Skinopi Lodge - Skinopi Lodge

Skinopi Lodge is perched on a cliff above the primary boat thoroughfare in Milos. It consists of three luxury villas (with three more villas planned), managed by a welcoming, responsive family of hosts. The villas are simply, but stunningly designed, with full ceiling to floor glass doors across the sea-facing front, a spacious outside shower, a sprawling luxury interior bath, and a kitchenette with cook top, sink and refrigerator alfresco on the terrace. The Skinopi villas are on a cliff above a classic fishermens' village and below the timeless village of Trypiti. Skinopi can only be reached by 4x4 down a dirt/gravel road, but the owners will provide transport to or from the ferry or airport, if desired. The villa was spotlessly clean and housekeeping kindly folded and organized our admittedly haphazard unpack. There is a notebook in the villa with insider restaurant and beach recommendations. The welcome was warm and service responsive from booking the reservation and continuing throughout the stay. The entire Skinopi compound is built and operated with a high level of environmental sensitivity and deference. Each villa has two beach chairs positioned on the cliff edge. Those chairs are the perfect setting for absorbing the almost spiritual beauty of the surroundings. My husband and I became entranced with the views from those chairs, so much so, that we were moved to tears when our time at Skinopi Lodge was coming to an end. As a former hotel inspector for a major travel publication, my endorsement of Skinopi Lodge is both enthusiastic and without reservation.

It’s difficult to put your finger on one thing that makes Skinopi Lodge so special. Yes, the views are incredible—and watching the sun drop below the mountains over the water in your own backyard never gets old—but to attribute Skinopi Lodge’s magic to the view alone would be wrong, it’s the entire experience that makes this place so special. Details make the difference, whether in the penthouse of a 5-Star hotel or the motel next to the airport. Depending on the circumstances and context your expectations might vary, but attention to the details is a constant of good hospitality. At Skinopi Lodge, every detail is considered with utmost care. Milos still feels wild, almost as if the herbs and cats would claim the island as theirs if they could. You’re there to enjoy the land, the beaches, the water, all of which have a simple and untouched beauty that speaks for itself. Do not try to overcomplicate things, unplug and relax. The natural pace of the island will take over and you’ll be better off for it. Let Nausika be your guide. She knows Milos like the back of her hand and you could not ask for a more generous and caring host. She not only has created a beautiful lodging on a pristine piece of land, but she serves as an excellent ambassador for the island as a whole. Her hospitality is authentic and appreciated—you will not be disappointed!

Skinopi Lodge is more than a B&B, a vacation cottage, or a hotel. It’s a place of escape but also one of discovery, of connecting with nature and - if you’re lucky - with yourself. The villas are flawlessly appointed but minimalist, allowing the beauty of nature to speak for itself. We slept with the Nano doors open: it almost felt like camping, with all the creature comforts of a 5-star hotel. Keep in mind you need a 4x4 to get here, as the last 2km are on a dirt road. Last, but not least, Nausika was a phenomenal host, with a wealth of knowledge about the island, easily reachable and, needless to say, with impeccable taste. She made the difference between what would have been a perfectly wonderful stay and one that is etched into our memory, as if with obsidian glass (which is everywhere around the property - you just have to look!). Skinopi is easily one of the top-3 accommodations we’ve ever stayed at. What it lacks in amenities (no restaurant, pool or a spa) it makes up by having a soul. This is not an Aman property, and it’s better for it.

Love Skinopi Lodge. Nausika and Alexandra made my family's stay with them so special. Both ladies had great recommendations and took care of all our needs. If you can book into the Skinopi Lodge I would highly recommend it. It was a wonderful way to relax and enjoy nature. It was one of the highlights of our summer vacation

We all crave a quiet space to reset our thoughts, our ideas and to bring back a balance amongst this chaotic noise that seems to follow us today, creating our tomorrow. Then we get an opportunity to discover Skinopi Lodge...a space where the silence is an old friend that speaks the same language as your soul...and this soul silence reminds us that "Right Now" is all that matters. Nafsika the owner and  creator of this sacred space, had the vision to give people what they never knew they needed.....silence, no television, beauty, nature, no noise - just the cliff, the sea and the beautiful landscape. You have no choice but to meet yourself all over again....that is Nafsika's intention. She is a sophisticated Athenian with class and grace that makes you feel like you have known each other for years..... This is a must experience for everyone.

We have travelled to over seventy countries by ourselves and stayed in a wide variety of hotels and lodges, including, but not limited to, some of the best known, highly rated hotels and lodges, in heavily touristed as well as very remote areas. This was our second trip to Greece, where we visited the islands of Paros and Milos, and drove over 1,000 kilometers over the mountainous, narrow roads of the Peloponnesian peninsula. We stayed at top rated hotels and lodges throughout our trip, and with one exception, the accommodations, hospitality, and condition of the property met or exceeded our expectations. That one exception was the Skinopi Lodge and its host/owner, Nausica Georgiadou. Where to begin? The access road to the lodge is not simply a “dirt road” as Nausica represented to us in an email but rather is a narrow, steep, rocky and treacherous road about the width of a car with a several switchbacks that are better described as hairpin U turns, with little room to maneuver our SUV in daylight, let alone at night. On Nausika’s advice I had rented such an all-wheel drive vehicle, and after reaching the lodge in one piece, promptly asked Nausika to phone the rental agency to pick up the car. The two individuals from the agency who drove down the Skinopi access road to retrieve the car confirmed my appraisal of the driving condition, as did the taxi drivers who transported us back and forth to the lodge at rather high fares. Similarly, the path from our unit down to the sea was steep, rocky and unfinished. The unit is truly barebones, and the only refreshments with which it was stocked (other than water and a courtesy bottle of wine) was a box of nespresso coffee pods for which we were told there was a charge of 10 euros a box, a first for any hotel at which I have stayed. We asked about breakfast and were told that Nausika’s assistant could pick up some food in town the following morning and bring it to our unit if we gave her a list. That was a first for us too. To add insult to injury, Nausika then informed us that she would not be available for two days following our arrival because she was taking her father to the doctor in Athens for a check-up. Before leaving, Nausica arranged a boat trip for us, which was the high point of our stay. She also indicated that she fully understood our dilemma and would make an adjustment to the charges for our room (later confirmed by her assistant) if we chose to leave after two nights rather than the three originally booked, which we chose to do. When I later offered to send Nausica my credit card information to process the refund, citing her cancellation policy Nausica stated in a return email that she would send me an invoice for the full amount that she had charged and collected immediately when we made our reservation. Once again, in our many years of travel we never encountered anything like the inhospitable treatment that we received at the Skinopi Lodge. Furthermore, this marks the first time that we felt constrained to provide any negative review of a hotel or lodge at which we have stayed.

We were excited for our first post lockdown holiday to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary which had to be delayed due to the pandemic. We met travelling and have lived and worked around the world raising our 3 children. We spent days researching and looking for the most magical places to visit and stay, that were within the permitted travel boundaries of were we live. Our research led us to Skinopi Lodge in May 2021 and the most gracious host Nausika and assistant Nat. On our first night we were the only guests and witnessed a Supermoon! We slept with the glass sliding doors open watching the moon move across the sky and sparkle on the sea below us, so magical and a real treat! We had instantly fallen in love with Milos and the unique holiday experience that Nausika has created at Skinopi Lodge. The following day our peace was destroyed by a rather loud person who had arrived and was complaining so rudely and making demands that quite frankly made them sound like a spoilt child. Nausika was a true professional at what was a difficult time for her, and made arrangements to placate this person who frankly gives Americans a bad name! And we felt so sorry for their partner who clearly looked so embarrassed by the loud outbursts! Following their departure, we continued to enjoy incredible Milos and always looked forward to returning back to the Lodge for a sunset swim and aperitif. We have not stopped talking about our wonderful trip to Milos. Thank you Nausika for creating a magical place for us to stay and being a truly intuitive and gracious host. We can’t wait to return soon!

Perfect retreat in Milos. Arguably the most beautiful part of Milos. From the moment you wake up to the moment the sun sets, it’s truly magical. The views, the air, the perfectly designed villas: floor to ceiling sliding doors looking over the vast ocean and land, open air kitchen, outdoor showers plus those awe worthy sunsets, a private swimming deck, and the many wild herbs and flowers. Can’t wait to return