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“


ook, Mummy, I made a pirate’s hat,” says my proud four-year-old. “I also decorated cakes, had my face painted, went on a treasure hunt and played lots of games.” You’d think my son had been at kids’ club for days, given how many activities he reeled off, but in reality this was the rundown I received after he’d spent just two hours at Scott Dunn’s Explorers kids’ club at Daios Cove in Agios Nikolaos, Crete. Theo has never liked going to kids’ clubs, so we were surprised when he asked to go. Scott Dunn’s friendly staff were responsible for his change of heart – Theo’s key worker, Nikos, would send enticing messages every morning, highlighting the wealth of fun on offer. Travelling during October half-term meant there were many children at the property and, in return, plenty to keep them occupied at Explorers. There were even activities after dark, with a Stargazers club to entertain youngsters twice a week, allowing parents to enjoy a child-free dinner.


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New opportunities Scott Dunn isn’t a brand we’ve written about to any great length in Aspire. Its direct-to- consumer focus naturally meant it wasn’t appropriate or right for our audience, but times have changed. In early 2024, the operator announced it would start working with a small number of luxury agents, initially launching exclusively with Wimbledon-based agency Swords Travel. At the time, the brand’s then chief executive, Sonia Davies, said she believed the Explorers offering would be highly attractive to agents – and she wasn’t wrong.


Speaking to Aspire, Simon Meeke, head of


family growth at Scott Dunn, said he recognised that the “Explorers kids’ clubs [were] an attractive and appealing proposition to trade partners servicing families in the luxury segment”. He added that the operator was open to exploring relationships with more agents and encouraged them to get in touch if they felt the proposition suited their client base. Scott Dunn has eight Explorers clubs located


The Explorers kids’ club is one of the reasons Daios Cove has cemented its place as a firm favourite among families


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in Europe, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives, with an additional outpost due to open in May at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik in Croatia. The offering at Daios Cove has been in operation for more than a decade and is one of the reasons the property has ViminÌi` iÌà «l>Vi >à > wÀm favourite among families. Kids’ club aside, the hotel sits on a pristine cove where the water gently laps the shore. My nine-month-old daughter had hiÀ wÀÃÌ inVoÕnÌiÀ ÜiÌh Ìhi Ãi> on this spot, giggling as the waves tickled her toes. The beach is undergoing an extension and will double in size to accomodate an extra 100 sunbeds which will be spaced further apart vÀom i>Vh oÌhiÀ° /hi i«iV inwniÌÞ «ool ià iµÕ>llÞ kid-friendly, but also large enough for grown- ups wanting some respite (there’s an adult-only pool next to the pool bar, complete with giant, sumptuous, padded lilos).


An epicurean’s delight The main buffet restaurant, Pangea, has a separate area exclusively for families, so you never feel like your children are disturbing other guests – helpful when your four-year-old insists


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OPPOSITE: FIRST ROW: Adult-only pool; beach watersports with Scott Dunn’s Explorers kids’ club SECOND ROW: The beach at Daios Cove THIRD ROW: Games and activities for little ones; writer Hollie-Rae Brader with daughter Eva-Rae; messy play FOURTH ROW: Ocean Restaurant; Junior Suite Seaview with Private Pool PREVIOUS PAGE: Fun in the pool at Explorers kids’ club Credit: Heinz Troll


68 ASPIRE JANUARY 2026 aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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