"Above the beach in Korfos Bay, on a narrow isthmus in the south-west of the island, brightly colored kites fly through the air like brilliant birds of prey hitching on a thermal. The beach below may not be the prettiest on Mykonos, but its horseshoe shape and exposure to the northern winds make it one of Europe's best spots for kitesurfing. How clever, then, for born-and-bred Mykonian George Syrianos to turn the land where he once grazed his goats into the first hotel on the island aimed squarely at wave-riders. It's a laid-back, hands-off, DIY kind of place where all eight suites are accessible straight from the beachside pool area, meaning there's no lobby to drag your board through, no carpets to drench with your kit. Unsurprisingly, this chilled approach goes down well with young families, and the interiors are fittingly pared-back and solid; whitewashed rooms are made homely with chunky wooden furniture and gauzy curtains. There is no restaurant, but simple breakfast baskets are delivered every morning, and each suite has a fridge and hotplate to prepare meals using ingredients from the cluster of shops at the other end of the beach, which include a couple of good bakeries, an independent butcher, and a surprisingly chic fishmonger. For more sheltered sunbathing, the bars and daybeds at Ornos beach are a 10-minute walk away on the other side of the isthmus, and Mykonos town is just a 10-minute drive. Book now at Booking.com Book now at Expedia This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK." - David Annand
