Basking under the Mediterranean sun on ruby- or white-sand beaches, Greece’s Cycladic Islands possess the power to transport travelers’ minds a world away. Yet, its most popular archipelagos of Santorini and Mykonos are no more than a 40-minute flight from the mainland. It’s this simultaneous exclusivity and accessibility that has long resulted in both islands becoming popular destinations for celebrities and savvy socialites.
The allure dates back to the late 1960s when luxury hotels began popping up on Mykonos. This was enough to attract the elite of Hollywood glamor, including Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly, which solidified the Cyclades as the new hotspot of the Mediterranean. Though tourism certainly proliferated throughout the islands over the past 50 years, there’s a reason why both Santorini and Mykonos, despite measures to try and persuade travelers to experience less-visited islands, continue to welcome swells of travelers and new hotel brands, alike. As resort towns in their truest form, meaning that the hotels, restaurants and key businesses are only open for the busy summer season, the Greek Islands promise a sense of singularity in time and place, which is appealing for the traveler ever-chasing one-of-a-kind experiences.
Santorini
A trip to Santorini would be incomplete without a day excursion to admire the island from the water. Inky blue waves lap at the unearthly volcanic cliff face jutting out from the depths of Santorini’s caldera. Red and black beaches line secluded inlets, sulfurous waters are warmed by the nearby active volcano, and the zig-zagging switchbacks of the isolated island of Thirasia—where the average lifespan of its 200 inhabitants is 90 years—might all be overlooked without this insider access.
While there is a slew of options from small motorboats to grander sailing vessels available to rent at the local marinas, the true luxury of a day charter around the islands comes in the form of a hotel-branded yacht as it waits to sweep guests away at a moment’s notice for excursions that range from half-day cruises to sunset sails. Katikies Santorini is one of the few resorts to offer this for guests in the form of a 63-foot Riva Vertigo motor yacht. A half-day itinerary around the Greek island is one of the popular itineraries that hotel guests can book to better appreciate the awe-inspiring terrain or to simply enjoy copious glasses of chilled Assyrtiko, Santorini’s native white wine, or diving in the Aegean Sea.
The yacht is also bookable to whisk guests away for a day on nearby Naxos or Folegandros, as well as on Paros and Antiparos. They also run private transfers from each of these locations, as well as from Mykonos, otherwise called the Island of the Winds (though there’s veracity to its breezy moniker, it may be more accurately labeled as the party island).
Mykonos
On Mykonos, Katikies features three categories of luxury villas that are the epitome of luxury. Their white-washed facades are in the island’s quintessential style, cascading over multiple levels down the arid hillside. They range from one- to three-bedroom villas that sprawl over multiple levels with spacious living rooms and private outdoor terraces outfitted with infinity pools and dark wooden furnishings and lightened by gauzy curtains and exposed white beams.
Regardless of the villa, the best part about this type of booking is the privacy it ensures. As a resort island, there’s no way around avoiding the buzz of Mykonos’ seasonal crowds. So having an exclusive space to retreat to where you can unwind at your leisure is a true luxury—that and the ensuing access. Villa guests receive priority access to all Katikies Mykonos’ restaurants, including the fine dining Botrini’s, an outpost of the Michelin-starred flagship in Athens.
When you’re feeling more social, the on-call concierge service will arrange any adventure you want throughout the island, from the popular beach clubs to Mykonos’ lesser explored farmland. Rizes Folklore Farmstead is an example of the latter. Literally stripping Mykonos back to its roots (the direct translation of Rizes), this family-owned farmstead features an authentic farm-to-table restaurant, sourcing produce like tomatoes, cucumbers and onions for the traditional Horiatiki (village) salad, served family-style alongside homemade pies, daily baked bread and underground baked meats. A reservation grants you access to the five acres that you can wander at your leisure, exploring the flourishing fruit trees and young vines, as well as the owners’ quaint quarters—popping into them under the summer sun confirms the practical use of limestone as a natural cooling agent.
Of course, for a more stereotypical scene, head to the beach club that started it all—Scorpios. Positioned on Mykonos’ southern peninsula, the club with its reverberating beats is the place to see and be seen, hosting internationally-acclaimed DJs who spin vinyl late into the evening, best complemented by a Scorpios spritz.
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