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Neilson Retreat Beachclub in Sivota – Review

Checking In:

Last week, I was lucky enough to stay at the stunning Neilson Retreat Beach Club in Sivota, Greece. This was my third holiday this year; just perfect, because as all my friends know, I’m obsessed with travel (at least I’m in the right job!) Colleagues call me Judith Chalmers – how rude! Anyway, I wasn’t to be disappointed…????

‘Relax as hard as you like’ is the Neilson slogan, & this is definitely a resort where you can do as little, or as much, as you want to.

There is a small pool with plenty of sunbeds with a handy bar, for some much needed refreshing drinks, whilst you enjoy the sunshine.

Other sunbathing areas are down at the main pontoon where you can sit & relax & enjoy the sun whilst watching those trying their hand at water-skiing, or have a go yourself, of course! We should all remember the wise words of Branson’s mother, who encouraged her children with – ‘don’t be a spectator, get involved!’.

For a beach, you can wade across the crystal clear waters no higher than your knees & follow a wooded path that brings you to goat island, named for the local resident goats that pop out to see you on your sunbed.

The Rooms:

Neilson’s Retreat Beachclub consists of many Hotel & Garden Rooms, most offering superb sea views & a good size balcony, or terrace, from which I enjoyed many an evening having a relaxing drink before dinner & watching the spectacular sunsets.

The rooms are comfortable & offer plenty of wardrobe space, mini fridge, hairdryer, tea & coffee making facilities & a safe.

Stand-out Detail:

The views are simply stunning; everywhere you look, from the hotel, built into the hillside, to the lush & verdant gardens, the views across the clear waters of the Ionian Sea are breath-taking. The location makes for the perfect setting for all of Neilson’s excellent watersports, including great windsurfing & watersking. This Beachclub is one of the best for water-skiing & paddle-boarding.

Location:

Neilson Retreat Beachclub is around a 1+1/2 hour transfer from Preveza airport, & the resort is just a 10-minute walk downhill to the beautiful town of Sivota. Be warned, heading back is up-hill, of course & very steep, so I would definitely recommend taking the water taxi back to the resort or the local taxi, a taxi rank is visible from the harbour front & both options are around 5 euros for the trip.

This resort is one of the best for having a local town nearby, & you can enjoy delicious, fresh Greek dishes & hospitality along the harbour front, where you can watch the fishing boats, smart yachts & the world go by….

Food & Drink:

With Neilson’s holiday inclusions, you’ll have breakfast & lunch included every day & four evening meals.

For breakfast, you could select from eggs, bacon, beans, cereals, wraps & porridge as well as many fresh juices & fruits. They also did an incredible fresh strawberry smoothie to kick start your day.

Lunch & dinners include pizzas & pasta dishes (do try the incredible Bolognese sauce), traditional Greek platters, as well as grilled meat & some seafood, with plenty of crisp salads & naughty desserts to choose from. There’s a large selection of fresh local vegetables, & of course plenty of home-made Greek dishes; everything from moussaka, to a delicious homemade feta & spinach bake & a local Greek stew. Other waist-busters were Kebabs and mini-pitta breads & lamb & pork dishes with accompanying peppercorn & barbeque sauces.

Complimentary coffee, tea & cold water are always available with your meals & you can choose from the a good wine selection at the restaurant, or enjoy tempting cocktails at the pool bar (non-inclusive). Cocktails at the pool bar included a daily offer of a 20% discount on the cocktail of the day, I enjoyed the Aperol Spritz, Long Island Tea & a Brazilian caipirinha; all perfect for settling down with & watching the beautiful sunsets.

For the non-inclusive dining evenings, head down to the town & enjoy a delicious dinner at my favourite restaurants: Mediterraneo Pizzeria, Georgio’s Family Greek Restaurant & the Steakhouse. All offering fresh food, huge portions & wonderful, charming, friendly Greek hospitality.

What’s Onsite:

The resort has a great fitness area, right in the middle of the Hotel & offers Yoga, Hit, Zumba, Boxercise & more sedate stretch classes, at the end of the day.

Surrounded by rolling hillside, it’s a biker’s paradise. There are rocky tracks, green valleys, steep climbs, wonderful views, coastal tracks & technical single track – something for just about everybody. If road biking is your thing, there are some great long rides, how does 80km of rolling coastal road sound? It’s a round trip to Parga, with inland climbs & long descents. This resort is one of the best for cycling enthusiasts.

Windsurfing & Kayaking are fantastic along the stunning coast. Don’t miss out on the morning coffee Kayak session for the more gentle version & an afternoon Kayak adventure which takes you out to other beaches for around 2 to 2.5 hours.

There’s a spa centre offering a good variety of massages & treatments at reasonable prices & some of the packages can be booked, in advance, please ask for details.

You’ll get an Activity Planner at the beginning of your stay, so you can plan your own perfect schedule.

Your little ones will be taken care of, with on-site inclusive childcare available from just 2 years, from through to aged 17 years.


How To Get There:

Neilson Holidays offer weekly Sunday flights from either London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester or Bristol with either Thomas Cook or British Airways. The flight time is around 3+1/2 hours.

Prices for Neilson Retreat Beachclub start from just £655pp* off-peak & include flights, transfers, accommodation, Club-board dining, kids clubs & activities. Call Travel Club Elite (free) on 0800 707 6229 or email our Neilson Specialists on info@travelclubelite.com for huge extra savings.

*based on 2 adults departing 6th October 2019 for 7 nights from London Heathrow. Price correct as of 24/06/2019 & is subject to change.

My Verdict:

This was my first visit to Sivota & I would definitely recommend this resort. My personal highlights were the yoga & aquarobics, enjoying a paddle in the beautiful waters & our private boat trip to explore quieter coastal areas.

I would recommend this resort for anyone who wants the fantastic, first-class activity holiday experience which Neilson is renowned for plus peace-of-mind childcare, whilst still soaking up the local culture & stunning scenery.

If you have any questions about Neilson Retreat Beachclub, please email me at deana@travelclubelite.com or call 01432 345 197.


About the author – Deana is a Senior Travel Consultant, at Travel Club Elite. Having been in the travel industry for 24 years, Deana has extensive personal experience & her particular areas of expertise include USA, Canada & the Caribbean. Deana is a Sandals & Beaches Ambassador & has visited all of their resorts.

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