Greece
With an enviable location in Kardamena, on the south coast of Kos Island, the Lagas Aegean Village is built in a traditional architectural style. The hotel’s 300-plus rooms cascade down the hillside – a complimentary minibus service is available around the clock to take you to your room – and so visitors are afforded spectacular views of the perfectly-blue Aegean sea. A few steps will take you down to the beach, one of the region’s most favoured spots for swimming and sunbathing.
The focal point of the resort is the Olympic-sized freshwater pool, which fronts onto the beach. The hotel also has an outdoor pool for children and an indoor pool. The large restaurant serves continental breakfast in the morning and a selection of Greek and International dishes for dinner – when the highlights include homemade ice cream for dessert. There is an entertainment programme for both adults and children, and the resort features a playground that young children are sure to enjoy. An impressive range of facilities includes a fitness centre, saunas, four floodlit tennis courts, a game room, mini-golf, water-polo, and beach volleyball.
The 4-star Grecotel Daphnila Bay Dassia is set on the hillside, overlooking Dassia Bay and the Ionian Sea. Surrounded by verdant gardens, it’s located on Corfu’s northeast coast and has direct access to a private Blue Flag beach. Facilities include a freshwater pool, children’s pool, a fully equipped gym and spa with a sauna, spa tub, steam room and Turkish hammam. There are also seven tennis courts with some free trial lessons available each week. Daphnila Bay offers entertainment each day, from aerobics and beach games to dancing lessons and evening shows.
Little ones are well catered for, with a club for children aged 3-12 and 13-17 (from mid-June to mid-September only), plus a playground and mini-disco. Free cots, buggies, highchairs and bottle-making facilities can be pre-booked. The resort is fully all-inclusive, with a choice of waterfront dining options. Highlights include a buffet and BBQ restaurant with a wine-tasting room, a fine-dining restaurant, a Greek taverna, a steak and sushi restaurant, and an Italian trattoria. There’s also a creperie and a patisserie for afters, as well as four specialist bars.
Experience the luxurious side of Crete from the award-winning Filion Suites Resort & Spa. Established in 2010, this stunning boutique hotel is perched on a mountainside overlooking the glistening Mediterranean Sea. Having received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, the hotel’s extensive grounds has led to it being presented with the Green Key International Environmental Award.
Guests can enjoy a modern, family-friendly hotel, where exposed stonework and dark wooden beams are complemented by a strikingly contemporary and eco-ethical design. Framed by mountain peaks and pine-clad sides of the surrounding hills, the tranquillity of the surroundings continue inside. Go for a dip in one of the three outdoor pools, practice your serve on the tennis court, or just while away your time in the luxurious spa. In addition to all of this, the location of the hotel places you just a short distance from the village of Bali with its quaint tavernas, shops and of course, amazing beaches. If you want to explore the Cretan capital of Heraklion, then you’ll find it less than an hour’s drive east of the hotel.
The Electra Palace Rhodes is located on the western coast of Rhodes overlooking the clear Aegean Sea. This bright and welcoming modern resort offers elegant rooms with sea, pool or garden views. The beachfront Electra Palace Rhodes Hotel is proud to offer several dining options including the international buffet-style restaurant, Electra’s, Greek restaurant, Orientalista, with Greek specialities such as gyros and souvlaki, Chinese classics at A La Chinoise, and fresh pasta, antipasti and pizza at Al Convento.
Many sports facilities and activities are also a feature of the resort, with tennis courts, yoga classes, scuba lessons and much more. There is first-class childcare service with a kids’ club (4 to 12 years old), and a newly opened crèche (four months up to 4 years old) both accredited with Worldwide Kids Childcare status. The vibrant and picturesque town of Ialyssos (Trianta) is a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the hotel and is bursting with shops, cafes, restaurant and bars. For adventurers, a hike to Filerimos Hill is a must, so tighten up those laces and enjoy stunning views and colourful, bright scenery.
Located in historic Knossos, near Hersonissos on Crete’s northern coast, the Aldemar Knossos Royal is a complex of blue and white bungalows fronting onto a private beach. Reflecting the ancient traditions of the region, the bungalows are influenced by Minoan-style architecture, with colonnades and flat or low-gabled roofs. As well as easy access to the sandy beach, the resort has luscious, carefully-tended gardens creating a harmonious contrast of atmospheres.
There are three restaurants at the Aldemar Knossos Royal resort: the main restaurant where breakfast is served, the a la carte Artemis Restaurant which serves local dishes and the Fontana Amorosa gourmet restaurant which offers Mediterranean cuisine and fine wines.
A comprehensive recreational programme includes Greek dancing lessons, cooking lessons, and all kinds of fun and games. Children are especially well catered for. There are two outdoor kids’ pools (one a seawater pool) and one with a water slide. There is an outdoor play area for children and a daily kids’ club. Resort facilities include a tennis court, fitness centre, table tennis, mini-golf and free Wi-Fi.
Nestled between a sand-swept beach and a majestic mountainscape, Aeolos Beach Resort offers a great getaway in a beautiful location. Located in the quiet area of Perama, it’s a great all-inclusive option for couples as well as families. While the ultimate attraction is its location, Aeolos Beach resort itself is stylish and modern. There are picturesque gardens and stunning views out to the Ionian Sea, while the beach is just a short walk away.
Proud of its four-star status, the hotel has a range of amenities for guests to enjoy. There are two swimming pools – one for families and one lagoon-style infinity pool for quieter swims. A line of sun loungers with umbrellas surrounds both. The hotel also features a wellness centre, where you can indulge in spa treatments in an open-air gazebo or relax in the sauna. A fitness centre is on hand for more energetic guests. The whole family will enjoy the range of activities on offer – from beach volleyball and tennis to darts, water polo, and ping pong. For younger guests, there’s a playground, kid’s club, and a nightly disco.
The number two all-inclusive resort in the world, according to TripAdvisor, the Ikos Olivia is set on the gorgeous Toroneos Gulf beach. Stretching over 22 acres of landscaped gardens, pristine lawns and olive trees, the Ikos Olivia provides all meals, drinks, including international branded spirits and wines, and cocktails prepared by award-winning mixologists, 24-hour room service, a fully stocked minibar (replenished each day) and daily childcare.
The Ikos Olivia has four swimming pools including a lagoon pool with swim-up bar, two heated outdoor options and a children’s pool. For even more variety, there is a private white-sand beach and a spa. Free activities include tennis, introductory diving, mountain biking, pedaloes, yoga, Pilates and Greek dance lessons. Bedrooms are particularly luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a choice of private balconies, private pools, pretty gardens and generous terraces. For dinner, you’ll be spoilt for choice – there’s a Greek taverna, a pan-Asian restaurant, an Italian trattoria, a beachfront Mediterranean buffet and an à la carte restaurant that serves Provencal cuisine. The Ikos Olivia also offers a “Dine Out” programme which invites guests to eat at some of the best local restaurants, at no extra cost.
The Ikos Olivia has a beachfront location on the Gulf of Toroneos. It’s a few miles east of Nea Moudania, in the village of Gerakini, and set among rolling hills covered in pine trees. You’ll find plenty of local tavernas and fish restaurants in this area. There’s also a regular free taxi into the nearby resort village of Psakoudia. Head 15 minutes west by car to Olynthos, an ancient archaeological site that was, according to mythology, built to honour the son of Strymonas, King of Thrace, who was killed while lion hunting. Towards the south – a 30-minute drive away – you’ll find Nea Fokea, a coastal town on the eastern side of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. You can buy fresh fish from local fishing boats, while away an afternoon in a beachfront café, or visit the underground rooms at St Paul’s Passage. Don’t miss a trip to the Byzantine castle of Agios Pavlos, which was built in the Middle Ages to protect against pirate attacks.
