KENSHŌ BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SUITES, Mykonos 3-hour 50-minute flight from London
From plane to Jacuzzi in less than four hours’ flying time, that’s pretty good going for the start of a long weekend on a sun-soaked Greek island. Move that Jacuzzi to your own private terrace in a stylish boutique hotel, with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and a fruit platter thrown in, and it gets even better. Within barely 30 minutes of arriving at Kensho Boutique Hotel & Suites in Mykonos, there I was, indulging in the bubbles, with bubbles. That is the life.
Perched atop a hill overlooking the prettiest bay, the hotel is a fairly new addition at almost two years old. Built using natural materials, each of the 35 rooms and 10 suites have been designed in a palette of white and cream, each room slightly different, but all so tasteful. They feature sumptuous beds, Hermès products in the open-plan bathrooms, ipads loaded with playlists linked to smart TVS, and those outdoor Jacuzzis, ready and waiting.
Before I’d seen the real thing, Kensho Boutique Hotel & Suites had kept popping up on my Instagram feed, the most popular place for a stylish crowd, and the same is true in reality. Tranquil and luxe, it has all you need to keep you blissfully happy. It is worth dragging yourself away, though, to the golden-sand beach and warm azure sea just two minutes’ stroll down to Ornos Bay. There are charming restaurants for refuelling and when you need a bigger distraction, the main town of Hora is a short drive away. It’s a picture-postcard combo of blue-and-white stucco houses, filled with chi-chi shops selling jewellery, art and floaty clothing.
Mykonos does have a reputation as being a party place, so if you’re not in the mood, avoid the main town when the sun sets. Instead, sip the excellent cocktails at the hotel’s candlelit poolside bar, followed by head chef George Stylianoudakis’ tasting menu for dinner; a highlight. Cretan-inspired, the dishes are works of art, from home-made soft cheese with warm bread to plump scallops and a lip-smacking fish soup, ending with a chocolate caramel and gold-leaf-decorated dessert that’s out – of – this – world.
There’s a gym downstairs should you feel guilty (I didn’t), a spa for musclemelting massage (I did), a hammam, tropical rain beds and Jacuzzi area set in a giant cave. It was hard to leave the hotel and the glorious Greek-island vibe, but I left feeling the sun on my skin and a full reboot of body and soul that lasted me (almost) through winter. CATHY LEVY
TRIP NOTES Rooms from £383, including breakfast; kenshomykonos.com. Flights from London to Mykonos cost from £99 each way with BA; britishairways.com