Mark Warner - Paleros Beach Resort — Hotel in Municipality of Aktio and Vonitsa

First trip to Mark Warner and had an unbelievable family holiday (kids, parents and grandparents), having previously done MW/Neilson as adults only.

The kids clubs are exceptional allowing adults to have some kid-free time each day, as well as the movie night each night where the kids are taken care of while adults have their dinner - really great addition to the holiday! During the day, the kids did all sorts of new activities including windsurfing, sailing, SUP and kayaking - superb introduction and learning experience for them. Particular credit needs to go to Cormac and Ellie for being superstars with the kids this week.

Plenty of activities for adults as well, just as the website indicates. Wind was basically non-existent sadly, but got out 3 times in the week including taking my son out for the first time which was magical.

Family pool is huge and very warm, 1.4m depth throughout with several steps for easy access, totally great. Shallow kids pool right next to the family pool is a great addition to allow the little ones to splash about while touching the floor. Don't believe the resort was full while we were here but there were still lots of sunbeds free so you can spread out, with tables and fixed parasols for shade.

Pool bar is very close to the pool itself for easy access and staff did occasionally come round to take drinks orders which was nice. Particular mentions to Dan and Annie from the bar team who were great.

Food was amazing, with a great variety and plenty of everything. Breakfast had all the options you could want and then at lunch you can go to one of the other bars and buy a pizza which I would definitely recommend as they were fresh, handmade and incredibly tasty. For dinner, the chicken gyros were a stand-out on a couple of the nights, and the salad options offered were always great - no one does Greek salad better than the Greeks, unsurprisingly. The staff clearing the tables were pleasant and courteous and a mixture of local and UK staff. It wasn't always clear whether it was 'table service' for ordering your drinks or order yourself from the bar but it worked ok. Occasionally it can be a little slow on drinks service whether at the bar or ordered at the table as there only appeared to be a max of 2 staff behind there but it wasn't ever a big problem.

Accommodation was good with the fixtures and fittings a little dated but not creating a problem. We had 2 kids on sofa beds which were pre made when we arrived, and the main bed was enormous and very comfortable. Air conditioning worked amazingly and was essential as it was in the 30s each day and still incredibly warm in the evening. Our room had an air con leak that we reported and was addressed very quickly, fortunately nothing was damaged.

Management announced themselves on arrival and made it clear they wanted feedback throughout the holiday and were often very visible so easy to approach. We spoke to them once and situation was understood and appeared to be resolved quickly.

Downside was that we were stuck on the tarmac for over an hour on the way out which wasn't the best start to the holiday but it was uphill from there! Short transfer to the resort was ideal.

With young kids so well catered for, we already want to come back. Cannot rate it highly enough - other than a little more wind would be nice but that can't...

The resort has a beautiful setting and wonderful surroundings. The ethos and attitude of the Mark Warner team cannot be faulted. This was a family holiday with my daughter, son in law and their 3 young children. The 2 older children (7 and 9) absolutely loved all the activities and could not wait to get into their respective clubs each morning and afternoon. The resort is 'young' so the gardens and plantings are immature, but it will be absolutely beautiful in a very short time. The adult and the family swimming pools are excellent. Rooms are very comfortable and kept spotlessly clean. The food in the restaurant is very good indeed, less so in the resort taverna. The restaurant and taverna service could do with some additional training of local staff who were pleasant and friendly, but with a slightly 'manana' attitude. As we were the first guests of the season, we actually arrived on the very first day (night) of the opening of the newly refurbished resort, so there were a few unfinished jobs; outside lights unconnected, hurriedly laid turfing and some units at the back still unoccupied, but this did not detract at all from the overall enjoyment of the holiday. The management of the resort is excellent and these were minor details. It's expensive, but the child-centred approach and professionalism of the staff are worth it for an activity packed and fun holiday for children. Tips for travellers: it's extremely pleasant to walk into Paleros and eat in some of the many restaurants there. There is a beach bar not far in the opposite direction from the village where there is a delicious Greek salad...

Such a beautiful hotel, with so many activities available. Perfect for families or those who like to mix up their holiday a bit.

The food was brilliant, especially at dinner - a great mix of local dishes, all to a very high standard. Rooms were beautiful and always cleaned perfectly - no complaints here. Views from the beach were gorgeous too!

You’re about a 25 minute walk/15 minute cycle from the town - there’s not a huge amount going on there, it’s just a quiet quaint little Greek town with friendly people and a small supermarket.

Only negatives would be:

Price of drinks - since none are included it did get quite pricey towards the end of the holiday. Lunch also isn’t included which was fine for us as breakfast was large enough!

Availability of certain activities - things like padel would get booked up very quickly, and there weren’t always enough bikes available. But not a huge issue.

Staff - a lot of the staff weren’t all that friendly nor helpful. From reception to the bar staff to the people running activities, nobody was particularly nice, some of the bar staff were actually rude. It’s a shame as a few were lovely but it was very noticeable with many of the other staff.

If you’re looking for the perfect Greek holiday, with childcare or lots of activities to try - this resort is the one for you. Facilities were great and the hotel itself...