Having swapped a fast-paced life in London for the serenity of Spetses in Greece's Saronic archipelago, husband and wife team Karl and Hannah head up the quiet enclave that is Yayaki Spetses, a beautifully designed refuge and boutique-style hotel.
With only 15 rooms and suites, each named after a lucky charm that means something to the couple – such as the Grumpy Cat room, after their adopted feline – the hideaway offers personalised service with excellent attention to detail, a sense of intimacy and an infectious thirst for life from the owners.
On an island that’s long been a hidden gem for affluent travellers to escape to, Yayaki promises a unique haven that is more than just a place to stay. As Karl says: “It’s a whole vibe.”
The National checks in to find out exactly what that entails.
The welcome
As we step off the ferry from Porotnovi, it’s easy to spot our Yayaki ride waiting at the port – the orange and cream Piaggio scooter is the only tuk-tuk-style transport on the island. Bundling our luggage into the tiny vehicle, we climb aboard and Hannah whizzes through the streets on the three-minute drive to the hotel. With no cars allowed in much of Spetses, getting around by tuk-tuk makes sense.
A few minutes later we arrive at a discrete stone wall and step through a wooden gate to a beautiful stone courtyard and a traditional Spetsiotis-style house. Welcome drinks and powdery amygdalota – a sweet marzipan treat – are a fitting start to our visit.
The neighbourhood
Yayaki is on an island that’s just 20km in size and is perfectly placed between the new and old parts of the city, in a quiet side street that’s not open to cars.
Everything is within easy reach – with the old harbour about a five-minute walk away in one direction, and the new port about 10 minutes in the opposite direction.
Just three hours from Athens, the Saronic islands in the Myrtoan Sea are easily reachable and Spetses is popular with in-the-know Athenians as well as tourists. Summertime can be busy, but spring and autumn are delightful times to visit.
The room
We’re staying in The Yayaki suite, the only room in the hotel that’s in the small Yayaki House building, at the top of a flight of stone stairs.
With its own private terrace providing views of the village, pool and mountain, inside it’s a haven of boho-chic. Stepping through the wooden door, a large L-shape suite has a double bed with a locally made mattress crafted from coconut fibres (exceedingly comfortable), a lounge area with a sink-into-it sofa, a desk and a dressing area that leads to a separate bathroom with a shower and bathtub.
Filled with natural elements – straw, terracotta, linen, stone and rope – the light-filled room has traditional wooden shutters that can be used to hide away from the bright Mediterranean sunshine when the mood takes you. Unique illustrations adorn the room – from the signs advising guests to hang their swimwear on the outdoor hooks, to the beautifully presented breakfast and room service menus by the minibar.
The hotel’s Panorama Suite has a sea view and the island’s only outdoor balcony shower, while The Myrtoan Suite has a poolside terrace and can sleep up to four guests.
All the other rooms in the whitewashed house are split into three groups – blue, terracotta or olive – and each is decorated in keeping with the theme, but with individual touches so that no two rooms are the same.
The service
At the family-run operation, Hannah and Karl make up most of the service crew at Yayaki. The pair work well together – Hannah's organised, polite manner complements her husband’s authentic, out-there personality – and both have a can-do attitude.
Despite a mounting to-do list on our last day there, Karl is adamant he’s taking us on a tour of the island, and does exactly that, showing us secret spots and off-the-tourist trail locations that we’d never have found ourselves – all while driving the Yayaki tuk-tuk and animatedly chatting to customers, clients and his wife in Arabic, French and English.
The breakfast menu is found in each of the guest rooms rather than downstairs, where the meal is served, and despite having to repeat the options to almost every table we see him serve, Karl doesn’t seem to get disheartened. That said, we can’t help but think a good solution would be to simply move the menus on to the tables.
The scene
There’s something special about Yayaki, which is part boutique hotel and part family guesthouse – and the people who stay here seem to know that.
During our visit we see a group of women on a girls' holiday, several couples enjoying romantic getaways, a family with small children, and a few solo travellers. The family-style vibe of the place is infectious, with guests seemingly more open to chatting with one another than they might be at another hotel.
Days are spent lounging around the swimming pool on extremely comfortable sun loungers, surrounded by the property's lush gardens that teem with bougainvillea, lavender, ivy and potted plants.
A 40-square-metre yoga room designed with terracotta tiles and large arched mirrors is open for guests who would like to practise asanas or meditation, although there are no scheduled classes during our visit.
The food
Breakfast is served daily at Yayaki and is included in the cost of the room. It can be enjoyed in the open courtyard under a bamboo canopy, or in the little cafe-cum-masonry library. Guests staying in The Yayaki Suite can also opt to enjoy breakfast on their private terrace.
The menu is simple – each day juice, yoghurt, granola and tea and coffee are served to your table, and you have the choice of a sweet or savoury dish that includes options such as spanakopita (spinach pie), eggs, chia pudding or home-made cake.
Whole fruits, vegetables and loaves of bread are laid out in red and white gingham baskets, and travellers can help themselves to whatever they want, cutting and peeling their pick of the Mediterranean produce. This allows the hotel to offer the freshest harvests of the day, and helps cut down on food waste because travellers take only what they’ll eat.
Dinner can be ordered in advance, but there are heaps of little tavernas, cafes and seafront restaurants within walking distance, and the couple will happily provide recommendations on the best ones to try.
Highs and lows
The warmth of the hospitality and laid-back vibe at this hideaway are second to none. It might be a cliche, but a stay here really does leave us feeling as if we arrived as strangers and left as friends.
The owners' wealth of information on places to discover on the island helps you experience Spetses like a local.
There are no real lows other than the continuous ticking of the ceiling fan in our suite – however, we’ve been reliably informed that this has been remedied.
The insider tip
No need to worry about buying bottles of water, as Yayaki filters its H20 so you can enjoy a drink straight from the tap.
E-bikes are available to hire from the hotel, and come highly recommended as a way to get out and about and truly get to know this pine-covered paradise.
The verdict
Checking in at Yayaki isn’t just about having a place to stay on charming Spetses island, it’s about espousing an energy – one that champions getting closer to nature, embracing serenity and taking time out to appreciate the simpler things in life.
The bottom line
Prices start at €216 ($232). Check-in is at 3pm, and checkout is by noon; yayaki-spetses.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time, services may change in the future.
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
