Ftelia Bay Boutique Hotel ★★★★

Just like everywhere else in Greece, Mykonos has its own fascinating legends and its own place in ancient Greek mythology. Our three and a half hour flight from London to the ‘Island of Winds’ proves to be plenty of time to flick through my guide book and learn all about the battles that raged across the island between Zeus and the Titans, and the great fight in which Hercules vanquished the invincible giants, whose petrified corpses are still supposed to be visible in the form of enormous boulders scattered around the island.

When we arrive, it is clear that things have changed over the course of a few thousand years… Mythical battles have been replaced by an unerring atmosphere of calm, with bright sunlight twinkling on the surface of the Aegean Sea, which laps ever-so-gently against sheltered sandy bays, the foothills of sun-scorched mountains and the odd weather-worn boulder (or giant’s bone, depending on who you believe). Indeed, the only evidence of a battle to be seen as we touch down is the fight amongst jostling holidaymakers, clamouring to get into the next taxi and shoot off to their hotels in the centre of town.

Being VeryChic travellers, however, we are met by our hotel’s private transfer service and head the other way from most of the summer crowds, cruising through the picturesque countryside until we arrive at the stunning Ftelia Bay. The bay itself is tranquil and idyllic, retaining an authentic feeling thanks to the empty countryside and rugged hills which surround it, punctuated only by a few typical whitewashed houses sprinkled around like sugar cubes. We could hardly feel further away from the packed out beaches, throbbing nightclubs and enormous cruise liners which characterise the town just a few kilometres along the coast. The Ftelia Bay Boutique Hotel is set a few hundred metres back from the water, raised slightly above sea level so that, as our car swings into the driveway, we enjoy staggering views towards the sparkling water, where a couple of gleaming yachts are glinting in the sunlight and swaying lazily in the summer breeze.

Naturally our first thought is to head straight out, bounding across the fields to throw ourselves into that inviting water, but before we have the chance we are drawn towards an even more alluring oasis - the hotel’s swimming pool. So, after hurriedly setting down our suitcases in our luxurious room, we are soon dipping our feet into the refreshing water, admiring the view out towards the bay as we sip on a couple of ice-cold cocktails. I spend the whole afternoon snoozing under the sweltering Mediterranean sun while my wife ventures off to investigate the spa and ‘yoga room’ – a delightfully relaxing start to the holiday all round!

We regroup for dinner on our first evening, heading down to the Ulmus restaurant – elm tree in Greek – for a Mediterranean feast courtesy of VeryChic. Set above the waterfall which flows into the swimming pool, with a floor to ceiling wall of glass overlooking the bay in the dying light of the sunset, the setting is absolutely spectacular. And the evening only gets better as we make our way through our complimentary bottle of wine and an unforgettable meal featuring classic Mediterranean fare and some creative and innovative dishes (notably the delicious ‘mojito salmon’!).

This blend of the classic with the quirky is typical of the hotel and its décor, a traditional whitewashed building with a few tricks up its sleeve. From the reception to the luxurious and spacious bedrooms, the simple colour scheme and details such as rough stone walls lend the Ftelia Bay Boutique Hotel plenty of rustic charm. Meanwhile, we also spot a few more eccentric touches, like the upside down baskets serving as lamps in the reception area and the modern artworks in our bedroom. We are not fooled however - our authentic Greek guesthouse may have had a stylish and luxurious makeover, but this is still the typical Greek island break! So, after filling ourselves up with our evening feast, we retire to bed eagerly anticipating another day filled with sun, sea and sand in our beautiful island paradise!