Early last year when a tiny window of international travel opened up we decided to take the plunge and book a short European mini break. After numerous cancelled holidays (cry) we opted for Oku Hotel in Kos, a resort that oozes Aegean elegance. It only took few glances at Oku’s Instagram account dreaming of lounging around their uber chic and minimalist style Greek island hotel that I found myself on their booking page reserving three glorious nights.
This tranquil mini break came at the ideal time for us and couldn’t have been a more perfect way to decompress, switch off and soak up the end of season Greek sunshine. Read on for more of our stay at Oku, Kos.
The Rooms:
The swim up suites have now given me a new level of expectation for my holiday accommodation. Not only for the socially distanced element but also just to be in your own little bubble on holiday. We spent our time rotating round perfect places to perch from the hammock to the sun beds to feet dangling in the pool. We spent more time in our room than any holiday we’ve ever been on. When it’s this pleasant why would you want to go anywhere else?
This hotel is extremely reasonably priced for the chicness in design, quality and space in the rooms and mainly the privacy of the suites. The whole hotel is a complete work of art by Berlin based designers Lambs and Lions.
The Beach:
A sandy beach and beautiful blue waters felt like heaven for us on this long overdue trip to paradise. The guaranteed front row seats for sunset with one of Oku’s chilli margaritas was of course another slice of heaven. Oku has ample space and there are enough sun loungers for all guests, which these days seems like a rarity. There’s no “place your towel down to reserve your spot” malarkey here. Take your pick between ocean front loungers or higher up cabanas hidden in the manicured dunes. A 10 minute walk along the beach will give you glittering glimpses of black sands.
The Food:
The food is Mediterranean farm to fork style dining using local ingredients and serving up a modern take on traditional Greek dishes. Think succulent grilled octopus with fava bean dip, Greek salads and seafood pasta. Not entirely Greek but they do a fabulous truffle pizza as well that’s definitely worth ordering one evening. It’s far better than standard resort food. We decided to dine at the hotel restaurant every night of our stay and were completely satisfied with the quality and choice of the food on offer. Breakfast is included in your stay and is a generous selection of pastries, greek salads, eggs, yoghurts, cereals, very good coffee and ridiculously fresh orange juice. The breakfast is by far the best resort continental breakfast I’ve ever experienced.
The Hotel:
The open plan communal areas of the hotel are perfect to enjoy a drink at the bar looking out towards the beach, perch around the pool area or enjoy a quiet spot in the gardens dotted around the resort. The hotel was at full capacity when we visited, yet no space ever felt over crowded. A lot of thought has been put into designing these areas which work as sociable spaces for groups holidaying together but also give guests privacy and space without feeling the need to stay in their rooms.
The Service:
The staff are SO friendly. Service is quick but they’ll always spend an extra few sincere moments at your table to chat, remembering small details and making jokes. We gladly took on board their recommendations, never feeling like we were being upsold. Either it’s damn discreet or they’re super genuine and either way we were mega impressed.
Location: 15 minutes from airport. Within an hour of stepping off the plane you’ll find yourself sunbathing on your terrace with a glass of wine in hand. There isn’t much around the hotel (read that as absolutely nothing around the hotel) so if you want to explore then car hire or a taxi journey is in order to venture further afield.
This holiday was a reset for us. Even after spending every day together this past year, being here for three nights we got to reconnect and really spend time with each other. This was the ultimate relaxation and switch off we needed. The Oku love story is far from over now that their sister hotel in Ibiza is opening late May. To be continued…
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