Breaking Travel News investigates: Danai Beach Resort & Villas: Paradise in northern Greece

6 November 2014

If you’re looking for a luxurious retreat in northern Greece, look no further than Danai Beach Resort & Villas, nestled on the Aegean Peninsula in Sithonia.

The Danai Resort has established a reputation for offering its guests a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience, and it is easy to see why it was short listed for the title of World’s Leading Villa at this year’s World Travel Awards.

Danai Beach Resort is located in Sithonia, the second “finger” of the three-pronged Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece.

It is an easy 50 minute drive from Thessaloniki Airport, or, for those with a little more in the budget, a 15 minute trip by helicopter.

As soon as you drive through the guarded gates into the resort, you’re struck by the pristine set-up of the villas and surrounding suites.

Lush green lawns surround each of the 60 villas and suites, and you have the feeling you’re entering a high-end, fully contained village, complete with boutique stores offering hand-picked items for the guests to peruse.

From the moment you enter the resort’s immaculate grounds, the Danai Resort staff are highly attuned to your every need.

As Kate - head of guest relations – explained during our stay, the staff at Danai look to understand guests’ needs before they’ve even been voiced, and this ethos was apparent throughout our stay.

Staff were immediately on hand to whisk luggage to our room, and we were presented with a glass of (very good) champagne while we settled in at the hotel foyer.

There are some interesting pieces of art adorning the spacious foyer, including a life-size donkey made from strips of corroded metal.

Danai Beach Resort has a range of 60 suites with differing layouts, each with their own character and layout to ensure maximum comfort for guests.

I was staying in an Executive Pool Suite, which was stunning; spacious yet private, with immaculate attention to detail on the design.

As the name suggests, there was a private outdoor infinity pool to enjoy, which looks directly out onto the Med.

Prices aren’t cheap however, and start at €1,200 a night.

For guests looking for the highest level of extravagance, the Villa of Blue Riviera will rival any villa in Greece for opulence.

Standing at 450sqm, there is no shortage of space, and the villa has a sliding roof which retracts over the living area, allowing guests to enjoy the Greek night sky at the touch of a button.

There are three bedrooms, and prices start at €4,500 a night.

The Danai resort offers a beach experience which excites or soothes, depending on your needs.

Wooden steps take you down to the immaculately groomed white-sand beach, where the clear turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea are set against the beautiful green backdrop of the resort’s Mediterranean pine trees and gardens.

I took the chance to snorkel, and just 20 metres out from the shore, found an octopus nestled into the coral, his camouflage allowing him to blend in perfectly with the surrounding rocks. (It was only the movement of his eyes which gave him away).

He was quick to dart under the rocks when we dove down for a closer inspection…

Danai offers plenty of ways for guests to enjoy the water.

You can take out speed boats, long boats and sailing boats, and explore the surrounding coves at the leisure.

Cruises are also offered, taking guests to the coast of Mount Athos and then to the islands and bays on the east side of Sithonia.

Guests can use the cruise to view the historic monasteries on Mount Athos, a peninsula which is notoriously difficult to access. Men must be granted one of the handful of annual visas, while women are not permitted at all.

There are three restaurants and a bar, which all overlook the beach.

The food at all is excellent, with fantastically fresh seafood served up at a reasonable price in the Andromeda restaurant.

For a truly special occasion, guests can make a booking at The Squirrel, a gourmet restaurant which serves an elaborate degustation menu.

With only a handful of tables (booking in advance is essential), and guests served in the open air under the stars, the restaurant offers a touch of pure luxury which will be difficult to forget.