Any holiday should be relaxing in itself, but it can’t hurt to choose a destination with the kind of atmosphere in which it’s difficult not to feel as laidback as possible. The Sani resort in Halkidiki, Greece is one such location – read on to find out why.
Beaches galore
Sani’s location on the coast of Greece’s Kassandra Peninsula means it is well-located for mile upon mile of both sandy and pebble beaches. The most convenient beach for you will depend on which hotel you stay at, although you can easily access Bousoulas Beach from wherever you’re staying.
This pine tree-lined Blue Flag beach has some great shallow waters that’ll be particularly safe if you’re taking the kids along on your break, and you can also indulge in water sports or an outdoor spa treatment or two here if you manage to get some alone time – the Babewatch service will see experienced child minders look after your kids for up to 30 minutes if you like, allowing you some time to relax on your own.
A few of the beaches here are exclusive to guests staying at particular hotels, like Sani Asterias Beach, which is only open to those with rooms at the Porto Sani Village and Sani Asterias hotels. Both kids and adults are welcome, with the Babewatch service also available here during the summer months. Elsewhere, the Sea You Beach is exclusive to guests at Porto Sani Village, and you can expect to have everything you need to keep little ones happy if you visit here.
Other beaches of note include the one at Sani Beach Club, as well as Ammos Beach and Sani Hill, so you have plenty of options when deciding which stretch of sand to head to in order to spend the whole day doing not much at all.
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Laidback bars and restaurants
Sani is home to a wide range of bars and restaurants, so you should be able to find somewhere to relax in the evenings whatever your tastes. If you’re looking for some authentic Greek food, try the Alexis Taverna, Ouzerie or Psaroyannos Ouzerie. Fans of Asian food will be able to indulge their passion at the Sea You Up Restaurant, while Italian and other Mediterranean fare is served up at the Macaroni Italian Trattoria, Artemis Restaurant and The Veranda Restaurant, among other places.
Bar-wise, you’ll find many of the drinking venues at Sani are basically cocktail lounges, although there’s also a pool bar (Dolphins), a couple of beach bars and some coffee/snack bars that might be your best bet if you don’t want to get dressed up for evening drinks.
Gentle activities
Relaxing doesn’t always to involve lying prone by the pool, or propping up the bar in the evenings. There are many activities available in Sani that will let you thoroughly enjoy yourself in a way that’s not too strenuous. You could book yourself on to a birdwatching, wine or boat tour, set sail on a sunset cruise or learn the basics of archery – all pursuits that will probably provide a welcome diversion from simply doing nothing on the beach!
There are also several spas to choose from, so if you’re on a family holiday it could be an idea to take advantage of any child-minding services available at your hotel so you can treat yourself to a massage or a beauty treatment.
A couple of festivals take place at Sani each year, so it may be worth timing your trip to coincide with one of these for some extra entertainment. The Sani Festival features jazz, Greek and classical music performances by artists from around the world and takes place over July and August, while the Sani Gourmet event in May is likely to be a highlight for food lovers, as it offers the chance to sample food cooked by Michelin-starred chefs at some of the local restaurants.