The Peligoni Club in Greece has become synonymous with active, sociable – and most of all fun – family holidays.
Combining the benefits of an all-inclusive hotel with the seclusion and space of a private villa and the exclusivity of a sporty-but-stylish members club, The Peligoni Club on the Greek island of Zakynthos has it all for families – of all ages. Citizen Enfants checked in to experience the many sides to this much-loved spot.
The Vibe
There are seriously laid-back vibes at The Peligoni Club, with drinks at the touch of a ‘service please’ button, easy-breezy water sports, and yoga overlooking the sea in a beautifully serene studio. But, if high-octane water sports or triathlon sprint races and strength sessions at the crack of dawn suit you and your family better, they have that too – the point is you are totally free to mix and match whatever feels right.
Almost as soon as you arrive, you’ll start to plot your next visit to this dream European family holiday destination. With a welcome drink in hand and looking out across a slither of sun beds towards the sea, you’ll spot parents and children learning to sail, throngs of teenagers hanging out on paddleboards, and little kids in life jackets trying out the kayaks. But glance beyond the main action to the linen-curtained cabanas perched on the rocks, the ladder down into the sea, and the swimming platform to bob out to, and you’ll see what else it has to offer: blissed out Greek island life. If you’ve forgotten how to relax on a family holiday, this is the place for you.
The Peligoni Club is social (meet other families at the bi-weekly feasts) and there’s a sense of joining in: if you prefer peace and quiet, you’ll find it but, while you don’t have to attend every class or dinner or chat to fellow guests, the atmosphere is deliberately friendly and integrated, making it great for families who like to hang out with other like-minded folk.
The Rooms
The Peligoni’s huge USP is that it encompasses the best of a private villa holiday, along with fully equipped hotel amenities. It’s got the benefits of an all-inclusive holiday – with the privacy you often crave from a villa holiday. You hire the likes of a beautiful, luxury high-end villa or a bohemian-chic farmhouse (there a plenty of styles and sizes to choose from depending on your taste and party size) through Peligoni – and then have full access to the restaurants, water sports, gym, bar and kids’ clubs through the central club. Access to The Club is by means of a weekly membership, given to those who have booked accommodation, which retains an exclusive feel but reinforces the feeling that everyone there is genuinely invested in the concept.
All the villas are privately owned, with a range of sizes and styles, from grand villas to smaller fisherman cottages. For example, Athena, a grand four bedroomed honey-stoned property is ideal for large multigenerational families or groups of friends as it has a spacious kitchen-living-dining area with the perfect size table to host everyone in one room – whilst having pockets of space around the property for those who wanted to break away. Overlooking the coast and with a pool, outdoor barbecue and dining area, it really is the the villa you dream of when you think of a holiday in the Med.
Villas are different sizes and layouts; some are in walking distance of the club, others a short drive away (meaning you will have to hire a car). Many have their own pool and outdoor BBQ area; all have everything you need for a self-catering holiday, including a welcome pack of shopping (bread, milk and other essentials) plus towels, toiletries, and even washing machines and dryers. You’ll also find all the baby equipment required, from cots to high chairs. The club operates a free taxi service to and from the accommodation after 6pm.
The Food + Drink
Eating is a big event here. The main restaurant, Tasi – styled on a Greek taverna, featuring sofas and high tables, honey-coloured stone walls and trees growing in the centre – is the central foodie spot. The menu is excellent – think wood-fired pizzas topped with anchovies and burrata, or grilled fresh fish, steaks, huge Greek salads, and an imaginative kids’ menu that’s both a crowd-pleaser and one for more adventurous eaters. Depending on how busy the kitchen is, a takeaway service is available so you can take delicious dishes back to your villa (even cocktails, which they can package up in takeaway cups). Several times a week there is a group dining event served at long tables in the large tree-covered courtyard with a welcome BBQ or a guest chef takeover by the likes of Instagram-famous Claire Thompson (and there’s free childcare while you eat – a big plus for mum and dad). It’s super sociable and friendly – kids especially love it. The club has a coffee bar, juice bar, pool bar and ice-cream shacks dotted around. You won’t go hungry.
The ultimate dining highlight is the sister restaurant, the magical Mikro Nisi, a seafront fish taverna just a short boat ride away. With tables over the sea and a delicious Greek menu featuring plenty of fresh fish along with ice cream, this is the spot to be. Take your cossies for a dip afterwards.
The Child’s Play
Peligoni is centred around families and kids and that’s what guests flock here for, year after year. There is so much play on offer at Peligoni – for little kids and grown-ups. Children as young as four months are well catered for with excellent childcare. An on-site crèche allows parents to relax knowing that qualified nannies can take care of their little ones from 9am until 6pm every day. With a quiet sleeping area and a separate playroom and outdoor play area, it’s a peaceful but fun spot for those who need a snooze and some time in the shade, away from the heat of the day.
Under-12s are divided into age-appropriate kids’ clubs, with activities including Total Wipe Out on a paddleboard, kayaking, pool games and crafts such as slime making and T-shirt tie-dying. This is the crème de la crème of kids clubs; every fun detail is thought of. During school holidays some of the kids’ clubs are run by TARKA, a British-based team of experts who specialise in helping kids learn through play. It’s all very creative and extremely well organised, and all ages and abilities are made to feel very welcome. Teens have a huge programme of activities they can take part in, including watersports, but also cinema nights and socials in the evenings. Teenagers will also be very happy to hang out with new-found mates – in fact don’t expect to see your older children that much, unless you actively track them down. Safe and supervised, it’s a great way to give freedom in a controlled fashion.
The To-Do List
It’s not just the kids that get to play – Peligoni is just as much fun for adults. As well as all the water sports on offer (hire boats, book water-skiing lessons, learn to sail), there’s a great fitness offering with three yoga classes per day in the beautiful pavilion, along with gym classes ranging from HIIT to strength and recovery sessions. There are bikes to hire, a tennis court, and a weekly ‘race day’ – think a sprint triathlon starting with a sea swim…if that’s your bag. If not, then bagsy a lounger or head to the spa for a massage or a Dermalogica facial.
For three weeks of the year, the club runs a special PACE week. Five-days packed with extra high-intensity classes including cycling, running and swimming with Olympic champions, plus more wellness including yoga classes, breathwork, gong baths, crystal sound-healing and cold-water therapy.
There’s plenty of opportunity for great family time too: hang out by the beach or pool, play tennis, learn a new water sport together, or ask the team to book a fun guided boat trip, or an excursion to see more of the island. They know exactly what you want and when you want it. And that’s the thing with The Peligoni Club – they’ve mastered the art of keeping everyone truly happy on holiday.
Lead Image: Nikolas Dost
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