Ekies All Sensens Resort Greece
At the end of the summer, when it started to get quite cold in the Low Countries somewhere at the end of September, we quickly grabbed some sun. Greek sun to be precise. And although yours truly never on one Greek island has been (no joke), this time it became Greek mainland as well. Destination: Ekies Resort. Resort, yes, but before you think of impersonal holiday resorts with overflowing self-service restaurants and cringe-inducing entertainment at regular intervals: it's nothing like that Ekies All Senses Resort Greece. A small-scale cool-chic eco-friendly boutique hotel-resort with a hefty dash of Mediterranean hip, that's what it is.
Ekies is hidden between the vast Greek void of olive trees and the clear blue water of the Vourvourou bay (just that name) on the middle of the three peninsulas of Greece. There is much more to say about that, but the most important thing is that Ekies is one of those places where nothing is necessary. Where you shuffle from your room – which looks like a summer breeze – to breakfast. From breakfast back to your room to take a dip in your private bath. Then to the private beach with a book where lunch (everything OMG style delicious) is served on your bed. Yes, all '-yes' because it's not that big. So tasty.
Boring? Are you crazy? Delicious. And if you are still bored, the area around the Ekies Resort is beautiful. Above all, go (a must!) to the beach halkidiki – a postcard so beautiful. Moreover, the wooden beach bar there is a gift (and an undiscovered pearl). Or plan a spa visit (recovery: not 'or' but 'and' of course): Ekies is not an 'All Senses Resort' for nothing. Take an afternoon for it, it's worth it.
Another 'both-and' thing: book one of the trips in a (private) boat that Ekies offers. You can opt for the small fast version, or half a day with the large wooden one, familiar to the imagination sailing ship. The skipper knows the area like the back of his hand, all the fishermen by name and knows all the quiet bays and clearest waters to find. Read: jump off the boat, laze around, swim back to the boat and eat the picnic basket, done.
In the evening you eat a grilled fish in an almost ridiculously romantic setting – your private table at the very tip of the jetty between burning torches, that idea. Of course, you'll need to make a reservation (and be prepared for people to stare and ask you at the end of your delicious, romance-by-the-books dinner if "he asked you." But that's okay too. Drink especially a few cocktails too many: there is nothing wrong with relaxing on floating pontoons or in a hammock with your hole in the sea.
It is good to know that we think Ekies is especially a fantastic tip (but really, without fooling around, the very best tip) for happy couples / nice types / hip people (or however you see yourself) with a small child. Or two small children. A holiday destination where you can take a break with your little one without having the feeling that you are suddenly 'those kind of people'. People with children whose lives are over. As mentioned, the resort is small and well-organized kid friendly without it really being specifically designed for children. Yes, there is a playground behind the hedges near the swimming pool, a bit secluded so to speak and absolutely great for the kids. The rooms all have a playpen or a cot (if you want it, otherwise they will take it away), the tables in the restaurant are the same with regard to children's chairs, and thanks to the well-organized surface you can lie on the beach with a cocktail while the little one upstairs, dozing, the baby monitor next to you. Really, Ekies: you can just book.
