – make sure to mention while booking your room to accommodate you with something either more spacious or private.
BLUE SAND HOTEL – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHAT WILL YOU DO
You will see, when you arrive in Folegandros, you get into the pace of the island where you don’t chase some tasks, you just enjoy the state of affairs as they are. And that is for me the new luxury. I loved waking up early and going for a swim before breakfast.
The hotel is situated on the seafront, and the beach is pretty much empty before the first local bus arrives. Make sure to take advantage of that window of opportunity. You can choose to have a refreshing dive into the beach’s crystal-clear waters, sunbathe on the sunbeds, or embark on a fun watersport adventure
In case you are looking for a getaway from the crowd, you can rent the powerboat from the Hotel and embark on thrilling excursions to hidden coves and secluded beaches. Imagine diving in pristine waters, and relaxing in emerald bays, reachable only by boat.
I normally do not mention shops, but Blue Sand Hotel has one of the best little boutiques you will ever come across at a hotel. It offers an original selection of collections and creations of small and less-known Greek fashion designers, which you would normally never find out about!
You must also experience the sunset from the Church of Panagia, it is absolutely special!
WHAT WILL YOU EAT (& DRINK)
Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites has one restaurant. And it will be enough.
The restaurant offers simple but intriguing food, accompanied by incredible views of the endless sea and the soothing sound of the waves. Daily deliveries of fish, traditional handmade pasta, crawfish and seafood as well as locally reared rabbit, are prepared and served at the terrace, in the glow of candlelight.
How could one want more?
In case you would like to leave the Hotel, just a few meters down there is a family-run Taverna Agali which we loved. It was one of the most down-to-earth restaurants I had the joy of visiting during my travels. The food is prepared by the husband and wife and served by their daughter. A very low-key affair, with exactly the greek flavours you would expect on a small greek island.
You can also get the best iced frappe in the whole of Greece in Amoudaki All Day Coffee Bar, which was our daily staple.
Just writing this down makes me want to already go back!
IS THERE A SPA?
No there isn’t.
FAMILY FOCUS
Families are welcome at Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites but there isn’t much in the hotel, especially for them. That said, which kid needs more than a beach and the sea just 20 seconds from your hotel room?
I would aim to visit with slightly older kids, but I do not see why it would not work with toddlers.
FINAL TIPS FOR YOUR STAY AT BLUE SAND
I absolutely loved staying at Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites. It is the combination of the hotel and the magnificent island of Folegandros that is truly hard to beat!
Please consider the following points to make the most of your stay:
- My tip would be to visit Folegandros towards the end of May or the beginning of October when prices are still cheaper compared to the high season.
- Agkali beach is pretty much empty before the first local bus arrives. Make sure to take advantage of that window of opportunity!
- Slow down into the island pace, you will relax like you have not done in a while!
BOOK BLUE SAND HOTEL HERE
Enjoy,
Voyage Provocateur
1 Comment
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Debra milner
Thank you for this! I may or may not get there in person, but i definitely will in my dreams!!!!!!!