How to visit two Greek islands in one holiday – with little-known discounts, swim-up bars and private pool room

TRYING to choose one of the 6,000 Greek islands for a holiday can be a tricky decision to make.

So why not visit two in one trip while you’re already traveling?

5

The islands are so close that hotel groups like Kivotos often offer incentives in the form of discounts and private transfers so you can save money and score two places at once.

And after a brief stay at the hotel brand’s ultra-luxurious resort in Mykonos, I couldn’t wait to see what its sister resort in Santorini had to offer.

The Mykonos property was one of the first boutique resorts to open on the island and was inspired by the nearby sacred island of Delos, which is said to be the birthplace of the Greek gods Apollo and Artemis.

And you can tell from the moment you enter the lobby. The interior combines classic Greek architecture – think marble floors and bright white walls – with modern art in the form of pop-style busts and multicolored glass lighting.

It’s a short walk from the popular Ornos beach, but I opted to spend the day on the hotel’s private rocky beach, which was a secluded retreat away from the crowds.

A small staircase took me down to the rocks, where I plopped down on a lounge chair at the edge of the ocean so I could let the warm waves lap at my feet.

If you’re not much of a beach fan, the hotel has its own pool, complete with lounge chairs, cabana beds, and even a swim-up Del Mar bar serving classic cocktails on the rocks.

If you’re a fly-and-flopper, you won’t be disappointed by the poolside ambiance, with jazz music playing softly over the speakers while the staff serves popsicles.

But I spent most of my time in my own suite, one of 40 in the hotel, most of which have their own pool.

The sun shone through the huge windows, reflecting off the pristine white walls and illuminating the entire room.

I made the most of the in-room espresso machine each morning before dipping my toes in my private pool and watching the yachts moored in the cove.

The only thing that kept me from tranquility was the promise of a delicious breakfast at the rooftop La Meduse restaurant.

I became obsessed with Strapatsada, a scrambled egg dish mixed with tomato paste and feta cheese, which I spread on my toast every morning.

I always ordered it alongside platters of fresh fruit and sweets – it’s safe to say the waiters knew what I wanted by the third day.

5

5

5

As with many new hotels, there were some teething problems at the resort.

I arrived just a few days after it opened for the season, which meant that the only restaurant on site, Namah, had few options available on its extensive menu.

The same was true of the lunchtime menu, with the hotel app struggling to calculate our room service order.

However, you won’t be short of food options, as the main town of Mykonos is just a short taxi ride away, full of winding white alleys and bright shops with blue doors.

One of the most popular taverns for lunch is Nikos. It’s simple with red and white checkered table covers, but has a long list of Greek and Italian dishes, including the most succulent chicken souvlaki I’ve ever had.

Cave-like rooms

It’s also worth staying in town for the sunset, best seen at one of the many restaurants along colorful Little Venice.

The sunset is equally beautiful on the neighboring island of Santorini, where I was heading next.

It only took us two hours by ferry to get to Kivotos Santorini from the resort of Mykonos. It’s one of the most exclusive hotels on the island, forgoing the usual white and blue architecture for the color black – designed to imitate volcanic earth.

Each of the 30 cave-like rooms is different, with indoor hot tubs or outdoor pools, plus bathrooms with rainfall showers and high-end Bvlgari toiletries.

However, the star of the hotel is the rooftop Mavro restaurant, which offers panoramic sunset views. It was pure magic on our second night, with the bright red sun disappearing as I sipped my drink in awed silence.

An island known for its wines, I was won over by Artemis Karamolegos 34, a fresh white produced in one of the largest vineyards in Santorini.

I was also won over by the exceptional food. The in-house chef, Dimitris Katrivesis, serves exceptional tasting menus.

Dishes include red shrimp ceviche with melon molasses and the island’s signature white eggplant seasoned with cinnamon and miso.

And you’ll be well-fed at breakfast too, with huge platters of food including shakshuka, tiramisu french toast and açaí bowls.

Fortunately, Santorini’s mountainous nature made walking easy, and Fira, the island’s capital, is just a short taxi ride from the hotel.

Less romantic than the pretty streets of Mykonos, it was the perfect place to fill your pockets with sticky fridge magnets, followed by ice cream in the many shops selling huge piles of ice cream.

The only question left the holidaywhich Greek island will be next?