Calilo Hotel, Ios: The local owners of this quirky new hotel scooped up 1,000 acres of land on this beloved, party-forward island with the intention of preserving almost all of it. They planted nearly 70,000 trees, started an organic garden, and foraged for some of the materials to build the 15 eco-friendly suites and villas, some set right into rock formations with natural tide pools and their own swim-up bars.
Blue Palace Resort, Crete: The most iconic luxury getaway on Crete—a family-friendly island considered a Covid green zone for its low case counts and large health-care system—has recently introduced a hotel within the hotel. Called the Haven Collection, it comprises jasmine-shrouded villas and suites with access to a private beach and a helipad. There’s also a retrofitted, traditional fishing boat that can be used for barbecues at sea, and an open-air cinema on the shore.
The Rooster, Antiparos: Opening in June, the Rooster is the antidote to thumping nights in Mykonos, with 17 villas and suites fringing the Livadia Beach on the quiet, undeveloped western shore of Antiparos. Chefs will mine the organic on-site farm to pack beach picnics or serve dinner under the string-lit “Secret Garden,” and adventurers will focus on the island’s natural draws, with spelunking tours and visits to ancient ruins.
Oku, Kos: This island in the Dodecanese has it all: solid nightlife, preserved ruins, ample choice of soft-sand beaches, and a claim to fame as the birthplace of Hippocrates. What it lacks is a large range of five-star accommodations. The adults-only Oku is poised to be the island’s top choice when it opens this month, with its bohemian, bungalow-like suites (many with private pools and their own rooftop decks) and herb- and olive oil-infused scrubs at the spa.
Villas And More
White Key Villas has long cornered the market on luxury villa rentals throughout the Greek isles. For 2021, it’s introducing five new projects, some in destinations that fly under the radar, such as the Cycladic capital of Syros and the ritzy northern coastal town of Halkidiki. Villa Fanya in Syros is the brainchild of a Greek architect who designed the five-bedroom home to blend in with the moonlike coastline just outside its walls; in buzzy Paros, the six-bedroom Villa Santhia is practically designed to capture the bright rays that give neighboring Golden Beach its name and fame.
But White Key is getting new competition. One Fine Stay, best known as a collection of upscale urban rentals—all vetted for their impeccable design—is expanding into Greece with 39 luxury homes that can be booked by the night, rather than weekly (as is more common). They’re largely in Mykonos and Santorini, but with prices that start at around $650 per night and space for eight or more guests, they offer a relative value while hitting the brand’s high standards of style.
And don’t overlook some of the smaller players. This year, Santorini Sky has earned buzz for its just-opened collection of five villas high above the island’s renowned blue domes. And the three traditionally designed homes that newly comprise Kastelli Blu Residences, on the sleepy sponge-farming island of Kalymnos, share access to a top-tier culinary school, as well as world-class rock-climbing routes.
Who To Call
Despite Greece’s popularity and complexity, there are few travel advisers with a masterful, comprehensive knowledge of all it has to offer. Among the exceptions are Jacline Vinke of Truffle Pig, who has written the book on Greece’s best hotels, and Mina Agnos, whose travel agency Travelive has a niche focus on the Aegean. There’s also Elena Papanicolaou, the Dodecanese-based founder of Fly Me to the Moon, which has long served as an on-the-ground counterpart for international travel planners booking clients to Greece.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.