Archipelagos Hotel ★★★★

In the cold of a February morning I looked forward to the beginning of summer, the end of the rains in April and feeling the warm sunrays of May. And what would be better than going south for the end of spring? It was then that Greece came to my mind, and later the idea of a Greek Island, then idea of Mykonos. I hesitated at first, the popularity of such a small island could make for a less relaxing holiday than I had in mind and I was in no mood for crowded beaches and early morning wake-ups just to reserve a sun bed. But as soon as I found a VeryChic offer of Archipelagos, a hotel nestled in the picturesque and tranquil Kalo Livadi bay I couldn't resist. Calm, exclusive, and luxurious, it was an offer I simply could not refuse! In the days after I couldn’t help dreaming about what our two weeks on the island would be like...

I could envision us arriving on the ferry admiring the smooth, white houses as the boat slowly sailed into the port. The sun would be breathing warmth on our backs and the whole island would sparkle. Some people were lazily wandering the narrow avenues, whilst others enjoyed the thrill of a quad bike as they zoomed through the town. We would soon arrive at Archipelagos hotel, structured like an amphitheatre and exuding Mykonian culture. We would enter into the white-washed lobby with splashes of colour in with details in the fabric of the curtains and sofas. Long French doors frame a view of the rolling hills of the island, the white beach and the blue sea. First class hotel personnel would pleasantly greet us and lead us to our sea-view room.

The rooms carry though the Grecian theme of white with splashes of blue, green or even red, in characteristic stripes.  The large 27m² reaches out to a sea view balcony where I could imagine myself spending a warm evening relaxing and admiring a dazzling sunset. The centre piece is the four-poster double bed, set on a smooth terracotta tiled floor. The bathroom is also fresh and white with shiny chrome fittings, with a bath or shower. The exciting part would be, of course, the terrace. We would part the flowing curtains and open blue shutters to reveal the view beyond. A rustic veranda waits with curved smooth walls and cushioned, lounging seat against the stone wall. The view is of uninterrupted nature, the gleaming Aegean Sea and dots of white on the hills. I would breathe in the fresh sea air and sigh happily, the sun pleasantly warming my face.

Our first evening we would enjoy our 10% off at the hotel restaurant, indulging in five courses of authentic Grecian delights and sipping wine from the Cyclades.  Everything is locally produced at the Archipelagos à la carte restaurant, so you can eat fresh and delicious cuisine whilst gazing out over the shinning pool and clear sea. A restaurant with a view!

The next morning I would awake to a bountiful breakfast of Greek treats fit for Zeus himself. This colourful display of fruits, yoghurts, juices, breads is the perfect spread for the perfect start to the day; we would eat breakfast like royalty! After which, I was dreaming about hiring a motorbike from the hotel, to explore the hilly isle and wind around its avenues.  After such an active morning we would retire to the Archipelagos poolside and relax on a lounging and comfortable double sun bed in bliss. Or perhaps we would make our way down to the beach to sink our feet into soft sands and refresh our bodies with clear sea water. We could plan the exciting water sports we would practice after which we could bubble away in a warm jacuzzi in the wellness area, or work out some more in the gym.

I awoke from my splendid daydream and sighed, completely satisfied with my choice. Mykonos, island of great beauty blessed by nature, Archipelago, a top notch hotel blessed by brilliant staff and management, here we come!