We split our Greek holiday between a traditional village and Sani's luxury resort, and it gave us the best of both worlds

When it comes to family resorts, they don’t come better than Sani. Located on Greece’s Kassandra peninsula, it’s just been named Europe’s Leading Family Resort 2026 in the World Travel Awards for the eighth consecutive year.

With a week’s stay costing a few thousand euros, it’s always been beyond my reach. But when I was invited to spend four nights there, I finally had the chance to find out what makes it so special.

I travelled in September with my husband and our four-year-old daughter Freddie. Keen to make the most of the journey, we booked another four nights independently in picturesque Afytos beforehand, a 15-minute drive away. A few days of village life followed by a little luxury felt like the perfect combination.

The village of Afytos

Known as the ‘stone balcony’ of Kassandra, the cliff-top village of Afytos offers stunning views of the Toroneos Gulf. In the afternoon, we wandered along the quiet cobbled streets, past classic cars and parked Vespas, with flowers trailing from balconies and cats strolling around like they owned the place.

Yes, there are tourist shops and bars - but it’s far from tacky. The winding streets are full of upmarket boutiques, with handmade jewellery, locally produced honey and traditional Greek blankets.

Food and drinks

I’d highly recommend the Lemonis bakery for pastries and coffee. And, despite keeping a close eye on how much sugar my daughter was having, I couldn’t resist the dark chocolate and Snickers ice cream at Meraklou - twice in the same day! Definitely a case of do as I say, not as I do.

We headed to Ta Glarakia restaurant for our favourite Greek meal: sardines, Greek salad and, of course, Mythos beer. Situated on the edge of the cove, it’s perfect for taking in the view - white sands, rocky patches, and calm waters. We all joined in as the staff sang happy birthday to one of their waiters.

Afterwards, we sat on the sand with our drinks and watched the sunset. It was the most relaxed I’d felt in weeks - and just the rest we needed before tackling the steep steps back up to the town.

The village transformed in the evenings. We stopped at a bar I’d barely noticed in the day, but had suddenly become a hub of activity, with candles and music. When buskers appeared in the square opposite, it didn’t take much encouragement for me to start dancing to YMCA - and I did my best to teach my daughter the routine. Life skills.

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Stratos Hotel, a modern family-run hotel with 48 rooms and lots of charm. Our suite had two bedrooms, a shower room, a balcony, and an unstocked fridge, which we filled with our own supplies and snacks for Freddie. At €520 for four nights, including breakfast and the tourist tax, it's brilliant value. Just a street away from the centre of town, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the steps that take you down to the seaside.

One of my favourite things about staying in a small hotel was getting to know the other guests. By the end of our stay, we knew one man was planning to propose to his girlfriend that week - and everyone smiled and said hello during breakfast. The morning we left, they waved us off with, “It’ll be quieter without you lot.” I chose to take that as a compliment.

But after four nights, it was time for a change and a new location.

Arriving at Sani

Sani felt special from the moment we arrived. As we approached the reception, a team member came out to greet us with outstretched arms and glasses of sparkling wine. I wasn’t surprised when my husband whispered, “Wow, it’s just like The White Lotus.”

We stayed in a sea-view double room at Sani Club, a quieter area of the resort set among pine trees and olive groves. Decorated in luxe neutrals, it had all the touches of an incredibly comfortable stay - plump pillows, crisp sheets with the weight of good-quality cotton, and heavy blackout curtains. Alongside a welcome platter of biscuits and macarons, we found champagne on ice, fresh flowers, dressing gowns, loungers on the balcony, and a stunning view of the Aegean Sea.

On our first morning, I crept out before my husband and daughter were awake - and headed to the pool. Given how comfortable the bed was, this took some serious willpower - but an early morning swim is one of my favourite holiday traditions. I love the peace and quiet, and getting exercise out of the way before laziness takes over.

The sun hadn’t been up for long, and I was bracing myself for the cold water. But when I dipped a toe in, I was taken aback by how warm it was. “Good morning, madam,” said a staff member, who’d appeared out of nowhere - and was already laying a towel on the nearest sun lounger. Noticing my surprise, he smiled, “Yes, it’s heated - the pool is 28 degrees today. Would you like me to bring you some coffee?” I swam to the infinity edge and looked out to the marina and the ruins on the other side of the cove.

Things to do at Sani

As tempting as it was to lounge by the pool all day, there was plenty to explore. Sani has five separate hotels, with Sani Marina at its heart. We wandered past the yachts, boutiques and waterfront restaurants, then towards Sani Dunes. Freddie loved the kids' pool, with its slides and fountains. The shallow pool had an artificial grass lining, which was so soft under bare feet and forgiving on clumsy little knees.

With plenty of daily activities, there are so many opportunities to indulge in what you already love, or try something new. There’s bird-watching, a tree-top obstacle course, as well as the Bear Grylls Survival Academy and Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy.

And it’s all made so easy for you. Everything is listed in the app, so you can see exactly what’s happening and where - and you can WhatsApp the concierge anytime. Freddie loved the trampolines, bikes and pizza-making, while my husband discovered a hidden talent for archery.

When the rain set in one morning, I headed to one of the spas for an invigorating back, shoulder and neck massage. I’ve never been a fan of those paper knickers - I laughed when I opened the packet to find black cotton ones nicer than some of my M&S collection. So fancy, so Sani.

In no rush to leave, I explored the hammam. The domed steam room is decorated with beautiful mother-of-pearl circles, smooth and iridescent. When the heat got too much, I climbed into the sunken pool and splashed my face with cooler water. With sunlight coming through the dome roof, it was stunning.

Food, drinks and evenings out

And, you certainly won’t go hungry at Sani. There are over 25 restaurants across the resort, offering everything from Japanese, Peruvian and Mediterranean cuisine, among others. We headed to Psaroyannos on the marina for a more traditional Greek dinner. I chose the spinach and cheese pie, with its delicious flaky pastry and tangy cheese, followed by a rich and comforting moussaka.

But we also loved sitting on the balcony at the Olympos, especially at sunset. The variety was incredible, with a different buffet each evening. The Asian-themed evening was my favourite - the Thai green curry was so fragrant, and the roasted duck was the best kind of crispy. Of course, we all ate far more than we needed - but it was hard to resist.

Most nights we headed to the Open Air Garden Theatre, showing two 45-minute stage productions with non-stop dance, music, and audience participation. Freddie loved Aladdin, running to the front as soon as it started -and posing with the cast afterwards.

We usually left after the children’s show, worried Freddie might get tired. But one evening we stayed for the disco. With fewer children around and plenty of ’80s music, we danced, ordered extra cocktails and really let our hair down. Afterwards, we wished we’d stayed later on the other nights, too.

On the day of our departure, my husband took Freddie to one of the playgrounds, and I spent our last few hours on the beach with my book. After all the swimming, activities and evenings out, it was lovely to finish by doing very little.

Why the combination worked for us

We’d arrived early on our first day at Sani, and our flight home wasn't until 9pm, so we really made the most of every day. Changing locations made those eight nights feel closer to a fortnight.

The two stays suited different sides of us. In Afytos, our days were laid back, but it was up to us to find places to eat and keep Freddie entertained. I loved that freedom to wander and see where the day took us.

At Sani, so much of the thinking was done for us. We knew we’d eat well wherever we chose, and there was always something for Freddie to get involved in, with plenty of pools, playgrounds and clubs. After a few days of exploring, having everything so easily to hand felt like a holiday in itself.

At our small hotel, we got to know everyone. At Sani, we didn’t always bump into the same crowd, but the activities brought us together with families who had the same interests - we've even swapped numbers with one after our daughters became firm friends.

Our Sani stay was hosted, so I can’t claim the split saved us money. But it’s made me rethink the idea that luxury resorts are beyond my reach. Combining a resort stay with a less expensive hotel nearby is definitely something I'd consider when booking our next holiday.

Sani fact box

• Our accommodation: We stayed in the double room at Sani Club in September. The 2027 season opens in April with prices at €322 per night at half board. Guests must book a minimum of five nights.
• What’s included? Sani’s Dine Around programme lets half-board and full-board guests eat at participating restaurants across the resort. Choose from designated set menus at no extra charge, or order à la carte and have a meal allowance deducted from your bill: €25 per adult and €12.50 per child for Sani Club guests, with any remaining balance paid separately.
• Travel details: We flew from Gatwick to Thessaloniki with British Airways. The taxi to Afytos took 50 minutes. We pre-booked our car with Lion Transfer, and it was a great service, costing €80. Sani transfers are included for some guests.