Ios island is the underrated Greek hotspot you need to add to your travel hitlist

Few times in life do you find yourself genuinely rendered speechless – in a good way. You know, that open-mouthed, total sense of awe. But Calilo, a 30-suite resort on the Greek island of Ios, is unlike any hotel I've ever come across before.

You may have seen Calilo on your Instagram feed, in videos of gorgeous holiday-makers looking out at sunsets from rose petal-topped infinity pools. Opened in 2019, Calilo is truly the 'Instagram' destination. Situated on over 1,000 acres on the beautiful island of Ios, it's hard to believe a place like this even exists. Incredible architecture, a landscape to die for, beaches so golden, and pools so vast that even Michael Phelps would have trouble swimming from one side to the other – Calilo promises a lot, and it delivers more.

Upon arrival, I was told that the word "Calilo" means "Create A Life they can fall in Love with." For my three-night stay at this incredible resort, I was determined to put that mantra to the test.

What’s Ios like?

Ios is a smaller island, as part of the Cyclades group, meaning you have to get a flight to Santorini or Mykonos, followed by a ferry to the island. Unless, of course, you have access to a helicopter, in which case you can fly in directly to the Calilo’s helipad. Alas we did not. And with our flight unfortunately delayed by two hours, we missed our ferry so had to spend the following five hours in Santorini’s port waiting for the next one . A far stretch from the glamorous beach clubs and luxury hotels the island is famous for, Santorini’s port put a bit of a dampener on our vibes. So, with a so-bad-you-have-to-laugh journey behind us, we were hoping for a miracle when we reached Ios. As we stepped off the ferry, we were greeted by a sea of glimmering lights, giving a warm glow from the restaurants that adorned the port.

In the nighttime, Ios island glistened and glowed as we drove through the island to Calilo, which sits on the southeast coast. In the daytime, Ios is (naturally) even more beautiful. The capital, Chora, feels like a buzzing hub of energy and life, set against a backdrop of vast, sprawling hills across the island. With a big nightlife scene, aesthetic bars, traditional restaurants and small boutique shops, visiting Chora feels like an authentic glimpse into all the best things that Greece has to offer. That’s if you can bring yourself to leave the hotel…

What’s the vibe like at Calilo hotel?

Love is the central theme at the heart of everything Calilo has to offer, it’s woven into its DNA. As you walk around the hotel, speak to the staff and eat and drink, the idea of love, passion and creativity is all-encompassing. When you first enter the hotel, you walk over a wooden bridge across pools of water, surrounded by colourful art. Structures of figures supporting each other, dancing, and moving can be spotted across the hotel, hinting at the playfulness that thrives within Calilo. Everywhere you look there are hand-attached mosaic tiles, creating butterflies, plants and words of affirmation across the floors, walls and ceilings. There’s attention to detail, and then there’s Calilo.

The experience at this hotel is nothing short of pure luxury. The staff are extremely attentive, looped in on all your plans and asking questions about your stay as though they have your itinerary memorised by heart. Nothing is too small or too big of an ask here, and there’s a genuine feeling that the staff deeply care about your stay - something which can often feel insincere.

This all stems from the founder of the Calilo group, Angelos Michalopoulos. We heard his name throughout our trip, like a mysterious, all-seeing, all-knowing figure. There’s a spirituality that comes with Angelos’ ethos that could feel a little cult-y, if it didn’t make the whole experience feel that much more unique. Each night on the turn-down service, the staff leave one of Angelo’s poetry books open on a random page, leaving a message for you to receive. My personal favourite was, “Love is already too happy to need victory.” A gentle reminder *not* to argue with my boyfriend on holiday. Message received.

What type of room should I book?

We stayed in the Honeymoon Suite, which left my boyfriend and I at a loss for words upon our arrival. From the private infinity pool overlooking the sea to the enormous bath set into the marble floor, the Honeymoon Suite exudes luxury, thoughtful design and pure opulence. It almost felt like too much at some points. How could we possibly enjoy this sprawling room - which was bigger than our apartment back home - when there was so much else to see? I’d like to think we gave it a good go, anyway.

The aforementioned turn-down service also included the drawing of the automatic blinds, which had photos of the Aegen sea and landscape around Calilo printed on them. There’s an overwhelming feeling that the hotel and its staff take great pride in the island, and giving back to it. Over 60,000 plants were planted by Angelos and his team in the barren Cyclades landscape, helping the island to grow and thrive long after the legacy of Calilo is gone.

Whichever room you end up booking, from the extravagant three-bedroom suites equipped with gyms and cinemas to the low-key garden view suites, you’ll have a truly unique experience. But I’d highly recommend getting one with an undisturbed view of the sea for that extra bit of magic.

What’s a must-visit at the hotel?

You cannot leave Calilo without visiting their brand new wellness centre. Seriously. It’s got a state-of-the-art gym (which, while impressive, is not what I holiday for - sorry), a meditation area, a swimming pool and treatment rooms. To be honest, ‘treatment room’ doesn’t do a sliver of justice to what the space is really like. We were booked in for a couples massage on our second day and found ourselves speechless for a second time this holiday when the massage therapist opened the door to the room. The two massage beds sat on a wooden platform, above a floor of water. From the corner of the room, a blue tree grew sprawling branches overhead, with bright pink Bougainvillea flowers hanging off them. Small hearts were cut out in the ceiling, letting glimmers of light into the space. Immediately, I felt any and all stress levitate out of my body, further improved by the seriously good massage that followed. It’s a truly beautiful slice of heaven in Ios.

From facials using local olive oils, to more intensive cryolysis treatments, there’s something for everyone to try. I’d highly recommend the couples massage if you want to try something a little different to set the romantic tone on your holiday.

What food should I try?

I’m a sucker for Greek food, so it goes without saying that you should try the traditional Greek food at the hotel. Even if it’s at the breakfast buffet, where spreads of Greek pastries and cakes are laid out alongside fresh fruits and cured meats.

If you don’t fancy Greek, you can head to Pathos, a sprawling lounge bar on the other side of Ios which looks out with an uninterrupted view over the sea, making it one of the best settings for a sunset dinner on the whole island. We picked out a few sushi dishes from the Japanese-inspired menu (the yellowtail was my favourite) and sipped on cocktails while watching the sun go down (sadly behind the clouds). It’s hard to think of many better ways to spend an evening than that.

The standout though, has to be the tasting menu at CHES restaurant, a restaurant which serves only a tasting menu, just a short buggy drive up on the grounds of the hotel. The tasting menu draws inspiration from the Greek islands, taking a signature ingredient or dish and reinterpreting it into the present. You can taste the history of Greece in each bite, providing a truly unique experience to learn more about the islands, from the local Greek staff. And, if you really want to amp up the experience, you can choose the wine pairing menu, and sample some of the best wines Greece has to offer. The A-Muse rosé wine has been living in my head rent-free ever since I tasted it.

For more from GLAMOUR's Social Media Manager, Luca Wetherby-Matthews follow her on Instagram @lucawetherbym.

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