Aphrodite Beach Hotel

The Aphrodite Beach Resort reflects the atmosphere of its beachfront location on the Greek island of Mykonos and is housed in several beautiful white buildings featuring classic Cycladic and Mediterranean-style architecture, with stucco facades, flat roofs, and lots of arched architectural features. The resort is surrounded by well-maintained lawns with bright flowers, palm trees, and stone terraces with cushioned wicker seating. Inside, the decor is simple, stylish, and fresh with white furniture, walls, and floors and lots of natural light. Bright turquoise curtains and beige and light blue pillows on couches provide ideal accents. In the lobby, arches section off separate sitting areas with couches, while outdoor sitting areas provide views of the water. With the resort’s beachside location, spacious outdoor pool, and general seclusion, Aphrodite is a tourist spot aimed at families, couples, or friends who primarily want to spend time relaxing on the beach or by the pool.

Situated along Kalafatis Beach on the southeastern side of Mykonos Island, the Aphrodite Beach Resort shares the area with a few other resorts, but it’s mostly a quiet spot, secluded from the more inhabited west coast of the island. For guests interested in seaside lounging and staying put, this could be an ideal getaway, but the location leaves some guests feeling trapped, as the town center of Mykonos is a 20-minute drive away. The hotel’s shuttle bus costs an extra fee, and buses only come once every two to three hours, while taxis are hard to come by -- though the hotel can help guests rent a car. There are a handful of restaurants on the opposite side of the beach, about an eight-minute walk from the hotel. The shuttle bus also stops at Áno Merá, a smaller village with a few shops, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Mykonos Island National Airport is 20 minutes away by car, and the hotel offers free parking on-site.

While rooms vary in size and style, most feature tiled floors and simple decor cloaked in a white color palette, with white walls, furniture, bedding, and curtains set off by beige or blue accent walls emblazoned with a Greek quote. The standard bathrooms are basic and nondescript, fully tiled in beige with combination shower/tubs and marbled vanities. Among several different types of rooms available are Suites and Family Rooms, which can accommodate three to four people and may include twin beds, double beds, or bunk beds in family rooms. Some rooms feature classic Greek architectural elements or other extras, such as a canopy bed, daybeds, a table and chairs, or a whirlpool tub.

Many guests find that the rooms don’t meet their expectations -- perhaps in part because of an over-sell on the hotel’s own website -- and remark that they show signs of wear and tear and have uncomfortable beds, plus there have also been some complaints about maintenance and cleanliness issues. All rooms have private balconies or terraces, which face the garden at the back or the beach, but some guests have complained of obstructed views. Rooms are housed in different buildings, and those up the hill tend to offer the best views and be quieter, but they’re farther away from the beach. All rooms include air-conditioning, satellite TVs, mini-fridges, hairdryers, and Sampar individual toiletries. While the entire property claims to have free Wi-Fi, the connection is poor and may not work on some devices.

While the Aphrodite may be remote, it likely accounts for the hotel’s best feature: the stunning Kalafatis beach in its front yard. The beach is over one mile long and 75 yards wide, and it’s the only beach on Mykonos that bears the Blue Flag designation, which has high standards for water quality, safety, and other factors. The accolade shows in the beach’s pristine white sand and beautiful blue water. While the beach is mostly quiet, the area in front of Aphrodite is a bit crowded with rows of lawn chairs and umbrellas, but large swaths of empty sand farther down offer an ideal place for walks. Activities such as diving, water sports, and volleyball are available right on the beach, but guests complain about extra fees for towels, umbrellas, and lounge chairs. The hotel’s outdoor pool is huge and well-maintained, surrounded by padded lounge chairs, thatched umbrellas, and its own poolside bar, but guests are charged a fee for use of pool towels.

The hotel has two on-site restaurants and three bars, including poolside and beachside bars. The Ocean M serves Mediterranean and Greek food, but it’s the beachfront Thalassa Restaurant that guests rave about. There’s a free breakfast buffet, which guests find average with standard fare. The hotel has a few dedicated children’s play areas with plastic playground equipment, a 24-hour reception, a boutique and gift shop, a children’s pool, a tennis court, a fitness center, and three on-site wedding chapels. There’s also a TV room with billiards, ping-pong, and a TV with a DVD player.