Greece - Halkidiki Sani Ressort

A genuine taste of Greece that‘s family-friendly and ferry-free? Surely the stuff of myth. Not if you check in to Halkidiki‘s Sani Resort.

Taking the kids on an authentic Greek holiday had always seemed a rather pointless goal: too hot, too hilly and there were far too many bloody ferries to get on and off for it ever to work. The famed bleached islands of the Aegean, populated by roaming pelicans and leather-faced fisherman, are never going to win any child-friendly holiday prizes – unrelentingly steep and teeming with moped riders as I remember from trips before bairns. But that’s good: frankly, I’m looking forward to my dotage when I can go back to Paros and Mykonos without kids, but that’s a long way off. For now, we wanted Greece, but without the hassle, which is where the rather splendid Sani Resort on Halkidiki comes in.

Situated on Kassandra, the most western of three udders that droop from the underbelly of southern Macedonia, Sani is neither an island nor a ferry destination. Rather, it is a strip of coast formerly made uninhabitable by malaria and now one of the finest upmarket resorts in Greece. Reached via a flight to the country’s sophisticated second city of Thessaloníki and an hour-long drive, Sani is perfect for families or anyone seeking the ultimate Greece-lite experience. Greek-lite means you get the sun, the sea and the grub, but none of the steps or constant touting at ferry ports. Greek-lite is good.

We stayed in an apartment at Porto Sani Village, a cluster of two-storey (bleached-white!) buildings, draped around an idyllic pool complex. But there are numerous different accommodation options available and those of you wishing to really indulge yourselves might consider the luxurious Asterias Suites, essentially a boutique hotel with a private beach, hip bar and restaurant. These suites have been designed in low-rise villa-style, and have their own private landscaped terraces or gardens – facing directly on to either the Sani Marina [above, centre] or the Aegean Sea. Basically, ditch the kids if you’re booking here.

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