Family holiday review - Kassandra Peninsula, Greece

Ann Legge and her hubbie Brian spent half-term week with their children Jane, 5, and Harry, 3, at the Sani Beach Hotel, one of five hotels at this luxury resort on the Kassandra Peninsula, Greece.

“Our holiday kicked off with the luxury of a private transfer from Thessaloniki airport. At the hotel entrance smiling porters took our bags and led us into the hotel’s stunning interior – all gleaming marble, fine antiques and a huge balcony overlooking the sparkling Aegean Sea.

Relaxed glamour

What’s special about Sani Resort is the way it blends opulence and serene glamour with a happy, kid-friendly vibe. The English-speaking staff are cheery and helpful, and our two-bedroomed, family suite boasted sleek modern décor and a balcony overlooking the sea, with views of Mount Olympus beyond.

We stayed half-board, which included a great buffet breakfast and a delicious buffet supper, offering a massive array of European or Greek dishes that was perfect for fussy eaters. Hotel guests also get discounts and meal allowances at restaurants around the swish Sani Marina.

There’s so much to do at the resort – you can play tennis at the sports centre, enjoy a range of watersports – from scuba diving to banana boats. We hired bikes for all of us and set off to the nearby wetland bird sanctuary, where the kids saw giant cranes, jewel-coloured beetles and even insect-eating plants. And if you want to explore the Kassandra Peninsula, Hertz operates a convenient service out of the hotel. We went gift shopping in the old village of Afitos and found a lovely beach at the fishing village of Siviri.

Cool clubs for happy kids

The hotel also has three Ofsted-approved kids clubs – catering from 4 months up to teens – where Jane and Harry enjoyed some great activities, while I went to the free fitness studio and had a superb massage at the luxurious spa.

On our last night we hired a hotel babysitter and had a romantic meal at the amazing cliff-top restaurant, Ouzerie, at the Sani Beach Club, which is another of the resort’s family-friendly hotels. Then we caught a live music show at the open-air theatre, had cocktails on the beach and reflected on the best family holiday we’d ever had.”

More info

• Sani Beach Hotel
• Western & Oriental