Staying at Patmos Aktis was pure bliss!
In the midst of a hot May like this year’s one, a dose of Greek summer vacations is vital to function properly! Despite its short season, Patmos was simply perfect for me to experience the precious feeling of a summer escape.
A long weekend at Patmos Aktis
Patmos is an island that feels so Greek, being at the same time the favourite of an eclectic cosmopolitan crowd and a landmark of international religious history (this is the place where John the Apostle wrote the Apocalypse aka the Book of Revelation). As for Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa, it is located on the sandy beach of picturesque Groikos bay. Filled with Tamarisk trees and fishing boats, it is the ideal setting for early, yet idyllic summer carefree moments.
Its privileged location is largely due to the fact that Patmos Aktis was once one of the famed Xenia Hotels that were built during the golden era of Greek tourism in the 60s. The hotel is luxuriously serene, total white, with architectural interventions that respect the setting and the history of the building –the specific Xenia was created by the architect Miltos Dallas, while others of the same period were constructions of modernism built by legendary architect Aris Konstantinidis. The unprocessed seafront area was preserved and further interventions were made. In fact, constructions beyond restoration and re-construction of the building, involved the addition of a two-storey block at the back of the site.
Patmos Island was, according to Babis Ioannou – one of the project’s architects, what defined the concept for the construction of the new building. Whitewashed stone walls, picturesque cobbled streets adorned with all sorts of flowers that lead you from one area of the hotel to another, small gardens, all create a white maze of 56 rooms and suites that makes you feel you are strolling down the alleys of Patmos Chora.
The matching of the hotel to the landscape, and the atmosphere of a one-of-a-kind island like Patmos, made me love Patmos Aktis at first sight. The colours that surrounded me during my short stay made me appreciate even more the relaxation the place offers. Bright white with multiple shades of blue were the colours of the Aegean Suite where I stayed (a luxurious two room suite with glass balconies for unobstructed view to the bay). Off white curtains, sand coloured wooden floor and light grey walls in the inside of the room, all created a wellness colour palette that I personally adored!
5+1 moments in Patmos Aktis that made me feel I am experiencing the best version of Greek summer
1. The gastronomy
Indulging in the creative cuisine of the award winning Apocalypsis Restaurant was quite a culinary experience. The food is beautifully presented and local specialities are given an innovative gastronomic twist. A key secret to all dishes’ genuine deliciousness is the chef Christos Xeraxoudis’s obsession to avoid spices. Instead, he follows the recipe of our ancient ancestors and persistently chooses beneficial herbs, collected either from the hotel’s garden or from a neighboring vegetable garden.
2. The walk
The walk I had from the bay of Groikos bay to the neighbouring Petra beach (famous for the impressive Kalikatsou rock that looks like a statue) was really therapeutic. I cleared my mind and fully appreciated the magic vibes of this scenic place.
3. The treatment
Patmos Aktis has collaborated with top Greek beauty brand Apivita and the result is a wellness heaven. The atmosphere is romantic with lanterns, lit candles on the floor, hidden lighting and gentle music, there are heated beds and a divine smell all over the place and this is only the preparation. I tried the aromatherapy back massage with Apivita essential oils and I almost fell asleep. The feeling was sublime!
4. The beachlife
Why ask for more when you can enjoy a mouthwatering dessert on the sunbed after a swim in the quiet and warm waters of Groikos?
5. The lunch
The traditional menu (including tarama and fish soup) at Plefsis tavern on a long table arranged onto the sand, right by the sea was an authentic Greek feast that we will all remember for ever!
6. The sunset
Picture this. It’s dusk, I am in my room and I have the most amazing bed view to Groikos bay, while jazz melodies from live saxophone are filling the air providing an ideal soundtrack to my evening.
SEE ALSO: What to wear in the Greek islands
Discover more about my Patmos Aktis experience in the gallery below