DESTINATIONS HALKIDIKI | GREECE & CYPRUS


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Lucy Huxley and her children Marijke and Tom at Ikos Olivia; parasailing; a local restaurant


SELLING Halkidiki


Lloyd Cross


general manager trade sales, Jet2holidays


World-class beaches


Greece’s beaches are among the world’s cleanest and


Halkidiki’s are right at the top, according to the 2022 Blue Flag list. Its 300 miles of


shoreline and shallow waters make it perfect for little ones.


Summer in the city


years due to the pandemic, much of the first day was spent lounging around one of the resort’s three pools – one by the main hotel, a private one for Deluxe Collection guests, and a lagoon pool with a swim-up bar, where we lazily set up camp for the day. Waiters were always on hand to offer us ice-cold water, fresh lemonade, beers, cocktails, or, for the kids, endless chocolate milkshakes – though not enough to spoil their appetites for dinner. Ikos Olivia has four speciality


restaurants. Provence offers the full French fine-dining experience, with small plates of exquisite tidbits such as ricotta-stuffed cherry tomatoes and beef patties with foie gras. Greek restaurant Ouzo is the beach spot, with a more relaxed, friendly vibe and a menu of traditional-meets- modern Greek dishes created with local ingredients by Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou. Italian Fresco’s beautiful setting alone would make it a standout, but the amazing food by Michelin-starred chef Ettore Botrini just added to the appeal, and my


travelweekly.co.uk


33Spotting octopus and fish on a sea dive off Sani was an unforgettable experience for my daughter


kids said the dessert was the best they’d ever tasted. Asian restaurant Anaya’s more grown-up vibe, enhanced by background chill-out music from DJ Lazarus and a woman playing a hang drum, was different again – and the pad thai sensational. Finally, outside the resort, Greek restaurant Ithaki is included as part of an initiative designed to put money back into the local economy.


ACTION STATIONS With all that food, keeping active was essential, and there was plenty on offer. Paddleboarding or sea- kayaking first thing – when the sea was millpond calm – was a firm


favourite, and ball sports like tennis, table tennis, beach volleyball and basketball through to classes like aqua aerobics, Pilates and Zumba were all tried and tested.


A massive plus for my daughter


was the free scuba diving lesson in the pool, which she loved so much that an excursion to Sani beach for an hour’s dive in the sea (€110) was inevitable, with the multiple fish and octopus she spotted making it an unforgettable experience. Equally good fun were the armchair inflatables (€20) and parasailing over the bay (€130 for two). Before we knew it, the week


was over, and it had flown by so quickly that we hadn’t booked any of Jet2holidays’ enticing-sounding Halkidiki excursions. These included a lagoon cruise of the Sithonia peninsula, a cultural tour of Thessaloniki and a trip to Meteora and its complex of monasteries. The home to Eastern Orthodox monks is also the backdrop to the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Sadly, on this trip, it wasn’t for ours. Now there’s an excuse to go back...


TW


Halkidiki isn’t just beaches and blue seas. Thessaloniki is not only Greece’s second-largest city but also a vibrant port full historical gems, hip bars, live music and harbourside cafes.


Three peninsulas


Kassandra’s swish resorts serve up coastline, beach bars and


fabulous restaurants. Sithonia’s rugged good looks are ideal for sporty stays. But many


say Athos, with its stunning Byzantine monasteries, is the most beautiful of all.


The culture


Halkidiki is a hotspot for history – it is Aristotle’s birthplace, after all.


BOOK IT


Jet2holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at Ikos Olivia Halkidiki from £1,699 per person, based on two adults sharing, including flights from Manchester on October 10, transfers and 22kg baggage allowance. jet2holidays.com


6 APRIL 2023 37


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