The Place that Fits the Brief

When we started planning our Tinos retreat, we didn’t land on this island right away.

We began by looking across the Aegean—comparing islands that fit the teacher’s brief: somewhere with enough space and variety to feel like a real journey, but not so remote it becomes a mission to get to. The group would be spending time in Athens first, so the island had to be close enough to the mainland to make logistics smooth, but far enough to feel like a true escape.

We explored quite a few islands; some were stunning, but too small to offer more than one “day out.” Others were a bit too complicated to get to. Some didn’t have enough good venue options, or the venues were too isolated for guests who’d want the beach within easy walking distance.

Tinos stood out because it met all the needs without compromise:

• Big enough to build a varied itinerary - hiking, history, villages, sea

• Culturally rich, with archaeological and religious sites, not just pretty views

• Close enough to the mainland for smooth transitions from Athens

• Well-connected, making a boat trip to a neighboring island totally doable

• Plenty of venue options, including ones that could hold a larger group and still be walking distance to the beach

We spent time visiting different venues on the island, walking the routes guests would take to the beach or village, and imagining what a retreat here would actually feel like. We didn’t want a place that just looked good on Instagram - we wanted somewhere that would feel right on the ground, every day of the week.

Tinos gave us that balance. It was the right blend of practical and magical—and most importantly, it felt like a place guests could really settle into.