premier ports; This season, Greek island-hopping goes luxe.

Byline: Richard Alleman

With idyllic coves and beaches, earthy Mediterranean cuisine, and glorious weather from May through October, the Greek islands have always been a destination of choice. The recent arrival of several exceptional hotels makes three legendary islands even more alluring.

Boasting some of the Aegean's best beaches and its hippest scene, the Cycladic island of Mykonos abounds with cool cafes, lively restaurants, trendy clubs, and ultra-chic boutique hotels. Now one of the island's first hotels, the Mykonos Theoxenia, a stone-block 1960s landmark, makes a major comeback. Originally the work of acclaimed Greek architect Aris Konstantinidis (1913-1993), the Theoxenia has been totally redesigned by Athens decorator du jour Angelos Angelopoulos. Paying homage to the hotel's glory days, Angelopoulos has redone the entire 52-room property with mid-century Moderne panache, using bold colors and sleek, period-inspired designer furniture. A glamorous free-form pool with a palmy island and tented cabanas adds to the James Bond ambience, as does the Learjet that can be booked on demand. Doubles in the summer high season from $337; (800) 337-4685; res@designhotels.com;

mykonostheoxenia.com.

Considered one of the most picturesque villages in Greece, Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, is made up of cobbled mosaic streets, pristine white houses, and a beautiful bay for swimming and snorkeling. Here, the Melenos-Lindos is the culmination of a thirteen-year-long labor of love for its local owner, Michalis Melenos, who used the finest island craftsmen to create a labyrinth of pebbled patios, secret gardens, and twelve suites with traditional high-platform beds, hand-carved doors and chests, ...