Tried and tested by Lauren Burvill
There’s a lot of heart and history on this quiet seaside slice of Mykonos, one that dates back to 1979 when Elias Papageorgiou bought a couple of hillside guesthouses, a windmill and the namesake Santa Marina chapel with the aim of transforming them into the island’s first luxury hotel. Fast forward to today and Santa Marina isn’t just the oldest hotel on Mykonos, it’s also undoubtedly the best—the property featured on our 2023 Gold List of the best hotels in the world.
Rooms and suites of various sizes are dotted about the idyllic Ornos Bay spot, leading down to the only private (and mostly wind-free) sandy beach on the island. Further back on the property are 12 villas, tucked away in manicured gardens or perched up high. I stayed in Villa Topaz, a charming three-bedroom, two-story bolthole with an extra room of kid-friendly bunk beds and a dreamy deck that overlooked the turquoise bay with bobbing boats. Amazingly, this villa is one of the original guests houses on the property, although almost all of them have been recently renovated—the last on the list being the largest, four-leveled Villa Diamond. Interiors are warm and effortlessly chic—bamboo beamed ceilings, honey-hued polished floors, rattan swing chairs and artisanal touches in the form of woven baskets and sculptural coral. All come with sprawling private pools, outdoor dining areas, views to die for and a butler to help arrange anything and everything you need, from dinner reservations to a private yacht or chef. All of the lush hotel-services are also at your finger tips—daily housekeeping, 24-hour room service, an impressive mini-bar plus a buggy service to ferry you down to the restaurant, beach club, or spa. —Lauren Burvill
Sleeps: Villas range from sleeping 4 up to 16
Price: From around $2,400 per night
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