Dreaming of Greece? And you cannot decide which of the many islands to visit? I would say all of them. Each of the islands have their own charm, their own specialties and also a lot of similarities. Having visited Athens - which just bursts in history - then Santorini and finally Mykonos, I can promise you that none of these places will disappoint. Like I said, Athens is the most historic, busiest out of these named above but I find it is a must see for sure.
You cannot really understand the Greek culture if you have not seen Athens. So many things will make sense, like the tiles, the cats, the food, the way people live their every day life. Just like most islands, Santorini and Mykonos are more relaxed, a perfect spot if you are looking to get a real vacation. Most European vacations entail visiting huge cities with 100 or museums and sights which can be tiring especially coupled with jet lag.
The Greek islands on the other hand will put you right into the vacation vibe you have been longing for.
Having recently visited beautiful Mykonos, I want to share a few tips on how to make your Mykonos vacation extra special. You may think of crazy raves on the beach - and feel free to add that to your agenda if thats your vibe, but I am talking about way to make your vacation luxe!
1. Rent a Private Villa
Don't get me wrong, I love hotels or small little Bed and Breakfasts as you can find many of those on the Greek islands but a private villa, like Majestic Opal, is just a notch more luxe. They are all over the islands and are just absolutely beautiful. Designed and decorated in the traditional greek style, you will feel like you woke up in a movie. Some of them can be a bit remote and a rental car is ideal because taxis are expensive, plus you are more flexible exploring the beautiful island (make sure when renting a car you have an International Driver's License otherwise you can be fined thousands of Euros!! No one told me this upon booking my rental car before the trip!).
Most villas offer chef bookings or you can cook or order in. Of course there are many delicious restaurants - literally we did not have a single bad food experience the entire time we were there and we tried everything from street take-away donair to mid range seafood to high end sunset dinners. This is the first time while travelling that we ended up having unreal meals without fail!
2. A Day At Platys Beach
Are you craving a real beach to just swim and stick your toes in the sand? Playts Beach is ideal to spend the entire day.The vibe is very relaxed, busy but not too crowded. Beach bar vibes (but not really wild!) with a promenade of tonnes of restaurants where most will have beach beds and cabanas where you will be served. Beds can be rented per day. Most restaurants have great offers for lunch of traditional dishes like moussaka, seafood, greek salad etc. If the beach gets too boring you can walk up the hill to do some luxury shopping. Many small concept stores as well as stand alone Louis Vuitton, Dior etc will leave your wallet a little more empty.
3. Private Boat Tour
Whether it is for a special occasion or just an activity you are thinking of for your trip - Yes, Yes, Yes!!!! An absolute must-do in my opinion. The boat tour takes you around Mykonos, usually there is food (we were able to pick) and wine and it is just a whole experience to see the island from the water. Along the way the captain will go over a bit of history and special monuments which is super interesting. We stopped to take a dip and eat the homemade (prepared by the chefs wife!) dinner of fresh shrimp, moussaka and greek salad (the best choices in my opinion!!). On our way back the sun started to set and we drove by the harbour and windmills which is where most tourists watch the sunset each night. It is a magical experience I highly recommend. If the private tour is too pricey then look into a group tour with others.
I seriously cannot wait to be back, this time with my International DL to explore less discovered parts of the island. It is magical and definitely not as much of a party place as I would have thought. If you are looking for straight up partying, check out Mallorca or Ibiza!
