This is the underrated Greek island you need to add to your travel hitlist ASAP

Few times in life do you find yourself genuinely rendered speechless – in a good way. You know, that open-mouthed, total sense of awe. But Calilo, a 30-suite resort on the Greek island of Ios, is unlike any hotel I’ve ever come across before.

You may have seen Calilo on your Instagram feed, in videos of gorgeous holiday-makers looking out at sunsets from rose petal-topped infinity pools. Opened in 2019, Calilo is truly the ‘Instagram’ destination. Situated on over 1,000 acres on the beautiful island of Ios, it’s hard to believe a place like this even exists. Incredible architecture, a landscape to die for, beaches so golden, and pools so vast that even Michael Phelps would have trouble swimming from one side to the other – Calilo promises a lot, and it delivers more.

Upon arrival, I was told that the word “Calilo” means “Create A Life they can fall in Love with.” For my three-night stay at this incredible resort, I was determined to put that mantra to the test.

What’s Ios like?

Ios is a smaller island, as part of the Cyclades group, meaning you have to get a flight to Santorini or Mykonos, followed by a ferry to the island. Unless, of course, you have access to a helicopter, in which case you can fly in directly to the Calilo’s helipad. Alas we did not. And with our flight unfortunately delayed by two hours, we missed our ferry so had to spend the following five hours in Santorini’s port waiting for the next one . A far stretch from the glamorous beach clubs and luxury hotels the island is famous for, Santorini’s port put a bit of a dampener on our vibes. So, with a so-bad-you-have-to-laugh journey behind us, we were hoping for a miracle when we reached Ios. As we stepped off the ferry, we were greeted by a sea of glimmering lights, giving a warm glow from the restaurants that adorned the port.

In the nighttime, Ios island glistened and glowed as we drove through the island to Calilo, which sits on the southeast coast. In the daytime, Ios is (naturally) even more beautiful. The capital, Chora, feels like a buzzing hub of energy and life, set against a backdrop of vast, sprawling hills across the island. With a big nightlife scene, aesthetic bars, traditional restaurants and small boutique shops, visiting Chora feels like an authentic glimpse into all the best things that Greece has to offer. That’s if you can bring yourself to leave the hotel…