It’s no shock to say that we’re large followers of Greece – in 12 years, my daughter has managed to go to 10 totally different places throughout the nation, together with our newest keep at Cora Lodge and Spa in Halkidiki.
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However whereas we’ve ticked off various Greek islands throughout our travels, it’s solely this yr that we’ve correctly explored the mainland collectively, having fun with a metropolis break in Athens, in addition to a brief keep in Thessaloniki, the closest worldwide airport for Halkidiki.
And simply an hour or so from town and its airport, our go to to Kassandra, the primary prong of Halkidiki’s ‘trident’, was one of many best – and most indulgent – methods to discover, as our evaluation of Cora Lodge and Spa close to Afytos reveals.
Cora Lodge and Spa: Important Statistics
Set just some minutes from the gorgeous village of Afytos, on the northern tip of Kassandra in Halkidiki, Cora Lodge and Spa manages the trick of getting loads of amenities on website with out the resort feeling too unfold out (or too crowded).
With a complete of 182 rooms and suites, we stayed in a Junior Suite with sea view and personal pool within the centre of the resort, a stone’s throw from the resort’s different swimming pools – the largest primary pool, not removed from the reception and primary restaurant, and the infinity pool close to the smaller Apiro restaurant.
An extra on-site Italian restaurant Delizia is deliberate to open earlier than too lengthy, whereas a meals truck can be on the playing cards for the non-public seashore,
Plus there’s the spa (which might do some therapies for youthful youngsters), a small gymnasium with day by day stretch and Pilates lessons, in addition to extra lively choices.
Whereas the resort did beforehand cater to all ages, it’s now for friends 12+ solely – in actuality, it’s someplace which is prone to attraction extra to households with older youngsters in any case, though youngsters are by no means lower than welcome.
For extra tips about household holidays in Greece, try my information to Greece with youngsters
Evaluate: Cora Lodge and Spa
As we embrace the tween years, it’s attention-grabbing to see what appeals to my daughter aged 11/12, versus what she wished a couple of years in the past.
Swimming pools are nonetheless a should, setting herself the problem of swimming in every of them throughout our three-and-a-half-day keep (in addition to the ocean, which was classed as an honorary pool). A plentiful provide of ice cream remains to be one other important.
However she’s additionally now sufficiently old to benefit from the concept of a spa therapy (additionally enabling her to take a dip within the spa’s rest room pool), in addition to to pose at sundown by the infinity pool, strive a mocktail by the ocean, and uncover a number of the Peruvian-Japanese fusion dishes within the a la carte restaurant.
And impressively, Cora Lodge managed to tick all her containers (to not point out mine).
The room
The primary thumbs up got here after we stepped into our room. Inside was extra spacious than some flats I’ve lived in, with a separate residing space, big comfy mattress with squashy pillows, and semi-open bogs (although the bathe and bathrooms have been fortunately tucked behind doorways).
Storage had loads of hangers, plus hairdryer, secure and iron tucked away, in addition to a espresso machine (Illy, with some capsules supplied, as I realised those I’d introduced myself wouldn’t match). There’s additionally a small minibar, with two small bottles of water supplied free (and limitless provide in the event you keep on an all-inclusive foundation).
The room additionally had its personal small patio with chairs, a lounger mattress and its personal pool. With shade on our terrace within the morning, we received into a really relaxed routine of breakfast, adopted by some lounging till it received too sizzling (temperatures have been within the low 30s, sometimes increased), earlier than a swim.
Then on to lunch by the pool or at one of many eating places, earlier than extra swimming and dinner – plus one exercise every day no less than to combine issues up.
The seashore
Someday, that meant heading right down to the seashore. A walkway takes you over the street working previous the resort, with a elevate main right down to seashore stage (there are half a dozen flights of stairs when you have vitality to burn).
The seashore itself is non-public, though there’s a bit additional alongside which is utilized by the children’ sports activities camp simply up the street – with dozens of them crammed and splashing right into a small roped off space, I’ve received to confess I felt faintly smug at having my choose of the loungers in addition to the ridiculously clear water of the Aegean to ourselves.
One phrase of warning: it’s properly value taking water sneakers or flip flops to get right down to the water’s edge. Some elements have cabinets of slippery rock, and elsewhere there are some sharp stones to bypass, so your toes will thanks. Having forgotten to deliver mine, I did remorse that, though nothing was stopping us getting into to the ocean.
It’s so translucent, you may see the fish simply by peering in, and essentially the most scrumptious temperature for a swim – throughout our keep, it was additionally barely quieter than the swimming pools, though we by no means actually had any hassle discovering a lounger across the resort at any level.
The spa & gymnasium
One other day, we fitted in a spa therapy – a candle therapeutic massage for me, utilizing jasmine-scented sizzling oil and being massaged virtually head to toe. My tween, however, had a mild physique scrub adopted by chocolate physique butter (which smelled divine), all good for youthful pores and skin, earlier than kicking again within the rest room.
I even made it into the gymnasium subsequent door briefly, for one of many 45-minute morning stretch classes. Billed as happening open air with a view of the ocean, mine was very firmly indoors with a view of the cardio gear, however on condition that there was aircon, I wasn’t complaining about being cool and never having a lot of an viewers!
A gymnasium session just isn’t normally excessive on my checklist for an indulgent vacation, however I got here away feeling one way or the other each relaxed and energised (and considering I actually wanted to start out doing yoga extra repeatedly once more). There are additionally Pilates classes and different extra lively choices if you would like them.
The eating places
Given the potential for indulgence, it wasn’t a nasty factor to have loads of swimming and a stretch session to steadiness the scrumptious meals on provide.
Breakfast is a buffet, at Ertha restaurant subsequent to the primary pool, with an enormous array of breads, pastries, desserts, sizzling dishes, eggs, chilly meat and cheese, jams, Greek honey straight from the comb, fruit, yoghurt, cereal and doubtless a couple of issues I’ve forgotten.
Nevertheless choosy your youngsters, there’s simply one thing to tempt right here.
Lunch was a alternative of a la carte at Apiro, with fashionable Greek meals on the menu at lunchtime, together with some nice dips and salads, plus loads of fish, or the snack menu obtainable at some few tables and loungers by each the swimming pools.
Snack isn’t fairly the fitting description although – there are sizzling canines, burger and pizza in addition to a complete string of different decisions together with sandwiches, so that you undoubtedly received’t go hungry.
You could possibly additionally tweak issues – to take away cheese, for instance, in my daughter’s case – and there are some vegetarian/vegan dishes on provide though they’re restricted.
Dinner was a alternative of Peruvian-Japanese meals at Apiro, together with some fabulous fish, however the menu is greatest for extra adventurous older youngsters or mini gourmets.
In any other case the night buffet at Ertha was extra family-friendly, with loads of altering choices every day, together with Greek specialities, and an enormous number of starters, sides, cheese, fruit and dessert (together with ice cream).
Sadly our keep was a bit of too early to take a look at the deliberate Italian restaurant Delizia, though that’s as a consequence of open earlier than too lengthy and sounds prefer it ought to be one other family-friendly various.
You’d have to journey into Afytos for meals in the event you don’t eat on website, as there’s nothing else in strolling distance – it’s round a five-minute taxi trip, so doable though it relies upon whether or not you wish to make the journey repeatedly. In any other case, I’d recommend wanting on the all-inclusive price because the extras (not least water!) can mount up rapidly.
What else is there to do?
I’m usually the primary in line to get out and discover – and clearly we did do some – however between the seashore and the swimming pools, the Greek sunshine and an opportunity to indulge and loosen up, it’s not onerous to spend days recharging your batteries.
Afytos
If you happen to do wish to enterprise additional, Afytos itself is just round 5 minutes away by taxi (which the resort can organise) – it’s a reasonably white-washed assortment of streets with tempting memento retailers, cafes and bars with nice views out over the ocean and a few tavernas to eat.
If you happen to’re visiting in summer time, as we have been, it’s value timing your go to for the morning or late afternoon, so it’s not too sizzling to walk round, though there’s nonetheless a very good excuse to cease for a drink and soak within the sights.
Boat journey
Take a boat journey from Paliouri – that is additionally one thing the resort might help organize, however go away loads of time to journey down the single-lane street to the port close to the southern tip.
On paper, it’s round half-hour, however at weekends when everybody heads to the seashore from Thessaloniki and through peak season, it could take twice that. It’s value making certain your taxi is prebooked too, because the restricted quantity are in excessive demand in the event you’re planning an extended journey.
But it surely’s definitely worth the occasional site visitors jam to go out throughout the water from the primary peninsula to the second, stopping at little coves to snorkel, swim and paddleboard. The waves are calm sufficient that it’s straightforward for youthful youngsters or paddleboard novices, and simple to identify the fish swimming across the rocks.
Some snorkel gear is supplied, however it’s greatest to take your individual in the event you can, in addition to snacks/lunch – the journey ran from round 12-5pm, and there was water (and a few espresso/juice) included however no meals.
There are different boat excursions from totally different places in Kassandra too, comparable to this non-public sail expertise in addition to this half-day crusing journey, which incorporates snacks, plus a sundown yacht journey.
Thessaloniki & historic websites
For individuals who need some historical past of their journey, you’re round an hour from Thessaloniki, so it’s straightforward to take a look at the museums (in addition to the opposite household points of interest) right here.
Or in the event you’re completely satisfied to journey additional, you could find the previous palace of the kings of Macedonia at Vergina, in addition to the birthplace of Greek thinker Aristotle in Stagira – you may nonetheless uncover the ruins of the traditional metropolis, in addition to Aristotle’s Park, a novel ‘theme park’ with big scientific units and sculptures close by.
What would I alter?
Truthfully… not rather a lot! If we’d stayed longer, I’m wondering if I may need wished extra selection within the meals – though the buffet did change each night time, and the brand new Italian restaurant can even give extra alternative.
If we’d stayed longer, I think we’d have completed extra days out which might have combined that up anyway, and as every thing was scrumptious, my greatest drawback was not having sufficient abdomen area!
I used to be additionally a bit of stunned that our room was solely cleaned as soon as throughout our keep. It was glowing clear after we checked in, and cleaned half-way by, so it wasn’t an issue for us – and I’d favor to not make further laundry by having pointless adjustments of towels and sheets anyway.
It was straightforward to get clear pool towels from the pool itself, and swap our moist ones every time we would have liked to (you may also get separate seashore towels down on the seashore), and after I ran out of espresso capsules, replacements have been rapidly despatched down. Not an enormous subject, simply sudden.
Cora Lodge evaluation: my verdict
Halkidiki famously has a couple of large family-friendly resorts, however I beloved the extra intimate expertise of Cora Lodge and Spa than a sprawling resort advanced – nonetheless with greater than sufficient to maintain us entertained, child-friendly however with extra of a grown-up vibe that my daughter (and I!) beloved.
Having our personal non-public pool was an actual spotlight: when you received’t be wanting locations to swim, it was a stunning bonus so I’d undoubtedly advocate selecting a kind of rooms in the event you can.
Ticking the containers for practicality, fashion, indulgence and sheer rest, it’s simply what you want for a household vacation in Halkdiki with tweens and teenagers.
Examine the newest charges for Cora Lodge on Reserving.com – or for extra tips about household holidays in Greece, try my information to Greece with youngsters
Disclosure: My keep at Cora Lodge & Spa was free for the needs of evaluation. All opinions on this Cora resort evaluation are my very own (and my daughter’s) This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Afytos picture courtesy Depositphotos, all different photographs copyright MummyTravels
