Mykonos & Paros Uncovered, Part II: Where to Stay
Mavis, BlueVillas, Mykonos
In my last post, Mykonos and Paros Uncovered, I shared where to eat, what to do and my best tips for both islands. Now for the question I get asked most: where should you stay?
On my recent familiarization trip with BlueVillas, I toured 20 private villas across Mykonos and Paros, from cozy two-bedroom homes to sprawling luxury estates, and I stayed at or visited three hotels along the way. Here's a closer look at the properties that stood out, and who I think each one is perfect for.
Why I Love Working with BlueVillas
For families and groups, a private villa is one of the best ways to experience the Greek islands. BlueVillas has more than 600 luxury villas across Greece. Seeing their process and properties in person gave me a clear picture of the level of service they offer, and it's why I'm so comfortable recommending them to my clients.
The range is impressive: you can book an easy, entry-level villa for a small family all the way up to a sprawling estate with tennis and basketball courts, a professional kitchen, a boat pier or even a helicopter pad.
The Three Blues
Every BlueVillas home is chosen for what they call the three blues: a blue pool, the blue sea and a blue sky. That means every villa has its own private pool, sea views and open sky, and each one must meet more than 150 criteria to join the collection. Properties that don't meet the standard simply don't make the cut.
Mavis, BlueVillas, Mykonos: Blue Sea View, Blue Sky, Blue Pool
Three Villa Collections
BlueVillas organizes its homes into three collections, which makes it easy to match the right villa to the right traveler.
Prime is comparable to a 4-star property. Every stay includes a welcome of local delicacies, a dedicated concierge, personal check-in with a BlueVillas representative and support throughout your stay.
Signature is BlueVillas' flagship collection, with 5-star standards. It adds a complimentary arrival transfer, a €100 BlueVillas services credit and a pre-stocking service, so your villa is filled with your preferences before you arrive.
Signature Oasis is a handpicked selection of no more than 40 ultra-luxury villas across Greece. It includes everything in Signature, plus a complimentary departure transfer, welcome champagne and charcuterie, Molton Brown bath amenities and in-person check-in and check-out with a professional manager. Terraces and dining areas have unobstructed sea views, as do most bedrooms. Depending on the villa, you may also find extras like a private chef, a boat dock or tennis and basketball courts.
For travelers who want even more, the optional Fixer service adds unlimited VIP restaurant and club reservations, a daily villa visit to plan your itinerary, escorts to restaurants, clubs and boats, and daily restocking.
Many villas have gyms, M One, BlueVillas, Mykonos
Service You Can Count On
The BlueVillas team shared that every villa, starting at the Prime level, includes daily housekeeping. Towels are changed every other day at Prime and every day at Signature and Signature Oasis. Beyond that, their concierge team can arrange private chefs, transfers, boat days and restaurant or beach club reservations before you arrive, and a local team on the island is there for anything that comes up during your stay.
The question I hear most from clients is, "Will I miss hotel service in a villa?" After this trip, my answer is no.
One tip I give every client: make sure your villa pool is heated for an early Spring or September stay. The days are still warm, but Mykonos is almost always windy, and the wind cools the water quickly. With a heated pool, you'll actually swim in it instead of just looking at it.
Villas I Loved
I visited 20 villas in Mykonos and Paros, and stayed in one on each island. It’s truly hard to pick my favorites because they are all so different and provide amenities that are tailored to the needs of each guest. If I were traveling with a group of ladies in Mykonos, I would select one like Mavis since it has a ton of personal space. It’s made up of two separate buildings, one with five bedrooms and one with four, both with a fully functional kitchen. Each section has direct access to an amazing pool with stunning views, separate entrances, a gym and is close to Chora (Mykonos Town) as well as Nammos Beach Club. This one could also be perfect for two families vacationing together who need a little separation, or a guest traveling with staff such as a nanny or chef.
If I were going with my family, I would probably choose M One in Mykonos. It’s a four-bedroom villa with all of the same amenities (hello incredible gym featured above!), but part of a gated four-villa estate and includes close proximity to supermarkets, pharmacies and medical care. Guests can actually rent all four units for larger groups up to 36.
In Paros, I absolutely fell in love with the charming Dorothea Villa. Honestly, it may have been my favorite of all of them. This one is made for multigenerational trips. The main villa has an open kitchen, dining and living area that flows out to the terrace, plus four bedrooms across three levels. A separate guesthouse with its own kitchen, living space and three poolside bedrooms gives another branch of the family, or a group of friends, a place of their own. I was completely in love with the whitewashed Cycladic style, gorgeous landscaping and gardens, plus they have a playground, beach volleyball court and ping-pong.
One of the other top villas for me in Paros was the Seaborn, which sleeps up to 12 guests in six bedrooms. It has access to a quiet beach right in front of the property, an adorable outdoor gym, two full kitchens and fireplaces. It’s also really close to Naoussa where you can enjoy shopping, boat trips and great dining, and also Monastiri Beach Club (see my previous post for more details). Spend your days exploring, then retreat back to this one for a cozy night in.
I am so thankful to have been hosted by BlueVillas on this familiarization trip. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn so much about the islands, Greek life, food and culture, and how the operational side of booking villas works. All opinions in this blog post are my own.
Want to see more? Click any villa name above for the full photo gallery and floor plans, then reach out to me to check availability and book. I’ll work directly with the BlueVillas team on your behalf and take care of every detail, from transfers to your private chef.
What About Hotels?
Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa
I stayed at Mykonos Riviera, a whitewashed retreat above Tourlos, and it made an easy, relaxing home base. Heated pools, sunset views and great food made it hard to leave, and the easy transport into Mykonos Town meant I never had to. At first I thought staying near the ferry and cruise port would be loud and crowded, but it was just the opposite. All of the tourists head into Mykonos Town or to other areas and it was very pleasant and not crowded at all. Not to mention that sunset view! I loved this property and would put families, couples or groups here. Read my full review.
Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort
Mykonos Riviera's sister property, Mykonos Grand, sits right on the beach facing Delos, with white-glove service and excellent food. It's also close to Scorpios, so you can enjoy one of the island's best beach clubs and still return to a calm resort. See the full write-up.
Myconian Ambassador
My other stay was at the Myconian Ambassador, a quiet Relais & Châteaux retreat above Platis Gialos. It's perfect for travelers who want calm, polished luxury, with rooms that open onto their own pools and a fitness center that really impressed me. Read my full review.
Mykonos Riviera
Whether you're dreaming of a private villa with room for the whole family or a boutique hotel with sunset views, the right place to stay sets the tone for your entire trip. I've seen these properties in person, and I'd love to help you find the one that fits the way you like to travel. The best villas and rooms book early for summer, so let's start planning.
Ready to Plan Your Greek Island Escape? Get in touch and let's build the itinerary.