Get ready to party like a rock star!

I seem to remember sexy French singers in speedos at Paradise Beach and sex shops a-plenty throughout Mykonos town.

Oh wait… yep, that was in my early twenties a while ago LOL.

Now Mykonos entertains more than party animals and college kids. Families, couples, singles…gay, straight, transgender- there’s something for everyone on Mykonos Island!

Home to over 60 beaches, Mykonos is known for its gorgeous sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. If you’re planning a trip to Greece, you definitely want to make a visit to Mykonos.

Traveling to Mykonos…

Remember those ferries I had pre-booked for us? Well, we got lucky this time and had a larger, faster ferry take us from Santorini to Mykonos. We passed several Cyclades islands and enjoyed the views along the way. I personally love ferry travel- the more I get to see of a country, the better.

Arriving to Mykonos port can be a crazy scene! If you don’t know where you want to stay, there are TONS of vendors fighting for your attention and dying to help you find a hotel. Most will offer free transportation to their hotels, hostels and motels. Thanks to my “OCDness” I had every little detail planned out, so we did not need to mess with the crowds. Our hotel sent luxury SUV’s for us- what a great first impression.

Grecotel Mykonos Blu Luxury Hotel

Ever heard the expression, “save the best for last?” Mykonos was the grand finale portion of our trip- I listened to our travel agent’s recommendation that we should stay here last and the longest. The resort is GORGEOUS! Part of the Grecian, Grecotel hotel chain, Mykonos Blu is a stunning resort sitting just above Psarou Beach and the Aegean Sea. Clean, beautiful, white modern architecture accented in blue hues. The lobby and villas were recently remodeled. The restaurants and bars are fresh, all open to the outdoors and overlooking the Aegean waters.

We were even upgraded to one of their fabulous blu villas, complete with our own villa lobby and snacks, butler, private patio and jacuzzi with breathtaking views, and large indoor suite. We enjoyed sunsets every night on our deck and I even accomplished some yoga and stretching!

We enjoyed a delicious complimentary breakfast every day. The Greeks know how to cook and keep you healthy! FRESH FRESH FRESH! We had about 10 different styles of eggs, several fresh cheeses, fruits, vegetables, salads, juices, coffees, lattes, espressos, herbs, pancakes and French toast… and sooooo much more. We really had no need for lunch. And with such a captivating view, I never wanted our mornings to end.

Some hotels are just so great, you never ever really need to leave them. This is how my girl friend and I felt. We enjoyed our post breakfast, mid mornings and afternoons lounging at the pool, testing out massages at the spa (the masseuses here are excellent btw) and soaking up sun on Psarou beach,

Venturing Beyond Our Hotel…

The guys, on the other hand, had decided on a mission to hit as many beaches as they could in four days. I suspect they hit between 20-30 beaches on their ATV’s. They made a workout out of it and swam at least 15 minutes at each one!

Mykonos Town

The guys talked us into joining a few of their adventures. One included visiting the actual town of Mykonos. The ride into town was hilarious- I was bouncing all over the place on those cobblestone streets and sharp turns! Those ATV’s are fun… but we made sure to be super safe and not drive too late in the afternoon when tourists were full on into their “cocktail hour enjoyment.” The driving can be pretty insane here.

The town of Mykonos is super quaint and busy. They offer tons of shopping and plenty of outdoor cafes to dine in or enjoy a drink. The cobblestone streets can make your walk difficult in heels ladies. I definitely recommend flat sandals or tennis shoes.

I loved walking through town BUT it is quite loud and packed with tourists. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy an hour or two visiting town to check out the sites then return to the hotel for some relaxation time. Again- something for everyone! If you enjoy the crowds, you’ll want to stay in town or venture here A LOT.

Super Paradise Beach

On our most challenging adventure, the guys drove us to Super Paradise beach. Ok, so if you’ve heard of Paradise beach, you know it’s a nudest friendly beach and big time party place. Well… now multiply the party times 100 and you get Super Paradise Beach.

It’s a workout for two reasons. First, you have to dance A TON because the music is so great and the vibe is so FUN. Second, you have to climb up this monstrous hill as you depart riding your ATV because the incline is too steep to make it to the top without a lot of pushing! Some incline- my quads were crying vacation the next day!

Restaurant Recommendations…

Ok, so we did venture out of the hotel on a few occasions and yes, we even managed to fit a lunch into our bellies late one afternoon. So our hotel is located in the most amazing spot. On the best beach in Mykonos if you ask me. The views are unbelievable, the water is so crystal clean and calm (there are no sharks so you can swim in peace!), the yachts are gorgeous and the party is literally a five minute walk down the beach from your hotel room. The closer you get, the louder the DJ sounds become. There are several restaurants and bars with stages for dancing. Apparently August is when all the party goers really get started and the scene becomes even more intense!

Nammos

We chose lunch, based on the hotel’s recommendation, at a restaurant called Nammos. (I’m sure the hotel recommended it because they thought we would love the atmosphere, which we definitely did). Apparently, it’s part of a restaurant chain.

After dining here, I’d call it more of a tourist trap and I’ll explain why. When I travel, I love to experience the local culture and restaurants. I want to go to places where the owner hosts and serves you, where the food is the freshest and the locals regularly visit. Nammos is where all the tourists go because they’ve heard it’s a great place. YES, the place is beautiful. You dine on the sand and have a ginormous menu and plethora of meal and drink options to choose from. BUT you won’t find a single local here. The prices are really high, the food quality is decent but nothing rocked my world, and they deliver you this amazing bread accompanied by a dipping sauce that they charge you $$$ for without asking. It’s like paying for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. Self explanatory, right?

Nikos Galllop

We did find this DELICIOUS local hideout and favorite directly across the road from our hotel. The hotel staff also recommended this spot. It took us about 2 minutes to walk here and the food did totally ROCK MY WORLD! The restaurant is called Nikos Gallop. Nikko, the owner helped serve us both of our visits. The food is spectacular, inexpensive and insanely fresh. Their grilled fish in olive oil, herbs and lemon, melts in your mouth. The salads, hummus, tzatziki and dolmas were the yummiest ever!

The downside? The restaurant is right next to a road and has no ocean view. But the wines and food were so yummy, I nobody cares. (Sorry guys, they don’t have a website but you can check out their menu on Trip Advisor). Literally everything here on the menu is healthy- with a few pasta dishes and fried calamari as exceptions but hey, you’re on vacation!

I loved the ambience of locals and Greek music playing on Niko’s sound system, but that’s me. You may prefer Nammos on the beach, dining in the sand, listening to hip DJ tunes. And that’s awesome. Either way, as I said earlier, Mykonos has something for everyone.

FIVE STARS *****

Be sure to include Mykonos in your Greek vacay itinerary- it’s such a unique spot and worthy of a few day’s stay! I am always looking for ways I can incorporate fitness and healthy eating into my vacations.

Mykonos Island is definitely a place where you can be super active and eat healthy should you choose to. Between swimming, walking, hiking up hills pushing your ATV’s and dancing at the beach clubs, you’re sure to burn those excess breakfast calories like I did. Making the right choices like ordering fresh yummy salads and grilled fish helps a lot too.

And if you are feeling like you deserve a cheat meal (which we all do, especially while on vacation) the pastas are sooooo fantastic! I usually convince someone else to order them then I steal a few bites! 🙂 One of my secret tips to staying fit LOL.

xx Shanna

 

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