National Geographic Traveller - UK (2022-07 & 2022-08)

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WHERE TO STAY

Mykonos

GREECE’S MOST HEDONISTIC ISLAND IS

WELCOMING A CLUTCH OF ULTRA-LUXE BOLTHOLES

Habitat Mykonos
Party island Mykonos has always had luxury hotels, but
Santorini has long been the top stop for those looking
for something exclusive in the Cyclades. As the latter
has boomed as a poster child for Greek island chic, those
in search of rarefied digs are moving north to Mykonos,
taking its hotel scene to new heights. Make no mistake,
this is some of the priciest terrain in the Mediterranean;
which other tiny island could sustain a clutch of new
openings that start at around £1,000 a night?
Newcomer Habitat, which opened in June 2021, is
rather more affordable than some of the gang, with
rooms starting at £2 50 (although they double in high
season). The all-suite hotel above Agios Stefanos, on
the northwest coast, channels the island landscapes
— palms dot the property and there are olive trees by
the pool and marram grass swaying in the breeze.
The rustic design also has a hint of Ibiza about it,
blended with classic Greek island style: a fresh, white-
on-white palette paired with straw-wrapped lamps,
wicker chairs and plenty of distressed wood — visible
in everything from the bedside stools to the thick door
frames. All but the entry-level rooms have a private
hot tub or pool outside, and Acqua di Parma toiletries
await in the bathroom. There’s even a free shuttle to
the sandy beach — 500 metres away. From €2 99 (£ 249 ).
habitatmykonos.com

Cali Mykonos
Ready to really get away from it all — and pay
for the privilege? Enter Cali Mykonos, which
unwraps its private stretch of Kalafati Beach,
on the quiet south east of the island this July.
Forty villas swagger above a vast, 11 0-metre
infinity pool, but if it’s privacy you’re seeking,
each has its own pool, too. Sea views from your
villa are, of course, guaranteed. From €950
(£792), room only. calimykonos.com

Destino Pacha
Correct, that’s the Pacha, of Ibiza nightclub
fame. This Mykonos outpost, which opened
in 20 21, is the first property outside Spain for
the group. Combining Pacha’s soundtrack
with Mykonos’s party vibe, it’s a place of
poolside DJ sets and cabaret dinners, plus
34 boho rooms with plenty of rattan and
woven straw detailing. From €36 0 (£300).
destinopachamykonos.com

Kalesma Mykonos
What looks like a Cycladic hamlet spilling
down the hillside on Mykonos’s southwestern
peninsula is in fact an all-suite and -villa
hotel. Prime views abound from every room,
and villas really make the most of them, with
outdoor kitchens and private pools. The look is
vamped-up Greek island, with lots of neutrals
and dark wood adding a five-star feel to a
classic white palette. From €1, 450 (£1,209).
kalesmamykonos.com JULIA BUCKLEY

From top: Interior,
Habitat Mykonos;
suite at Kalesma
Mykonos

JUL/AUG 2022 31

SMART TRAVELLER
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