Sani Resort: The Luxury Greek Travel Destination You Won’t Want To Leave

What do you think of when you hear the word 'luxury'? Is it a delicate glass of champaign on the veranda, looking out over pristine beaches and crystal clear water? Maybe it's dining at exquisite restaurants run by some of the world's top chefs... Or using state of the art wellness and fitness facilities in a picturesque setting. Well, while I was enjoying all of these activivities during my stay at Sani resort, luxury was the word that kept coming to mind.

Set across 1000 acres of beutiful pine forests and a dazzling oceanfront, Sani is a resort like no other. Consisting of five different hotels, and boasting an array of top-class spas, restaurants, bars, and fitness facilities, it's a self-contained resort that ensures you have anything and everything you need to relax, indulge, and make the absolute most of your stay.

The Location

Of course, the white sandy beaches, the series of refreshing outdoor pools, the palm trees and pine woodland would all be wasted without the right weather to truly soak it all in, and that's what Sani's location in Halkidiki, Greece all but guarantees. With average temperatures in the 20s and 30s for the entirity of Sani's season (April – October), a sunny escape is exactly what you'll get. Situated on the western 'finger' of the land, jutting out into the Aegaen Sea, the dazzling view of the water is enhanced by the magnificent sight of Mount Olympus that permeates the horizon.

Other than the irresistable pull of the ocean, the site offers a well-kempt forest for hiking, jogging, cycling, and bird watching, in addition to fragrant olive groves and many tended herbal gardens.

The Hotels

The resort is made up of five different hotels, each one offering something slightly different to suit the desired atmosphere of different visitors, but all are designed to provide a luxurious, relaxing experience, one that you'll leave feeling better than when you arrived.

While the hotels are seperate, Sani is all connected by fragrant flower-lined paths which you can cycle, walk, or jump on a free buggy shuttle between, meaning you can enjoy the facilities of the others as you please.

Every hotel within Sani Resort provides the type of accomodation your mind goes to when thinking of a luxury vacay; modern, sheek, and comfortable. They also all contain a range of exquisite dining experiences, and of course, easy access to award-winning Blue Flag beaches, heated swimming pools, and luxury spa facilities. Families are also well catered for, with an on-site crèche and kids' club, and there's even the Ozone Teens Club for older children at Sani Marina, so there's plenty to do for any age range.

Sani Club

I had the pleasure of staying in one of Sani Clubs' bungalows, with a spectacular view of the Aegean Sea and Mount Olympus. Guests can choose from rooms with private pools, gardens, or balconies, including spacious one and two-bedroom bungalow suites.

There are a number of dining options at Sani Club, including themed buffet breakfasts and dinners at Olympos Restaurant, authentic Greek cuisine at Ouzerie, Mediterranean and French-inspired dishes at Cabana, locally sourced farm-to-table dining at Pines, and modern Italian cuisine with panoramic views at the Club Lounge. I enjoyed a wonderful evening meal at Pines as the sun set over the pool and the sea.

Sani Beach

Each room or suite at Sani Beach comes with a private balcony or landscaped garden overlooking the lagoon-style pools, gardens, or the Aegean Sea. Ranging from double and family rooms to junior suites and spacious one- and two-bedroom family suites, there's options to suit all types of family or couple visitors.

At Sani Beach lies a wide variety of dining options, including an international buffet at Poseidon Restaurant, Greek and Mediterranean cuisine at The Veranda, beachfront dining at Ammos Restaurant, grilled dishes at Grill by the Pool, and light lunches and refreshments at Bousoulas Beach Bar.

Porto Sani

Porto Sani is an all-suite hotel featuring spacious contemporary suites, each with a private garden, balcony, or private pool overlooking the gardens, pools, or the sea. Options include junior suites through to generous three-bedroom family suites.

One of the standout eaterties was the Michelin-starred Spanish cuisine at El Puerto, which is also where I enjoyed one of the best Palomas I've ever had. There's also the option for refined buffet dining at Artemis Restaurant, modern Greek dishes at Elia, authentic Peruvian flavours at Lima, and light meals and refreshments at Sea Breeze Bar.

Sani Dunes

Sani Dunes features stylish rooms and suites overlooking the resort's pools, Sani Marina, or the Aegean Sea. Accommodation includes deluxe suites, family rooms, and spacious grand balcony suites.

For a truly luxurious experience, Sani Dunes boasts Michelin-starred fine dining at Fresco. Elsewhere there's relaxed Mediterranean cuisine at Beach House, and seasonal menus showcasing locally grown produce at The Market.

This hotel is home to Greece's largest heated swimming pool, has a prime beachfront location just moments from Sani Marina (Sani's own private yacht harbour), and offers the tranquil and relaxed Dunes Beach Pop Up for a more chilled out lunch/drink setting.

Sani Asterias

Asterias is the most exclusive property within the resort. This hotel is all about languishing in luxury in the privacy of your own residence or villa overlooking the gardens, marina, or beachfront. Here, the accomodation ranges from one to three-bedroom villas, providing ample space, privacy, and exceptional comfort.

The hotel's signature Water Restaurant serves refined Mediterranean and French cuisine created by two-Michelin-starred chef Bruno Oger in a beautifully renovated setting overlooking the Marina.

Sani Asterias offers an intimate boutique atmosphere with a privately serviced beach, a heated pool beside Sani Marina, direct beach access from selected residences, and luxurious three-bedroom villas ideal for larger families or groups seeking the highest level of exclusivity.

The Facilities

In addition to the eating, drinking, lounging, and wellness options at each hotel, the Marina offers its own selection of eateries, bars, and shops to make the most of. In fact, my favourite meal was at AVLI in Sani Marina, where we enjoyed elevated Greek fish cookery over a charcoal grill that was 100% a meal to remember.

What stands Sani out from other resorts is the state of the art facillties it boasts. Perhaps the most unique of these is the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre. With expert coaches trained in the Nadal methodology and eight clay courts available to rent or get coached on, Sani is the perfect destination to sweeten your serve, revamp your return, and finesse your forhand in between your hours of relaxation.

When I was a kid, my dream summer trip would have been going somewhere I can essentially just run around and play football every day, and for children at Sani, that's exactly what they can do. It isn't just some field with some rusty goalposts, however, it's a UEFA approved football pitch and a state of the art Club House that provides a programme associated with Chelsea Football Club. With Chelsea-trained coaches, the five-days-a-week programme offers coaching, football games, and a presentation cermony at the end. Oh, and for the parents it occupies the young ones for much of the day so you can enjoy some well-earned relaxation time.

It's not just football and tennis that Sani offers, though. There's ample activities to choose from including a series of watersports to make the most of the calm, clear Aegean waters and there's also the option of renting mountain bikes and traversing the trails of the nearby forest, something I can recommend if you're after a higher-octane experience.

The resort also has yoga classes available; we joined a 9am flow amongst the treetops overlooking the ocean, which was a truly serene way to start a day. Oh, and speaking of treetops, there's also the chance to traverse the canopy of the pine forest on an entire assault course and zipline trail.

Despite having jam-packed few days experiencing much of what Sani had to offer, I feel like we barely scratched the surface. On my walks through the fragrant pathways between the hotels, I spotted outdoor gyms, a basktball court, a BMX track, volleyball courts, and pretty much anything you could want when you're looking to fill your days and nights on holiday. The attentive, helpful, and friendly staff were always on hand to help if I needed anything, and I honestly felt like I could have spent much, much more time there. If you're thinking about a luxury trip, Sani may just be perfect for you. Find more information here.

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