I got my first taste of Greece on a scorching day last summer , jostling with hundreds of people for a spot on a cable car that would take us up to the streets of Santorini. It was chaos. But rest assured, they do exist.
I found a well-kept secret in the form of two all-inclusive hotels , an unlikely discovery for someone who has always been suspicious of the package concept. The remote location could easily be a turn-off โ the nearest village, Pefkochori, is 9km drive away. But having never stayed in an all-inclusive, for me, the novelty was real.
I was quickly sold on the luxury of being a few steps to my private pool, with a selection of eight bars and restaurants not much further away. Ajul has everything you could want for a relaxing trip: a spa, an open-air cinema and tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. From visits to local villages like Afytos, a charming spot with stone houses and cobblestone streets, scuba diving classes at the Triton Scuba Diving Academy and sailing, fishing and mountain biking excursions ideal for exploring the local landscape, boredom is never a concern.
Ambrosia serves up classic Italian fare, but it seems wasteful to spend even a single meal in Greece not enjoying local delicacies. Although the food is delicious, you could give this a miss. At Thimari, the standout is the Greek salad, Dolmades vine leaves stuffed with rice and decadent meat platters, finished with sweet baklava several were secreted in my napkin to enjoy later.
The service is impeccable, with waiters eager to explain the origins of the dishes and which ones cannot be missed when in Greece. The modern, spacious room had everything you might need, with housekeeping just a call away if any extras were required. And for those staying in villas furthest from reception, a lift around the grounds in a golf buggy is a welcome touch.
