The eco-minded, adults-only Oku Kos—located on a private beach only accessible to its guests—is designed to feel like its own private village, where all aspects of the island can be enjoyed without leaving the property. One and two-story cubist villas surround the hotel’s multiple gardens and patios with large terraces that extend into private outdoor spaces. The indoor-outdoor restaurant, featuring fresh and colorful Greek cuisine, can be enjoyed poolside or beachside with the vibey tunes of the house DJ drifting on the breeze. After a long day in the sun, the spa awaits, offering a range of holistic treatment options, as well as a glass-walled sauna that overlooks the lush courtyard and a domed hammam.
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, spa, gym, library, concept shop, pool, private beach
Editor’s tip: Don’t miss the morning yoga sessions held on the open-air yoga terrace or the beach pavilion.
Address: Sikamini, Marmari, Kos, 85, Kos 853 00, Greece
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Polo Mansion
While you’re not staying here for its modern amenities, there’s a familiar sense of warmth that permeates the intimate atmosphere at Marco Polo Mansion, a small boutique hotel located on a cobbled backstreet in the old town of Rhodes. That feeling that you’re staying at a friend’s home is likely the result of the warm hospitality from the family that runs it. Set within the walls of an old Turkish house are 10 bohemian-style rooms flooded with color and character, thoughtfully decorated with wrought-iron beds, tiled floors, and woven Bavarian rugs collected from the family’s travels. Many of the rooms surround the secret garden, where a memorable breakfast is served to guests each morning under the fragrant shade of orange and lemon trees. But the best part is that hotel guests have a standing dinner reservation at the hotel’s restaurant–ask anyone on the island and they’ll tell you it’s the best seat in town.