I went to Kamari, but it was in early October and lovely and quiet. Not, I suspect, how it would be in August. Pleasant as our holiday was, Kamari was rebuilt (nicely) in 1956 after an earthquake hasn't a massive amount of charcter. It does have a good beach and plenty of restaurants/tavernas and a few bars too.
http://www.urban75.org/vista/santorini2.html

Where I do wish we'd visited, however, is Oia. Friends tell me it has lots of character, and is famous for it's sunsets. Looks like there will be great views and lots of walking. Whether it would be too small/quiet for you, I don't know
http://www.vrsantorini.com/santorini-tour/source/oia-topview2.html
http://www.destination360.com/europe/greece/oia.php

HI.
We holidayed in Kamari (Santorini) in August 2006. We chose this resort as it is noted as the liveliest one on the island but to be honest although we're not party animals (3 couples - 2 in our 40's and my niece and partner 20's) we found it a bit too boring for us in the evenings. It was fine for a week but after that we felt we'd seen and done it all. Most of our evenings were spent eating out at the various excellent restaurants, which we enjoy doing wherever we holiday but we found that after our meal the choice of bars was very limited. However, it depends what you're after. If you want peace and quiet to chat it's fine but we tried to find a bar with some decent music or a bit of entertainment on a couple of occasions and failed (and this was peak season).

This was the only negative part of the holiday for us. We thought that the island was beautiful - weather, scenery and people. YOu definitely have to visit Oia although not necessarily for the sunset. We hired quad bikes and went there during the day. It was heaven chilling out with a cool drink in one of the tavernas looking out over the cliff down to the sea. The litlle blue and white houses are exactly as they are on the postcards. We caught the bus (from centre of Kamari) to Fira where we watched the sunset one evening. There was a wedding taking place outside one of the clifftop hotels which was lovely to see.

We did spent time on Kamari beach and stopped off at another on our quad bike day but the sand was far too hot to walk on. All in all the holiday was very enjoyable and I wouldn't have missed some of those sights for the world.
Anything further you'd like to know I'd be happy to help. Let us know if you decide to book. Happy Hunting!

Hi Annie, I hope this post isn't too late as i've only got back on HT in the last 24 hours, anyway, we stayed in Perissa and I would recommend you stay at Smaragdi Village Hotel, this was through Kosmar, check out its website. As the two other ladies have said, you must go to Oia. Then there is the trip across to the volcano in the bay, of which you walk up, so take sensible shoes, you have a swim on the way. If into archaeology there's the ruins at Akrotiri. The bus will drop you at the end of the road and you can walk down to the village, you can catch a bus from just outside the ruins to get back to resort but remember one thing, all buses go to Thira and then you catch another bus out to where you want to go. This is why I said about walking into Akrotiri. There are also the ruins of the old city on top of the hill, up there you are on the level with aircraft landing at the airport !! Hope this goes some way to helping you.

Les

Hi there,

Thanks to you all for your replies. A trip to Oia is a definate, as is a trip to the volcano.

We have booked Acqua Vatos (sp ) Hotel in Kamari, and can't wait to get to Santorini.

Thanks a mill for all your help!!