Close your eyes and imagine you’re laying on a sun bed by the sea with a cold cocktail in hand, white sand, shining turquoise waters, and green forests surround you on all sides, and the sound of the waves is the soundtrack to all this…

It is very possible that this picture I have just painted brings you back to the exotic beaches of Thailand, or so I felt during our last vacation in northern Greece at the Ekies All Senses Resort. You know what, it felt even better in some ways – after all, the flight from Israel to Greece is much shorter and the humidity levels are muuuuuch lower 😉

If you’re dreaming of an exotic vacation this post is for you.

Click here to watch the stories I published while at this resort

LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE – EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOTEL

BEFORE I BEGIN, A SHORT NOTE TO MOMS…

I receive endless emails and private messages from readers who can’t wait for me to become a mom just so I can give recommendations for hotels fit for a family vacation … ? So although I’m not yet a mother, unlike most of the resorts Daniel and I stayed at in Greece {adult only hotels}, Ekies All Senses Resort is suitable not only for high-standard couples who are looking for a beachfront hotel but also for parents who are not willing to compromise on the quality of their vacation even when they go on a family vacation – and this resort offers the best of both worlds. Why? Because it is super kid-friendly, the water in the sea is pretty shallow, lots of little seating corners for family fun, the beach restaurant serves kids meals {and if you’re in the mood for a romantic night out, the hotel even has a babysitting service}, and from what I understood, there’s also a children’s club {though have not experienced it, so best to check with the hotel}.

WHEN IS BEST TO VISIT ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF VACATION?

Ekies All Senses Resort is open for a short period of time, from the end of April until mid-October. During the summer months {June to September} the resort is most suitable for families who flock to during school vacations, while in the spring {late April to May} and early autumn {September to mid-October} it is ideal for couples looking for a little more  of a quiet time.

HOW TO GET THERE?

Ekies All Senses Resort is located on a pristine beach in the village of Vourvourou, on the Sithonia peninsula in Halkidiki. The hotel is less than an hour and a half away from the airport by car. We rented a car from the airport in advance and used it throughout our trip in northern Greece, but the hotel also provides a car service by appointment.

DESIGN

Ekies All Senses Resort belongs to the Design Hotels chain, and as such emphasises unique design with a statement, and simultaneously manages to integrate the local Greek style in a modern and fresh way. The resort’s design celebrates its amazing location as an exotic seaside jungle. It does so by super-chill, comfortable, and functional design, combined with a clean, neutral colors and natural raw materials such as wood, marble, clay, and rattan, with turquoise and green highlights, and playful additions of animals and nature motifs.

The hotel’s relaxing vibe sets the tone and is expressed in the furniture as well – huge sofas lined with cushions perfect for sinking into, hammocks and sun-beds, outdoor parasols that look like giant lampshades, and the smallest of details as you can see in my photos. The result is an amazing combination of the exotic golden beach, the clear turquoise water, and the surrounding pine forests.

THE ROOMS

The resort consists of 69 rooms and suites, varying in size, style, and price. From basic rooms to suites with jacuzzis and private pools {a total of 11 types, you can see all of the options on the resort’s website}. Although the rooms are designed differently, they are all decorated in a modern Greek style with plenty of plants that blend in with the common areas and the natural surroundings of the hotel. Please note that the hotel has recently been renovated and  the images on the site of the resort can be a little deceiving {in fact they look even better in reality!}.

We stayed in the Junior Suite, which spacious and pampering with a large bedroom, a separate living room, a bathroom and a balcony facing the forest. The room had everything you could dream of – a super comfortable bed with quality linen, a rain shower, toiletries from the Greek Apivita brand, a coffee machine, a mini bar, a hammock overlooking the wooded landscape, and even a Marshall speaker!

WHAT TO DO AT THE HOTEL

Rest, relax and let go of everyday stress – preferably with a cool cocktail in hand … but not only 🙂

Whether you prefer tanning on the beach or the dock, in a hammock on the water, drinking a cocktail at the bar, or delving into a book under the warm sun by the pool, if you’re staying for a short holiday I imagine you won’t want to step out of the hotel.

However, if its a longer stay your planning, or if you simply get easily bored of sunbathing, here are a few options outside of the hotel worth checking out :

✔ Go sailing –  On the resort’s private beach is a small stand where you can rent a small motorboat for half a day or a full day and cruise around the island near the hotel, dock in the little coves, and see the magical waters of the Blue Lagoon from u close. Daniel and I rented a boat for half a day {at the cost of 100 euros, including fuel expenses}, Daniel as the skipper and I the navigator, a dream! We stopped at a magical private beach in one of the coves, no less amazing than the beaches we visited in Thailand. And the cherry on top was being completely alone! {Before you ask, the boat ride doesn’t require a license – anyone can take it!}.

✔ Visit Mount Athos – From the same stall where we rented the small motorboat, you can also book a boat trip to the oldest community of monks in the world. Mount Athos is an autonomous polity in the Greek Republic home to many monasteries. Only men are allowed on the island, which is why it's also known as the Island of Men. The guy who worked at the stand explained that while we can’t enter the mountain area during the tour, the view of the Athos Peninsula is considered the most beautiful in the country, so it is a unique experience.

✔ Day trip to Thessaloniki –  If you’re not planning on spending a night in Thessaloniki during your trip, but you still want to soak up the city's urban atmosphere, take a look at my guide to the city.  

FOOD

You’ll agree with me that you can’t talk about a luxury vacation without discussing the food … So as you would expect in a hotel of this level, the culinary aspect did not disappoint! The head chef is Dimitris Pamporis, an award-winning chef specialising in contemporary Greek cuisine based on local ingredients.

The hotel has a number of restaurants, all with a sea view. A light beach restaurant, a gourmet restaurant, an additional restaurant at an exciting spot, and an excellent cocktail bar.

But first let's start with the breakfast served at the hotel's cozy beach restaurant, Kuko. Nothing tops having your first meal of the day beside the most beautiful sea view, and the resort’s breakfast buffet has it all, so there is no way you’ll be leaving hungry. Fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses and sausages, an egg stand, muesli stand, a variety of breads, pastries, and desserts, and of course hot and cold beverages. The only thing I was slightly missing was an a-la-carte menu option for eggs Benedict, but besides that the breakfast was truly great.

If dipping in the sea makes you hungry even after such a rich breakfast – Kuko also offers a varied menu of Greek cuisine {fried zucchini balls are a must!} and Italian cuisine, as well as excellent ice cream throughout the day.

Next to the beach restaurant, in a covered building with high windows, is Bubo, the resort’s gourmet restaurant. The restaurant serves an à la carte dinner menu featuring a variety of traditional Greek dishes with a modern gourmet chef's interpretation, fresh seafood dishes, and a large selection of fine wines. We chose Bubo for our  final dinner at the resort and enjoyed every moment – the atmosphere, the service, and of course the special dishes.

The third restaurant, and the most special of all, is the exclusive Treehouse restaurant, located on a particularly large tree on the resort’s private beach. Unfortunately we didn’t eat at the Treehouse since it was closed while we were there {apparently it opens in June}, but a dinner in at this place sounds like an amazing romantic experience.

And, if all this isn’t enough, you can also order a private gourmet meal on the beach 🙂

THE SPA

The hotel spa is rather small, but incredibly charming, and is located between the pool and the private beach. Although the spa area is small and quite intimate, with only two treatment cabins {one of which is also suitable for couples}, it offers a very varied menu and includes massages, acupuncture, reflexology and even cupping therapy.

One of the greatest luxuries this resort has to offer to all of its guests is a not so short treatment, about 20 minutes per guest ,that includes a refreshing mineral foot bath and a free reflexology massage. I had planned to book a massage at the resort before we even went on holiday, and this reception massage only made me feel stronger about it being truly professional and relaxing, but unfortunately I was burned like a lobster on the first day of our vacation, so in the end I decided it was better to skip the massage.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you’re dreaming of a relaxing exotic vacation, but you don’t want to fly halfway around the world – Ekies All Senses Resort is perfect for you {and if you’re traveling with children – even more so! 😉 }.

What do you think of Ekies All Senses Resort? Leave me a comment below 🙂

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* Thank you very much to the Ekies All Senses Resort for a particularly enjoyable stay.