I recently stayed at Once in Mykonos, and unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to the expectations set by its online presence. To clarify, while this hotel offers some positive aspects, it certainly does not deserve a 5-star rating, and I would rate it more as a solid 4-star property, but not much more.
Let’s start with the rooms. They are much smaller and less comfortable than they appear in the photos. The pictures on the booking websites, like Hotels.com, are not accurate — the rooms look much more spacious and modern in the images. The linens and towels were old and worn out, which was a big disappointment. When staying at a luxury hotel, I expect a certain level of comfort and cleanliness, and this did not meet the mark.
The service was excellent, however. The staff were all friendly and courteous, but despite their nice demeanor, they were not quite prepared for a true 5-star experience. There was a distinct difference in the level of professionalism one might expect at a high-end property. For instance, the few Greek staff members I encountered would repeatedly say, “we will call you back” — but nothing ever happened, which was frustrating. Additionally, it’s worth noting that you cannot hire outside massage therapists for your room due to “security reasons,” which was an odd restriction.
The hotel’s restaurant serves decent food, but it’s nothing spectacular — I would say it’s average, at best.
