The perfect chill-out location for a honeymoon, the small but perfectly formed Greek island of Skiathos offers great food, pine-clad hills and mile upon mile of beautiful beaches
Words by Rachel Webb
There’s something magical about journeying to a small island and, while Greece has plenty to choose from, Skiathos has just the right dimensions for a chill-out honeymoon. Located in the Sporades archipelago, off Greece’s east coast, it’s diminutive – measuring around seven miles from north to south – making it easy to explore if you can tear yourself away from the beach.
And, of course, beaches are what draw most visitors to Skiathos – mile upon mile of unspoilt sand and clear blue waters to explore. With direct flights from UK airports, it’s also the perfect fly and flop, and that’s an alluring prospect if you’re looking for a week or two of sunlounger recovery time after the wedding-day celebrations.
We have chosen a two-centre break with Santikos Hotels, a family-owned hotel group on the island, beginning in the hub of the island Skiathos town before heading down to Agia Paraskevi. The five-star Aegean Suites Hotel, our first port of call, is nestled in the hills outside Skiathos town. With just 20 suites and a focus on boutique elegance, this is a great base where you can take things at your own pace.
The rooms are large and comfortable – contemporary style without fuss – and ours has an outside terrace with great views of the Aegean and a private Jacuzzi. In fact, the whole focus here is on downtime, with three restaurants, pool and champagne bar, plus an array of spa and wellness treatments – from YOGAaqua to hiking. If beach is your thing, it’s only a short stroll from the pool to pristine golden sand.
“The 24-hour concierge service can organise everything from open-air theatre at the Bourtzi to a private boat trip to a deserted beach”
After a few days of sun and exploring, we move on to Princess Hotel, another five-star property and located right on Agia Paraskevi. It’s still a short hop by local bus or taxi to the town, but the chief draw here is the fantastic private beach, offering watersports against a peaceful pine-clad backdrop. While it’s larger than the Aegean, with over 100 rooms, it still feels intimate and with lots of personal touches.
This is a popular wedding spot and it’s not hard to see why with its pristine beach setting and long days of sunshine and Mediterranean warmth. There’s a smart casual dress code at any of the hotel’s four restaurants, which keeps things as relaxed as you want them to be.
Our favourite spot at Princess Hotel is the all-white taverna-style PR Ammos right on the beach (also the top spot for wedding feasts). As we gorge on fabulous seafood and watch the sun go down we conclude that if you’re looking for the classic Greek idyll to celebrate with friends on the day or chill à deux afterwards, then this is it.
* Santikos Aegean Suites Hotel and Princess Resort are offered through a variety of UK tour operators, including Classic Collection Holidays (classic-collection.co.uk).
For more information about Santikos hotels and travel options, visit santikoshotels.com
