Best vacation in the Mykonos island villas

Mykonos is a beautiful island in the Cyclades island group of Greece with a reputation for glamour and popularity with partygoers. With a wealth of holiday accommodation in Mykonos to choose from, it could be tempting to go with the easy option of staying in one of the island's hotels - but this could mean missing out on the full range of what the island has to offer. If you opt to buy or rent a villa in Mykonos, you can discover the island's hidden gems. Here are four reasons to choose a self-catering villa for your trip to Mykonos.

Discover New Locations

Most hotel accommodation in Mykonos is concentrated in Mykonos Town (also known as Chora) and around the 'party beaches' of the west and south coast. While this region has the buzzing, cosmopolitan atmosphere you would expect, there are other parts of the island which offer a very different holiday experience, and opting to rent a villa in Mykonos can help you to discover these different areas. For thrill-seekers, Kalafatis Beach on the east coast of the island is a great option, with a Dive Centre and Windsurf Centre for water-based action. History lovers would enjoy a stay in Ano Mera, the biggest village of the island built around Panayia Tourliani, a 16th century monastery famed for the wooden carvings within the church.

Experience local cuisine

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When you are staying in a hotel, it can be tempting to eat in the hotel restaurant - if you've gone all-inclusive, this may feel like your only option. But by going self-catering, you can give yourself permission to be more adventurous and explore the great cuisine that Mykonos has to offer. You could enjoy the cosy atmosphere and the smells of the charcoal barbecue at Kiki's Tavern on Agios Sostis Beach, soak up the authentic taverna experience at Tasos on Paraga Beach, sample the seafood at Hippie Fish on Agios Ioannis Beach or have a coffee with some moustokoloura at Ntekoto in Ano Mera. Or you could buy local food and make your own authentic Greek meals - kopanisti, a pepper-flavoured soft cheese, is a local delicacy you ought to enjoy while staying in Mykonos.

Get Better Value

Hotel packages may be tempting as a way to enjoy a luxury holiday without the luxury price tag, but if you rent a villa in Mykonos you could save yourself money while still indulging in all the island has to offer. The savings are particularly significant if you are travelling as a larger party. For a mid-June visit, booking two hotel rooms for a party of four will probably set you back in the region of between £200 and £300 per night, perhaps more. However, if you rent a two-bedroom villa you could end up with a price tag of half that, or even a third, with many excellent options coming in at around £100 per night . (Prices based on a TripAdvisor search for 11-18 June 2016)

Find a holiday 'home from home'

If you have fallen for the charms of this beautiful and bustling island, you may even want to buy a villa in Mykonos. By buying a villa, you can have holiday accommodation tailored to your needs and tastes whenever you want it - and earn money by renting it out when you don't want it. While other Greek islands may have cheaper properties on offer, the property market on Mykonos is more stable, with some signs of recovery and the reassurance of knowing that this island is a very popular tourist destination. Buying real estate in Mykonos now while the market is just starting to recover could prove a wise investment in years to come.