ADVERTORIAL • June 2018

The hotels that’ll add glitz to your Greek getaway

When it comes to idyllic island retreats, Greece never disappoints. Whether you’re after glamour and gastronomic flair on Mykonos or serenity and sun-soaked comfort in Crete, here’s why Grecotel Hotels & Resorts has it covered

A shore thing
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A shore thing

You want to step off the plane and start sunbathing, right? The five-star Amirandes is just a 20-minutes drive from Crete’s main airport, so you’ll be on the resort’s private beach in no time. Bag a lounger, order a post-journey cocktail and breathe. Not to be outdone in the location stakes, the stellar Mykonos Blu is set on the powdery white sands of Psarou beach, Mykonos. Arguably the best beachfront location on the island, it’s enclosed by mountains ensuring that the crystal-clear sea is perennially calm. 

Pretty as a picture
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Pretty as a picture

Both Amirandes and Mykonos Blu are an Instagrammer’s delight. Inspired by the sprawling palaces of a bygone era, Amirandes is all classic Grecian architecture (private pools and opulent bathrooms are de rigueur), bougainvillea-scented gardens and stylish lagoon pools. In contrast the pretty whitewashed villas and suites at Mykonos Blu, with their floaty white and azure-blue decor, lend the resort an ethereal air. Photogenic it may be, but this place means business: rooms come with their own pools or open-air Jacuzzis, gardens or terraces, and some even have private gyms.  

In the swim
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In the swim

With summer temperatures nudging 30°C on the Greek islands, cooling off is all-important. No problem at Mykonos Blu, which has a remarkable 20 pools – for the ultimate backdrop with your breaststroke, hit the two-tiered infinity pool for dramatic views over the Aegean Sea. Diving into Amirandes is equally as rewarding, the resort is peppered with palm-fringed lagoons but it’s the Olympic-sized saltwater swimming pool, complete with columns for shade, which will float your boat.

Blast from the past
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Blast from the past

If you’re looking to supplement sunbathing with a little culture, Amirandes’ location near Cretan capital Heraklion (just 20 minutes by car) puts a world of wonders on your doorstep. Byzantine churches, Venetian mansions and Turkish fountains done, head five kilometres south to Knossos Palace, once the centre of Minoan civilisation and home to Minotaur, the half-man half-bull of ancient Greek mythology. Over on Mykonos, you’re perfectly placed for a trip to the harbour where you can catch a ferry to the sacred island of Delos, the birthplace of twins Apollo and Artemis – look out for the island’s dragon lizards. 

Food of the gods
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Food of the gods

If you’re an art lover, your heart will skip a beat when you enter Minotaur at Amirandes – adorning the restaurant is a vibrant array of ceramics by Pablo Picasso (the Minotaur was the artist’s alter ego). Foodies will be happy too – the eatery, which sits by the lagoon, has an impeccable menu of Italian fare with a Cretan twist. Aegean Poets at Mykonos Blu also serves up a Mediterranean menu, heavy on tradition and seafood. Afterwards, sip ouzo under the stars at rooftop bar Delos Lounges before heading into town to party. 


To find out more and to book your Greek island break, visit ba.com/mykonosblu and ba.com/amirandes

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This article has been tagged Advertorial, Hotels