FoodNutrition

These Serene Cycladic Island Resorts Are a Must-Sea for Wellness-Minded Travelers

Find a roundup of the best Greek island wellness destinations: Calilo hotel in Ios, and Andronis Arcadia and Andronis Concept in Santorini.

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Photo: Courtesy of Calilo
Updated Dec 5, 2023

Written by 

Betty Gold

If the boom-boom beach clubs in Ibiza and Mykonos made their way to your FYP last summer: Same. If you found yourself scrolling through video after video feeling some form of impressed, envious, and exhausted (how does one “no sleep-bus-club-another club” for days on end when it’s 95°F?!): Ditto. These gorgeous Greek islands were among of the most popular places to travel in 2023, and TravelTok made sure we were all well-aware.

We love a travel trend, and nothing—truly, nothing—beats the opportunity to visit Greece at any time of year, for any reason. But something I found missing from the vast majority of these bouncy, high-energy videos I’d scroll by was the messaging that Greece’s gorgeous, ancient Cycladic islands are the original epicenter of serenity and calm, too.

On a recent overseas adventure, I was lucky enough to discover that the islands of Ios and Santorini are a must-sea (erm, see) for anyone seeking a wellness-focused Mediterranean vacation. And don’t be tricked into thinking summer is your only option! If you and crowded cobblestone streets don’t mesh well—especially when a high-UV index is involved—the magic of Greece in the fall is unmatched. Tons of sun and seafood; complete quiet and serenity.

Here, our favorite wellness-focused properties in Ios and Santorini—all of which champion sustainability, prioritize peace and artwork, serve five-star farm-to-table Greek cuisine, and provide endless opportunities for you to immerse yourself in silence. (Aside from the sound of the Aegean sea that’s right outside your window.)

Where To Stay in Ios: Calilo

Calilo—located on the island of Ios, which is conveniently between Santorini and Mykonos—is the most well-curated, thoughtful, and unique wellness resort on the planet, and that’s said with zero drop of superlative. Upon seeing it, questions like: Did I create this place in my mind? came to mind immediately.

How to describe. Picture a backdrop of deep blue Aegean ocean tucked between two cliffs, with a luxury resort (carved from the native rock) perched atop an untouched beach. Calilo is cradled by 1,000 acres of protected land and six miles of golden sand and cerulean sea. The sensation of being immersed in warmth, beauty, and nature is omnipresent on Calilo’s property, which is also home to a sparkling new spa and fitness center, two top-notch restaurants, a church, and 30 of the most breathtaking suites ever built.

Everything at Calilo is natural; then add dazzling, fantastical.

Water, light, and art are the three central themes of Calilo. The first two come built-in by the location—the property’s owner, Angelos Michalopoulos and his wife Vassiliki Petridou make sure every inch of the land’s rustic, breathtaking beauty is preserved. But the element of artwork is what gives Calilo its soul—and character.

“The philosophical mission of Calilo is to offer a product where architecture and art are used to uplift the lives of our guests by providing them with a joyful, positive, carefree, and playfully quaint physical and emotional environment to relax, let their guard down, think less, and feel more,” says Michalopoulos, also a self-taught writer, sculptor, and painter. “During the process of conceptualizing and creating Calilo both as a physical place and an emotional one, the exceptional beauty and emotional intensity of the land pushed us to realize how much we must strive to make life beautiful for others.” Michalopoulos’s artistic vision is Calilo, and vice versa—an apt anagram of the phrase Create a Life You Can Fall in Love with.

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Every nook, cranny, couch, tile, teacup, slipper, corkscrew, and otherwise square-inch of Calilo is awe-inducing artwork. Trust: This gem of the Cyclades is setting a new standard for elite travel destinations when it comes to design and creativity.

Property highlights:

  • 30 suites, each individually-designed with ornate marble interiors. Each has its own panoramic sea views and footsteps-from-the-sand beach access, plunge pools, swim-up bars, and romantic day beds.
  • Calilo’s land conservation project has planted over 70,000 trees and bushes around the island of Ios to date restore the habitat that had previously been burned by wildfires and deforestation. In addition, the family has invested heavily in the Elektra olive tree project, where they have planted over 550 ancient olive trees they had saved from being sold for wildfire in Athens. Guests can ‘adopt’ and name a tree and follow it throughout its journey of life over the years.
  • Five-star dining features the freshest vegetables, seafood, and fresh fruit from the earth each day. The sky is the limit: Beehives supply honey to drizzle on local goats’ cheese; they produce extra virgin olive oil from their own olive groves. Menu items showcase delicious local Greek specialities, as well as wines and spirits.
  • Immaculate spa features a number of stress and tension-easing treatments that target sleep quality, energy, muscles, skincare, and more.
  • Exercise options abound! Greet the day with a sun salutation on the sand, hit the fancy new fitness center, or take a meditative walk, meandering coastal trails scented with thyme and oregano, before winding down with yoga nidra at the end of the day.
  • Because donkeys are an extinct species in Greece, especially in the Cyclades, Calilo’s owners created an on-site donkey sanctuary dedicated to their preservation. They also have rescued dogs who were affected by the wildfires in Athens.
  • 99 percent of the land that Calilo is on is undeveloped in order to sustain Ios’ natural beauty. The land that has been developed has been done so in an environmentally-friendly manner with construction material extracted from the ground of the actual building site, including marble and stone granite.

Where To Stay in Santorini: Andronis Arcadia and Andronis Concept Wellness Resort

Santorini is stunning—think white buildings, blue rooftops, and cobblestone streets perched far atop volcanic cliffs and Aegean ocean for miles. For those seeking a hotel that’s steps away from the center of Oia, Santorini’s sweetheart city, the best-in-class for wellness (and everything else) is Andronis Arcadia.

Arcadia is the newest addition to the Andronis family of five-star hotels, villas, and retreats in Santorini. Despite its proximity to the many magical shops and restaurants of Oia, the property is secluded and quiet. (All the more paramount when you discover that every suite on the property includes an ocean-facing terrace and private plunge pool.)

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Another huge win for wellness here is the amount of space each suite has—the bathroom alone could fit a dozen New York City-sized apartments (says my “NYC math”). And yet: the floor-to-ceiling windows, natural fabrics, and minimalist design all draw the eyes outwards towards the sun and sea. The only challenge you’ll face at Andronis Arcadia will be the task of choosing when to venture out of your room and when to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

Property highlights:

  • Andronis Arcadia is located on the fringe of picturesque Oia, an easy stroll from the village center, but far enough away to ensure peace and privacy. It consists of 119 suites and villas each one with its own private pool, situated to capture the views of the Aegean sea and the island’s unforgettable sunsets.
  • Room includes a pillow menu (!)
  • Three massive, gorgeous pools on-site cater to adults, kids, and everyone in between.
  • There are two restaurants at Andronis Arcadia. Watching the sun rise at Pacman Sunset Restaurant as you spoon the world’s most exquisite homemade Greek yogurt (topped with local kiwi jam and chia seed granola) is a must. Find more delicious Greek cuisine and gorgeous views on-site at Beefbar Santorini, which faces the caldera and its stunning sunsets.
  • 60 percent of the suppliers for food and beverage are small businesses from the island.
  • Eco-friendly car options are available for more environmentally conscious transportation.

Andronis Concept Wellness Resort

It’s no secret that Greece is a nation long-recognized for its wellness practices—many of the planet’s longest-living people call the Greek island of Ikaria home. Andronis Concept is a beautiful, immersive expression of why the Mediterranean lifestyle is so closely linked to longevity.

Andronis Concept is nestled on a quiet road in Imerovigli, a smaller city on the island’s coast. The 28 pool suites and villas are built to capture the sunset over the Aegean sea towards the caldera. This place is for peak tranquility and relaxation. While every aspect of Andronis Concept astounds—and a visit to Kallos Spa is a must—the most unforgettable part about your stay here will be the immersive views. Truly: Booking a room here gets you a front-row seat to some of the most scenic parts of Santorini, 24/7.

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FoodNutrition

Hold Up: Is Your Nutrition App Working Against You?

Here are 6 warning signs experts say to watch out for when using nutrition and fitness apps.

High angle shot of fitness young Asian sports woman relaxing after working out, lying on yoga mat and using her smartphone against sunlight in the morning, reusable water bottle and headphones by her side.
Photo: Getty
Published Mar 7, 2025

Written by 

Korin Miller

Fitness and nutrition tracking apps provide an easy way to keep tabs on your health data. But new research suggests that you could accidentally work against your health goals when you use these platforms. 

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The scientific review, which was published in the journal Body Image, analyzed data from 38 studies on fitness and diet apps, along with symptoms people had while using them. The researchers ultimately found that people who used health and fitness apps regularly were more likely to struggle with disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise. 

While it’s hard to say whether the concerning habits or apps came first, mental health professionals aren’t shocked by the findings. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll fall into damaging health habits if you use one of these apps, but this is an important association to at least be aware of, according to Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women's Emotional Wellness. 

Below, mental health providers break down why fitness apps can work against your health, plus warning signs that your use is venturing into unhealthy territory.

How are tracking apps working against your health goals?

There are a few things that could be happening here. “We don't necessarily know that diet and fitness apps ‘cause’ symptoms of disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise,” says Isabella Anderberg, lead study author and researcher at Flinders University. Meaning, it’s entirely possible that people who already have concerns around eating and body image are drawn to the apps as a way to manage this, Anderberg says. 

But some apps can also create an environment that can be stressful, says Rebecca Boswell, PhD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and director of psychiatric services at Penn Medicine. “Diet and fitness apps set rules about how people should and should not eat and exercise,” she points out. “They are designed to provide praise for eating less and punishment for eating more.” Boswell also notes that these apps are also designed to encourage activity to compensate for eating.

Certain apps also offer guidelines that can be customized without flagging goals that aren’t medically or nutritionally sound, Boswell says. “Apps often default to very low-calorie recommendations, e.g. 1,200 calories, the recommended intake for a toddler, and do not raise flags when people lower their ‘budgets,’” she says. “They rarely focus on the quality, balance, and nutritional density of foods.”

These apps tend to center around numbers and setting goals, which can be “unhelpful” for some people, Ammon says. Some even contain images that push thinness as an ideal body type, which excludes the rest of the population, she adds. 

Who does this impact? 

Again, plenty of people use fitness and wellness apps with no issue, and the link between problematic health behaviors and this tech is still being explored. But certain people may be more susceptible to developing unhealthy behaviors while using fitness apps than others. 

People with a previous history of disordered eating or body image concerns should probably steer clear of these apps, Ammon says. “This is because these apps can bring greater focus to their eating habits, caloric intake, and weight,” she explains. “Individuals with disordered habits tend to track caloric intake or caloric deficits, as a means of controlling weight [and] these apps can enhance those tracking habits with real time metrics and reminders.”

People who have struggled with overtraining in the past may also be at risk of using these apps in an unhealthy way, says Eric Storch, PhD, professor and vice chair of psychology at Baylor College of Medicine. 

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But even if you don’t have a history of disordered behavior around food or exercise, Ammon says it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on how you react to fitness and health apps—especially if you tend to be very goal-oriented or have a type A personality. Boswell agrees. “People who are prone to perfectionism may have a harder time flexibly using these apps, especially because of their greater sensitivity to reward and punishment,” she says. “It’s very hard for some people to get feedback that they’re not getting an A+ in health behaviors, even when the healthier behaviors might be striking a balance and setting more moderate goals.”

What are the signs your app isn’t helping?

There are a few clues that your app isn’t being a positive force in your life.

  1. 1.
    Being rigid around your app is a big red flag. “When you start to seem like you ‘have to’ work out daily or ‘have to’ track every single calorie ingested or burned, it may be teetering with an unhelpful focus on these habits,” Ammon says. 
  2. 2.
    Feeling frazzled about not meeting certain goals can also be a warning sign that something is off, she says. “If you notice yourself getting anxious or distressed because you didn’t hit your move goal for a day, it may be worth exploring why you need to hit that goal daily,” Ammon says. 
  3. 3.
    Guilt is also an emotion to be wary of, Anderberg says. Meaning, while it’s OK to feel a little disappointed that you didn’t make a goal on any given day, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
  4. 4.
    This is more indirect, but is still important: Boswell recommends keeping tabs on your internal monologue when using these apps. “If you can’t stop thinking about food or activity, it’s time to take a break and listen to your body instead of an app,” she says. 
  5. 5.
    Negative lifestyle impact is also a big warning sign that this isn’t a good fit for you, according to Ammon. She cites examples like staying up late to burn 500 calories before the end of the day because you feel pressure to, or cancelling plans with friends because you feel like you need to fit in a workout that day as being problematic. 

How to use an app in a productive, healthy way

Ammon points out that there are risks and rewards to practically every decision you make in life, including using health and fitness apps. “Rewards can be an improved lifestyle and improved physical health,” she says. “For many, these apps can act as an accountability system with virtual rewards.” Focusing on the positive—as in, you’re doing the best you can to support your health and wellness—is a productive way to view these apps, she says. 

Storch also recommends trying to be flexible in how you use these apps, looking at them as more of a guide than what you have to do on any given day. “Approach these apps as a tool to achieve goals, but ones that should be used flexibly versus rigidly, and without angst motivating their use,” he says. 

Of course, if you start using an app and you find that you don’t have a good relationship with it, it’s OK to stop. “It’s important to approach them with some level of caution,” Boswell says. “However, not everyone will have a negative experience with diet and fitness apps, and some might find them to be a helpful tool.”

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