If you haven’t heard of Paros Island yet, it is time to pay attention. A truly hidden gem of Greece, Paros Island has everything you wish for to see and experience in a Greek Island. It is incredibly charming, and yet drowning in tourism. It has mesmerizing villages, stunning beaches, and great night clubs and restaurants. To get there is quite straight forward, you can take a short plane ride from Athens or a 45 minutes ferry ride from Mykonos.

On Paros, we stayed with Parilio Hotel, a newly established member of the Design Hotels. As soon as we stepped into the property, we understood why it is already one of the most popular accommodations on the island after such a short period of time. This sublime boutique hotel has 33 suites built in its distinctive block-white architecture which echoes the design of the island. The understated luxury can be seen and felt from the natural stone materials, soothing color palette comprised of white, grey, ochre, and ivory, and an eclectic collection of vintage and modern furniture. We felt like living in a sanctuary with arches, concrete columns, and thick masonry all around.

Our suites were spacious, airy and bright. We, the parents, have a super-king sized bed and the kids were provided with a comfortably set up sofa bed. Just as we started to get ready to go to the pool, to our surprise, the hotel staff brought us a huge basket of fresh fruits and afternoon delights for the tea. Just what we were craving for!

We spent most afternoons swimming in the huge pool and lying lounge chairs on the sun-drenched deck. Sometimes, we will take a short walk to visit the famed Kolimpithres Beach. The sand there is perfect soft and the water is incredibly warm. And the best part, very few people there. It is hard nowadays to find a spot like this in Greece, especially during the summer high season.

Mr. E, is not the name of any of the staff in Parilio Hotel, but the beautiful in house restaurant. Every morning, we were greeted by the friendly staff and given delicious and fresh breakfast. Most of the dishes in the buffet are homemade in small batches and we also ordered crepes, waffles and egg dishes from the breakfast menu.

There is also a spa center on site. My husband and I also enjoyed twice the spa treatments (Deep-Issue Massages) with Asian-inspired mix of essential oils. We felt super relaxed and vitalized afterwards.

Another thing we love about the Parilio Hotel is that it is a haven for all guests, not just families like us, but also for couples and creative individuals.

During our stay, we also rented a car for one day to explore the island. We simply called the hotel reception, and they arranged the car rental for us. 30 minutes after we called them, the rental company staff was in front of the hotel and handed over the keys (45 Euro a day). We had lunch at Lefkes, dinner at Nassau, and explored some beaches nearby. It is definitely worthy it to check out these beautiful spots around the island.

*We are invited as guests of Parilio Hotel, but all opinions are our own.