They call it “the Greek effect,” and you feel it the moment you begin to plan your honeymoon to the Aegean and Ionian Seas. As you read about sapphire water, remote sandy crescents, white-domed towns that looked crafted from cookie cutters, flaky phyllo pastry and crisp white wines ideal for sun-drenched days, you feel flushed with a longing for Greece akin to falling in love. As you and your partner study the travel brochures, you easily imagine yourselves strolling along cobbled pathways holding hands, the sounds of bouzouki music enlivening the salty air. You see yourselves perched hilltop, looking out to sea to watch a kaleidoscopic sunset. You promise each other you’ll find a captain, rent a yacht and picnic in a hidden cove, then return to town to dance the night away.
If dreams of Greece could so quicken the heart, then the two of you can only imagine what joys the real life honeymoon experience will bring. And, so, you begin planning… but you quibble a bit over which island to choose. It’s a minor crisis. You resolve the issue over heaping plates of homemade moussaka—just to get yourselves into a Greek state of mind, You redirect the argument with a cuddle cuddliness. “Why not island hop?” You propose it demurely. “Yes,” he answers, delighted—“Why not?”
You celebrate the plan for a multi-island honeymoon with a toast. You do it with Retsina – of course.
Ideas For Island Hopping in Greece.
Allow a luxurious, bespoke, peripatetic tour to come to fruition with Marriott’s pampering upscale hotel group, The Luxury Collection. With the brand, you can curate your journey to five iconic hotspots from Athens to Patmos, in one jaw dropping, awe-filled trip. Rich with history, hedonism, grand vistas, affable denizens, local adventures, culinary delights and cultural connection, romantic Greece can be showcased during this honeymoon of a lifetime—and all with pampering touch. Read on to find out how to pack, where to stay and what to do.
First: Pack for The Adventure
Celebrate your honeymoon’s destination with matching Greek map print luggage from Patricia Nash Designs. Ingeniously designed to be carry-on-able, as well as spacious, the suitcases are chic and functional, too. The bags are offered in a variety of prints, colors and styles from totes to trollies. Created with 100% full-grain leather, water-resistant-patina-coated linen and new lightweight woven poly, the bags sell from $149 -$329.
A favorite: the Vettore Trolley Greek Map ($329), has 360-degree spinner wheels for effortless motion and ease. Its retractable telescopic handle locks securely in place in multiple positions. Use the large exterior pocket for easy access to your travel documents and small accessories.
The Five Destinations and the Hotels to Book
Athens
Not an island, but the perfect place to begin your sojourn, historic and buzzy Athens lies on the Attica Peninsula. Home to the must-see UNESCO-listed Acropolis and Parthenon, the ancient, walkable European capital kicks off the “Greek effect” with scrumptious food, jazzy beaches, vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and historic sites. Stay at King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens, a neoclassical wonder built as a palace in 1837. You’ll feel like royalty amongst its marble interiors. Swoon over this peerless location on Syntagma Square, near the captivating neighborhoods of Plaka and Thission.
Mykonos
Some think of Mykonos as the South Beach of Greece. Partly that’s thanks to its vivified party scene, luxury hotels, happening restaurants and hip vibe. But it also boasts white-washed buildings, quiet, winding streets, and jaw dropping beaches, edged by cobalt-colored water. Discover the island’s many virtues at Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos, constructed to evoke an authentic Mykonian village. Hidden away on the private peninsula of Ornos Bay, with its own sandy beach and stunning views, the hotel nestles along a slope that descends to the sea.
Paros
Visitors love Paros for its slower pace, fewer crowds, authentic villages and artsy allure. It’s just a ferry ride away from Mykonos. Base at Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, set in the spellbinding fishing village of Naoussa, a Cycladic fantasy village. Committed to offering guests immersive experiences, the hotel can organize Greek cooking classes, winery and farm visits, atelier introductions and picnics packed with sustainable goods. Don’t miss a shopping spree at The Anthologist boutique, the hotel’s wanderkammer of a shop, curated by Andria Mitsakos.
Patmos
Considered lesser traveled and somewhat off the beaten path, sublimely gorgeous Patmos exudes tranquility. Beloved by religious travelers for its legendary connection to the Book of Revelation and its spiritual undertones, Patmos brims with stellar nature, scenic villages, traditional architecture and postcard-perfect beaches. Enjoy the quietude at soulful Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, situated on Grikos Bay, just minutes from the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Saint John and Cave of the Apocalypse. Besides exploring the island’s bounty, enjoy the hotel’s spa, where treatments take inspiration from Hellenic traditions.
Santorini
One of Greece’s most romantic islands, Santorini fulfills the fantasy. The quintessence Cyclades hideaway with white-washed, blue-domed churches, candy-colored buildings hewed into cliffs and sultry black sand beaches, Santorini has it all. Touted for its breathtaking caldera and eye-popping sunsets, the island has storied hikes, engaging villages, world-renowned restaurants and intimate hotels. Choose Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, ensconced amid a 400-year-old wine cellar and 100-year-old mansion. Summoning a timeless Cycladic mood with its whitewashed Greek village ambiance, the resort has been acclaimed for it micro-farm and cooking classes, not to mention an exemplar standard of barefoot elegance.
