People often ask
me where I recommend that they should vacation in the world, and for years I
have been saying to place Machu Picchu in Peru at the top of the list. Reason
being that every year I go back to Machu Picchu, there is less of Machu Picchu
that is accessible to tourists. So, it is a place you want to visit now,
so you can have the best experience.
Having just returned from Mykonos, I am placing
it second on the list after Machu Picchu, but for totally different
reasons. I think for a lot of gay people, when they come to Mykonos, they
are expecting it to be mostly gay. It isn’t. Don’t get me wrong, there is still
a huge amount of gay tourists coming to Mykonos, and the island is incredibly
gay friendly, but as you walk around, it feels maybe 10% gay.
Some of my friends who live there, or own
businesses there that have told me that Mykonos is trending less and less gay
every year. Another trend is that the island is becoming more and more
expensive. You see this in the pricing of accommodations, but especially
in cuisine and nightlife. When you’re spending €15 for a vodka drink, a simple
night out can get very expensive. Expensive, but still totally worth it, I must
say. Still, the time to come to Mykonos is now, before the prices get
much bigger, and the gay following becomes much smaller.
As an Island geared especially towards tourists,
you would think that this influx of people would make shop and restaurant
owners a little beat-down and less friendly. However, I was really blown away
with this visit with just how nice people were. I found this to be true with
both people working on the island, as well as fellow tourists. It’s as if
people arrive in Mykonos just ready to be nice to each other. Service is
excellent, food is really high-quality, and the shopping on the island is a
really pleasant surprise.
The tourist season is about to end in
Mykonos—September, although the fist two weeks in September may be the best
time to go. It will gear up again next June, so you may want to save the
tips in this article for if you come next year.
Probably the toughest thing about Mykonos, is
the fact that things are pretty spread out. While I suggest staying in
charming, beautiful Mykonos town, you’re going to need some transport to
get to its famed beaches. Some people rent scooters or four
wheelers, but many people find this to be dangerous, And I have heard some
horror stories about people crashing on scooters. You can also rent a car
for around €80 a day. The problem with all of these options, is that when
you’re at the fun beach clubs, you want to be able to drink and have fun, and
not drink and drive. So, there are car services, but they are not always very
reliable.
Still, I think the best thing is to get a car
service, and just be prepared to have a bit of a wait.
During the day, most gay people will go to Elia
beach and then by 4 PM to the beach club, Jackie O, located on Super Paradise
beach, which attracts a huge gay crowd, has a fantastic pool, and offers a drag
show.
Especially if staying in Mykonos town, the thing
to do in the evenings is to go to the Elysium Hotel, a gay hotel at the top of
Mykonos town, for sunset. Then, have as late dinner as possible, and then to
Porta, and Cinderella for early drinks, and then the gay bar/clubs Jackie O and
Babylon, at about 1 AM. All of these are very close, so you can check out all
four and see which you like the best. In addition to being fun places
with friendly people, the bars are all really beautiful. In fact, I think
Jackie O in town (there is the Jackie O Beach club as well as the gay club
located in Mykonos town) is the most beautiful Gay bar I’ve ever seen. The
lighting at night is chic and stylish, The architecture is perfectly Myconian
white and beautiful, and there are views of the water and Mykonos Town.
Where to stay: I love the Rochari hotel,
and it attracts a very gay crowd in season. The rooms are beautiful and
include a complimentary buffet breakfast. There is also a restaurant
featuring a terrace with sea views, plus an outdoor pool, a bar and a lounge.
There are also beautiful hotels around the
island, not in Mykonos town, such as the stunning Myconian Ambassador Hotel, a
Relais& Châteaux property not far from Elia Beach and Super Paradise.
One of the benefits of staying in a property like this is that you will have a
reliable car service, for a price.
Where to eat: The three fine dining restaurants
that I recommend are Kalita, and M’ Eating for more of a gourmet culinary
experience, and Sea Satin for fresh fish and the best views. The best
Greek salad on the island is hands down at the Belvedere Hotel.
Some additional facts about the island:
– It became more of daytime fun place because of
the beach clubs, Scorpios, Nammos, and Alemagu, which are largely straight, and
Jackie O which is gay. However, once on Mykonos, you will notice that the
straight venues will still have many gay people, and the gay venues will still
have many straight people. In addition, they all have weekly parties, so follow
them on social media to get the latest tea.
– Mykonos is not just a party place. There is
culture, great cuisine, and more.
– It can’t be compared with Ibiza. People do,
and it’s a mistake. Mykonos is less party-focused.
Mykonos is Calling
