Mosaic Print Dress in Mykonos Town

Dress: here. Earrings: Dior (alternative here). Sunglasses: here.

Hello!

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I have an embarrassingly late and super quick little outfit post to share today. These photos are from my trip to Greece last month (taken in the grounds of the lovely Semeli Hotel) and having got a bit swept away in photographing as many autumnal outfits for the season as I could as soon as I got home, I forgot I even had these prepared! 

This dress, if you can believe it, is from Abercrombie & Fitch. I played what was probably a very annoying  'guess where this dress is from' game with everyone who commented on it and not one person guessed the brand correctly. I personally associate Abercrombie & Fitch with jeans, preppy shirts and t-shirts, so when I saw this pretty little dress on ASOS, and for such a reasonable price too - I thought it would be a perfect little summery addition. It'll also have a second wind when I'm in Singapore over Christmas and New Year so I'm extremely happy with this inexpensive and surprising little purchase!

Big thanks to Jenny (@JennyGrovess) for taking these photos!

Where to Stay in Mykonos (Part 2): Semeli Hotel

Hello everyone! 

I thought today I'd do a little informal but structured review, part 2/2 of my 'Where to Stay in Mykonos' miniseries. I've tried to keep things brief and to the point, so I really hope this'll prove to be at least mildly helpful if you're thinking of visiting Mykonos, or simply just want to have a little nose! 

The Hotel

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Semeli Hotel is located right in the heart of Mykonos Town (or 'chora' as it's known by locals - chora = town in Greek). With a 5 stars to it's name, Semeli Hotel did not disappoint. It's location is second to none; the iconic whitewashed buildings and blue shutters are just around the corner, and the famous windmills of Mykonos are only a 5 minute walk away - and if you want to see them, sunset is the prime time! The bus stop, which regularly ferries tourists to and from the various local towns and beaches, is just 100m away, making Semeli Hotel a perfect base for a holiday full of varied activities. Transport to and from the airport can be arranged free of charge by Semeli, which was certainly a pleasant surprise.

Lounge by the pool and visit the hotel spa? Check. 

Top up your tan on the beach? Check. 

Walk around the town taking an excessive number of blue-shutter instagram photos? Check.

 Walk 5 minutes down the road, rent a quad bike and explore the island? Check. 

High speed wifi in case you feel like sitting around staring at Facebook? (Each to their own!) Check.

The hotel has a modern feel; luxurious but with the typical minimalist, Mykonian aesthetic. Everything is very unfussy and pared down. The hotel is full of pretty al-fresco corridors and stand-alone buildings, almost like a little village. The reception and dining areas are located in the main building, with the rooms sitting just past the pool (of which there are two of different sizes!) in a whitewashed maze of stairs and balconies adorned with climbing flowers and vibrant greenery. 

I also have to mention that the staff were completely lovely, extremely helpful and so welcoming. Whenever we called room service for snacks or with a query, someone arrived at the room immediately - and with a smile too! I definitely think a hotel's staff can make an overall experience, and they certainly did. So, thank you to Semeli for having me, and thank you for being so welcoming!

The Room

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The room itself was one of Semeli's multi-storey suites. With balcony doors looking out over the pool and breakfast area, it was perfectly located to nip in and out (and shuffle over to breakfast at 8am in no makeup and very dark sunglasses). The suite was spread out over two storeys; you enter into the main bedroom, with ensuite bathroom and work/vanity area, then descend the stairs into the lounge and patio. Turning around and peering down a smaller staircase, you're greeted with your very own in-room jacuzzi and further bedroom and bathroom. Of course, all the usual room amenities were included; room and maid service, internet access, laundry and porter service. 

Dining

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As well as being a few minutes walk from Mykonos Town centre and Little Venice - a hotspot for great dining, Semeli also has it's very own a la carte restaurant, Thioni, signed by celebrated local Chef Stefanos Tatas. It's famed amongst Mykonian restaurants for it's modern take on traditional Mediterranean cuisine. One one night, we indulged in a three course feast which was absolutely top notch. I had a mozzarella, fig and parma ham salad, tomato spaghetti and an incredible chocolate creation (which I literally ate without photographing - I could not restrain myself and I feel that speaks more than a photo ever could.)

Breakfast, which I never usually eat at home but look forward to immensely whilst on holiday, featured a huge selection; fresh fruit, pastries, cereal, cooked breakfast and omelettes  toasties or crepes cooked on the spot. I had chocolate cake for breakfast on one occasion. Living the dream.

I really hope that you enjoyed this post and that it proves to be mildly helpful if you're looking to visit Mykonos. Have you ever visited Greece? If not, is it on your list? I'd love to know! As always, thank you for reading. 

Please note: Accommodation was generously provided free of charge by Semeli Hotel.

Floaty Red Kimono Dress - The Streets of Mykonos (and a Vlog!)

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Dress: ASOS. Bag: Zara (old - alternative here). Shoes: Next. Sunglasses: Prada. Earrings: Dior.
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Hello hello!
Today I thought I'd share one of the outfits I wore whilst I was in Mykonos.  Prepared for the Mediterranean sun, but not the Mykonian winds, I'd only packed pretty little floaty dresses. It turns out, this was a monumental error of judgement. I subsequently found out that Mykonos is also known as 'The Windy Isle' - which did not bode well. I am not even trying to be remotely funny when I say that I spent the entire first day clutching my skirt, trying to hold it down as it blew up into my face. RIP my modesty, as everyone in Mykonos Town saw what was going on under my dress that day. It wasn't even cute in a 'tee-hee Marylin Monroe standing over the air vent' way, it was literally just my dress/hair trying to strangle me/flash everyone else. Sorry residents/fellow tourists of Mykonos.
I also put together a little vlog of my time in Mykonos, which you can watch below if you're interested! (Flashing not included.)

Where To Stay in Mykonos: (Part 1/2) - Rocabella Hotel

This week, myself, Charlotte (fellow blogger) and Jenny (normal non-blogger human and general cute person) took a little trip to the screensaver-worthy Greek island of Mykonos. If you follow me on Instagram (@arabellagolby) you will certainly know this because I have been bombarding you all with photos. We stayed in two beautiful locations, in two fabulous hotels, so I thought in the spirit of helpfulness I'd write up a review for each hotel, in case any of you (or any other internet people who stumble across this) are toying with making a trip or are on a hunt for accommodation. Also I took loads of photos and I kind of need an excuse to share them. Let's begin.

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The Hotel

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Perched on the coast, overlooking The Bay of Mykonos, sits the luxury Rocabella Hotel and Spa. A secluded but windy (hold on to your hat - literally, I'm looking at you Charlotte) paradise just 300 meters from Agios Stefanos beach, one of Mykonos' many idyllic shorelines. The views from the hotel are unlike anything I've seen before in real life, and certainly exceeded my expectations. The pool, restaurant and rooms all have unobscured views of the island of Rinia and the historic island of Delos, both surrounded by the unbelievably blue Aegean sea. I've drooled over screensaver-esque photos of Greece for a while - but I found being there almost too amazing to take in. I almost felt like 'this is literally so amazing I do not know how to react.' Looking back at the photos makes me feel even more grateful that I was able to experience it.  

Mykonos town (that instagrammable place with all the white buildings and blue shutters, innit) is just a 5 minute drive along the coast. For this, we utilised the hotel's complimentary shuttle bus service. 

The staff were friendly and attentive, greeting us with flutes of champagne on arrival. We were also informed that they are a very pet friendly hotel, which was simultaneously a happy surprise - because we all love animals, but also a shame as I didn't bring Teddy. (Although I'm not sure he'd have been impressed with Smoky, Rocabella's resident cat.) Not only that, if the scenery isn't relaxing enough, every guest is offered a complimentary 15 minute massage to enjoy during their stay, in either their room or by the pool. It's unsurprising that Rocabella has  929 reviews on trip advisor, with 830 of them rated 'excellent' and 75 'very good'.

- - - The Room: - - -
All of Rocabella's rooms are air conditioned. I repeat, all rooms are air conditioned. My first thought when booking a hotel in a hot country (as well as 'IS THERE WIFI?' - but that's relevant in all temperatures) is 'is there air-con?'.  I, like many others I'm sure, find it very difficult to sleep in heat, so when a hotel has air-con, I'm loving it. Even in non-hot countries I turn it right up, pile on all the blankets and bundle myself up like a sausage roll. Sorry global warming, I don't use hairspray so we'll call it even. 
Not only that, there is indeed free wi-fi (*choirs of angels sing*), a flat screen TV with satellite and an electric safe - which is always very important to me - I use it to store my passport/travel documents, extra money and general valuables etc. The room also comes with complimentary organic beauty products, coffee and a coffee maker, and a pillow menu. That's right, a pillow menu. With 5 options no less. If your pillow isn't to your exact liking - ring reception and they'll deliver an alternative pillow of your choice!
I was given one of the smaller suites, The Panoramic suite, which was absolutely fine and dandy, in fact more than I was expecting as it was just little old me sleeping there. I was already enamoured with the rustic but minimalistic aesthetic of the room filled with cute little details and the spacious, whitewashed stone bathroom - but then I was led out of the patio doors, up some stone steps and onto a rooftop balcony with panoramic views of the Bay of Mykonos and islands beyond (the reasoning behind the name 'Panoramic Suite' now became apparent) complete with it's own mini pool/jacuzzi, just for me. 
Overall, I would say that if you're looking for a serene, secluded spot for relaxation, complete with unrivalled views, Rocabella is your winner. If you're someone who enjoys lazing around by the pool, sipping a cocktail and having the occasional massage, you'll be in heaven. Not only that, but the short journey into town means that both exploration and secluded relaxation are both options when staying at Rocabella. Honestly, I'm much more of a get out and explore kind of person as I find it quite difficult to just do nothing (I can't even sit still without constantly wiggling a foot) but as Rocabella offers both options, it's the best of both worlds! 

*Please note: Accommodation kindly provided c/o Rocabella Hotel, but all opinions, as always, are my own.