I was returning from a sunset cruise when it happened. As my driver wove his way through the dark hills, farther and farther away from town, he turned to me and said, “Where did you find this hotel?”
“The internet,” I ventured, knowing what was coming.
A brief pause, and then he said the words I’d been thinking since I’d arrived in Mykonos. “It’s… nowhere.”
And he was right. Due Mari hotel is beautiful, with a gorgeous swimming pool, patios lined with lush flowers, and private hot tubs.
It’s also in the middle of nowhere. I had no idea how far this hotel was from everything when I booked it. I would not have booked it if I’d known.
I started to panic. I was traveling alone, and of all the places I’d visited (22 European cities so far!) I’d never been so isolated from basic needs like food. But hey, at least I could eat at the hotel restaurant if it started to get dark out.
Oh, wait. They had no restaurant. They served alcohol, but no meals.
Well, at least there were restaurants in the neighborhood, right? Nope again. I was not in a neighborhood. I was high above town, and if I wanted to eat, I had to walk alone on isolated roads in 90 degree heat or pay 60 euros a day for a taxi.
Speaking of taxis:
On my final day, the staff arranged for a taxi to take me to the airport at five in the morning. Then the staff went home (they’re not on site between 10pm and 8am). I got up at five and went outside to meet my taxi in the dark.
It never came.