Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
When you think of Mykonos, what do you imagine? Perhaps something resembling the meaning of its name, the island of light and music? Throbbing, dizzying, pulsing beach clubs with open linen shirts and coveralls, stirring and waving to electronic music, revealing tantalizing glimpses of the tanned denizens? Crisp, sparkling wine and chill cocktails, flowing effortlessly to and from a sea of bottle-service tables that define the sea-like dance floor? Revellers, moving to the bars and nightclubs of the towns until the sun cracks the darkness where the sea meets the sky?
We did, but thanks to Range Rover’s evolved vision of Mykonos — and their refined take on hosting — we found something completely different. It was the 40th iteration of Range Rover House, in the 20th country, but the Aegean manifestation held several surprises and new experiences, not least of which were two new special-edition vehicles. With Range Rover, the Mykonos experience was less about throbbing lights and music and more true to its nickname: the Island of the Winds.
When you step off the plane onto the tarmac in Mykonos, you’re greeted by a strong, ever-present breeze that brushes off the Mediterranean summer heat. Naturally, our transportation to Range Rover House was a Range Rover Sport, which was a welcome zen space after 14 hours of travel. Cool and smooth, it was an effortlessly short trip to the House.
Our stay would emulate the Thalassa overnight package (800 Euros) that was available to European Range Rover owners, one of three offerings during the House’s two week run. The other two packages were Anemos, a half-day experience at 200 Euros, and Nisi, a complimentary experience that includes the opportunity to test drive the Range Rover Sport SV — but more on those later. Even if you’ve seen a few images of the House before arrival, nothing can prepare you to pass through the stone walls of the property. Descending the stairs and entering the House, you’ll take in the expansive lounge and stunning views of the Aegean while that ever-present breeze simultaneously warms and cools your skin.
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
The atmosphere of the House is one of complete relaxation. For overnight guests, there’s a variety of experiences and wellness options to enjoy, and we sampled as many as we could. After such a long journey, the opportunity to visit the private Range Rover beach club — a short drive or walk from the House — was too hard to resist. The crescent-shaped beach is surrounded by cliffs, with water so clear we felt as though we could touch the bottom (even though it’s 5 metres deep). The water was refreshing, and the salinity provided a relaxing buoyancy that is perhaps analogous to the overall experience; we floated the afternoon away, just as we floated through our time at Range Rover House — and not unlike floating through traffic in a Range Rover.
Back at the House, there’s an attentive staff to cater to your appetites for food and drink. Meanwhile, a master mixologist fixes several inspired cocktails to pair with your mood and the setting. Relaxing anywhere at the House, you’re enveloped by the wind and the views. As with any such setting, you’ll wonder why you’d ever leave or ever want to live anywhere else.
Gracefully positioned at the end of the 30-metre pool was our first glimpse of one of the special editions being introduced: The Riviera Edition Range Rover SV, of which only 10 will be made, exclusively available for House guests. Suitably liveried to conjure the inextricable yachting links of the Greek Archipelago, The Riviera Edition also ties in nicely to Range Rover’s relationship with the iconic Riva yacht brand (a Riva yacht sea trial is a House experience should guests wish). The deep blue exterior is a virtual match for the waters just beyond. The Liberty Blue, two-tone interior and bleached veneers are heavily reminiscent of the finest marine vehicles.
We delved deeper into the myriad design decisions facing Range Rover’s own design team, as well as customers speccing their bespoke Range Rover, with a Design Masterclass hosted by Daniel Grossman, one of Range Rover’s exterior designers. Guests could interact and utilize some of the design software that the automaker’s design team uses, while they also consider the many fabric, leather, and paint samples and swatches in the bespoking lounge, also idyllically situated on a terrace with a second negative edge pool.
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
Aegean Dream: Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House Mykonos
The setting made good segue into the second special edition, the Gaea Curation from the Range Rover Sport SV Celestial Collection. Inspired by mythology and the cosmos, it’s perfect for Greece. Menacingly resolute in its matte Green Terre paint and authoritatively situated on its massive carbon fibre wheels, the Gaea is perhaps the antithesis of the serene and calming Riviera Edition. Inspired by land and sea, Gaea’s carbon bronze callipers hint at the massive performance potential of its 626-hp twin-turbocharged V8 and 6D chassis that, suffice to say, are as close to magic as automotive engineering gets. Range Rover House guests can drive the SV on the winding roads of Mykonos, as well as some off-roading for a glimpse of this vehicle’s vast capability envelope.
Guest of the House can also indulge in wellness activates such as yoga and massage, though we elected to participate in two additional master classes: Borsalino hat making and Anomalia fragrance layering. The two brands that epitomize modern luxury, though one is over 150 years old while the other is under 5. Borsalino’s representatives and Anomalia’s owner and founder walked us through their history, craft, and vision for their brands, which made their lovely gifts (a hat and fragrance, respectively) that much more memorable. For Anemos package guests, they selected XX of these experiences, and Nisi guests were treated to the thrilling driving experience alone, no doubt wishing to upgrade once they saw the house and experiences on offer.
Floating Through Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House in Mykonos
Floating Through Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House in Mykonos
Floating Through Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House in Mykonos
Floating Through Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House in Mykonos
Floating Through Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House in Mykonos
Floating Through Two Sublime Days at Range Rover House in Mykonos
Our whirlwind visit of Mykonos risked being too short to be relaxing, but the effortlessly enjoyable experiences and hosting by Range Rover House, a bastion of calm and serenity, made it as breezy and warm as the island air. Naturally, Range Rover House guests could enjoy one of the House’s three hosting options as part of their existing Mykonos plans, as is the vision for Range Rover Houses around the world. Akin to a first-class lounge or private members club, Range Rover Houses are available globally to Range Rover owners at key cultural moments in over twenty markets. If you’re an existing owner — or planning to be one — take note of where House activations are, and incorporate their peerless hosting into your travel plans. We will.
