AthensWAS

Set in the charming, whitewashed village of Naouss on the island of Paros, with the clear blue Aegean sea all around, lies the Cosme hotel.

Antiparos is a jewel in the Adriatic sea, just a short ferry trip from the main island of Paros. Here, on this tranquil island, rich in natural beauty you’ll find The Rooster. Set in 30 acres of rolling hills and giving way to soft sand dunes and eventually twinkling crystal clear sea waters. This exclusive beachfront property is made up of 16 private houses, with a design, architecture and decor that’s respectful to the island. Each of the private guest houses are individually designed to offer privacy without distracting from the connection to the views and natural landscapes. The furniture and decor is in keeping with the island’s own heritage. For example, walls are painted with neutral tones or whitewash and there’s comfortable low slung wooden chairs with soft furnishings made from traditional textiles. Each house is complete with a bedroom, living area, bathroom (with outdoor shower) and a luxurious private pool with secluded lounging areas shaded by greek gardens or cabana style, wooden canopies. Aside from the private houses guests can also choose to stay in the Farmhouse, around 1.5km away from The Rooster the private Farmhouse is surrounded by kitchen gardens, calming outdoor social areas and it has its own private pool. The house has its own kitchen where your meals will be prepared or where you can dive in yourself to enjoy the fresh produce from the nearby farm – a great option for families.  The Rooster is a lifestyle and wellness retreat that allows guests to connect with themselves and nature. The House of Healing is an intrinsic part of daily life at The Rooster where a journey of mind and spirit centeredness can be achieved through personalised therapies such as Rooster Rituals, Ayurveda treatments, facials, massages and yoga. There’s also a gym for those who want to compliment their beach walks and sea swimming with extra activity. Close to the main hotel is The Farm, another venue to be explored. At The Farm guests are invited to experience a traditional ‘bostani’ (kitchen garden), vegetable fields, open kitchen cooking, private dining and the chance to learn about local, seasonal ingredients. The hotel itself offers its own indoor restaurant with huge windows and doors that open out to the gardens and with sea views. There’s an atmospheric bar with loungers for total relaxation as you sip your drinks, a secret garden and courtyard and the cuddle puddle. The cuddle puddle is a wooden tipi that sits within the dunes to capture the island’s signature, glowing sunsets.

A short walk from the authentic fishing village of Plaka on Crete’s north east coast, Blue Palace is a large luxury resort with everything you could hope for on a relaxing Grecian break by the sea. A collection of 251 rooms, suites and villas sprawl down the hillside to the private pebble beach, enjoying views out to the historic island of Spinalonga. These range from rooms with balconies to those with private pools, two-roomed set ups ideal for families, and a collection of secluded villas. There are six dining options, including a traditional Greek taverna for relaxed local fair, a smarter Asian restaurant and a steak house, linked by their chefs’ sourcing of the best regional produce. A collection of bars make the most of the views and the Isola Beach Club is a hip setting day and night. The spa has 24 treatment rooms, state of the art facilities and a plethora of treatments available, while the Diving and Water Sports Centre is your hub for activities such as scuba lessons, snorkelling and wake boarding. Cruises aboard the motor yacht or traditional wooden caique are another great way to spend time at sea and young ones are kept more than entertained at the kids club.