ONCE a quiet Greek island, Mykonos is fast becoming the latest Ibiza, thanks to the bustling clubbing and party scene.
Since the 1950s, its popularity has surged, and is now favoured by billionaires, celebrities and honeymooning couples, as well as young travellers looking for a boozy parties.
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What did Mykonos used to be like?
The island has just 15,000 residents on the island of which 4,000 aren’t Greek, but during the summer, Mykonos attracts almost 50,000 visitors.
Famous faces often spotted on the island include Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Branson and Alessandra Ambrosio, although it is far removed from the 1950s, when it was still a sleepy fishing town.
The beaches, now full of restaurants and sun loungers, were instead home to just a few local fishing boats as men dried their nets and kids dangled their legs over the edge of the harbour.
The cliffs also remained in their natural rocky state, although are now full of hotels with infinity pools.
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It wasn’t long until the rich and the famous emerged following the Second World War.
In 1954, Queen Frederica of Greece organised a cruise around the islands in 1954 for the rest of the European royals.
This was followed by famous film stars at the time including Grace Kelly and Richard Burton in the 1960s, as well as First Lady Jackie Kennedy.
Mykonos is also renowned for being LGBT-friendly, with the 1970s proving popular with gay tourists at the time.
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Despite not being the cheapest, the party island is fast becoming the new Ibiza
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What celebrities have recently been spotted there?
Already this summer, Kate Wright has been spotted on her honeymoon in Mykonos, as well as Kerry Katona heading to the island for a holiday.
Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Rochelle Humes and Cristiano Ronaldo have also already holidayed in Mykonos this year.
Other celebrities include last year’s Love Island contestants Alexandra Cane, Kaz Crossley, Samira Mighty and Ellie Brown who recently went on a girls holiday to the island.
Lindsey Lohan is often on the island thanks to her beach club and reality show.
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Kate Wright is currently on her honeymoon in Mykonos
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Where are the popular celebrity party scenes?
Nammos is one of the most popular celebrity spots, with Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande and Leonardo Di Caprio fans of the club.
It may come as no surprise of it’s popularity as it is home to a £100,000 bottle of champagne. and even £100 bottles of “spraying champagne”.
Scorpios is another fashionable restaurant-beach club, which has attracted Usain Bolt and many models along the way.
More affordable clubs include Jackie O’, which often has drag shows and sunset cocktails, Tropicana Beach Bar, Cavo Paradiso and The Skandinavian Bar.
How to do Mykonos on a budget
Flights to Mykonos start from just £63 return, according to Skyscanner, with October being the cheapest month to travel.
Thankfully there are also a number of cheap holiday deals for a week long holiday on the Greek island.
Love Holidays have affordable deals such as £246 per person at a three-star hotel, or a beach-front hotel for just £274 per person.
Travelling in the summer isn’t cheap, however – with package deals starting from £566 per person for a seven-night holiday in August.
Hotels also aren’t cheap, being some of the most expensive in the Mediterranean, meaning the best options are hostels or even beach camping.
It isn’t the only newest hotspot, with Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach being called the new Magaluf.
Cheap hotels, and easy access to booze and and prostitutes has made it appealing to Brits wanting a raucous holiday.
We also look back at what Benidorm was like before the days of bad behaved tourists, from the sleeping village in the 1920s to the holiday resorts of the 1960s.
