How to Visit Two Greek Islands in One Vacation – With Little-Known Discounts, Swim-Up Bars and a Room with a Private Pool

Choosing one of the 6,000 Greek islands for your vacation can be a difficult decision.

So why not visit two in one trip?

Admire the white alleys, churches and winding streets of MykonosGetty

The hilly village of Oia in Santorini is postcard-perfectGetty

The islands are so close that hotel groups like Kivotos often offer incentives in the form of discounts and private transfers so you can save money and visit two places in one go.

And after a brief stay at the hotel brand’s ultra-luxurious Mykonos resort, I was eager to see what its sister resort in Santorini had in store.

The Mykonos property was one of the first boutique resorts to open on the island and was inspired by the nearby sacred island of Delos, said to be the birthplace of the Greek gods Apollo and Artemis.

And this is evident from the moment you enter the lobby. The interior combines classical Greek architecture (marble floors and white walls) with modern art in the form of pop-style busts and multi-colored glass lighting.

It’s a short walk to the famous Ornos Beach, but I chose to spend my day on the hotel’s private rocky beach, which was a secluded haven away from the crowds.

A small staircase led me down to the pebbles where I settled on a lounge chair by the ocean, so that I could let the warm waves lick my feet.

If you’re not a big beach fan, the hotel has its own swimming pool, complete with in-water loungers, cabana beds and even a Del Mar swim-up bar serving all the classic cocktails on ice.

If you like to fly and float, you won’t be disappointed by the poolside setting, with jazz music playing softly from the speakers while staff hand out ice creams.

But I spent most of my time in my own suite, one of 40 in the hotel, most of which have their own pool.

The bright sun shone through the huge windows, bouncing off the pristine white walls and illuminating the entire room.

Each morning I made the most of the in-room espresso machine before dipping my toes in my private pool and admiring the yachts moored in the cove.

The only thing that could tear me away from this tranquility was the promise of a delicious breakfast at the rooftop restaurant La Méduse.

I became obsessed with Strapatsada, a dish of scrambled eggs mixed with tomato paste and feta, which I spread on my toast every morning.

I always ordered it with fresh fruit platters and pastries. It’s safe to say the waiters knew what I wanted by the third day.

The stunning swimming pool overlooking the sea at Kivotos in MykonosKivotos Hotel

The luxurious rooms at Kivotos feature a private pool PROVIDED

Fine dining is on the menu at the Santorini Hotel

As with many new hotels, the resort experienced some teething problems.

I arrived just a few days after the season opened, so the only restaurant on site, Namah, had very few options available on its extensive menu.

It was the same for their lunch menu, with the hotel app having trouble calculating our room service order.

You won’t be short of dining options, though, as Mykonos’ main town is just a short taxi ride away, full of winding white alleys and shops with bright blue doors.

One of the most popular tavernas for lunch is Nikos. It’s simple with red and white checked tablecloths, but offers a long list of Greek and Italian dishes, including the juiciest chicken souvlaki I’ve ever had.

Cave-like rooms

It’s also worth staying in town for the sunset, best seen from one of the many restaurants lining colourful Little Venice.

The sunsets are equally stunning on the neighboring island of Santorini, where I was headed. following.

It took us just two hours by ferry to reach Kivotos Santorini from the Mykonos resort. It is one of the most original hotels on the island, having forgone the usual white and blue architecture in favor of an all-over black color, designed to mimic the volcanic earth.

Each of the 30 cave-like rooms is different and features an indoor hot tub or outdoor pool, as well as a private bathroom with rain shower and fine Bvlgari toiletries.

But the star of the hotel is the rooftop Mavro restaurant, which offers stunning sunset views. It was pure magic on our second night, with the bright red sun disappearing as I sipped my drink in awestruck silence.

An island known for its wine, I was won over by the Artemis Karamolegos 34, a lively white produced in one of the largest vineyards in Santorini.

I was also seduced by the exceptional cuisine. The establishment’s chef, Dimitris Katrivesis, offers exceptional tasting menus.

Dishes include red shrimp ceviche with melon molasses and the island’s unique white eggplant seasoned with cinnamon and miso.

And you’ll be well fed at breakfast too, with huge platters of food including shakshuka, French toast tiramisu and acai balls.

Fortunately, Santorini’s hilly nature made everything easy to explore on foot, and just a short taxi ride from the hotel is Fira, the island’s capital.

Less romantic than the pretty streets of Mykonos, it was the perfect place to fill my pockets with tacky fridge magnets, followed by an ice cream in one of the many shops selling huge stacks of ice cream.

The only question that remains holidayswhich greek island next?