HOT Hotel
The majestic Divani Apollon Palace and Thalasso is on the stylish coast of Vouliagmeni, 15 miles from the centre of Athens. The leafy coastal suburb is packed with smart restaurants and even smarter shops. This neighbourhood is where cool Athenians go to cool off on the beaches – and be seen.
The Divani is the place for wellbeing, with beauty and health programmes including detoxing and weight-loss treatments as well as thalassotherapy, using mineral-rich seawater. It has its own private sandy beach and sprawling views of the Athenian Riviera and Saronic Gulf.
This is an all-singing, all-dancing resort hotel with lots of outdoor space, chill-out areas and dining options.
Rooms are elegant but not stuffy, with lovely deep blue and rich terracotta-toned soft furnishings, marble bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors opening on to balconies.
Apollon Palace’s beating heart is quite clearly the Spa and Thalasso Centre – one of the best spas in Greece, with its thalassotherapy pool. The spa is equipped with 25 treatment rooms, a hydromassage pool, fat-burning equipment, a doctor’s office and ice-cold cryotherapy treatments. The masseurs are physiotherapists, so they’ll be able to sort out any niggles.
There are many fabulous dining options, from casual meals at the Atlantis lounge and veranda to Anemos on the beach for Mediterranean cuisine. Mythos is more formal and romantic, and the open-air deck is superb for sunset cocktails. There’s also a pool bar on the beach.
The hotel group has two other hotels in the Greek capital. The Divani Palace Acropolis, near the ancient citadel, is a blend of old and new. Beneath lies the ruins of the Themistocles Wall, discovered in the foundations during construction and incorporated into the design.
It’s also a five-minute stroll from the Acropolis – for cocktail hour, head to the hotel’s rooftop pool for unrivalled views of the ancient site.
The Divani Caravel, with its 471 rooms, may seem imposing from the outside but inside it’s relaxed and friendly, with a giant Art Deco chandelier in reception. The Caravel has also made good use of its roof, with panoramic views of Lycabettus Hill. The JuJu Bar and Restaurant has modern artwork and serves up an eclectic and delicious Greek menu.
Nearby is the famous Syntagma Square, the city’s focal point, filled with cafés overlooked by the Greek Parliament building. Just beyond it is Athen’s answer to London’s Chelsea, the chic Kolonaki area, where streets are lined with boutiques.
The Byzantine and Christian Museum has a jaw-dropping collection of ancient artwork, everyday objects and religious garments. Also nearby is the Benaki Museum with its diverse displays featuring Islamic art and Chinese and Greek artefacts through the ages.
B&B at Divani Caravel Hotel from £200.
B&B at Divani Palace Acropolis hotel from £180.
easyJet flies to Athens from UK airports from £69.21 return.
Manchester’s going mad for Barbados, with Virgin Atlantic starting three Boeing 747 winter flights a week, with returns from £564.
You’ll also be able to get to Delhi from Manchester three times a week from October. Returns start at £535 and are on sale from Tuesday. And in summer, look out for its new Clubhouse lounge. virginatlantic.com
Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World is adding new thrills for 2020. The UAE theme park will open a 1,300ft zipline, a roof walk across the giant red canopy, and dark ride Mission Ferrari, a looping rollercoaster with a high-speed launch. ferrariworldabudhabi.com