Ask my daughter what her household vacation necessities are and he or she’s more likely to say seashore or pool. Probably each. And ice cream. In order I ready to assessment Elivi Skiathos with children, figuring out the lodge had entry to 4 seashores and a number of other swimming pools meant that issues boded very effectively certainly.
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Set within the south-west nook of Skiathos, within the Sporades group of islands close to the Greek mainland, I’d been wanting ahead to having a relaxed sunny break – the island is bigger than beautiful Symi however with the identical chilled-out really feel, smaller than Corfu which we visited final 12 months, and whereas it doesn’t have the historic websites of Kos, there was a lot to fill our days if we needed.
And if my six-year-old’s focus was on breaking out her pool toys and constructing a sandcastle, I used to be wanting ahead to a little bit of luxurious – a lodge that’s distinctly fashionable however nonetheless family-friendly, with a big aspect serving to of pampering. The truth that I nonetheless felt chilled out 48 hours after our return, regardless of unpacking, laundry and an unceremonious return to actual life just about says all of it – however for the small print, right here’s my full Elivi Skiathos assessment.
Elivi Skiathos lodge – very important statistics
The lodge close to Koukounaries has 161 rooms, cut up throughout two elements of the location – firstly the primary a part of the lodge, with two of the eating places and foyer bar, the spa, the children’ membership and the hotel-style rooms.
These embrace the Grace lodge rooms, a few of which have their very own pool and appeared very fashionable with households, in addition to normal double rooms and the superior doubles with entry straight on to an infinity pool.
On the opposite aspect is The Nest, made up of standalone villas and suites, in addition to its personal restaurant – some, like ours, have entry to a small pool on the terrace, others on the second ground have a small balcony typically with a scorching tub.
Both sides has a pool – The Nest’s is greater with a sloping ground that’s good for youthful children – and there’s entry to 2 seashores on all sides, all with loungers and waiter service for seashore snacks and bar.
Whereas we have been staying, some early season teething points meant that a number of the services on the Nest aspect weren’t open so you probably did must stroll to the opposite aspect of the lodge for the pool or eating places.
There’s no means by means of the woods between the 2 halves, so if you happen to don’t fancy the stroll alongside the primary path, the lodge has buggies to whisk you from one aspect to the opposite. It’s solely round 5 minutes, though there are a few hills and it’s important to go off the trail if you happen to’re pushing a stroller.
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Elivi Skiathos with children – the great
The seashores
Whichever a part of the resort you keep in, there’s a seashore inside a couple of minutes stroll. They’re all public in Greece however with areas reserved for Elivi Skiathos friends, I wouldn’t count on you’d have a lot bother getting a lounger: we actually didn’t at Could half-term.
The loungers, by the way, are the comfiest I’ve ever lain on, with ultra-thick cushions probably squashier than my mattress at house.
Our room within the Nest was closest to Banana Seashore which ended up being my favorite. Quiet and peaceable, the water is shallow sufficient for youths to splash round in and there’s some shade beneath the umbrellas.
It’s price figuring out that Little Banana Seashore across the nook of the headland is a nudist seashore, and one or two naturist sunbathers did enterprise over (my daughter was fully oblivious, and so they did stick with the far finish).
There are two different seashores subsequent to the opposite aspect of the lodge: Ampelakia Seashore which is the smallest and really simple to get to from the Grace rooms however loses the solar first (much less of a difficulty with children anyway) and Koukounaries Seashore which is by far the most important, reached down a set of wood steps by means of the pine forest (you may also get a buggy down) and is a little more buzzing.
The house
Rooms on either side will sleep households, however with two separate rooms in our suite (every with its personal toilet) and the terrace, it meant we had loads of room to unfold out and for adults to take a seat after my daughter had gone to mattress.
The truth is, there was a lot house in our bed room that there was room for a modern standalone bathtub within the nook.
To not point out storage galore, a bit secure and two small fridges within the two rooms, plus a espresso machine with pods (not Nespresso if you happen to’re planning to pack your individual) and a kettle.
Having our personal little pool on the terrace was an incredible contact too, though because it was a bit deep for my daughter, we ended up going to the larger pool close by with a sloping ground. Mendacity on our loungers and sitting exterior with a drink on the finish of the day was fantastic, like the perfect of a villa with lodge services on faucet.
The services
For a comparatively small lodge, there’s rather a lot on website. A little spa if you happen to can snatch a while away from the children, with Elemis remedies.
For 2019, there’s additionally a brand new children’ membership opened – we obtained a sneak look inside and an opportunity to try it out earlier than it opened formally to take a look at the glowing new services. I used to be soundly thrashed at snakes and ladders.
The windowless room itself is downstairs, though they’re hoping so as to add an choice to take the children outside for among the periods, however there’s a pleasant mixture of crafts and extra lively choices, from children yoga and pilates to gymnastics, Zumba and dance, in addition to a cinema session a number of instances per week after lunch.
Open to age 4 and up, dad and mom may go alongside for the primary session of the day which is a pleasant contact in case your children are nervous of stepping right into a room stuffed with unknown individuals. It’s tough to guage with out seeing all the pieces in full operation however I’d count on it to be extra standard with youthful children than older tweens.
As my daughter was the one one in throughout our go to, she wasn’t too tempted by the considered going again on her personal (understandably) however she did enthusiastically tick 5 periods on the schedule that she fancied making an attempt and eyed up one other couple so I believe would have visited at the least as soon as a day if the membership was stuffed with potential new buddies.
There are additionally three eating places on website. The Nest restaurant wasn’t but open sadly, as that sounded essentially the most casual of the trio with Greek and fish dishes on the menu.
The opposite two embrace the accommodations’ nice eating restaurant, Leda and the Swan, and the brand new Asian fusion restaurant Hagoromo. Each even have a kids’s menu together with among the nicest wanting rooster nuggets I’ve come throughout!
Though my daughter, in one in all her random departures from being fussy, determined she needed to tuck into my sashimi bowl and eat all my salmon (additionally among the nicest sashimi I’ve ever come throughout).
At Leda and the Swan, there are many nice eating thrives however positively no skimping on the portion measurement and my octopus was scrumptious.
Through the day, there’s an enormous breakfast buffet right here together with omelettes and beneficiant stacks of pancakes which defeated each Minnie and me, in addition to lunchtime choices on the seashore bars – we tended both to eat one thing mild on our terrace or be out exploring although.
The workers
It’s the individuals as a lot because the services which make the expertise and from Georgia within the restaurant who confirmed Minnie how you can fold the napkins to make a number of totally different shapes to the pleasant children membership workers who gave her the half-completed colouring e-book to take house, nothing ever appeared an excessive amount of bother.
I can perceive how the household trying out as we did, have been already on first identify phrases with the individual in control of reserving (and why that they had already booked in for a brand new keep earlier than ending the final one).
From a sensible viewpoint, the lodge can even organize transfers from the airport, automobile rent from the lodge (as the closest automobile rent is in Skiathos City or the airport itself) and provide recommendations for actions – we got tips about the perfect day boat journey to take, a timetable for the water taxi from the seashore to Skiathos City.
The placement
It relies upon what you’re searching for, after all, however Skiathos can get very busy in peak season. Down within the south-west tip by Koukounaries, and with the lodge in its barely secluded place on high of a hill, it’s simple to discover a peaceable house to chill out (although inevitably the summer time goes to be busier than our go to).
However you’re nonetheless in place to discover: it’s a brief stroll all the way down to the city if you wish to go to a taverna or pop to the grocery store (a scorching stroll, so finest to go earlier or later although) and from the tip of Could, you may also catch the water taxi spherical from Koukounaries Seashore to Skiathos City.
The island bus, which heads alongside the primary street to Skiathos City, leaves from very close to the lodge too.
Elivi Skiathos with children – the not so good
Some fashion over substance
I do love a little bit of luxurious, and it’s usually the little touches which set a lodge aside. And in relation to fashion, Elivi Skiathos has it in spades – quirky sculptures within the foyer, the lodge’s black swan icon showing in artworks, stylish decor and furnishings, to not point out infinite enticing little corners the place I used to be tempted to take a seat and browse a e-book or soak within the views.
Nearly all of the time the fashionable design is fantastic. However often it isn’t. The massive sloping marble slab of a sink seems fabulous, however there’s little or no room on the aspect to place toiletries (there’s a low shelf beneath) and no plug because it drains cleverly by means of the again.
Excessive towel hooks hinted that all the pieces had been deliberate by a six-foot tall inside designer too.
And whereas the touchpads to manage the lights and warmth additionally regarded impressively excessive tech (and never toooo fiddly), there’s no studying lamp by the mattress within the second room, for instance.
Does it spoil your vacation? By no means – maybe it’s just because all the pieces else is so fashionable that it attracts your consideration to the occasional little niggles.
Elivi Skiathos lodge assessment – my verdict
Greek islands specialize in household holidays: from villas to all-inclusive resorts, you’re not in need of beautiful locations to remain. However I’ve by no means stayed anyplace fairly like Elivi Skiathos.
Sure, it’s a pricier choice and it was a disgrace to not see all the pieces up and working – I’d have fancied wandering all the way down to the Nest restaurant for breakfast in addition to checking it out for dinner (to not point out a number of hours stress-free within the solar whereas Minnie was at children’ membership).
However it’s some of the luxurious and stress-free holidays I’ve had. From the fantastic room to the scrumptious meals, the wonderful loungers (significantly, take a look at the dimensions of the cushions) and the selection of seashores and pool, in addition to the smiling service which helped all the pieces run easily, this fashionable lodge is someplace moderately particular.
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Disclosure: My keep and our meal at Leda and the Swan was courtesy of Elivi Skiathos for the needs of assessment – we paid for our flights, boat journey and all different meals. All opinions about staying at Elivi Skiathos with children are my very own (and within the case of holidays requiring a seashore or pool, my daughter’s). Accommodates affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee.
Photos copyright MummyTravels
