The Aegean Sea is literally dotted with islets famous for a natural and scenic heritage that can take tourists' breath away.
One of them is definitely Santorini, a real pearl that can be reached by chartering a private jet that allows wealthy travelers to travel long distances in total comfort, speed, relaxation and privacy thanks also to the countless services made available to them directly at the airport.
Private transfer services that allow VIP tourists to move freely from the airport to anywhere on the island are an added benefit that comes with traveling by jet, for a vacation of elegance and luxury.
Breathtaking sunsets, famous architecture composed of white houses with blue roofs, blue-domed churches, and beautiful beaches scattered throughout the island are just a few of the must-see locations when traveling to Santorini.
But what about the costs to be incurred, the info to be known, and the best jets to embark on the journey towards Santorini?
We analyze that and much more in this article!
Historical and geographical background on Santorini
Santorini is an island belonging to the Cyclades archipelago, located in the Aegean Sea. Although its land area is very small, it is a densely populated island of purely volcanic origin: this is evident from its special conformation, which, due to a very ancient eruption, came to light through the emersion of the outer parts of the exploded crater. Its location is about 20 km from the inland coast of Greece in a marine lagoon formed mostly by the ancient crater of the aforementioned volcano. According to the most recent archaeological excavations conducted on the island, it appears that Santorini's earliest development can be traced back to the third millennium B.C., when it was a prehistoric city with a harbor of crucial importance for trade. The volcano's eruption, however, buried much of the island's Hellenic culture, which remained uninhabited for a long time before the Phoenicians colonized it again. During the Peloponnesian War, Santorini allied with Sparta while, years later, Alexander the Great used the island as one of many bases for military operations. In the following centuries, the Greek island came under the control of the Byzantines, who ruled it in a despotic and tyrannical manner, effectively triggering revolution; after that, it was the turn of the Venetians, who noticed Santorini's strategic location and annexed it to their conquered territories in a short time. Finally, in the late 1500s, it was the turn of the Turks, a domination that helped the island become increasingly prosperous economically, religiously, agriculturally and commercially. Santorini's contemporary history is marked by an incredible transformation: the primary source of livelihood shifted from agriculture to tourism, despite the fact that over the years the island has had to contend with natural disasters and foreign occupation. Today, Santorini is a much sought-after and coveted destination for wealthy tourists as it can give breathtaking views to anyone who visits.
What to do and see in Santorini
Private yacht cruises
Many of Santorini's beaches are accessible by land, but the island's real specialty are the most hidden coves and bays that can only be explored by chartering a yacht or private catamaran. It is a wonderful option for wealthy tourists to travel to visit some of the most famous and iconic beaches, including Red Beach, White Beach or the picturesque ports of Ammoudi and Vlychada from which to depart. Once evening falls, simply anchor the boat to the seabed and enjoy a gourmet dinner with a starred chef on board while admiring a sublime panorama with the sun setting in the Aegean Sea.
The luxury residences of Santorini
Santorini is also known for the private villas it welcomes to its grounds, opulent residences overlooking the sea with infinity pools, interiors decorated with chic and elegant furnishings, as well as extra services such as the presence of a private chef, spa treatments and excursions tailored to one's needs. Thanks to the many services made available to VIP tourists, it will be possible to arrange in detail guided tours, exclusive culinary experiences and much more, for a surely memorable stay.
The wineries of Santorini
The hinterland of Santorini is literally dominated by the very ancient traditions of viticulture that still remain intact today. Boutique wineries in these parts of the island offer passengers on private flights the chance to taste the famous Assyrtiko wine, a local product known for its fruity, acidic taste. Not only that, the wineries are absolutely available to be toured far and wide, and many of them incorporate a restaurant that serves traditional island fare to go with the tasty local wines.
The luxury hotels of Santorini
Once you have arrived by private jet to the island, there is no shortage of accommodation options; one of the most famous is the Grace Hotel Santorini, a luxury hotel that allows its guests to enjoy wonderful views of the entire island and the sea from its terrace. Alternatively, one could opt for the Perivolas, a relaxing place to stay nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, ideal for those who want to unplug in total carefreeness and silence.
Climate and best time to visit Santorini
The island of Santorini is dominated by a very pleasant Mediterranean climate that allows tourists to enjoy its natural beauty for many months of the year. Spring, for example, ushers in the tourist season thanks to pleasant temperatures that average around 20°C (68°F); rainfall is almost entirely absent, while sunny days are starting to follow one another more and more. The water temperature might be a little cold corresponding to April, but it starts to warm up very quickly from May onward. The period between June and August is the one most selected by tourists: the weather gets very hot, partly due to the volcanic origin of the island and the calderas still present today, with temperatures approaching 35°C for much of the summer. Precipitation falls to zero altogether, allowing tourists to carry out any outdoor activities without any problems whatsoever. Once the summer tourist season is over, Santorini's climate becomes quite mild again from September onward: until mid-October, in fact, it is still possible to enjoy its beaches since the sea temperature is accessible. Sunny days continue to hold sway, although a few showers pop up from time to time.Because of this, it is the best time of year for those wishing to visit Santorini's excavations or its cultural and historical sites. In winter, the Greek island is colored by a truly enviable climate: although rainy days are obviously more frequent, temperatures rarely go below 10°C. In any case, evenings on the island tend to be particularly cold, so it is always wise to dress appropriately. The best time to charter a private jet to Santorini is spring if you are planning to tour the island to discover its every meander, while summer is if you are as a tourist discovering the enchanting sea that washes it.
How and why to fly by private jet to Santorini
Santorini National Airport (ICAO code LGSR) is a rather small hub but operates several routes internationally and domestically, especially with other nearby islands or with major cities in its immediate vicinity. However, in addition to the various scheduled flights conducted throughout the year, the airport serving the small Greek island allows passengers on private flights to enjoy a range of exclusive services and premium benefits designed to make their travel experience as comfortable as possible. The policy is to put the traveler at the center so as to avoid the typical stress of travel due to long lines at baggage check or check-in from the very first moments after arrival. Among the various benefits of flying privately to Santorini are first and foremost the possibility of personalized catering, a personal shopper, that is, a dedicated professional who accompanies the charter flight passenger shopping at the various points scattered throughout the terminal dedicated to general aviation, as well as the numerous car rental services with or without a driver, a free WiFi connection, and various refreshment outlets. The distance separating the Santorini airport with the city center is only 7 kilometers that can be traveled via the aforementioned transfer services capable of guiding the traveler to his or her selected destination regardless of the time slot or exact location.
How much does it cost to fly private to Santorini
One of the most popular and effectively connected European hubs to Santorini airport is Barcelona El Prat, which is about 3 hours and 35 minutes away; the rather short and narrow runway that the Greek island's airport possesses allows the rental of only a Light Jet at a cost of about €17,000 or, alternatively, a Medium Jet at a price of about €31,000. The trip from Nice to Santorini, another sought-after destination in the private jet industry, is somewhat shorter: the flight takes roughly a little over 3 hours given the distance of over 1,700 km. Again, it is possible to rent a Light Jet incurring a total expense of about 15,000 or a Medium Jet at a cost of about 27,000. It takes about 50 minutes for a jet to reach Santorini from Crete, another Greek island on the list of the most sought-after destinations for wealthy tourists: in this regard, chartering a Light Jet involves an expense of about €6,000, while that to be incurred for a Medium Jet is around €14,000.
The best jet for flying to Santorini
Given the small size of the runway at Santorini Airport, one could opt for the rental of a turboprop aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12, a technologically advanced aircraft that, thanks to the brand-new engines it mounts, ensures great performance in climb and airspeed. Not only that, its cabin is extremely comfortable with larger windows, reclining leather seats, USB and WiFi connections, as well as renewed capacity in the luggage compartment. Also worth mentioning is the Beechcraft Premier 1A, a light jet that provides the 6 passengers it can accommodate with very high standards of comfort and speed; its range is close to 3,500 km on a single tank, while the top speed it reaches breaks through the 800 km/h wall. Finally, in the Medium Jets, an honorable mention goes to the Cessna Sovereign: with its 8 seats on board, a renovated cabin equipped with comfortable sofas and seats, a range of more than 5,000 km and its approximately 850 km/h cruising speed, it is an aircraft that can meet the needs of any traveler!
The most frequent flights to and from Santorini
Below of the most frequent links to Santorini:
