Astir Palace sits on a peninsula in Vouliagmeni, along the stretch of coast known as the Athens Riviera.

The drive from the city center takes about half an hour. I can't overstate how much that matters. Usually, if I want water this blue in Greece, I'm getting on a ferry and hightailing it to Santorini, Mykonos, or one of the neighboring islands.

Here, I spent the morning taking a tour of the Acropolis and was back in a beach chair before lunch, and that's what I call a win, if I do say so myself.

I also didn't realize how much history this hotel had until I got there. It first opened in August 1960, and for years it was where Greek royals and Hollywood stars spent their time, with Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Brigitte Bardot among those who spent summers there.

Former President Barack Obama was actually the very last person to stay at the old hotel when he visited Greece in 2016, right before it closed for renovation.

Four Seasons bought the property, put roughly $700 million into rebuilding it, and reopened it in 2019 as the company's first hotel in Greece.

They held onto a lot of the original mid-century architecture, so you get the look of the 1960s with all the comforts you'd expect from a Four Seasons today.

Some guests arrive by helicopter or by boat, but I came in a regular car like a regular person. Once I got settled, I realized just how big this place is. The grounds cover about 74 acres, and there are three private beaches, so I always found a spot no matter what time I showed up.

My room faced the water, and the Aegean Sea was so clear that I could see the rocks on the bottom from my balcony.

The food deserves its own paragraph, so here it is. With nine restaurants on the property, you could eat your way through an entire week without leaving the peninsula, and I came pretty close.

There's Matsuhisa Athens from chef Nobu Matsuhisa if you're craving Japanese, Taverna 37 when you want Greek food done right, and Pelagos, which holds a Michelin star.

Through a program the hotel calls Crafted in Greece, guests can sign up for pottery workshops with local artisans, olive oil tastings, Greek dance lessons, and cooking classes at the market.

I went in a little skeptical: My family comes from the Bahamas, where many hotels offer "local experiences," and they tend to be watered-down versions.

Still, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This was the first time I experienced the local and the luxury, all in one.

The morning started with a trip to a local market with one of the hotel's chefs, and it quickly became clear that the vendors knew him well.

He stopped at nearly every stall to say hello, and we tasted our way through olives, cheeses, and different fruits as he explained what was in season.

He picked tomatoes by smell before he ever looked at them. Clearly, he was an expert at his craft.

We brought everything back to the hotel kitchen and cooked together. And by "cooked together," I mean I fake-cooked, while the real chefs prepared the dishes. A couple of hours later, we sat down to a lunch made almost entirely from what we'd carried in that morning.

I've eaten at a lot of beautiful hotel restaurants over the years, but very few hotel meals have been quite like this one, mainly because I knew where every single thing on the plate came from and I had watched the people who grew or made it hand it over.

I've never had a bad room or bad service at any Four Seasons, and I don't expect I ever will. Still, what made Astir Palace different for me is that I spent more time experiencing local culture than I ever had at any hotel.

I came home to Maryland with a crooked bowl I made at a local pottery class, a few recipes I'm still trying to get right, and a list of things I still want to try when I return.

The 65-year-old hotel chain has a luxurious reputation and over 130 locations worldwide, each designed to reflect its destination.

Kim Cole, the director of public relations for the Four Seasons, told Business Insider that the company describes the Jackson Hole location's aesthetic as "modern mountain chic," catering to hikers, bicyclists, and skiers in the winter.

The hotel has 106 guest rooms and 18 suites. The starting rate is $525 in the offseason and $995 in the peak winter season. Business Insider received a media rate for a one-night stay.

There are also 31 Resort Residences on-site, built to serve large groups. These residences have kitchens and up to five bedrooms. Starting prices range from $4,200 to $11,000, depending on the season.

Cole told Business Insider that in the winter, guest rooms are typically booked with active guests who participate in winter sports, so I imagined how the room would feel as a skier.

My room had a king-sized bed, a full bathroom, and a private balcony.

Renovated by Wimberly Interiors in 2022, the guest rooms were designed to bring the outside in, with metal accents, stone finishings, and a soft, earth-toned color palette. This nature-inspired trend, known as biophilic design, gained traction in 2024.

The king-sized bed sat between mixed-material nightstands with edgy lamps that contrasted with classic wooden shutters.

With one king-sized bed, the room sleeps up to three adults (or two adults and one kid). The room can also be arranged with two double beds, increasing the maximum occupancy to four adults (or two adults and two kids).

The headboard was the standout piece in the room. A cherry-wood frame juxtaposed with a bright-white image gave it a midcentury modern look.

The image was a textured carving of trees that I could feel when I brushed my fingers over the branches. A light bar glowed beneath the board, making it easier to see the details of the monochrome image.

The tablet on the nightstand served as the room's control center, commanding everything from the TV to room service. This amenity was added in the 2022 remodel.

The tablet would be especially handy after an exhausting day on the slopes.

Few things are more relaxing on a snow day than cozying up with a good book.

Luckily, my room had a small selection of biographies, historical literature, and novels, ranging from realistic fiction to young adult fantasy.

Publishing dates for these books ranged from 2003 to 2020, but I thought they looked much older. They were all sleeveless with a white or off-white binding.

Rustic drawers were to the left of the fireplace, while a modern sitting area was on the right.

I noticed all the seating in my room was soft and cushy, which seemed ideal for sore bodies after an active day.

The bar had an espresso machine, neutral-toned ceramic mugs, and Four Seasons-branded water.

Beneath the bar, a cabinet hid the mini-fridge. It was stocked with alcohol and snacks like peanut M&Ms and gummy bears, which were available for an extra cost.

The bathroom had complimentary Le Labo toiletries.

The mirrors and vanities were replaced by Wimberly Interiors in 2022.

I spotted old-school amenities like a shoehorn and a shine brush, which I've seen more often in high-end European accommodations than in the US.

The ample size of the bathroom and closet made the room suitable for up to four guests.

I spent some time on the deck, but since I imagined it would be less enjoyable in the cold, I appreciated the sliding glass doors that let me enjoy the view without the cold.

From the balcony, I spotted the downhill trails towering over the resort's courtyard. Looking down, I pictured the green courtyard blanketed in snow.

In the winter, I imagine the biggest luxury of this $1,000-a-night room is hitting the slopes just outside. If I ever visit Jackson Hole during peak season, I'll only splurge on a Four Seasons stay if I'm taking a ski trip.