Sani Resort, Halkidiki, Greece

Posted in Projects on 24 November, 2024

Celebrated for being the world’s leading sustainable holiday destination, Sani Resort elevates its offerings with Sani Asterias’ newly renovated beachfront residences.

Words by Karen Bamford

My arrival at Sani Resort was like learning a traditional Greek dance – it appears baffling at first, but the basics are easy to master, and you’re soon caught up in a joyful rhythmic embrace that you hope will never end.

Sani Asterias: Two Bedroom Grand Residence with Private Pool.

The first step is understanding that Sani Resort is a collection of five similar, yet different, hotels on the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki, which includes ten swimming pools, and more than 40 unique restaurants and bars, its own marina, private beaches and shops. Add to these a Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, Bear Grylls Survival Academy and Chelsea FC Football Academy, and there’s really no need to step outside the resort. Which might sound like some kind of Truman Show-esque trap, until you also understand that this sprawling resort covers 1,000 acres of natural forests, wetlands and beaches including 7km of shimmering coastline. Why would you want to be anywhere else?

It’s also got outstanding eco-credentials having been named the World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort at the 2023 World Travel Awards for the fourth year running, and the first winner of the newest category, World’s Leading Sustainable Resort.

Two Bedroom Grand Residence with Private Pool.

One of the resort’s hybrid Volvos took us from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Dunes, a recently revamped formerly adults-only hotel that is set directly on the beach. This upgrade was surprising (but welcome) as I’d been expecting to stay at Sani Club, the most remote of the five properties, on a hillside surrounded by ancient olive trees. The purpose of my visit was to see this year’s extensive renovation of Sani Asterias, the most exclusive, luxuriant and smallest of all the properties.

Then there’s Sani Beach, the resort’s largest hotel, which is particularly ideal for families, and Porto Sani, which is a fusion of child-friendly and luxury accommodation next to the private marina and shops.

Still with me? No matter which hotel you’re staying at, you can walk between each in around 20 minutes to experience the spas, pools, restaurants and activities – or hop into one of the many golf buggies and complimentary shuttle cars.

Stepping inside Sani Dunes has an instantly calming affect after travel. The airy lobby is quiet with cool marble floors that flow simply but invitingly to the outside area. An art installation of glass climbing wall-style holds, in shades of the Aegean sea, scale a high wall while other shapes tumble from the ceiling above a meandering blue sofa. The sea-land story is told by the juxtaposition of an impressive living wall.

Two Bedroom Grand Residence with Private Pool.

Sani Dunes boasts the largest heated swimming pool in Greece, but is so interestingly shaped and landscaped, with deliciously scented herbs and bridges to cross, that it’s impossible to see the whole pool from one standpoint. Only two storeys high, the hotel’s guestrooms all face the pool and there’s a deep sense of privacy. My ground-floor room had a garden that opened onto the pool area and led directly to the beach. The interior offered sophisticated, understated luxury with a huge bed dressed in crisp white linen, copious storage, and a generous bathroom – all in neutral tones. Everything – from the service, to the food offerings, to the spa space and treatment – was immaculate.

Somehow managing to raise the stakes further, Sani Asterias’s Beachfront Residential Suites opened in June following a significant renovation project that saw exterior walls pushed further out and ceilings raised. The result is more space and light in suites that offer direct beach access, private infinity pools, idyllic views over the Aegean and upgraded amenities while retaining a homely feeling.

Two Bedroom Grand Residence, living room.

“We opened five new three-bedroom suites this year and will add more next year because we have a lot of multi-generational families staying here,” Kevin Kainz, General Manager, Sani Asterias, told SPACE.

Spanish architectural firm Gronda led the renovation. The colour palette is earthy and muted, so the interiors rely on texture for interest. Bedrooms are lined in oversized ribbed wall tiles, sofas are piled with softly textured cushions and sliding doors feature herringbone rattan. I longed to run my hands through an incredible wall hanging – think beaded curtain meets macrame – made by a Spanish artist and inspired by fish scales.

The elevated interiors and personalised service at Sani Asterias come alongside wine fridges and home cinemas next to pillow menus, heated toilets, and the option for in-room beauty treatments, plus there’s Michelin-star dining at the hotel’s Over Water Restaurant.

“This place lends itself to superstar stays,” says Kevin, pointing out the lack of piped music and the Versailles-style renovation planned for the lobby next year. Indeed, Tom Jones stayed here this year while performing at Sani Festival – an annual event that also featured Emeli Sandé and Plácido Domingo.

It’s an incredible achievement for a family-grown business that was founded when Anastasios Andreadis came across the bay in the 1960s by boat. The land was owned by monks and after some negotiation, the Andreadis family persuaded them to sell. Today, Anastasios’s sons Andreas and Stavros are CEO and honorary president respectively, while his granddaughter Eleni Andreadis, Director of Sustainability, leads the third generation.

In 2020, Sani became the first carbon neutral resort in Greece and has been running on 100% renewable energy since 2019.

During 2023 Sani recycled 323tn of materials, composted 100% of green waste produced and eliminated all single-use plastic used front-of-house, including single-use amenities and plastic bottles. All wastewater is also recycled and used for irrigation. An ambitious triple zero goal has been set – to be net zero by 2030, and zero single-use plastic and zero waste by the end of 2024. This year it applied extensive submetering across the resort to monitor and manage energy consumption real time.

Guests can immerse in nature through guided complimentary eco-activities, including birdwatching at Sani Wetlands, a forest walk providing information about local flora and fauna, learning about bees at the Sani Bee Spot and a trip dedicated to the Halkidiki olive. Home to 225 bird species, the birdwatching tours have seen a fourfold increase in participation in the past three years.

Having enjoyed a couple of these eco-activities, I set sail at sunset on a Sani cruise, spotting dolphins as I quaffed a glass of wine, with Mount Olympus in the background. Perfection.