Disclaimer: I stayed at Nomad while on assignment for Small Luxury Hotels. I did not pay for my stay and was paid by SLH to write an article for their journal.

I am not required to write this post and this is not an ‘ad’.

A month ago I was in Greece for twelve days on my first ever solo trip. I booked my flights on a whim, hoping that I could pitch for work while I was there and it paid off. I shot two hotels, two brand shoots and wrote three articles during my trip, while also managing to find time to explore Athens and three islands. I’ve wrote about my thoughts on solo travel on my Substack newsletter, but wanted to share more of where I stayed here on my blog. I was working with Small Luxury Hotels to shoot and write about one hotel on Mykonos and another on Syros. I’ll begin with Nomad, a luxury hideaway that showed me that there is a slower side to the party island of Mykonos.

Mykonos had never really appealed to me, as I had written it off as a playground for the rich and anyone who enjoys clubbing. I am neither. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there is much more to this beautiful island in the Cyclades. Nomad is located on the south of the island, just a five minute walk from Kalo Livadi. There are just 14 suites in the hotel, all of which have their own private plunge pools or jacuzzis and huge bath tub in the cavernous interiors. I completely fell in love my room, the hospitality and the delicious food and drink here, and will be raving about my stay for years to come.

Stay here if you are looking for the slower side of Mykonos, private plunge pools and incredible hospitality.

The suite

I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a nicer hotel room. I felt like a celebrity walking around my vast cave-like bedroom and sprawling private terrace. My water obsession was satiated by a huge bath tub, private plunge pool and outdoor shower; all of which I luxuriated in each day. The interiors were beautifully and minimally designed, with a huge bed taking centre stage, dressed in the softest linen sheets I’ve ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. I had TWO toilets and TWO sinks just to myself. But the best feature was the sliding glass doors that opened directly into the plunge pool, allowing me to literally step out of bed and into the water.

The facilities & service

Not only was the hotel beautifully designed and incredibly luxurious, but each and every member of staff went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I was travelling on my own, so it made such a difference to my day whenever someone made the time to chat with me, even for a few minutes. On my first afternoon, I enjoyed a delicious cocktail in my room, before venturing out to the communal pool and restaurant area to sit in the sun and nibble on a plate of homemade nachos. The next morning, I pre-ordered my breakfast to be delivered to my room, and chose to dine in the hotel’s restaurant that evening. All the food and drink I tasted during my stay was wonderful, and I was delighted by the choice for vegetarians.

I loved lazing by the main pool, thanks to all the seating and lounging options available. There were comfortable booths with curtains that could be drawn for privacy, plus large cushions scattered around the edge of the pool to soak up the sun while reading your book and sipping a drink. The water of the pool was cold but refreshing, and a quick plunge felt wonderful. As the sun set, festoon lights illuminated the area and candles and lanterns were lit, creating a warm and cosy ambiance.

One of my favourite features of my stay was at check out, when guests are invited into the hotel’s small boutique to carve their initials or a short message onto a metallic votive (a tamata) which is then hung outside the reception on a curved wall surrounding an ancient olive tree. You are given a polaroid of yourself and your tamata as a mememto of your stay.

Boheme

On my first evening, I was invited to take a taxi over to Nomad’s sister hotel, Boheme, to watch the sunset over the water. I relished this chance to see more of the island, and to admire another hotel. I sat on Boheme’s terrace, admiring the flower garden below and the views of the sea as the sky changed colour. Following a glass of wine here, I strolled down into Mykonos Town to explore the labyrinthine streets and enjoy dinner in a traditional taverna.

Kalo Livadi beach

Nomad is located just a short stroll from Kalo Livadi, a picturesque sandy beach where I enjoyed a long swim in the turquoise waters despite the strong wind. The beach was quiet and tranquil, although the winds that Mykonos is known for meant I didn’t stay for long. Just a note that I visited in early May, and just one quiet beach bar was open but I think it may get slightly more lively here in peak season. Seeking a more sheltered cove, I decided to walk up and around the cliff in search of Loulos beach. The views on this short walk were spectacular, looking down on the azure waters of the sea. Loulos was a quiet cove which wasn’t as exposed to the wind so I spent a couple of hours here reading my book and dipping in and out of the water. I recommend Pantheon Bar & Restaurant perched above this small cove for a delicious meal.