Editor’s Review – Danai Beach Resort Villas
The Danai Beach Resort and Villas is a member of the prestigious “Leading Hotels of the World”. It is located in a secluded spot in Halkidiki, a Greek peninsula in the north Aegean Sea. The Resort offers a range of suites and villas, each with unique décor, but all offering stunning views of the gardens or the Sea and coastline. They include suites, deluxe suites and suites with private pools. The villas are situated throughout the picturesque gardens of the resort to provide privacy and tranquillity to guests.
The 55-room and 5 villa hotel has all the amenities on site that you could want from a relaxing break. As well as a private sandy beach, there are 3 restaurants, a seaside bar, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, water sports activities, tennis court, state of the art gym, boutique shopping and a mini-market.
The entrance to the resort is through security guarded gates, our first indication of how seriously the hotel prioritises the privacy of its clientele. We were warmly greeted at reception, which included a glass of bubbly on arrival, where our check-in was swift and straightforward and we were given all the information about the resort that we could possibly need. Before being shown to our room, we were given a guided tour of the amenities and grounds. The setting is stunning, lush green grass, flower gardens and trees, including a magnificent magnolia tree in front of reception, animal sculptures and an aromatic herb garden. We are also shown the library and billiard room, where we could appreciate a bit of indoor quiet time.
After the tour, we were shown to our accommodation and we walk into a suite of pure opulence; 190 sqm of marble floor, white walls and furnishings with beige ceiling to floor curtains. To one end of the living area is a majestic marble fireplace, complete with decorative ceramic busts and ornate mirrors above the mantelpiece. There is a plethora of seating options: two white and mint green bucket seats and a long white sofa surround a large glass topped coffee table, or there is a quirky armchair shaped like a human hand. There is a glass-topped writing desk with a silver and black designed chair and finally a dining table with chairs.
To complete the furnishings in the living area is a cabinet in the corner of the room which houses the minibar and a selection of sweets and snacks. On top is a Nespresso machine and a Bose Bluetooth music system. Above the cabinet, hangs a gorgeous ornate framed mirror which reflects the sunlight flooding in through the ceiling to floor glazed walls and doors to fill the room with natural light. After sundown, the room is lit with decorative wall-lights and majestic chandeliers.
The bedroom contains an extremely comfortable king sized bed and was separated from the living area by two three-doored mirrored wardrobes. In addition to the wardrobes, the bedroom has glass bedside tables with lamps, separate table and chair, and a large flat-screen television with multiple international channels.
Just off the bedroom, through a small corridor is the bathroom with a separate toilet. The bathroom houses a bath with separate rainforest shower, his and hers sinks and large vanity mirror. There was an ample supply of complimentary toiletries and white cotton towels of various sizes, emblazoned with the Danai seahorse logo.
Through the French doors opposite the main entrance into the room was a large private balcony, which gave beautiful panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. It was furnished with a large undercover dining table which seated eight, sun loungers, wicker seats and coffee table. The balcony was finished off with large Grecian vases of flowers and small citrus trees – pure luxurious comfort.
After settling in and admiring our surroundings, we ventured down to the private beach – at just over 300 meters in length, the golden sand provides a beautiful location to enjoy the crystal blue Aegean. There are sun loungers provided for the guests with towels and waiter service from the Philosophy Seaside Bar. We had the pleasure of the use of one of the private beach cabanas – individual areas of beach with a covered section housing a sitting area and double bed. Here we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and delicious fresh fruit based cocktails. The Cabanas are a further demonstration of the privacy the resort can provide.
At the end of each day, we had the pleasure of eating in the Andromeda Restaurant, one of the three restaurants on site. The Squirrel Gourmet Restaurant, is an award winning (rated one of the best three restaurants in Greece), open-air venue where one can eat from the A la Carte menu or the tasting menu selected by the Executive chef. The Sea Horse Grill, with its large outdoor seating area with sea views, serves up a fine menu of fresh fish, seafood and meats combined with traditional local Greek cuisine.
The Andromeda has a constantly changing menu for each night of the week, we were fortunate to be able to choose from the A La Carte menu for an evening and an Italian themed menu on another. The food, needless to say, was outstanding, but the creative design of each dish was a joy to behold, full of colour and vibrancy. The freshness of the ingredients was prevalent and the service was first-rate. We had a bottle of wine with each meal, which was selected from the extensive wine list. The hotels’ wine cellar is renowned, with a collection of over 1700 of the world’s finest reds, whites, roses and sparkling vintages, some of which are highly collectible. The Sommelier is always on hand to aid your choice, very handy with such a wide selection on offer.
The Andromeda was also the setting for breakfast, where there was also the option of sitting out on the terrace to enjoy the early morning sunshine. There was a plentiful menu of cooked dishes, including beautiful filled omelettes, a personal favourite. In addition there was a wonderful “cold” selection of meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, fish, yoghurts, nuts and berries. This was washed down with a wide variety of hot and cold beverages, freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, an assortment of teas and coffees and chilled prosecco. To cap it off, there was a table dedicated to fresh pastries and another with cake, muffins, biscuits and sweets – all tastes are truly catered for.
From the moment you arrive, to the second you leave, you are made to feel at home by the staff, always polite, informative and willing to help in any way possible and a credit to the owners. The resort itself and the décor in the buildings is simply stunning, all facilities are deluxe and if you are planning a visit to this part of the Aegean and looking for a luxurious, relaxing, friendly place to stay, then look no further than Danai Beach Resort and Villas, you will not be disappointed, it will surpass your expectations.
