Calilo & Agalia Luxury Suites on the Greek Island of Ios

 

A short ferry ride from Santorini is a Cycladic island with a reputation for being the “Mykonos of the middle class.” Ios, as it is called, is popular with young people looking to party or anyone with a more grounded budget. Two of the very best and most attractive properties on the island are Calilo and Agalia Luxury Suites. More about these spots after some details about the Cyclades. 

 

The Cyclades Islands

This group of islands found in the Aegean Sea and southeast of mainland Greece are some of the most popular in the Greek archipelago owing to their climate and the fact that they widely feature that clean, white and blue aesthetic which most of the larger world associates with Greece.

If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit the islands, the hottest months are June, July and August when temperatures can regularly reach 84.4ºF yet rarely drop below 74.5ºF at night. For some, these temperatures are too hot and the islands, too crowded, what with foreign tourists and Greek mainlanders alike looking to escape the uncomfortable conditions found on the Peloponnese (peninsula) and in cities like Athens. The springtime is also nice with the blooming of orchids and the aroma of herbs in the air. Between November and April, you can get snow, showers and sunshine (sometimes all in the same day) but at least the ferries aren’t crowded. That said, be wary of Easter, when the islands can be packed.

 

Arrival

By far, the most popular means of arrival to Ios is by ferry, be it from the Athenian port of Piraeus (up to seven-and-a-half-hour crossing) or from Santorini (which has an airport). The ferry from here takes, on average, one-and-a-half-hours. Ios has a charming port and plenty of places to eat and/or drink.

There are taxis on Ios, but Zee and I were fortunate to be collaborating with LuxurIOS and staying at two of their properties (Agalia Luxury Suites, as well as Calilo) and we were therefore picked up in one of their comfortable (and air-conditioned) vans.

Now if you’re feeling particularly fancy, there is the option of helicoptering to and from Calilo. The journey from Santorini is eleven minutes, from Mykonos it’s eighteen and from Athens it’s fifty-two minutes. 

 

 

Accommodation

Our first stop upon arriving on Ios and our first night’s stay was at Agalia Luxury Suites; a luxury accommodation boutique hotel. Only a ten-minute drive from the port, Agalia is uniquely situated and affords picturesque views, not just of the setting sun, but of the port and the picturesque, hilltop village of Chora. 

 

 

Amenities

Agalia features a large pool, sixteen lavishly designed suites (three with private pools and three more with private pools and jacuzzis) and ten individual suites; “all conveying the vibrant lifestyle of Ios and the notion of the LuxurIOS Island Experience.” And if you’re feeling particularly motivated (we weren’t) there’s a fitness center. 

 

 

Dining

The Taste of Joy on the grounds of Agalia is a “unique gastronomic destination in Ios, serving mouth-watering flavors matched with a sophisticated wine list in a tranquil ambiance.” 

 

Service

The staff at Agalia could not have been more accommodating, knowledgeable or fun. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and our time at this property. 

 

 

Accommodation

On our second day on Ios we were picked up in a hotel van and chauffeured for forty-minutes to Agalia’s sister property, Calilo, whose name is a sort of anagram; Create A Life you can fall in LOve with. This sprawling property on the far side of the island is a visual masterpiece. The architecture, interior design, artwork and installations conjured up for Zee and me memories of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. 

 

 

Amenities

This thirty-suite sanctuary is one-of-a-kind. There’s a playful vibe felt throughout the property and the staff encourages guests “to relax, realign and reconnect” with themselves, and nature. Zee and I thoroughly enjoyed our massages in a beachside suite. Calilo also has a gym, though we once again did not avail ourselves of it. 

 

Dining

Located in the heart of the resort, CALILO Restaurant (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner) enjoys an open-air setting with a large bar.

You also have the opportunity to drink and dine beachside, beneath a cabana, or in your room. Zee and I seized the opportunity to enjoy all options. 

 

Service

Even though Calilo is much larger than Agalia, we were just as well taken care of by their exemplary staff. Everyone was so friendly. It made Calilo feel like a second home. 

 

 

Additional Dining Opportunities on Ios 

Also part of the LuxurIOS brand are the following restaurants and bars:

Steps Bar you will find atop Ios in the village of Chora. This unique, outdoor lounge located on steps in the middle of the village is made colorful and comfortable thanks to handmade pillows, carpets and candles. Take a sip of your beverage of choice, lean back and enjoy the planets and stars.

EREGO Beach Club & Restaurant is LuxurIOS’s latest addition to their collection of recreational lounges and chic restaurants and is only a ten-minute walk from Agalia. The vibe here is chill and the food is the best on the island.

Pathos Club & Restaurant is a three-minute van ride or a thirteen-minute walk from Agalia. As with all LuxurIOS properties, this club and restaurant are adorned with all sorts of artistic touches. This is hands-down the best spot on the island to get both a drink and watch the sun set. It’s located on the sandy, Koumbara Beach, but also has a large pool. There is a distinct party-vibe at this location.

Mylopotas is a beautiful, sandy beach and that’s where you’ll find the Free Beach Bar & Restaurant. There are thirty-five cabanas and thirty king-size beach beds. Now if only these amenities and the offerings from the bar were truly “free.” The live music is a bonus. 

 

Sustainability

The family behind LuxurIOS cares deeply about their country’s natural beauty and they go to great lengths to protect it for they believe that “in the battle between man and nature there is no victor.” They don’t think that they must damage the Earth in order to accomplish their dreams. At Calilo they offer elegant five-star accommodations in the middle of a one-thousand-acre plot of land with six miles of coastline that all but guarantees privacy for those who need it.

Another example of the sustainability ethos behind LuxurIOS is the Elektra olive tree project. A mainland grove of nearly two-hundred olive trees (most two-hundred years old) were facing imminent demise and a fiery future owing to development when the good people behind LuxurIOS swept in and relocated the trees to Ios where they are being enjoyed by guests at Agalia and Calilo. 

 

Angelos Michalopoulos 

An artistic patriarch, Angelos Michalopoulos is the creative mind behind LuxurIOS, Agalia, Calilo and several other properties on Ios. You would be hard pressed to find another family that has done so much for this island and in such an environmentally conscious way. With hopes of giving you some insight into the marvelous mind of Angelos Michalopoulos, here are a few quotes attributed to this true Renaissance man: 

“Luxury is not what you have, it’s about what you feel.”

“Sustainability is not a choice, it’s an obligation. We have a responsibility to protect the environment and the communities where we operate.”

“Hospitality is not just about providing a service, it’s about creating a memory that lasts a lifetime.” 

As always, Voyagers, Zee and I are here for you. Should you have additional questions about Ios or any of the other destinations we’ve visited, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you.