The luxury all-inclusive to suit even the pickiest of travellers (that would be me!)
Currently there’s Sani Beach, Sani Asterias, Sani Club and Porto Sani, and Sani Dunes, an adult-only hotel. Each a slightly different take on the needs of the traveller but each accessible to anyone staying at the resort.
Porto Sani, as the name suggests is positioned behind a luxurious purpose-built marina, and has been designed as a village of two-storey buildings, its focal point the lagoon pools and restaurants.
As we dined on our first Greek salad of the holiday, it was clear to see a lot of returning guests as staff greeted them with natural enthusiasm. Always a good sign.
We were shown to our room, a junior suite, through the olive trees and pathways as our meal plan and map of the resort was explained to us. Light and airy with fresh flowers in the sitting area, Bose system and large balcony, we would be happy to call this home for the next few nights.
With only a short-haul flight time and more routes coming this summer, Greece and its islands are a popular destination for couples and families looking for a beach break. Warning the marketing team that we weren’t really resort people, they thrived on the challenge, inviting us to two resorts in Halkidiki – the aim was to change our minds.
An early start and flight time to Thessaloniki and a private transfer later and we were were sitting in the reception of Porto Sani in time for lunch. Part of the Sani Resort which covers 1,000 acres on the peninsula of Kassandra, Porto Sani is just one of five five-star hotels on the family-owned ecological reserve.
So, we set about exploring, heading into the marina. Each hotel has a restaurant, or two, which all guests are welcome to dine in, but the marina offers a new take on that. Sani has created a village around the yachts and fishing boats full of restaurants and boutiques, giving the feeling of heading into the local town when you’re still on the resort and can use your half-board allocation or simply put it on your room. Clever. And very well done.
Our stay wasn’t long enough to allow us to sample all the restaurants and all the genres but we tried our best. We would recommend Psaroyannos, traditional Greek, as the team was delightful and shared helpful tips about recreating the Moussaka at home. Katsu, the Japanese restaurant was perfect for watching the sunset with sushi in hand. And the food and team at Byblos are well worth a visit.
Which brings me back to Porto Sani. We visited during half-term when we didn’t have a little person. At first, I thought this was a schoolgirl error but even though there were lots of families there enjoying themselves, we didn’t feel overrun. It’s very well done.
There’s an adults-only pool, which whilst only a few hundred yards from the lagoon, provided peace and tranquillity, along with easy access to the Spa. And breakfast could be had a la carte in Byblos if the hustle of breakfast at Artemis was not for you.
Having said that, they had everything covered for the kids, from scooter and bike hire (for big kids alike) and countless activities, from sailing to dancing, and clubs operated by UK childcare specialists Worldwide Kids Company.
And there’s plenty for the adults too, from a leisurely walk through the Sani Wetlands to paddle-boat yoga or private boat tours. And outside excursions too, the wine tour is excellent. In fact, the wine selection was amazing and a great collection of local Greek wines are a must.
At the end of our stay, I was thinking I maybe could be a resort kinda girl. My childhood memories of resorts a thing of the past. We’re thinking of returning with family and friends with kids. There’s something for everyone…
We flew Jet 2 Holidays. 7 nights at Porto Sani from £1,149 per person based on 2 sharing staying in Marina view Junior Suite on a half board basis with return flights from Manchester. Includes 22kg baggage and return transfers.
A Warm Hellenic Welcome – Part 11
