Tag: holiday

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Petasos Beach Resort & Spa in Mykonos: A Dreamy Destination for Luxury Lovers

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa in Mykonos: A Dreamy Destination for Luxury Lovers

A TRENDY DESTINATION IN MYKONOS. IN THIS ARTICLE I INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PETASOS BEACH RESORT & SPA – THE ULTIMATE HOTEL EXPERIENCE

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa in Mykonos – A luxurious boutique hotel ideally situated on the Greek Island

One of the best hotels in Mykonos, Petasos Beach Resort stands on its own private peninsula. This hotel is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Ideally situated between Platis Yialos and Psarou Beach in Mykonos Island. The luxury hotel is just under a 20-minute drive from the charming main town of Chora, more commonly known as Mykonos Town. The hotel also offers airport transport by private shuttle, or you can book one of the 30 taxis available on the island. In short, the hotel location is fantastic and super central. The Petasos Beach Resort includes a large spa & wellness center, a fitness center, and a 2-level, saltwater swimming pool with a waterfall as well as direct access to the sea. With my fellow travel companion, luxury blogger, and longtime friend, Stephanie Olivier, we had the pleasure of discovering one of the coolest hotels in Mykonos together.

Mykonos Island: About The Location

Mykonos is a beautiful Greek Island that offers luxury, history, exquisite cuisine, shimmering sea shores, and amazing beach clubs. It is known as The Island of the Wind. The island is located in the Cycladic region of the beautiful Aegean Sea. Mykonos is one of the most cosmopolitan European hot spot destinations in the summertime. The world elite can be met here. The Greek Island counts hundreds of credits by the international press. Mykonos has some of the most beautiful beaches as well as picturesque villages. It is a much-loved vacation hideaway for the jet-set crowd as well as being a fabulous destination for luxury lovers with a penchant for the bohemian lifestyle.

The greek island is known most famously as a party destination. Celebrities, models (including Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Gigi, and Bella Hadid), football players, actors, and high flyers all flock to the island each summer to soak up the sunshine, dance on mega yachts, and swim in the crystal blue sea. Indeed, even during our stay at Petasos, hotel guests included a British football player and several models. Moreover, Mykonos island was recently the backdrop for the latest Fendi campaign for this summer. So needless to say, luxury runs rampant throughout the island. This said Mykonos is also the perfect location if you want a quiet vacation in a chic hotel lounging by the sea and enjoying a wellness retreat.

Our Experience in Mykonos

This was not my first time visiting the Greek island. I actually went the first time when I was very small, about 7 or 6 years old with my family in the very early 2000s. This was back when the island was still a wild, untouched raw beauty. Not yet famed for the party-loving lifestyle. Indeed my early memories of Mykonos island were of the Greek donkeys climbing up the rocky mountains. I had since been back a multitude of times in my 20s and had already been to the famous beach clubs such as Scorpios (one of my personal favorites), Nammos, and Principote Mykonos as well as the most popular nightclubs in Mykonos Town, such as Bonbonniere and Astra. Stephanie has been going religiously every year to the island each summer since I met her, so needless to say, we were not strangers to the Myconian way of life. This said I was quite excited to experience the Greek hospitality at the beautiful Petasos Beach Resort & Spa.

We caught a super early flight into Mykonos directly from Geneva. Luckily, our room was already prepared for us and we received and super warm welcome from the friendly Petasos hotel staff. The first thing we did was unpack and settle into our large hotel suite with a fantastic view of the sea. Then we freshened up and headed to the beachfront that is exclusively reserved for hotel guests.

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa

Petasos hotel is well-placed for visiting the better beaches of Mykonos such as Platis Yialos and Psarou Beach as the property is a 2-minute walk from these beaches. Psarou beach is where the famous blue and white beach club NAMMOS Mykonos is located. You can actually see it from the hotel as well. For those who seek a calm oasis of privacy, at Petasos Beach Resort you can enjoy their private beach that is exclusively reserved for their hotel guests.

From the Petasos’ private hotel beach area you can order delicious food from their menu. For example, you can enjoy the Greek specialty which I personally adore, called Caffe Freddo on the seashore. We also ordered fresh fish from their beach club menu.

The location was so dreamy. I loved the pretty red beach beds which were neatly lined in the sand. The whole atmosphere actually reminded me of the Italian Riviera, and in particular Capri Island. I must say, having a private beach was one of my favorite aspects of the hotel.

Prefer the pool? You can also enjoy the day relaxing on the chic loungers by the pool and enjoying their chill music. Right next to the swimming pool are the bar and restaurant; creative fusion gastronomy. There is a jacuzzi and beautiful sun deck area as well. For those who want to stay in shape, there is a small but very nice gym. You can also enjoy one of their yoga classes, and then treat yourself to a massage at the hotel spa (which is exactly what we did after a full day at the beach).

Our first day in Mykonos was spent lounging by the sea at the hotel’s private beach. Then around 5 pm, we headed up to the Petasos Beach Resort & SPA where we had booked a double massage treatment. This deep relaxation was very much needed after our early wake-up call.

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa: The wellness & SPA treatments

The Aqua Marine Spa was located just beneath our hotel suite, so we headed down the stairs into the cool SPA. There we were greeted by the lovely SPA manager, Dora, and made our selection of treatments. The Petasos Beach Resort and Spa offers revitalizing and thalasso-therapy treatments, as well as honeymoon packages.

I opted for a full-body, deep relaxation and Stephanie chose a combined massage. We were both incredibly relaxed after the treatment and slowly went up to our room to get ready for the iconic Myconian evening sunset.

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa: The Hotel Rooms

The luxurious Petasos Beach is like a small village. Lined with the iconic white-washed Myconian buildings, set against the most breathtaking views of the seaside. This architecture is echoed throughout the Cyclades islands, the shapes and colors are inspired by the blue Mediterranean sea and white clouds.

The hotel rooms are decorated in a minimal-chic, modern manner. All of the accommodation options are equipped with Wi-Fi internet access. Deluxe and superior rooms also feature a spa bath and a shower which doubles up as a steam cabin.

The spacious rooms and suites, also come with Jacuzzi options and private outdoor pools in the suites with incredibly beautiful, grand panoramic views. I love the transparent division between the bath and my room. You can sit in your bubble bath and look over the beautiful blue sea in the distance. Of course, it also has blinds which you can shut, for those who want more privacy. Needless to say that I was delighted that they had a little espresso machine in the room, so I could enjoy a quick pick-me-up coffee when needed. Our ensuite room included a beautiful blue and white balcony which overlooked the mega yachts dotted along the coastline. As well as a huge wardrobe which I immediately filled with my many bikinis, beach cover-ups, new “Livia” Thalie Paris bag in Tanzanite Blue and Greek Island attire. I loved that the room had a big, full-sized mirror for us, fashion bloggers, to make sure our outfits were on point. There was also a pretty seating area near the terrace, complete with a white sofa and armchairs for when we wanted to lounge around. With the heat, we also took full advantage of the room’s air conditioning, which could be easily adjusted at all times.

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa: The Breakfast Buffet & Menu

The Petasos Beach Resort and Spa offers an experience at any time and goes far beyond a simple hotel where you rest and relax. There are 2 restaurants within the premises of the Resort, with a great view of the Aegean sea. Each day, we started with a 45-minute session at the hotel gym before heading to their open-air restaurant. I must say, I really enjoyed the options available at the breakfast buffet. I had never seen so many dietary-restricted-friendly options! Including alternative kinds of milk such as soy, coconut, and almond. They also had an incredible array of nut butter, which I had no idea even existed and so I was very curious to try them. The full selection of nut butters included classics like almond and peanut, but there was also cashew, hazel, pumpkin, tahini, and sunflower seed! Each day, I also ordered my favorite almond milk cappuccino for breakfast. And each morning our table was full of fresh fruit, eggs, oatmeal, gluten-free bread, juices, and of course, the unique creamy Greek yogurt with walnuts and honey.

Petasos Beach Resort & Spa: Final Thoughts

It’s not difficult to fall in love with such a dreamy hotel located in beautiful Mykonos. This said my favorite aspects of the hotel were:

  • The incredible Breakfast
  • Private Beach
  • Hotel Spa & personalized treatments
  • Friendly and super helpful Hotel Staff
  • The beautiful Myconian architecture and design of the hotel

If you are looking for a hotel to book in Mykonos, Petasos Beach Resort & Spa is perfect for:

  • Jet-setters and high flyers
  • Foodies
  • A romantic couples getaway
  • Families
  • Friend groups who loves luxury and creature comforts
  • Whilst the Petasos villas are ideal for longer stays as they include a kitchen, private pool, and other facilities
  • And their hotel suites offer all you could want for a weeklong vacation

I hope that you enjoyed my review of this wonderful hotel in Mykonos. Please let me know in the comments if you would also like to visit this place. For more travel articles and hotel reviews please click here.

A huge thanks to everyone at the Petasos Beach Resort & Spa for making our stay so wonderful.

FOR THOSE OF YOU HEADED TO MYKONOS THIS SUMMER:
Here is My Mykonos Guide – Travel Tips by Anna from Luxury Swiss Blogger, A Stylish Story

The Magical Nature of Mykonos, a Gem of the Aegean.

Restaurants to Try:

  • Coya Mykonos
  • Cavo Tagoo Mykonos
  • Sea Satin
  • Jimmyz for the best Souvlaki’s in town

Luxury Beach Clubs in Mykonos that I adore: 

  • Scorpios (on Sundays)
  • Alemagou
  • Principote Mykonos
  • Nammos

Art galleries in Mykonos

  • Eden Gallery
  • HOFA Gallery
  • RARITY Gallery

Night Clubs in Mykonos Town

  • Astra
  • Bonbonniere

Newly opened in Mykonos for Summer 2022: 

  • Lio Mykonos
  • Bagatelle Mykonos (opening on the 10th of June 2022)
  • Billionaire Mykonos – Lifestyle Club
  • Byblos – elevated Peruvian-Japanese Gastronomy
  • Destino Pacha
  • Tabu Mykonos
WHERE TO STAY IN MYKONOS

Petasos Beach Resort and Spa

Platy Yialos, Mikonos 846 00, Grèce

 – T.  +30 2289 023437

– E: ids@petasos.gr

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The Woodward: Geneva’s most luxurious hotel

New: The Woodward Geneva- luxury suites & 2 Michelin star restaurants

Discovering the newly opened luxury hotel in Geneva: The Woodward Suites.

This 5-star hotel is part of the Oetker Collection. It is comprised of a total of 26 exclusive luxury suites & 2 Michelin star restaurants as well as the biggest indoor pool in all of Geneva.

Along with Bella Zofia, I had the pleasure of discovering this beautiful hotel in late December. We started with a tour of the Spa, pool, and gym. Before heading to our bespoke beauty treatments from Guerlain. As you know, I am a big fan of Guerlain beauty so I was very excited about this experience. The treatment was hands down the most wonderful experience I have had at a hotel spa. It stated with a beauty questionnaire so that the beautician could have a background on the areas you wished to focus on. Then I went into a private room complete with en-suite shower, locker room and of course Guerlain cosmetics and the fluffiest bathrobe I have ever used. Once I had been tucked into the ultra cozy SPA bed I did a personalised consultation to decide what would be the best treatment to have. Then we did a scent test where I was asked to choose the perfume that I found most relaxing. This scent was then integrated into the treatment. After the hour facial and beauty treatment the beautician applied Guerlain makeup for me and led me into the Guerlain makeup room. It was like being led into a candy store for someone who is as obsessed with beauty as myself! I then did my makeup before heading up to Le Jardiner with Bella.

We lunched at the new restaurant called Le Jardiner by Michelin-starred Chef Alain Verzeroli and assisted by the chef Olivier Jean. It is a truly unique restaurant in Geneva, serving up dishes that celebrate the finest local ingredients. There are 2 sections to the restaurant each with a slightly different decoration (coté Lausanne where we ate for lunch, & coté Genève which is also featured here). There is also have a private meeting room right next to the restaurant that is ideal for business meetings. The primarily plant-based concept was launched in 2019 in New York by Joël Robuchon and Alain Verzeroli. This is.their first European edition of the concept. All the ingredients on the menu are locally sourced (maximum I50 km from the hotel. The Jardiner focuses primarily on vegetables in each of their dishes, meat and fish are almost incorporated as accompaniments.

To top it off we enjoyed their delicious pastries and had the pleasure to meet famous in-house pastry chef Titouan Clauder.

Lastly, we were given a private tour of the Woodward hotel and I was truly spellbound but their Royal Suite which was splendid, to say the least, and even had a private elevator for maximum privacy.

Designed Pierre-Yves Rochon (Pyr design), the entire hotel was incredibly refined with a quiet luxury appeal that so suits Geneva city.

I very much recommend the Woodward hotel if you visit Geneva. It is an absolutely wonderful place and the Guerlain SPA treatment was certainly one of the best treatments I have had in Switzerland.

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5 Swimwear Brands You Need To Know About

Summer is soon here which means swim season is upon us! I am an absolute fan of bathing suits. Ever since I was a kid I was collecting bikinis, and this habit has not been curbed in recent years. I’ve amassed a serious beachwear collection and am always on the hunt for the latest swim pieces to shine on the sand.

Of course, there are iconic swimwear designer brands such as Eres, Pucci, and Missoni Mare, which are established players in luxury resort wear. But today I want to share with you 5 lesser-known brands which offer truly unique and ever so flattering beachwear collections to keep you looking stylish this summer 2021.

In a quest for the best beach and poolside styles, here are my 5 favorite swimsuit brands for those looking for flattering cuts and fun styles.

Anna swiss mermaid blogger in luxury silver lurex swimsuit
Swimsuit: Malì Beachwear

5 swimwear brands that will keep you stylish this summer:

  1. Malì Beachwear
    • Malì is an Italian brand that creates handmade luxury swimsuits. Every piece is carefully crafted down to the smallest detail. I adore their elegant cuts and playful colors.
  2. Palmar Swimwear
    • This Swiss sustainable bikini and swimwear is perfect for the modern women. Designed in Zurich and made from recycled fabrics, their pieces are inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean.
  3. Hunza G
    • Worn by style icons such as Rosie Huntington Whitley, this British designed and produced sustainable swimwear label is another favorite of mine. Hunza G’s one size fit approach provides stylish swimwear for all.
  4. Rinikini
    • The design of RiniKini’s beautiful handmade crochet bikinis are for true bohemian babes with a taste for luxury. Sold in luxury beach clubs in jetset locations, this swimsuit brand is perfect to wear for a full day at Scorpios in Mykonos or if you wish to catch the sunset at the Experimental Beach Club in Ibiza for example.
  5. Agua Bendita
    • I originally discovered this brand of when I visited Colombia. A favourite amongst Victoria Secret models, it brings Colombian design and craft to the world stage. I own two bikinis one of which us reversible which is so cool, as it feels like two bikinis! They have amazingly flattering cuts, and fabulous prints, Agua Bendita is a real favorite of mine.

So there you have it, 5 fashion forward swimsuit brands that will help you to look stylish this summer.

Anna swiss mermaid swimwear luxury beach wear Aqua Bendita
Anna swiss mermaid swimwear luxury beach
Bikini: Agua Bendita, Sunglasses: Quay Australia

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PRO STYLE TIP: Take Two

Always bring along a spare swim piece with you if you are headed for a full day of sun fun and swimming. Indeed one thing I love doing when I’m at the pool or by the beach for a full day is to always pack at least 2 to 3 swimsuits with me. This is really good in terms of comfort as you know you have backups and won’t have to leave in a wet suit. Indeed in terms of hygiene it’s actually way better, because it is actually not great for your body to stay in a swimsuit once it’s wet. I always swap up for the dry one once I’ve gone swimming. So having an extra one is always helpful.

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A girly getaway at La Belle Vue Boutique Hotel & Café

A Girly Getaway at La Belle Vue

This weekend was a truly relaxing escape to the Swiss countryside. Bella and I headed to La Belle Vue in Spiez which is a town and municipality on the shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland region in Switzerland. It has a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. The hotel itself is owned by a married couple, Gianluca had always wished to renovate a hotel and his wife, Emilie, had always dreamed of having a cafe. The two dreams merged into one and took the form of this pretty hotel in Spiez.

Spiez

Nestled between rolling hills and vineyards, Spiez is a wonderful destination in Switzerland. There is a bold contrast between the turquoise blue Lake Thun, dotted with tropical palm trees and the snow-capped mountains that surround it. Spiez lies in a picturesque situation on the southern shore of the Thunersee, at the foot of the pyramid-shaped Niesen mountain. One of the main landmarks of Spiez is their castle which was only a short walk from our hotel.

The Brunch

The view and brunch are what the hotel is best known for. Indeed people from all around the region come to enjoy their delicious brunch.

With the current global pandemic, brunch is reserved exclusively for hotel guests like ourselves for the time being. For me, it was absolutely amazing to be able to have a coffee in the cafe again and enjoy a delicious brunch with a friend. Something I use to do on a weekly basis before the pandemic.

Their daily breakfast and brunch are all organic. We had their avocado and poached eggs with pancakes, cold cuts and an assortment of pastries. Their Italian coffee was excellent, in fact, the day we arrived they had just expanded their menu and added two new types of lattes: Curcuma and matcha. The cafe had a great range of options available and there were all the milk alternatives you could wish for (almond, oat, etc). I savored every bite of the scrumptious brunch. As an avid brunch fan myself, this aspect of the hotel was a huge plus for me and I truly enjoyed the experience.

The Hotel

The Hotel La Belle Vue has been recently renovated in an elegant Scandinavian-style. Their café strives to offer regional, homemade and modern cuisine. Whilst the view is just breathtaking. It overlooks the castle, lake Thun and the Swiss mountains. Our room had a lovely balcony so we could also sit outside and soak up the sunshine and enjoy the view.

It was wonderful to wake up to the fabulous view of a fairy-tale castle, the lovely lake and magnificent mountains. The staff and hotel owners were all wonderfully friendly and helpful. What’s more, we met with their in-house photographer Maja and made some fun hotel shots together. It was great fun and super girly, I really enjoyed this relaxing staycation in Spiez.

Photos by Maja Juzwiak

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3 holiday party outfits

It’s officially the Christmas season! Which means, that aside from stocking up on Christmas gifts, it’s time to get dressed up and shimmy your way into the new year. I love the holiday season because I love to dress up. I enjoy doing my hair and makeup whilst blasting a bubbly music playlist in the back.

1. Velvet Muse

So with Christmas fast approaching I wanted to share with you three different holiday party looks. From sequins to all black ensembles, here are my favorite party options for the festive season…

Pair a long pleated skirt with a tight sweater embellished with jewels. Soft, dreamy and elegant. This is an easy way to look ladylike and festive at the same time. I contrasted the madame aspect of the Princess Goes Hollywood velvet skirt with some snake earrings from APM Monaco and my silver Bulgari Serpenti Forever bag.

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2. Black on Gold

An iconic combination that goes hand in hand with the holiday season, black and gold is such an easy and chic look. So why not exude instant classiness with an all black look offset with accents of gold jewelry. Below I combined a Princess Goes Hollywood festive black dress with gold necklaces from In Bloom, pearl hoops from Lov & Lav and a statement ring from Stein Kult. Topping off the look with a camel coat from Maje Paris.

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3. Glitter Galore

Amp up the glam with sequins and sparkles. This is if you’re going all out, and by goodness with the year we’ve had you should. Glam up and add as much sparkle to your outfit as you can. Below I have shared with you two different looks to show you how to wear glitter by night and by day. Either with this super Elisabetta Franchi dress or with a simple sequined t-shirt dress. The sequined T-shirt dress is a look I love wearing when I want to go from day to night. As it looks pulled together and is flattering if you are worried about looking a little bloated from eating too much at Christmas dinner!

Dress: Elisabetta Franchi

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