Our Big Fab Greek Honeymoon, and How You Can Do it Too
The writer and her new husband on their nine-day honeymoon in Greece. (Photo: Handout)
By Kate Storey
After an afternoon strolling the marble-lined streets of Oia — the quaint town at the top of the Greek island Santorini — we notice the crowd swell. The further north we walk, the more people fill the sidewalk. Groups three-deep stand on tippy toes, trying to get a glimpse over the cliff edge.
We duck into a souvenir shop to escape the throng, asking the store owner what could be happening.
“It’s nearly time for the sunset!” he explains. “On a clear night, the crowds begin showing up at about 5. You better find a good spot now — hurry!”
Santorini takes its sunsets — and its romance — seriously.
Just a few days after saying “I do” last September, my brand-new husband and I hopped on a plane for a magical nine-day honeymoon. We were hoping for a dash of adventure, a lot of history, some swoon-worthy restaurants and hotels as well as (just a bit) of relaxation. Fortunately, we found the perfect marriage of our requirements in Greece.
Santorini
Take a look inside the luxurious Vedema Resort, which is nestled on the quiet side of Santorini. (Courtesy: the Luxury Collection)
Our trip begins in Santorini, which is — with good reason — known as the most romantic of the Greek islands. At just seven and a half miles long, the island hugs a dormant volcano, meaning nearly every spot along the coast boasts a stunning view.
Related: Where Beach Meets Bleach: The Most Gorgeous Hotels in the Greek Cyclade Islands
We venture from the beaten path and check into the Vedema Resort, nestled on the quiet side of the island and built around a 400-year-old winery. Our suite is classic Santorini: three sun drenched rooms built into a white stone domed bungalow with its own private porch.
For our first dinner, we pop into the property’s Alati restaurant — a romantic, candlelit spot carved into a cave. Supper is pan-fried buttery monkfish and sweet, mild amberjack fresh from the Aegean.
The next morning, we rent a zippy Smart car and drive to the south end of the island, where a kaleidoscope of beaches await: There’s Perissa (a fine, stark-black-sand beach surrounded by cliffs), the Red Beach (ocher sand) and the White Beach (which is, you guessed it, a dazzling shade of white).
Nothing beats a delicious dinner with a picturesque view. (Courtesy: the Luxury Collection)
In the afternoon, we explore Akrotiri, an excavated prehistoric city buried by volcanic ash in the 17th century B.C. Its remains — roads, homes and even vases and cooking tools — are remarkably preserved.
Related: A Sweet Stop in Greece — Thessaloniki’s New Wave of Patisseries
To skirt Oia’s sunset groupies we make reservations at Ochre, a restaurant tucked into the island’s rugged crag. It offers open-air stadium seating, turning the Earth’s nightly rotation into a 24/7 light show.
While toasting with Santorini’s dry white wine and dining on lamb stifado (stew) served in a pouch of parchment paper and tagliatelles with salmon, we basked in the vista of whitewashed buildings turning pink as the sun set into the sparkling Aegean Sea.
Suites from $305/night; vedema.gr
Mykonos
The Myconian Utopia Resort boasts ultra-mod decor. (Courtesy: the Myconian Utopia Resort/Relais & Châteaux)
Next, it’s off to Mykonos. Though the island is only a three-hour ferry ride away, its hip beach scene makes for a major change of pace. We indulge with a stay at Relais & Châteaux’s Utopia resort, which opened last summer and sits on a bluff overlooking Elia Beach. With ultra-mod décor (think: in-room black stone tub), a breathtaking infinity pool and a resort-owned helicopter for island tours, we feel like A-listers.
We sneak off for some beach time, curling up in loungers on the soft, white sand and enjoy the fabulous people-watching (the island’s worldclass club scene draws a parade of young and beautiful frolickers).
Rooms from $240/night; myconianutopia.gr
Athens
The Hotel Grande Bretagne sits right in the heart of of the action on the corner of Constitution Square. (Courtesy: the Luxury Collection)
For our last stop, we hop a quick flight to Athens and check into the landmark Hotel Grande Bretagne. Built in 1874, the grande dame sits right in the heart of the action on the corner of Constitution Square. (We have chic taste: Lady Gaga picked it for her home away from home just the week before.) We enjoy a leisurely breakfast every morning on the hotel’s GB Roof Garden, admiring the sweeping views of the Acropolis, and pinch ourselves over the luxe touches in our suite, including two grand chandeliers. After a visit to the sumptuous spa, which houses two thermal baths, an amethyst grotto and a Finnish sauna, we walk out the resort’s front door directly into the bustling streets of Athens’ Plaka neighborhood. We stroll past vendors selling “evil eye” charms, olive oil and (from the hip microroaster Tailor Made) delicious iced coffees.
Related: Not a Myth: Athens is Booming with Culture Again
When we finally return to Brooklyn, my husband and I share a new sense of adventure about our life together — and matching tan lines under our wedding bands.
Rooms from $338/night; grandebretagne.gr
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