Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1519536
THE CYCLADES When one pictures a holiday in Greece, this sprawling island cluster is the default. The Cyclades feature cove-like beaches, fishing sloops bobbing in sparkling waters, and whitewashed, sugar cube–style houses daubed with accents bluer than the sky. There's only one way to see it, according to Ileana von Hirsch, who runs Five Star Greece, the premier travel luxury specialist: "The coastlines are staggering, and the harbors aren't crowded, so we advise people to take a beau- tifully crewed, big yacht," she says. "It's windy, so a small one will mean you can get seasick." The best known of the Cyclades is Mykonos, though it has strug- gled for several years to recapture the jet set reputation it once relished. Greedy hoteliers have allowed Jackie Kennedy Onassis's onetime favorite destination to become too crowded and too expen- sive, though hopefully the mayor's plans to push back—including slashing the number of for-rent sunbeds on beaches by 40 percent— will help return its cachet. This year, skip Mykonos and instead head next door to Paros, the island that's usurped the former as the region's luxe hub. "It has everything people want: beaches, boats, archeolog y, churches, hiking, and great food and bars," says von Hirsch. The vibe on this island is determinedly diŒerent, promises local hotelier Kalia Konstantinidou: "You don't have the FOMO here you can have in Mykonos; everything is so easy and so simple. It has a feeling of joy." If you're staying on land rather than sailing, consider one of the chic, minimalist hotels run by Konstantinidou's Empiria Group. Lingering to watch the sunset from Cosme's west-facing infinit y he Greeks are finally coming into their own," says designer Andria Mitsakos, a Greek-Armenian-American who lives and works in Athens. It's been just over a decade since Greece's financial crisis, and Mitsakos, who ow ns the popular Athens- based boutique Anthologist, sees a newfound energy, much of it driven by a population surge. "There's been an influx of people returning, just like after the wall came down in Berlin," she says. "It makes it so interesting, chaotic, and poetic at the same time." But the appeal of the country isn't limited to those planning to make it their newfound home: Greece remains one of the most popular vacation spots in Europe, logging almost 32 million visitors last year, a more than 17-percent increase over 2022. This year it will likely be even easier to reach, thanks in part to several new airline routes from the US: Norse Atlantic Airways is adding service from JFK to Athens for the summer, as will United Airlines from Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia will have daily non-stop flights on American Airlines. Best of all, Emirates operates a service from Newark year-round, o–ering one of the world's best premium cabin options. If that inspires you to mull a trip, consider this your primer on how to spend this summer in Greece. We tapped some chic locals, like Mitsakos, to pull together the ultimate guide for a five-star vacation, starting with a deep dive into the attention-hogging islands of the Cyclades before touching down in three other regions that are a must for any luxury itinerary. CO U R T E S Y O F A M A N ZO E T 50 BAL HARBOUR MAY 2024 SPECIAL EDITION