Neilson Messini Beach Club Review
Location:
Messini Beachclub is located just a 20-minute drive from the airport. The Beachclub is situated directly on a long, golden, sandy beach which stretches out against a backdrop of two mountains, with a massive area for water sports. Only a 10-minute walk & you will pass a local market store selling fresh, locally-produced fruit & veg. before stumbling across three restaurants & a beach bar.
There is a local town of Messinia which is around a 20 minute (leisurely) cycle ride from the main resort which will take you through some breath-taking scenery. In the town you will find & variety of shops, coffee shops & few supermarkets.
Stand-out detail:
This resort boasts a wide range of activities from the many watersports, including windsurfing, sailing & water-skiing, to a variety of land activities such as fitness classes, tennis & rock climbing. There is be something to suit everyone.
Cycling enthusiasts will be excited to hear of the brand new for this season, Boardman bikes (after Chris Boardman the well-known cyclist). These bikes are of a high standard & after testing out the road & gravel bikes I can highly recommend these, but get there early as they all get booked out quickly.
If being active is not your thing at Neilson “Relax as hard as you like” is there motto so you can enjoy sunbathing by the pool or indulging & treating yourself in the spa.
I would say that what makes this resort special would be the staff, especially those in the beach team; always happy to help with smiles & a great deal of patience which is much needed in some cases, including mine!
This resort is perfect for…
Those who prefer a short transfer – only 20 minutes its spacious & the flat location would also be a bonus for both families & anyone with any mobility issues. With the brilliant British childcare team, you will not have to worry about the children & can enjoy the activities that Messini has to offer.
What’s on-site:
I spent most of my time between the beach participating in the water sports, the cycling hut & the fitness centre.
Top tip: I would recommend going to the welcome meeting on the first morning, so you will be introduced to the different teams & will be able to sign up for the activities & courses.
The resort has a huge area for the watersports & has a vast array of equipment anything from Kayaks, many different levels of windsurfing kit, sailing dinghies, catamarans, etc.
For fitness fans, they have an outdoor platform, where many classes such as Yoga, Pilates & Boxercise take place. They also have a large gym & fitness studio located near the tennis courts. Speaking of tennis, they have many courses & activities to get involved in & I was told the staff have been trained by Mark Petchey (former coach of Andy Murray!). Messini boasts 7 Tennis courts, so plenty of space for all interested.
The bike hut has many options of both road & mountain bikes, so I would recommend popping down & seeing the team who are all extremely knowledgeable. They helped us select the perfect bikes & routes. If cycling is for you then I can highly recommend this resort. The area is perfect for both road & mountain biking.
If you fancy about exploring this area of the Peloponnese, then you book some interesting excursions. These include hiking to the spectacular Poliliminio waterfalls, visiting the Dyros Caves & a trip to ancient Messinia.
Food & drink:
For the all-important dining there is one main restaurant, which is buffet-style & where you’ll enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch & dinners (Inclusive nights only). There is a wide variety of choice, including some local dishes such as Moussaka & Souvlaki along with some English & modern dishes enough to suit everyone.
They also have a pool bar which has options you can order for an extra cost. On non-inclusive nights they put a variety of dinner options, which are served at the pool bar area. I can recommend the BBQ night which hosted lots of local dishes, rotisserie chicken, souvlaki, Gyros & lots of fresh seafood, such as king prawns. This was accompanied by locally sourced fruit & veg.
The beach bar has a wide selection of cocktails & a choice of local beers & favourite brands, so I am sure you will be able to find something you like, if not, maybe ask the bar staff to suggest their popular ‘specials’?….
Getting there:
After a 4-hour flight we were greeted by the Neilson staff & showed to our transfer coaches. Transfers lasting only 20 minutes which was a bonus. We had finally arrived at Messini Beachclub. As it was late, & we had arrived on a non-inclusive night they had kept the pool bar open for us to get some food. They had a wide variety of choice anything from healthy salads to stone baked pizzas. My first impressions of the resort were great with friendly staff & a modern & fresh resort. I would say that from the flight check-in, to arriving at the resort the whole process was seamless & hassle free.
My Verdict:
This was my second Neilson Holiday experience & once again, I had a fabulous time. For me, the location & scenery were perfect. I would also say that the beach team were fantastic. I signed up for the ‘Start Windsurfing’ course & I will take my hat off to them, as by the end of the week they had managed to get me to be able to stand up on the board actually sail across the water & also do a static turn!
Working in the travel industry, I’m privileged to see some beautiful places & sample some wonderful products. I chose Neilson for my own holiday & I’m sure to be back again. I would thoroughly recommend Neilson Holidays to anyone & I’ll be happy to talk to anyone who is interested in more information, or to benefit from my own experiences.
Jayne McDonald, Senior Travel Consultant at Travel Club Elite. Jayne@travelclubelite.com
About the author – Jayne McDonald has worked in the travel business for many years. Recent trips & areas of expertise include: China, Nepal, USA, Cuba, Germany, France, Austria, Lichtenstein, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Sardinia & Many more.