Iliada Sunset Suites Review: Best Boutique Hotel in Naxos

06/02/202631/07/2026wareontheglobe 1 Comment

The balcony at Iliada Sunset Suites on the last morning in Naxos

If you read my previous post, you know that Dan and I had a lovely stay at Iliada Sunset Suites during our time in Naxos last summer (July 2025). And by lovely, I really, really, really loved this boutique hotel. I found it quintessentially Greek and incredibly charming. This post reviews Iliada Sunset Suites in detail.

Pink bougainvillea flowers at Iliada Sunset Suites in Naxos, Greece

Beautiful pink flowers at Iliada Sunset Suites.

The view of the Mediterranean from Iliada Sunset Suites in Naxos, Greece.

ILIADA SUNSET SUITES LOCATION

Iliada Sunset Suites is located in Chora, or Naxos Town, in Naxos, Greece, which is the island’s main, and largest, town. It is set on a hill above Grotta Beach, offering stunning views of the heart of Naxos Town and the famous Portara (aka the Temple of Apollo). The area directly surrounding the hotel is comprised of other, small hotels/rentals and a hill/turned parking lot that tourists walk down to get to and from Chora (although there is a longer, less steep route, too). It’s location is pretty quiet, without much to immediately walk to. Lots of restaurants and shops are located in Chora’s heart, which is about a 5 – 10 minute walk from the hotel.

The blue and white exterior of Iliada Sunset Suites in Naxos Town

Iliada Sunset Suites is a classic blue and white Greek boutique hotel. .

Continue reading →

Naxos Itinerary: A Relaxed Greek Island Escape

03/02/202609/09/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

As you may know, last summer’s July 4 vacation took us back to Greece, this time to Crete and Naxos. I shared a lot about our time in Crete and how you can recreate our trip for yourself, but I haven’t shared much about Naxos. And quite frankly, that is because I absolutely LOVED Naxos and simply cannot put into a blog post how much. We also didn’t do anything too touristy or fancy; we just relaxed and enjoyed the island. In this post, I will share what we did with our time in Naxos, including what we loved, what was meh (very little), and what I will do again. If you are considering Naxos as a vacation destination, I highly recommend it!

In this Naxos itinerary

Naxos island: location and general information
Day 1: A fast ferry, a blue and white island, and delicious Greek food
Day 2: Sailing to Paros, sunset at the Portara, and dinner at The Naxos Apothecary
Day 3: St. George Beach, the best gyro, and a sunset aperitivo
Day 4: Final Med views and flying to Athens
Steal our trip: where we stayed, ate and booked

Chora, Naxos, Greece.

NAXOS ISLAND – LOCATION & GENERAL INFORMATION

The Cyclades are a group of famous Greek islands that are well known for being the “blue and white islands” made famous by the likes of Mamma Mia! and the legends of Santorini. The Cyclades are also home to the party-centric Mykonos and the recently popular Milos. Naxos is the largest of all the islands in the Cyclades. We have been to five of the Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Paros, and Naxos), and we love this island group.

A map showing the location of Naxos in the Greek islands

Naxos, Greece on a map.

Continue reading →

Hotel Review: Domes Zeen Chania, Crete.

27/01/202631/07/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Dan and I spent a lovely and relaxing week just outside of Chania, Crete last July (2025). We stayed at Domes Zeen Chania, a Marriott Bonvoy property (making it ideal for those looking for point redemptions). While it is not in Chania proper, we had a wonderful stay at Domes Zeen Chania would easily return. This post details our stay at Domes Zeen Chania in July 2025.

The private terrace at Domes Zeen Chania in Crete, Greece

Our private terrace at Domes Zeen Chania.

Pros of Domes Zeen Chania: Beautiful property, spacious rooms with excellent air conditioning, natural beauty, especially at sunset, possible to use Marriott Bonvoy points, American style mattresses (IYKYK).

Cons of Domes Zeen Chania: Lots of families with children, pricey compared to other hotels in the area, more Western International than Greek, located far from Chania town.

Sunset from the main pool at Domes Zeen Chania, Crete

Sunset from the main pool at Domes Zeen Chania. The sunsets were consistently outstanding.

THE DOMES ZEEN CHANIA PROPERTY

Domes Zeen Chania is located in greater Chania town – a 15 minute drive, or a 45 minute walk, from Chania’s famous Old Venetian Port. As it is outside of Chania, the hotel is somewhat secluded, abutting the sea on one side and being pretty closed off from the public otherwise. There are a few businesses – beach clubs and restaurants – within a short walk, but you will likely spend most of your time at the hotel unless you venture into Chania proper. In other words, this is a good spot for those just wanting to enjoy a relaxing vacation without too much sightseeing.

Continue reading →

The Perfect First Night in Rome – A Trastevere Food Tour

20/01/202631/07/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Ristorante Pancrazio. Cento Storico, Roma.

Before kicking off our big Italian vacation in 2026 on the Amalfi Coast, we spent one day and evening in Rome. The sole item on our agenda was a food tour through one or Dan and my favorite neighborhoods in Rome, Trastevere (fun fact – also where we lived when we studied in Rome!). This was the third time we have taken this tour, and it was just as good as we remembered. This post details our food tour through Trastevere with Eating Europe!

Roman ruins on the walk to a Trastevere food tour in Rome

Walking to the food tour. I love Rome so much – just casually passing ruins on our walk.

Continue reading →

Cantina di Vesuvio: A Fun Winery Lunch After Pompeii

16/01/202631/07/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

On the heels of my post about the wonderful Le Vigne di Raito in Raito, Italy, this post details our experience at another winery we visited on our trip to the Amalfi Coast, Cantina del Vesuvio Winery! We visited Cantina del Vesuvio after a full morning exploring Pompeii with a private guide and after hectic and crowded Pompeii, Cantina del Vesuvio was a welcome retreat away from the crowds, complete with delicious food and a decent amount of wine. I certainly recommend a visit after Pompeii.

Umbrella pine trees at Cantina del Vesuvio winery on Mount Vesuvius

Cantina del Vesuvio. I love these trees.

Cantina del Vesuvio Winery is literally located on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius (or Monte Vesuvio in Italian), hence the name. Given its location, the winery offers beautiful views, including of Sorrento and the Gulf of Naples and of Mount Vesuvius. We drove about 20 minutes from Pompeii to Cantina del Vesuvio, arriving slightly early for our pre-booked tasting and lunch (there is free parking on site!). And yes, a tour and lunch is the standard package. Its reasonably priced and easy to reserve online. And on that note, reservations are required, but I don’t think you need to make them too far in advance.