Kassandra Palace Seaside Resort

English, Greek, German and French are spoken by the hotel team, so you can sort out the practicalities without resorting to improvised sign language. Kassandra Palace Seaside Resort is a sizeable seaside resort in Kriopigi, with 260 rooms, several places to eat and drink, pools, a spa and a private beach.

This is a useful choice if your ideal non-diving schedule involves a proper breakfast, a swim, a treatment and very little logistical theatre. Families are catered for too, with a kids’ club for children aged 4 to 12, children’s activities and babysitting. There is enough going on to keep different members of a group occupied, without turning the whole stay into an organised obstacle course.

The resort is in Kriopigi, on the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki, Greece, a short walk from the town centre. Its private sandy beach is directly accessible and sits about 0.03 miles from the rooms, with sun loungers and parasols waiting by the water.

That compact layout matters when your legs have already done their share of the work. You can move between room, beach, pool and restaurant without planning an expedition, while the village centre is close enough for a change of scene. The resort also has on-site parking, which is handy if you arrive with a hire car or prefer not to depend entirely on transfers.

The room range is built around doubles and twin beds, with views ranging from the street and gardens to the sea. For two people who want the holiday to look like the holiday, a sea-view room is the obvious direction; for a little more room around the edges of the stay, the family-suite categories bring garden, sea or garden-access options. Some of the sea-view choices include a double bed, while twin-bed versions are also available.

The practical details are better in some categories than others, so choose with care rather than assuming every room is equipped identically. A standard sea-view double room includes air conditioning, a fridge, coffee facilities, a safe, television, hairdryer and private bathroom. Family-suite categories add toiletries, towels, a mirror, safe and telephone, while several room types offer a view rather than simply four walls and a place to drop the luggage.

Air conditioning is particularly welcome when the day has involved sun, salt and a wetsuit. A fridge gives you somewhere to keep water cold, and coffee facilities make the first drink of the morning less dependent on your ability to locate the restaurant while still half asleep. The resort has a lift, and non-smoking rooms are available.

Breakfast is a buffet served at the Main Restaurant from 07:30 to 11:00, with dinner there from 19:00 to 21:30. The cooking covers Greek and international dishes, with regular themed evenings, so the main dining room is the straightforward option when you want food without another decision to make. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices are available.

Lunch and dinner take a more local turn at Magnolia Mediterranean Restaurant, where Greek cuisine is served on the terrace from 12:30 to 23:30. For something less expected, Fiki Fiki Asian Peruvian Restaurant sits by the sea and serves dinner from 16:00 to 23:30, closing on Tuesdays. Both restaurants ask for smart casual dress at dinner, with beachwear kept for the beach rather than the dining room.

There are four bars, each with a different job. Palm Lobby Bar handles coffee, cocktails, aperitifs and pre-dinner drinks; Ninemia Beach Bar keeps things by the sand; Oasis Pool Bar adds snacks, salads, ice cream, fresh juices, coffee and cocktails; and Under The Palm House brings drinks, a pool table, games, cards and televised sport into the evening. Ninemia Brunch Restaurant is on the beach beside the beach bar, serving brunch from 11:00 to 17:00.

The beach is the natural place to do very little, with direct access, sand, loungers and parasols. When the sea is not calling, the resort has an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool, plus pool facilities and beach or pool towels. A sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and spa provide the more deliberate route to loosening shoulders that have spent the day carrying kit.

The spa works with APIVITA and offers massages, facials, hammam sessions, jacuzzi time, mud baths and body wraps. Spa treatments can be arranged as part of the stay. There is also a fitness studio, along with yoga and Pilates, if your idea of recovery includes controlled movement rather than complete horizontal commitment.

For something more active on land, you can use the tennis court, hire a bicycle, go walking or play table tennis and billiards. The library and picnic area suit slower afternoons, while Under The Palm House gives the evening a pool table, card games and sport on television. Families have a kids’ club for ages 4 to 12, children’s activities, a play area and babysitting.

Reception is open around the clock, with check-in from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00. Express and private check-in and check-out are available, and the lift makes the three-storey resort easier to navigate with luggage. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and on-site parking is available for guests arriving by car.

Airport transfers can be arranged on request, either as a private service or a shared shuttle depending on the arrangement made with the hotel. Car hire and excursion assistance are also available, which gives you a practical way to explore beyond Kriopigi without having to organise every detail yourself.

The resort has a laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing service, luggage storage, a safe and concierge support. An on-site infirmary is available, with a doctor on request. The hotel accepts major cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Visa Electron and Diners Club.