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Location
The Peligoni Club is tucked away in the quiet North East of Zakynthos, the most Southerly of the Ionian Islands and one of the largest. Famous for the holiday snap-friendly Shipwreck Beach and Blue Caves, the island has a wealth of other treasures, from the pungent, but healing sulphur springs near Xigia beach to the delicious food served in the tiny, beachside tavernas around the coast.
Why Go?
With a fabulous portfolio of more than 40 villas, a B&B and the social and sporting hub of The Peligoni Club, this is the perfect place to hang out and relax with friends or family. Choose a villa as close or far away from the action as you want to be and, with Zakynthos just a three hour flight from most UK airport, you can be relaxing with friends by your private pool in the time it takes to perfectly chill a bottle of rose.
What’s The Story?
Based around the family run hub of the beach club and watersports centre, at The Peligoni Club all the villas are individually owned, which means you won’t get any identikit package holidays here. You pay a little extra to become a member of the club for your stay, but it’s definitely worth it for access to the impressive watersports facilities, where even the aqua useless get gentle help and encouragement, while the water babies can paddleboard, windsurf and sail away to their hearts’ content. If watersports really aren’t your thing, there are plenty of super-comfortable loungers arranged to overlook the sea, while the Goat Shed Spa is a cool, quiet oasis of calm with a range of relaxing and indulgent treatments including Dermalogica facials and ache relieving Swedish massages.
Eating and Drinking
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a long lazy meal in the sun except perhaps, a long lazy meal in the sun that’s been prepared by someone else. The food at the clubhouse is a great selection of brasserie staples such as Eggs Benedict, burgers and salads, all freshly prepared using the quality ingredients. Tip: you really have to try the homemade granola at breakfast. It’s amazing.
And if you can’t face leaving your villa, that’s no problem either. The club can arrange for a chef and host to cook for you, serve drinks to your guests and then – joy of joy – clear up afterwards.
The Room
As each villa is individually owned, they’re all different in character (and price). Try Anna’s House for rustic charm and extensive gardens that wind down to a picture perfect pool. Yerakina has stunning views from its pool terrace, while the jewel in the crown, Figari, is a perfectly designed party home (and is also used as a wedding venue) with an infinity pool, eight bedrooms and some seriously enviable design touches.
What’s The Crowd?
Well-heeled families and groups – all of whom are toned, tanned and unfailingly polite, populate the club. The Peligoni has a young feel, but in a laid back way. There’s no blaring music and sulking teens here, just families and friends topping up their tans and brushing up their paddleboard skills.
Out and About
Zakynthos is just a ferry (or speedboat) ride away from Cephalonia, but boasts it’s own hidden treasures. The North of the island is a sparsely populated haven for flora and fauna, with olive groves aplenty and hives of bees producing seriously addictive honey flavoured with the local wild thyme. Book in for the club’s sunset walk with Sheila and learn about the island’s flora and fauna, before ending up at a ruined, cliff top monastery for drinks and nibbles as you watch in awe-struck silence as the sun drops into the mirror-like sea.
Pack
Let’s face it; you’re going to be in and out of your pool or the sea pretty much constantly, so pack some great swimwear, cover-ups and a few light and easy dresses to take you through to dinner. And if you forget anything, or just want to emulate the effortless cool of Peligoni regulars, the on-site boutique is a treasure trove of great pieces that will have you reaching for your credit card.
Getting There
Peligoni (020 8740 3001) offer a range of accommodation including farmhouses, villas, simple studios and boutique rooms sleeping 2 – 20. Anna’s House (sleeps 8) is available for 2014 bookings from £3,125 for the week (accommodation only). A selection of other villas are still available to book for travel this September including Askos Villa (sleeps 4) from £1,875 and Maistrali (sleeps 8-9) from £2,150. During September membership to the club along with use of all watersports facilities is available from £130 (£60 without watersports).