SANI RESORT
On the sliding scale of rest and relaxation, small children and spa appointments are at opposite ends. My children (both small and unimpressed by the suggestion of me-time) make any form of self-care an impossibility. Not facials, not pedicures, not a single bubble bath, which is one of the reasons my partner and I took them to Sani. You won’t have heard of Sani unless you’ve slipped into that parallel universe called parenthood, in which case someone you know will have been – while we were there, so were three other families in our loose parenting circle. They probably didn’t consider themselves “resort people” either, but the prospect of free babysitting on the beach while parents snooze in the sun, restaurants with child-friendly hours and Ofsted-rated children’s clubs has great pull. Plus, Sani’s spa has Anne Semonin facials – and I’ve never had a bad one of those.
Besides, this isn’t any old resort. On the blue, blue coast of Halkidiki in Greece, Sani is a tranquil complex of shining white hotels, restaurants and beach clubs, fringed by the softest sand and the warmest, clearest sea. Food is plentiful and delicious (even the buffets look enticingly fresh), the charming staff are unfazed by tantrums, and the accommodation is contemporary and comfortable. Our suite held two double beds big enough to co-sleep our entire family and a free-standing bath that was deep enough for the kids to treat as a pool.
Sani’s spas (there are five) are sleek and calming. As Red’s senior beauty editor, my treatments are generally performed by someone high up in the spa chain – national trainers, head therapists and brand founders – so my expectations are high. But the facial and massage I had at Sani were so intuitively put together and skilfully performed that I booked my partner (notoriously hard to impress) a massage, in part to confirm that the therapists really were that good. I was right: they are. For facilitating my spa-ing, respect goes not only to the kind and enthusiastic children’s club staff but also to my boyfriend,
who took on exceptional levels of solo parenting – either in one of Sani’s many pools or stationed on the beach with roaming bar staff in attendance. I read, I took bubble baths, I even went for a run. It was the first family holiday that hasn’t ended in tears (mine) and has made us reconsider the way we’ll holiday in the future. Sani, we’ll probably see you again next year.’ ALEXANDRA FRIEND