Greece is one of those places on everyone's bucket list, and it actually lives up to the hype. For our first time visiting Greece, we did the common loop of Santorini, Mykonos and Athens. Make sure to fly to the islands and skip the ferry--Aegean Air has a ton of flight options. Santorini is one of the most extraordinary, gorgeous places ever. Even though it is filled with wedding parties, honeymooners and tourists, it is one of those utterly magical places where that just doesn't matter. Everywhere you look, the view could be a postcard. Mykonos has two faces, depending on whether it's party season or not (July and August). Regardless of the season, it is a beautiful island with a lot of charm and nice beaches.
Where to Stay: In Santorini we stayed in Imerovigli, a village located towards the center of the Santorini that sits at the highest elevation on the island. It is a bit quieter than Thera or Oia, as those areas have larger hotels, more restaurants and a nightlife. You can also choose to stay in the villages along the beach, but the island isn't really known for it's beaches and you'll miss out on the classic view from the cliffs. If you're up for it, I recommend renting ATVs to explore the island regardless of where you stay. In Mykonos, we stayed at the Myconian Hotel & Thalasso Spa. The hotel was beautiful with great service, and our room was large with a balcony and jacuzzi overlooking the beach. Most of the beaches are far from the village and bars/clubs of Mykonos, so this is another place where renting ATVs was really helpful.
Where to Eat: The food is unbelievably amazing in Greece--I honestly don't think we had one disappointing meal. In Santorini we had a beautifully presented, delicious dinner at La Maison, which has incredible views of the island. We also really enjoyed dinner at Avocado, and Estia Traditional Grill House is a casual spot where we kept returning for lunch. Don't leave Mykonos without lunch at Kiki's, a taverna where the host has a Rainman-level recall--he remembers everyone waiting for lunch by sight, in order of arrival. The restaurant overlooks a little private beach where you can wait for your table. Once seated I had the best pork chop of my life, and everything else we had was delicious. Have a long lunch at Spilia and stay for a dance party and swim in the Aegean.
Where to Play: The big parties in Mykonos are during July and August. In June or early September, the bars and clubs are open but it's definitely less crowded, something to keep in mind depending on what vibe you’re going for. In Mykonos, start with a late lunch and day party at Principote and Alemagou. Dinner and vibes at Scorpios.
