On the third ‘finger’ of the three-pronged peninsula in the north of mainland Greece you will find Mount Athos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to 20 Orthodox monasteries and 2,000 monks (only men can visit). But beyond this historical peninsula you will also find some of the country’s most loved hotels and notably, some brilliant options for families that can still feel like restful and restorative stays for all the family. One such hotel is Eagles Resort, a large family-run hotel located under a two hour drive from Thessaloniki airport, and with the addition of a Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club this summer there is now even more of a pull for families to this picturesque corner of Greece.
Why stay here
The focus at Eagles Palace is on the water - the pristine long sandy beach is peppered with loungers with a watersports facility at one end and a quieter spot at the other. Children happily potter on the water’s edge for hours and nip over to the adjacent bar for ice creams. The heated pool is not far from the seafront and there is a children’s shallow pool for babies to splash in. But you will want to make the most of the location: charter a motorboat and explore the nearby islands and beaches or hire a skippered yacht to view the local monasteries. If you are lucky you might spot dolphins.
Rooms and facilities
Accommodation is a mix of 157 rooms, suites and bungalows, while Eagles Villas has 42 spacious villas. The villas are the most recent addition slightly set back up the hill (there are golf buggies to cart you around) and have beautifu views of the bay and glittering sea. They are smart but low key and have fresh white walls and linens, colourful glass lamps and big bathrooms with tubs and showers. Private terraces lead to outdoor seating and plunge pools. They are also close to an excellent Italian restaurant and an infinity pool and there is a new dedicated beach area available exclusively for guests staying at Eagles Villas.
Food and drink
Summer in Greece brings to mind long, laid-back meals by the sea, tucking into grilled fish and chilled wine. Armyra, one of seven restaurants at Eagles Palace, is where you can dine on a deck over the glittering Aegean with the water lapping gently below you. Melathron restaurant has had a full renovation as well as the Eagles Club Bar.
Spa and wellness credentials
The spa is a sandstone and glass structure where a calmly trickling waterfall feature welcomes you for Elemis facials, wraps, scrubs, massages and mani-pedis. You can also recline in the steam bath or sauna and swim in the adult only indoor-outdoor spa pool. For more lengthy pampering, book in for a day package and for fitness enthusiasts the small gym has personal trainers on request while free yoga, pilates and aqua aerobics classes are held frequently.
Family-friendly and accessibility
The real star of the resort is the Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club which opened this summer and is available to guests travelling with Scott Dunn. Here, children aged four months to 11 years will be looked after by the most capable and friendly English-speaking staff you could hope for. The newly built club has a dedicated playground, a terrace with plenty of shade for messy play and bright and airy indoor spaces including a dedicated sleep room for younger children. Amid painting and learning about topics such as space, kids are taken to the beach to dig sandcastles and splash in the shallows. Older kids, meanwhile, will love the swim and Padel lessons, craft classes and bug hunts, leaving parents a few precious hours to relax. There is a Watersports Camp available as a ‘bolt on’ for ages 8-11 years offering wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking and water skiing instructor sessions. There is also the Stargazers Club which provides evening childcare from 7-10pm allowing you to enjoy dinner in one of the hotel’s restaurants.
Booking essentials
Scott Dunn offers seven nights at Eagles Palace from £8,250 based on a family of four (two adults and two kids) on a B&B basis and inclusive of return flights from the UK, private transfers, and two spaces in the Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club which is open from May through to September. www.scottdunn.com ; www.eaglesresort.gr
