Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa ★★★★★

Don't get me wrong, children are beautiful, a true gift in life, however, sometimes it is lovely to get away, just the two of us. This time for my husband and I, it was Mykonos that was on the itinerary. We were to stay at the irresistibly indulgent Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa for luxurious, intimate sojourn that could only be provided by a hotel of such a high calibre. This boutique establishment sits in a tranquil and picturesque corner of Mykonos, far from the tumult of the infamous full-moon parties and crowds of cruise-ships that stop off at Mykonos town. Should we wish to join in the atmospheric fun however, and relive our youthful partying, it was never far away.

Clean sleek lines, fresh pastel colours and bright details characterised the hotel whilst the staff gave it a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The lobby seemed to span for miles with its soft white marble floors, Greek colonnades and comfy sofas. A similar grandeur accompanied us to our sea view room that was remarkably spacious with separate space for living and sleeping. As expected we had a large bed with a thick mattress promising an excellently sound night’s sleep, and just beside it was a section with sofas lit by natural light from outside the double glass doors that led to our little balcony. We could not only see the sea, but were enveloped by its smell and calm sound of waves that gently lapped the shore. The two plush armchairs on the balcony meant that we could spend however long we wanted appreciating such a luxury, idling away hours.

But, with Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa being a resort rather than just a hotel, there was so much more to discover. Outside is a huge infinity pool with a bridge running through the middle. There is also a charming stairway to the resort’s private beach, tranquil and not crowded, unlike its Mykonos counterparts. This heavenly corner of sand has plenty of space, sun beds and parasols for guests looking out over the peaceful turquoise waters. So, pool. Check. Beach. Check. What was really exciting for me was the large spa that included a salon, fitness centre and indoor pools. Intimate and classed as one of the leading spa centres of Mykonos, I couldn’t wait to try a massage, maybe a salon treatment or two and a relaxing swim in one of the indoor pools.

There is no shortage of choice at Saint John, in the evening we were faced with a few decisions; where to drink an aperitif before our meal? And which restaurant to choose? Sometimes it’s an awfully hard life. In the end, however, there was a certain routine to it all, we realised. The Entre Nous bar in the hotel’s lobby was a bar for contemplation. What should we spend our evening doing? A consideration of how to use our time whilst sipping a sweet aperitif and a transition between our day and evening at one of the hotel’s restaurants...