Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa
What's so special?
It may only be a short flight away, but Eagles Palace offers the peace, tranquillity and solitude of a tropical island resort. To one side is the Unesco-protected Mount Athos and on the other pristine sandy beaches.
How they rate it
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This five-star spa hotel has been "lovingly refurbished everything feels crisp, clean and well considered, from the reimagined, lush outside spaces to the wind-shielded sundecks overlooking the beach", says Kate Stephens in Marie Claire. There are 165 rooms go for a family suite if you have children, or a grand bungalow with sea views for "something more indulgent".
If you are looking for an active holiday, this may not be the place for you aside from trekking in the hills "there isn't an enormous amount here to occupy the restless but if you are happy relaxing by the pool or sea, you'll love it".
The menu
There are six restaurants, serving a wide range of cuisine, including Asian food and gourmet dishes, such as prawn tempura with sweet potato pure and plum sauce.
The cost
Prices start from €146 for a garden view room, or €455 for a two-bedroom bungalow. For more information, visit eaglespalace.gr, or call 00 30 237 703 11 014.
Sani Resort
What's so special?
There is something for everyone on this 1,000-acre ecological reserve. The four different hotels offer everything from family friendly rooms to boutique suites for honeymooners, to facilities for health-spa fans.
How they rate it
"A mini Monaco in Greece, with no sign of money worries whatsoever, the Sani Beach Resort combines glossy luxury with child-friendly amenities, a touch of nightclub culture and just enough activity to keep the whole family going or just the two of you for at least a week," says Cond Nast Traveller. "It's a little world of its own."
If you're there for a while, "you might crave something a little more authentic". But if it's a pampered break you're after, "it's perfect to lose yourself for a few days of sun and pure indulgence". It's great for parents, says The Times there are swimming lessons on offer during peak season and "a free babywatch' service on the beach that allows mum and dad to indulge in a book or take a swim while the bairns are taken care of by trained staff".
The menu
The 18 restaurants serve everything from modern Greek food to Asian fusion.
The cost
Prices from €83.20 half-board in the Beach Hotel (five-night minimum). For a romantic stay, a Junior Suite in the Sani Asterias hotel costs from €246 (sani-resort.com; 0800-949 6809).
Three unforgettable trips
Ladera, St Lucia
This is the only hotel on the island (pictured) that is inside the Pitons World Heritage Site, says The Sunday Times "the twin peaks are pretty much all you can see from the plunge pool in your open-sided room". It also has "the finest restaurant on the island, Dasheene, which specialises in gourmet versions of St Lucian home cooking". The "clincher is the volcano-based spa treatments".
From £2,169 per person for a week (destinology.co.uk).
Horse riding in Kenya
"A horseback safari is one of the world's most thrilling experiences looking elephants in the eye and skirting prides of curious lions are not experiences you'll forget in a hurry." Great Plains now offers riding safaris for beginners. "You'll ride at your own pace among game such as oryx, gazelles and wildebeest, as well as elephants, giraffes and buffalo." Alternatively, you can travel by mountain bike or jeep.
A week costs from £3,920 per person, all-inclusive (aardvarksafaris.co.uk).
Lizard Island, Australia
There are 24 beaches and just 40 rooms, so you stand a good chance of getting a stretch of sand to yourself at this hotel.It is also the only resort actually located on the Great Barrier Reef. Last April it was hit by Cyclone Ita and spent the rest of the year undergoing repairs. It reopens this month
Prices start from £3,995 per person, all inclusive (turquoiseholidays.co.uk).
