One&Only凱阿島飯店

Nous sommes allés boire un apéro lors de la grosse tempête de fin avril. Arrivée vers 21.00: au portail d'entrée, le gardien ne parle pas un mot d'anglais. Attente de 5 à 10 minutes, le temps qu'il prenne ses instructions de la direction (nous venions naturellement sans réservation). Le gardien relève les plaques de notre voiture et j'ai bien crû qu'il allait nous demander nos passeports! Cauchemardesque ! Nous entrons enfin. Accueil professionnel et chaleureux. Compte tenu du temps, nous sommes conduits à un petit bar très cosy où nous accueille un barman à la fois attentif et prévenant, maîtrisant parfaitement la langue de Shakespeare. Vin blanc et cocktail parfaits... En revanche, pas l'ombre d'un zakouski pour accompagner le tout ! Décevant et, pour tout dire, inadmissible à la fois au vu des prix élevés (ce n'était pas une surprise) et surtout au service pratiqué par les bars de l'île. Ces derniers servent quasi systématiquement des à côtés A éviter, en tout cas pour un apéro. Les Bobos

Perfection is difficult, hence the allure. Bond Beach Club did not have a few wines on the list, but that and a slight perfunctory level of service one evening apart this place is staggeringly rugged, beautiful, charming, clever and just about perfect. Let’s start with the check in - usually a dull, administration heavy affair. Not so here - overlooking the Aegean, with a drink to hand and being told in a relaxed and comfortable way what was on offer. The Villas are sublime - 3 distinct areas and a private pool with a view that if off the scale. Is there really that much sea? The hotel has been open 12 weeks, but the service levels would lead you to think that it’s been here for 12 decades, hugely helped no doubt by the influx of staff from the St Geran, the original mothership which is undergoing a refurbishment. The Beach Club has a pared down regaled vibe with music that gets a little louder but not too loud as the day progresses, with an interesting and healthy menu that delights. Trips to eat and waterski were arranged at the drop of a hat, with history and geography lessons dispatched on the way up and down the almost off grid road that connects the resort to the hotel. The gym and spa are seriously top notch, breakfast was incredible and then just when you think you have seen and experienced it all you find the secret bar with world class cocktails and an amazing cigar collection. And when you are done (never, but we all need to go home some time) the hotels speedboat whisks you back to civilisation. I am not easily won over - this place won me over several times over. Its amazing.

Very unique and isolated hotel. Amazing rooms and views. Service is mostly lovely (Except for the front desk manager) but generally overly attentive. The spa is absolutely beautiful, but far from rooms and only accessible by a long steep hike or the hotel buggy system, which they haven’t quite worked out yet. The hotel itself is about 20-30 minutes from the main town, which is only accessible if one pays for a car and tolerates very steep and windy roads to get there. The town itself is beautiful and picturesque. Hotel is best for people seeking remote feeling luxury and very attentive service. People who don’t mind either long up and downhill hikes to get to places in the hotel or don’t mind being dependent for the hotel for their buggy system and external transportation. Lastly, if you book a speedboat from Athens, know that the wind affects your ability to come and go which could affect airport arrival and departures, etc. This happened to us which ended up being quite inconvenient and expensive.