GREEK ISLANDS
has a kitchen but the resort’s also got two restaurants and a 24-hour, in-villa dining service. And, just in case you weren’t feeling spoiled enough, the villas are set on a private beach in a secluded bay. If you want some action, the Venetian-era capital is surprisingly cosmopolitan and easily walkable.
Clockwise: Emelisse, Eleonus, Rosy’s Little Village
ELEONAS HOTEL, EVIA Good for: The simple life The ancient Greeks regarded the olive as a symbol of peace. Eleonas actually means olive grove, and this 10-room, salmonpink hotel is certainly a shot of tranquillity. It’s set on a working olive estate backed by pine-clad hills, and overlooks a shimmering sea. The elegant rooms are light and modern, and serenity is guaranteed by the absence of TVs. Instead they offer a purer form of R&R: shelves bending under books, coupled with either a private garden or large balcony. The island is a favourite weekend haunt among Athenians for its pretty walks, uncrowded beaches and excellent fish restaurants.Evia is linked to the mainland by a suspension bridge; it’s a three-hour drive from Athens. eleonashotel.com HOTEL MIRANDA, HYDRA Good for: Artistic, hippie, walking types This 19th-century sea captain’s mansion is crammed full of antique furniture and quirky curios collected during the owner’s travels. All 14 rooms are different and feel sweetly sophisticated, with parquet floors and nautical brass lamps; some even have ceiling frescoes hand-painted by Venetian artists. It admirably reflects the ambience of Hydra, which was a boho hideaway in the ’60s (Leonard Cohen, the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd all holidayed here) and still retains that arty vibe around its buzzy harbour cafes. Bear in mind that cars and even bicycles are banned, so walking and water taxis are the only way to get about. mirandahotel.gr KWT
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