Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos

The last time I went to Mykonos was with the boys and we hooked up with a bunch of Italian nurses. It was, quite simply, epic. But I was relatively poor and I shared my 3-star hotels suite with my two friends. God knows how we survived driving around the island on our scooters pissed out of our mind. If all young men could have the same fun as we did. 20-plus years on and I returned with my family. One of the friends I originally went with, a Greek-American who fancies himself a connoisseur of all things Mykonos, said that Mykonos had changed and not for the better. WRONG. Okay, maybe it’s not the carefree destination it was of my younger years but I had no complaints about the island’s beach clubs which, as an annual summer partier in St. Tropez and Cannes I can assure you they are well on par with their South of France cousins and, gasp!, may in fact be better. YES, they’re THAT good. Great vibe, great food and, just as importantly, GREAT and FRIENDLY staff. So the hotel…. It’s a Marriot Bonvoy. Honestly, my experience with chains is generally not good. They’re too corporatized and don’t have the flexibility the smaller hotel groups have. This, frankly, blew us away. The facilities were excellent and the actual hotel layout was incredibly nice. Sure, coulda done without the stairs but they were helpful in working off some of the calories. But, seriously, the beach and beach restaurant was gorgeous the food was outstanding and the staff were among the nicest we’ve encountered. I can’t remember the category of room I had. I did find it to be on the small side. Were I to return I would definitely request something bigger. But, it was very nicely appointed and well in-line with its international peers. A particular mention for the concierge. They were superb. I admit my wife is the concierge queen and uses them extensively wherever we go. Weeks before a trip she sends emails to book restaurants, day trips, etc., and once on site she uses them to hone the experience. They were fabulous and incredibly efficient. If only all concierges could be that good. Lastly, based on my single guy experience I LOVE the town but, frankly, our dining experience at what were considered “good” in town restaurants was dismal. I don’t mind paying for good food and I particularly like Mediterranean cuisine and often have fish, but the in-town restaurants were as expensive as the beach clubs for poor food and no ambiance. Stay at the hotel and eat there instead.

Me and my wife recently got back from vacation here and it was an unforgettable stay. From the very beginning the staff were extremely friendly and a free upgrade on arrival was the perfect start. Throughout the whole stay we become good friends with many of the staff and I would like to give a special mention to those - Fay from the front desk, George the waiter and nick, Alex and thanos from the buddah bar. Thank you guys for making it extra special! We will be back for sure!!