Category: Cyclades islands

  • Party events on Ios, Naxos, Santorini & other Cyclades islands during summer 2017

    Share

    The Ocean Club on Naxos party event

    Friday October 13 is Greek Me party time at The Ocean Club on Naxos

     

    Swing Bar on Naxos live music event

    Swing Bar on Naxos presents live jazz, swing and rock music on Friday October 13 and Saturday October 14

     

    Akri Bar on Milos party event

    On Saturday October 14, Akri Bar on Milos is having a Summer Never Ends party with music by DJ Nikos Zoulias

     

    The Ocean Club on Naxos

    There’s another Can’t Wait party at The Ocean Club on Naxos on Saturday October 13

     

    Naxos Cafe on Naxos  live music event

    Pantelis Karanikas entertains at Naxos Cafe on Naxos on Saturday October 14

     

    Marabou Club on Andros party event

    Marabou club on Andros launches its autumn season on Saturday October 14 with guest DJ Deleasis (Stamatis Mavrakis)

     

    Koo Club Santorini party event

    On Saturday October 14, Santorini’s Koo Club holds its season closing party

     

    The Ocean Club on Naxos  party event

    The Ocean Club on Naxos is hosting a Street Latin Party on Sunday October 15

     

    Naxos Bar live music event

    Vaggelis Germanos appears for live shows at Naxos Cafe on Naxos on Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21

     

    Marabou Club on Andros party event

    Hercules Koktsidis will play Greek and mainstream music for the Greek Them All party at Marabou Club on Andros on Saturday October 28

     

    ~ Updated on Friday October 13 ~

     

    Beyond Mykonos:  This roundup of top parties and special events on select islands in the Cyclades is a supplement to my popular Mykonos party scene 2017 post. 

    This listing includes major events taking place on Ios, Naxos, Santorini and other nearby islands which many Mykonos partygoers visit during summer holidays in Greece. I have added this party listing in response to numerous requests from readers who were wondering where they could find good parties, besides Mykonos, while they are touring the Cyclades.

     

    [adToAppearHere]

     

     

    Please turn to page 2 of this post to see lots more upcoming parties and special events in the Cyclades.

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

  • New luxury hotels opening on Mykonos for summer 2017

    Share

     

    Branco Mykonos Hotel

    An artistic illustration of the luxurious loungers and sunbeds that the new 5-star Branco Mykonos Hotel will offer its guests on Platis Gialos beach

     

    More luxury: Visitors will have more choices of upscale accommodations for their Mykonos holidays as several brand-new luxury properties prepare to open for the 2017 tourist season.

    But the arrival of some of the high-end hotels means fewer options for budget travellers, since at least two of the properties previously were mid-range hotels that have been thoroughly renovated and converted into first-class accommodations.

    Gone are the Golden Star Hotel in Mykonos Town, which has been replaced by Absolut Mykonos Suites & More, and the Hotel Lady Anna at Platis Gialos beach, which has been upgraded and  rebranded as the 5-star Branco Mykonos Hotel.

     

    [adToAppearHere]

     

    The Mykonos Bay Hotel at Megali Ammos beach also has rebranded and is now named Mykonos Bay Resort & Villas. Its social media pages recently referred to “art design” and “new premises,” and its online booking page mentions the hotel was renovated in December, but no further details of changes since last season are available yet.

    Meanwhile, a noteworthy newcomer is Adel Private Suites, which will welcome guests to a quiet hilltop location with panoramic views of Mykonos Town, the New Port and beyond.

     

    Absolut Mykonos Suites & More hotel

    A promotional image showing the logo for Absolut Mykonos Suites & More

     

    You can expect to see additional upscale hotels launching on Mykonos in the foreseeable future.

    The Mitsis Hotels group, which operates the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel, is planning a 100-bed complex of apartments and suites, for instance, while other premier chains like Four Seasons and W Hotels apparently have been eyeing and acquiring locations at some of the island’s major south coast beach resorts.

     

    Adel Private Suites Mykonos

    An Adel Private Suites promotional image showing the jacuzzi-equipped seaview terrace of one of its Cozy Suites

     

    Please click on the link below to continue reading and see more of the new hotels making their debut this year.

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

  • First-time island hopping in the Cyclades: How to do it, and what you’ll see when you get there

    Share

    Cyclades hopping, an animated video published by g travel, shows how to arrange a simple island hopping holiday in the north and central Cyclades

     

    Island itineraries: If you haven’t been to Greece before but dream about taking an island hopping holiday there, you’re probably wondering where to go, and how to get from one island to the next. With dozens of destination options in six distinct island chains, plus an array of ferry schedules to sift through, it can seem intimidating to set up a vacation. That’s one of the main reasons why many travellers take a Greek Isles cruise or a package tour, or ask a travel agent to arrange everything for them. There’s nothing wrong with any of those approaches if you’re more comfortable with them or you simply don’t have the time to do your own planning. But it’s not that daunting and difficult to do it yourself.

    The video at the top of this post, Cyclades hopping, shows how to arrange a simple do-it-yourself trip to one of the most popular island chains in Greece.

    The animated film focusses on a few of the Cyclades, the islands instantly recognizable for their “sugar cube” white houses and blue-domed chapels perched on rocky slopes high above gorgeous golden sand beaches and the stunning turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea.

    Home to Mykonos and Santorini, two of the most world-famous and popular places in Greece, the Cyclades is where the majority of first-timers get introduced to the island hopping experience. Many get hooked and keep going back, or instead venture off to hop around the other island chains — the Sporades, Saronic, Dodecanese, Northeastern Aegean, and Ionian.

    Crete, the biggest island in Greece, isn’t part of a distinct island chain, and is so vast that visitors are typically advised to devote a full two- or-three week holiday there to explore its incredibly wide variety of beaches, historic sites and attractions.  

    [adToAppearHere]

     

    When you watch Cyclades hopping, you’ll gain insights into travelling to Andros, Mykonos, Paros, Antiparos, Naxos, Ios and Santorini. I have posted several videos that highlight travel to those particular destinations on page 2 of this article, so you can see what each of those islands looks like, and get an overview of some of the top attractions and activities they offer. Additional videos offer peeks at other Cycladic island gems, including Sifnos, Folegandros, Syros, Amorgos, Tinos, Milos, Serifos and Kea.

     

    Express Skopelitis ferry passenger

    A passenger enjoys early morning views from the upper deck of the Express Skopelitis ferry as it departs Egali port on Amorgos en route to Naxos

     

    Please turn to page 2 to continue reading and to view videos of islands in the Cyclades chain.

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

  • Temptation island: Why Mykonos is Greece’s hottest holiday destination

    Share

    https://www.facebook.com/845070212218971/videos/1098820070177316/

    This video by Mykonos LIVE TV shows some of the popular beaches and tourist attractions that draw huge crowds to Mykonos every year

     

    Intriguing island: It seems everybody loves Mykonos,  Countless people love its atmospheric beaches, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, and happily spread the word about how fantastic everything is. And there are likely just as many who love to criticize and complain, warning anyone who will listen not to go to Mykonos because it’s overpriced, overcrowded and overly commercialized. With so much talk, whether by exuberant fans or equally enthusiastic detractors, it’s no wonder Mykonos is the most famous of all the Greek islands. Remember the expression “There is no such thing as bad publicity?” Well, Mykonos gets plenty, yet its popularity continues to soar.  

    I think there’s a very simple reason: Mykonos has tremendous visual appeal. Watch the two videos I’ve published in this post, and it’s easy to see why millions of people want to go there. Professional photography helps, no doubt, but similarly enticing images of the island’s breathtaking sights and scenery have appeared for many years in news and social media, travel publications, lifestyle websites, fashion and design magazines, and hit movies all around the world. Heck,  I’ve been to Mykonos more than any other place in Greece, yet these videos make me feel like rushing right back.

    The film at the top of this post, produced by Mykonos LIVE TV, does a great job of selling the island’s good looks. It presents fabulous views of the iconic landmarks and attractions that have made Mykonos a household name over the past five decades: beaches, bougainvillea, brilliant white buildings, charming churches and chapels, the Little Venice seafront, the photogenic pelican, the impressive Alefkandra windmills, the incredible blue skies and turquoise seas, the sensational sunsets, and much more.

     

    [adToAppearHere] 

     

    However, there is another popular expression that applies to Mykonos: “Beauty is only skin deep.” Although the narrator of the Tripment travel website film, below, makes a point of mentioning the island’s biggest blemishes, warts and flaws, the video views of bustling beaches, streets and bars do a convincing job of selling Mykonos as an incredibly attractive, exciting, and vibrant place to vacation.

    Acknowledging that the island can be extremely expensive and overcrowded during peak season (July and August), the narrator describes Mykonos as “the ideal destination to boast one’s wealth and happiness.” Still, there’s that matchless beauty and alluring aura that make people dream of taking a trip to Mykonos..

    “The all-white Cycladic architecture, in combination with the blue colour of the sea and sky, creates really beautiful scenery,” the narrator notes, adding that the 25 Mykonos beaches  — “quite a large number” considering the island’s small size — are all “beautiful, with golden sand and crystal-clear blue water.” They might be jam-packed with rental sunbeds and umbrellas, too, but they still look so damned inviting!

    [adToAppearHere]

     

    Despite its drawbacks, Mykonos “definitely offers a unique experience to its visitors,” the narrator says, and “whether you like it or not depends on your personal taste and style.”

    Nevertheless, “the fact is that it is the liveliest destination in Greece as people here enjoy themselves 24 hours a day, non-stop.” Mykonos, he concludes, is “a destination that has made Greece famous all over the world.”

    And that’s a really good thing, in my humble opinion.

    Even if you can get there only briefly, whether on a cruise, a day tour or a short stopover en route to another island, Mykonos is absolutely worth seeing. There’s nowhere else like it, and that’s a good thing, too. 

     

    This clip from the Tripment travel blog dates back to 2014, but little has changed in the interim, and the video still offers an excellent overview of what it calls “the most famous and expensive destination in Greece.”

  • How to travel to Greece on a student’s budget

    Share

     Oia village on Santorini

    Hotel buildings and infinity swimming pools cling to the sides of the imposing caldera cliffs in Oia village on Santorini island

      

    Guest post by Lisa Griffin

    Greece is a Eurozone country, and this fact often keeps travelers with a student budget at bay from taking a trip there. Many people think they will require loads of money to travel to Greek resorts. It is a common prejudice which is closely connected to myths that only tycoons and other financial demi-gods  can afford the resorts .

    The truth is different. Times of Aristotle Onassis have passed, and now any student can afford cheap holidays to Greece, either taking a trip to a sunny island like Santorini or feeling the antique air of Athens without paying much.

     

    [adToAppearHere]

     

    Students’ leisure shouldn`t be expensive!

    Cheap Greece vacations are not a dream anymore. Greece is a highly underestimated budget travel destination. Just follow the simple rule – if you are not a millionaire, don`t pretend to be one. Don`t book expensive hotels; eat out in small traditional restaurants, and use low-cost airfare and transport.  Otherwise, you can turn the pleasure of your vacation into endless money wasting.

    A statement like this applies to every country in the world – you can say that any city is expensive unless you’re willing to change your habits and try to look for ways to economize. 

    In Greece,  don’t always go for the most popular places. Local people are usually trying to earn money on tourists not caring if they will be satisfied with their expensive services  – tomorrow the flux of tourists will be all the same.  Check Greek island vacation packages for bargains. Often these packages include delightful spots that aren’t as popular as the mainstream destinations, so you can enjoy low-cost services while having all you need for a good rest and entertainment.

    Yet even the more expensive Islands like Santorini are accessible to everyone, since you can usually find hostel accommodation for as little as 15 per night. it might be a bed in a tent, but do you need more? People travel to Greek Isles not to sit in a hotel, but to see as much as possible and spend time somewhere on a distant beach. The main thing is to have a shower, a kitchen to cook fresh products bought in local markets, wifi, a place to put your stuff, and a bed to sleep.

    Fira the capital of Santorini

    Fira, the main commercial center on Santorini. Although it’s one of the most expensive places to visit in Greece, Santorini still offers hostel and other cheap accommodations that suit a student budget.

     

    Please click on the link below to continue reading page 2 of Lisa Griffin’s article.

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

  • Islands suffer flood damage after heavy rain soaks the Cyclades

    Share

    Stormwater flooding on Naxos

    Stormwaters surged across fields, farmlands and roads on Naxos after heavy rain lashed the island on Tuesday. This picture of an overflowing stream appeared in a January 23 2017 photo report published by Naxos Times.

     

    Muddy Naoussa waterfront street

    After the Tuesday rains, this waterfront strip in Naoussa village on Paros was left a complete muddy mess. This was one of several photos that Kay Will shared on Facebook to show the aftermath of the storm.

     

    Devastating downpours: Winter weather has been packing a powerful punch in Greece this month.

    First it was unusually cold temperatures and snowfalls that struck much of the country during the first week of January (see the stunning pictures and videos in my recent posts Amazing winter wonderland scenes from Greece and Greece in white winter glory).

    The mercury has since climbed and the snow in many places has melted, but Mother Nature wasn’t finished — she decided to pound some of the Cyclades islands with heavy downpours that lasted throughout the day on Tuesday January 24.

     

    [adToAppearHere]

     

    The rain, occasionally accompanied by hail, pelted Paros, Naxos, Tinos, Mykonos, Sifnos, Andros and other islands for more than 24 hours.

    Paros was particularly hard hit by the storm and seems to have suffered the most water damage. There was extensive soil erosion as well as some landslides, and flooding caused widespread damage to farm fields, shops, homes, churches, vehicles, and roadways.  

    According to a January 25 report on the local news website ParosIn, damage to some areas was so severe, the island’s mayor has written to regional authorities requesting they declare a state of emergency so that resources can be deployed to assist with the massive cleanup and repair work that must now be undertaken.

    The news story noted that the mayor’s letter described severe damage in the municipal areas of Naoussa, Kostos, Lefkon, Archilocus, and Marpissa, as well as places in and around Parikia.

    According to the Naxos Times, the deluge doused Naxos with so much rain that streams turned into “rushing rivers” that “drowned” farms and fields, and flooded some roads.  Near Koronida village, where wildfires had burned several weeks before, the water washing down the streams was black from all the soot being carried away, the January 24 Naxos Times report stated.

     

    This short videoclip, shared by the Maistros Panormos Tinos page on Facebook, shows some of the rainwater damage at Rochari beach on Tinos

     

    Click on the link below to continue reading and see more storm photos and video on page 2 of this post.

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

  • Mykonos parties and events from September to December 2017

    Share

    Cavo Paradiso Mykonos September DJ lineup

    Cavo Paradiso’s DJ roster for September, including its closing week parties September 20, 22 and 23

     

    ~ Updated on Tuesday December 26 ~

     

    While September’s arrival is a sign that summer is winding down, that doesn’t mean the party scene is finished on Mykonos. Although Madon ended its season during the last week of August, many bars and clubs are still going strong. It’s also a great time for major cultural events, including the Mykonos Biennale and the Mykonos Multimedia Festival, both taking place the first week of the month.

    Although some venues will start to close up shop over the course of September, many bars in Mykonos Town will remain open throughout the month and into the first half of October, while some of the beach clubs will also stay in operation until at least early October.

    You’ll find a day-by-day list of September and October parties below and continuing on page 2 of this post. Please note that most events for October entertainment events will not be released until closer to that month. This post will be updated whenever party details are released.

    If you want to see what the party scene was like on Mykonos during earlier months this year, click here.

     

    Nammos Mykonos concert for Adha Eid September 1

    On Friday September 1, singers Antonis Remos, Ragheb Alama and Mustafa Sandal will perform in concert at Nammos in celebration of the Kurban Bayrami feast for Eid el-Adha. Also in the entertainment lineup for the evening is world-renowned belly dancer Oryantal Didem .

     

    Mykonos biennale 2017

    The 2017 Mykonos Biennale — a festival celebrating art, dance, music and short film — takes place September 1 to 5 at locations around the island. 

     

    Mykonos Multimedia Festival 2017

    Another major cultural event on the island this month is the Mykonos Multimedia Festival 2017, featuring multimedia performances, interactive installations and Internet art. It’s being held at the Sefanos Syrioti Hall on Meletopoulou Street each evening from September 1 to 3.

     

    180 Sunset Bar Mykonos party event

    180 Sunset Bar hosts the Mykonos White Party on Friday September 1

     

    Tropicana club Mykonos party event

    On Friday September 1 and Saturday September 2, Tropicana beach club is holding special parties to welcome the arrival of September and to celebrate Eid al-Adha

     

    Cavo Paradiso Mykonos presents Claptone

    Claptone and Valeron play Cavo Paradiso on Friday September 1. See page 2 for a list of other events being held at the club this month

     

    VOID club Mykonos hip hop party

    VOID‘s Hip Hop Nights continue on Friday September 1 with DJ Robbin Jefferson and DJ Hulk on the decks

     

    [adToAppearHere]

     

     

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

  • Mykonos parties and special events in August 2017

    Share

    ~ updated on Wednesday August 30 ~

     

    Cavo Paradiso Mykonos August DJ lineup

    Here’s the August DJ lineup for Cavo Paradiso

     

    Tropicana beach club  party event

    Tropicana welcomes the arrival of August with a champagne shower party on Tuesday August 1

     

    Moni club Mykonos party event

    Orazio Rispo from New York’s Resolute club is guest DJ at Moni on Tuesday August 1

     

    Madon club Mykonos party event

    It’s Ladies First night at Madon on Tuesday August 1

     

    Scorpios Mykonos music event

    DJ Behrouz brings his Miami club concept ‘Do Not Sit On The Furniture‘ to Scorpios on Tuesday August 1. Also appearing  at the event are Birds of Mind, Powel and Viken Arman.

     

    SantAnna beach club Mykonos

    The Neverdogs lead the party at SantAnna on Tuesday August 1

     

    VOID club Mykonos  party event

    On Tuesday August 1, VOID presents “techno legend”Jackmaster with support from DJs Jimmy Lainas and Nick Jojo

     

    Cavo Paradiso Mykonos party event

    Bob Sinclar makes his annual appearance at Cavo Paradiso on Tuesday August 1

     

    Stacey King at Belvedere Hotel Mykonos

    Singer Stacey King and her band will be performing poolside at the Belvedere Hotel for five nights — from Tuesday August 1 through Sunday August 6

     

    Tru Paradise Club Mykonos party event

    Don Diablo and Tujamo take over the decks at Tru Paradise on Wednesday August 2

     

    [adToAppearHere]

     

    Please turn to page 2 to see the full listing of August party events.

    CONTINUED ON PAGE 2