It feels like winter has made an early arrival this week, so it’s once again the time of year where our daydreams are filled with the azure waters, sun-kissed beaches, and ancient charm that only a summer escape to Greece can offer. With its balmy climate, stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and iconic Mediterranean cuisine, Greece offers a tantalizing oasis of warmth and wonder against the depths of our winter.
So, if you’re craving a luxurious last-minute getaway to escape the chill, read on for our exclusive guide to Athens’ and the Greek Island’s newest and most beautiful boutique hotels. Each a perfect blend of holiday extravagance and relaxation, offering an ideal base for exploring the cobblestone streets of charming villages and taking in breathtaking vistas of the Aegean Sea.
Reach out to us via email on enquiries@jigsawtravel.com.au to start planning and for more information on the exclusive benefits and VIP treatment only available when booking with Jigsaw Travel.
The Dolli: A Historic Icon in the Heart of Athens
Set within a meticulously restored neoclassical building dating back to the early 20th century, The Dolli stands as a testament to Athens’ rich architectural heritage. Originally constructed as a private mansion for a prominent Athenian family, the building has been lovingly transformed into an elegant boutique hotel, preserving its historic charm while seamlessly blending modern comforts with timeless sophistication.
What we love:
- Architectural Splendour: Admire the grandeur of The Dolli’s neoclassical façade, characterized by its graceful columns, ornate detailing, and arched windows. Step inside, and you’ll find yourself wrapped in understated luxury, where period features harmonize with contemporary design elements to create an ambiance of refined elegance.
- Intimate Retreat: With just 45 exquisitely appointed bedrooms, pied a terre and private apartments, The Dolli offers an intimate and exclusive setting for discerning travelers. Each room is bathed in Athenian light reflects the hotel’s commitment to discreet luxury and comfort, featuring sumptuous furnishings, luxurious amenities, and views of the cityscape or hotel’s private courtyard.
- Rooftop dining: The Dolli’s stunning all-day rooftop bar & restaurant set on the fifth floor is the hotel’s ‘pièce de résistance’, gazing at the Parthenon and the historical Plaka neighbourhood and embracing the vibrant Athens beat. The menu offers authentic culinary surprises, casual chic dining, fusion cuisine flavours and a refined wine list from the world’s leading wine regions to artisan, family-owned vineyards suggested by their sommelier.
- Historic Significance: Discover the storied past of The Dolli as you wander through its corridors, adorned with archival photographs and artifacts that pay homage to the building’s illustrious history. From its origins as a private mansion to its transformation into a boutique hotel, each chapter of The Dolli’s narrative adds to its allure and charm.
Exclusive benefits: As a client of Jigsaw Travel, enjoy complimentary cocktails and canapes at The Dolli’s rooftop bar.
Mystique, Santorini: Where Luxury Meets Myth (main image)
Perched on the dramatic cliffs of Oia on Santorini, Mystique is an exclusive hideaway that epitomizes the allure of the Greek Isles. Carved into the rugged Caldea cliffs, the boutique hotel seamlessly blends contemporary elegance with traditional Cycladic architecture, featuring gentle curves and sculpted arches, a muted color palette and light enhancing spaces to create an understated, exclusive feel.
What we love:
- Spectacular views: All of the stone-crafted, cave-style suites and villas boast uninterrupted views onto the translucent blue of the Aegean and the quietly active volcano. Effortlessly harnessing the elegance of simplicity, all suites are a wondrous exploration, endowed with secluded terraces and most of them crowned with private jacuzzis or pools hanging from the cliff.
- Unparalleled Serenity: Indulge in moments of pure bliss as you unwind in the hotel’s infinity pool or rejuvenate your senses with a treatment in the Elios Spa.
- Epicurean Delights: Embark on a world-class culinary experience at Lure Restaurant, where awarded chef Olivier Campanha presents his own rendition of the unique heritage of Santorini with a menu honouring locality and purity.
Exclusive benefits: Jigsaw Travel clients will receive VIP treatment during their stay at Mystique, including $100 property credit, room upgrade if available, daily complimentary breakfast for 2 guests per day, personalized welcome amenity and more.
Deos, Mykonos: A Stylish Sanctuary
Opening its doors next month, Deos by Myconian Collection will offer a fresh vision of luxury in Mykonos. Named for the awe-inspiring beauty of its natural setting, Deos is poised on a hilltop above the town of Mykonos and enjoys panoramic views from the famous windmills in the old harbour to the serene Aegean horizon. The architecture, inspired by the island’s natural beauty, blends indoor and outdoor spaces, while rustic walls and lush indigenous flora create a serene environment.
Inside, the essence of minimalist elegance comes to life with warm, natural materials and custom designs. Each room, suite and residence opens onto large terraces with pools or jacuzzis, offering a personal oasis. The wellness spaces, including a state-of-the-art gym and indulgent spa, complement the serene atmosphere, providing a holistic retreat for the body and mind.
What we love:
- A private oasis in the sky: Step into a world of quiet luxury as you enter your elegantly appointed suite, where sleek furnishings and minimalist décor create an atmosphere of understated glamour that draw on natural textures to exude a warm minimalism.
- Vibrant Nightlife: Mykonos is renowned for its nightlife, and Deos places you right above action. The vibrant street life of Chora is a mere five-minute walk away, down the scenic steps that lead directly from this private sanctuary to the harbour promenade below.
- Exclusive Experiences: Deos seems to capture all that is magical about Mykonos and is an ideal location from which to explore. The hotel’s truly exceptional panorama extends from the 16th Century windmills of the old harbour, across the neighbouring islands of Syros, Tinos and the sacred island of Delos. Considered among the finest archaeological vestiges of the ancient world, this UNESCO heritage site is a mere twenty minutes away by ferry.
Exclusive benefits: As a guest of Jigsaw Travel, enjoy a complimentary Thalassotherapy treatment and return transfers for stays of 3 nights or more.
Blue Palace, Crete: A Celebration of Summer
The celebrated, family-run Blue Palace hotel has been synonymous with luxury service and an authentic Greek experience for over two decades. From May this year, a new chapter unfolds as Blue Palace reopens as Phaea Blue Palace boutique hotel. With 47 bungalows and suites, the new hotel embodies a commitment to conscious luxury hospitality and a deeper connection to Greece’s timeless heritage. The hotel will offer refreshed interiors and provide a more intimate, personalized experience in the same majestic location.
What we love:
- Beachfront Bliss: With its privileged location overlooking the sparkling waters of the Cretan Sea, Blue Palace invites you to surrender to the allure of the Mediterranean. Spend your days lounging on the private beach or indulging in water sports.
- Spa Sanctuary: Immerse yourself in a world of wellness and relaxation at The Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy, where ancient healing rituals and modern techniques converge to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit.
- Phaea Blue Villa: If your sole desire is to bliss out in your private villa, the Phaea Blue Villa is an unparalleled haven. Featuring a vast indoor sanctuary, opulent amenities, dedicated butler and a private heated pool, this space would be the ideal place to host an exclusive retreat for groups, families or celebrating special occasions.
- Phaea Farmer’s Feast: Set amidst the magical organic garden, this special pop up event allows guests to handpick the freshest ingredients alongside a Phaea Farmer and Blue Palace’s Executive Chef, Giannis Kalivretakis. As food is prepared and the amazing aromas fill the air, guests come together around a communal table, embodying the true essence of Cretan familial bonds. Experience the age-old tradition of cooking directly in the soil, enhancing flavors and infusing each dish with the essence of the earth.
Exclusive benefits: Jigsaw Travel clients will receive VIP treatment during their stay, including room upgrade on arrival if available, daily full breakfast for two guests per bedroom served in Anthos Restaurant, $100 USD equivalent hotel credit to be utilized during stay, early check-in / late check-out if available, complimentary Wi-Fi. Additionally, bookings in the Island Suite Sea View Private Heated Pool or The Royal Blue Villa will receive a curated welcome amenity and complimentary private roundtrip transfers with a stay of 4 or more nights.
To learn more and to design your own bespoke Jigsaw Journey to Greece this winter, contact us on enquiries@jigsawtravel.com.au