Bill and Coo Suites

Service was absolutely flawless throughout our stay! Every member of the staff made us feel at home from day one. We also loved the atmosphere, and the food was incredible. This was our third time in Mykonos, and it was definitely one of our most memorable trips.

We've just returned home following an incredible stay at what has to be our favourite hotel on the planet. It isn't just that it's incredibly beautiful but – my – what an absolutely incredible experience we had, thanks to the service from the kindest, loveliest team, led by who became our holiday auntie, Elena Kostopoulou.

We're seasoned Mykonos visitors and have stayed at the hotel before, the first time being in 2010. Over the years, we've stayed at many of the island's finest hotels, but deliberately chose to return to Bill & Coo because it is so calm and refined. There are no DJs ramping up the poolside music at 2pm – instead, the hotel is a peaceful refuge from the party-hard atmosphere in town.

We started emailing the hotel about a month before our stay to secure restaurant reservations, as trying to book Mykonos' destination restaurants at short notice often leads to disappointment, especially during peak season. Petros, from the front desk team, replied almost immediately with all of our bookings confirmed, making planning our two-week stay completely hassle and stress free.

When we arrived off the ferry from Santorini, we were expertly whisked away from the hot, chaotic port and straight into bliss. Elena greeted us personally and spent over an hour bringing us up to speed on how Mykonos had evolved since our last visit. It was such a warm welcome and we loved swapping notes on how both the island and the hotel had changed over the years.

We'd booked a standard suite, but Elena kindly upgraded us to the wonderful Corner Suite as returning guests. The room has views on two sides and a magical picture window overlooking the famous windmills and Chora. It was a genuine wow moment when we first walked in. Every morning, that view became the perfect cure for the previous night's hangover.

As we settled into our stay, we quickly became friends with the wonderful team – at breakfast (which, by the way, is INCREDIBLE), over long, lazy lunches and at dinner. The service, at all times, is simply impeccable. The calm, serene atmosphere around the pool made it incredibly difficult to leave, and we often cancelled plans to visit beaches simply because we wanted to stay right where we were.

Whatever we needed, the service was instant via the hotel's WhatsApp (and I mean anything!). Whether it was changing reservations, ordering room service, arranging bike hire or housekeeping, everything was dealt with immediately. It worked so much better than in other hotels we've stayed at, where messages often go unanswered. The photos I've uploaded speak for themselves. The setting and design are magical. But what really sets Bill & Coo apart from every other hotel we've stayed at on the island (Belvedere, Theoxenia, Cavo Tagoo, Santa Marina and Kouros) is the service. Elena has created something very, very special here. Every member of the team knew us by name and instinctively understood what we wanted. On days we were full of energy, everyone was chatty and warm. On the inevitable hangover days, the service became subtle, discreet and almost invisible.

Special mentions must go to Stela and Bruno from the YĒVO team. As evening falls, the poolside seamlessly transforms into YĒVO, with the restaurant team almost invisibly turning the relaxed sun lounger area into a chic sunset terrace of sofas and daybeds. There were so many others whose names we unfortunately didn't catch – the lovely gentleman with the magnificent beard (I think the bar manager), our favourite cocktail maker... Dimitris (I think!) - the suave, grey-haired gentleman from the Valmont Spa, who spent so much time giving us fabulous insider recommendations for lunch and dinner spots well away from the tourist trail (these were excellent!).

But we'd like to give the biggest shout-out to Elena, the hotel manager, who truly became our holiday auntie. As two guys without children, Elena looked after us as though we were family. One day, my partner put his back out and couldn't leave the room. Elena personally went out to buy pain relief patches to help him and made sure he had everything he needed while I kept the day's reservations we'd made with friends. I went out knowing he was in the very best of hands.

Every morning we greeted Elena with the warmest hugs and a kiss. Her kindness, warmth and energy have clearly infused the entire team with something incredibly special. It creates a feeling unlike any other hotel we've experienced.

As our stay came to an end, Elena left us a gift in our room to enjoy during our final few hours (they allowed us to keep the room until 5pm as our flight was at 7pm, which I know probably put them under pressure, especially during the busiest season). Knowing that we work in interiors, she gave us – amongst other lovely Bill & Coo gifts – a beautiful, large coffee table book celebrating Greek interior design. It was such a thoughtful present and the perfect reminder of our incredible stay at this truly world-class, intimate property. We'll treasure it forever and it will take pride of place in our interior design studio here in the UK.

We spent our final evening dining at YĒVO. Whilst the menu is exceptional and well worth a special visit in its own right, we were craving a Greek-style seafood rice dish similar to one we'd enjoyed earlier in the holiday. We asked whether the kitchen might be able to create something off-menu. As always, nothing was too much trouble, and Executive Chef Angelos Bakopoulos produced an absolutely incredible dish.

We felt completely at home here. Bill & Coo offers the very best of Mykonos – a calm, elegant and serene retreat from the energy and parties beyond in Chora. If you want to experience Mykonos from quite literally one of the island's finest vantage points, whilst being able to dip in and out of everything it has to offer, there isn't anywhere better to stay.

People were telling us a two-week stay in Mykonos would be too much but Bill & Coo made sure we could balance the energetic side of the island with relaxation, intimacy and elegance.

We also spent a couple of days at the hotel's sister property, Bill & Coo Coast. Getting there was effortless thanks to the hotel's complimentary transfers, and the beachfront setting is every bit as serene and beautifully run by the wonderful Beefbar team. We arrived as guests returning after many years away.

We left feeling like part of the family.

Elena and the entire team – we can't thank you enough.