October 2019
Location:
Back at the beginning of October, I was lucky enough to be invited to the brand new Mark Warner Paleros Beach Resort on the southwest coast of mainland Greece. Having been to their previously-owned Lakitira Beach Club on Kos, I knew standards would be high, but this new 5-star resort was a cut above what I was expecting.
The multi-million pound refurbishment really shows, the resort has a very sharp and stylish feel with modern interiors throughout, spacious bedrooms and immaculately kept gardens and public spaces. Set in a gorgeous bay opposite a beautiful pebbled beach, there’s no shortage of Instagram opportunities here – everywhere you turn you’re surrounded by olive grove-clad mountains and rugged coastline.
After a smooth flight from London Heathrow into Preveza airport, the short 25-minute transfer to the resort made for an effortless journey, with check-in done on the coach so you don’t have to worry about long queues at reception on arrival. We arrived in resort around 9.30pm, and were greeted with a buffet dinner before heading up to check out where we would be staying for the week.
The low-rise, village style accommodation blocks are set around the restaurant, pools and tennis courts which make this perfect for easy access to all the fantastic facilities, with everything no-more than a 5 minute walk away.
Our room came equipped with beach-towels, tea and coffee making facilities, separate lounge area, air-conditioning and separate bath and shower. All rooms come with their own private balcony or terrace.
Activities
It’s impossible to go on a Mark Warner holiday and not try out some of their award-winning activities!
That’s the great thing about Mark Warner, you can dip your toes in and try new activities without having to worry about any additional costs. Stand up paddleboarding? Yoga? A game of tipsy tennis? – It’s all included, with first-class equipment and friendly staff on-hand to offer that extra little bit of encouragement!
One of the highlights of the trip was taking the bikes out and enjoying a gentle cycle to the nearest village for lunch by the water at a local taverna.
Cycling opening hours are Sunday to Friday: 09.00 – 13.00 & 14.15 – 18.00 and Saturdays: 09.00 – 11.00 & 15.30 – 17.00. Be sure to keep an eye out on the notice board for guided cycle tours to explore to local area. All are marked as either green, red or black so you can pick the right tour depending on your fitness level.
Across a very quiet and safe road, you’re metres away from the waterfront where you’ll find sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding. Open 09.00 – 17.30 Sunday to Friday and 09.00 – 13.00 & 14.30-16.00 on Saturdays, you can choose from an array of courses and lessons from free introduction to refresher and improver lessons.
For those who haven’t found their sea legs yet, don’t worry, there’s a jam-packed program of different exercise classes throughout the week, including Circuits, Box Fit, Aqua Aerobics and HIIT classes.
If breaking into a sweat isn’t your thing (you are on holiday afterall!), then head over to the onsite Spa, I enjoyed a blissful 60-minute pedicure treatment – perfect after a busy day working on my serve!
Top Tip: Make sure you take advantage of the daily discounts – including 20% off all spa treatments when you pick up a voucher from Reception.
Dining:
The resort has two restaurants on-site. Breakfast every day is included in your package, along with dinner 5 nights out of the 7, both served buffet-style in the Main Restaurant in the centre of the gardens next to the main pool. For lunch, head over to the beachfront “Taverna Avli” where you can enjoy fresh Greek dishes along with traditional favourites that will keep the kids happy. All reasonably priced, with lunch costing around 10 euros pp.
Top tip: There can be limited outside seating in the restaurant area, so make sure you arrive no later than 8pm for dinner in the Main Restaurant to grab a romantic spot overlooking the pool lit up at night.
For the remaining two-nights, there’s plenty of restaurants to choose from in the local town – a personal favourite of mine was Mill Tavern. With wine served by the kilo, reasonable prices and friendly owners, whats not to love! No reservations needed, just show up for a table.
The walk into town is around 35/40 minutes, all flat terrain following the coast, but I would recommend a taxi coming back which is just 5 euros.
The resort also has two bars, the Pool Bar and the Beach Bar, both perfect for enjoying your favourite tipple.
Top Tip: Head over to the Beach Bar where you can get 30% off your favourite cocktails between 1-2pm and 6-7pm daily, perfect for watching the sunset before dinner.
Childcare:
Mark Warner are renowned for their excellent childcare, although I was enjoying this break child-free, the childcare that is on offer is impressive and is included from 4 – 17 years , with an additional charge for 4 months to 2 years. Children’s clubs operate from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2.30pm to 5.30pm, and are available to book for 6 half or full days a week, so you can have the perfect mix of spending quality time with your little ones and relaxing down-time by the pool.
Verdict:
Often with family holidays it’s about compromise, with luxury and family-friendly not often going hand in hand. Mark Warner Paleros really does have all the ingredients for both. Kids clubs and friendly outgoing staff – check! Relaxing adult-only spaces – check! Luxurious spa – check. And, not forgetting spacious family rooms that offer privacy and security whilst still being close to all the action – check!
I would definitely recommend this resort for both families and couples who are not just activity fanatics, but also those who want to try something new whilst still enjoying luxurious surrounds.
All in all – Mark Warner’s Paleros Resort has all the ingredients for a perfect activity holiday in the sun!
Take advantage of Mark Warner’s early booking offers for Summer 2020, including an early booking discount of £300pp, half price room upgrades and pay in full reductions.
Prices for Summer 2020 start at just £729pp* off-peak, including flights, transfers, accommodation, kids clubs, activities and half board dining. Call Travel Club Elite on 0800 707 6229 or email our Mark Warner Specialists at [email protected] for huge extra savings. Our staff have visited almost all of Mark Warner’s Beach resorts, so can offer many personal insights & tips.
*based on 2 adults sharing, departing 10th May 2020. Price correct as of 14/10/2019.
Happy Holidays!
Lucy Nash
About the author: Lucy Nash is the Digital Marketing Manager at Travel Club Elite.
