Location:
Situated on the island of Lesvos in Greece, Neilson Aeolian Village Beachclub is around a 2 hour & 15 minute transfer from Mytilene airport & just a 10-minute walk from the quaint village of Skala Eressos, where you’ll find an abundance of charming souvenir shops, supermarkets & very reasonably priced restaurants. On-route, you’ll cross over the very aptly named “Turtle Bridge”, where you’ll see the turtles come out to play at twilight.
Stand-out Detail:
Neilson’s motto “Relax as hard as your like” rings true, with a huge array of activities to keep the whole family entertained. From activities on the water including; windsurfing, kayaking & sailing to land activities such as yoga, Zumba, tennis & cycling – so you can choose an action-packed itinerary or simply enjoy blissful relaxation by the pool.
The Vibe:
All the quintessential Greek charm with a relaxed & easy-going atmosphere.
This Place Is Perfect For:
Those who want all the fantastic, first-class Neilson activities & childcare without feeling cut-off & remote, yet still having easy access to walk to the local town & sightseeing.
But Not So Perfect For:
The 2-hour+ transfer might be a consideration for families with very young children, & for those who are keen cyclists – it’s only mountain biking at this resort, no road cycling available.
Where To Stay:
The Hillside rooms are perfect for those who want to be away from any noise & enjoy the stunning views from the balcony. However, please note, a lot of steps are involved, so if mobility is an issue, I would recommend rooms in the main hotel block where you’ll be nearer to all the action.
All rooms come with luxury Temple Spa toiletries & all the essentials such as fridge, hairdryer & tea & coffee making facilities. There’s no need to bring beach towels, these are provided & can be exchanged daily at reception.
What’s On-site:
Where I spent most of my time –the onsite spa, complete with 3 treatment rooms, a hydro bath & sauna. After a long day out on the water, indulge in a wide range of beauty treatments & therapeutic massages such as a hot stone massage, pedicure & sports massage.
Top tip: For those looking to indulge in some pampering, make sure you attend the welcome meeting on Sunday morning at 9.30am for exclusive spa promotions, including 20% off spa treatments taken the first 2 days during your stay.
The only holiday where you’ll return in better shape! This resort has an excellent timetable of fitness classes including daily yoga, Pilates, aquarobics, Zumba, Boxercise & HIIT. I couldn’t recommend the fitness team enough – thanks Sam & Sarah for whipping me into shape!
The resort also has 2 astro-court tennis courts & 1 hard court, all are floodlit to extend hours of play into the evenings, mountain bikes (guided runs & freeriding available), stand-up paddleboards, kayaks & windsurfing & dinghy sailing equipment.
On the transfer to the resort you’ll be given an activity planner which outlines all the timings of tennis, watersports, guided cycle routes & fitness classes, so make sure you plan any spa treatments or excursions around all the activities you want to squeeze into your holiday!
Award-Winning Childcare:
Don’t worry, whilst you cram in all these activities during your holiday, you get rest assured your children will be looked after by qualified, British, Neilson resort staff. From those as young as 4-23 months, the on-site creche operates four days a week from 9.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5.30pm, two days a week from 2.30pm-11pm. Available at an additional cost of £300 per week.
For children aged from 2 years, right up to 17 years of age, different age-group clubs are available four days a week from 9.30am-5.30pm, two days a week from 2.30pm-11pm & are included in your holiday cost.
For the more active young ones, HotShots Club is available for children aged between 8-13 years old. Unlike the inclusive kids clubs, this includes qualified RYA instructors to help them master windsurfing & dinghy sailing, along with additional watersports including kayaking & stand-up paddle-boarding. This is available 6 days a week from 9.30am – 5.30pm & costs £195 per week, per child.
Food & Drink:
Breakfast & lunch are included daily & four evening meals are included each week. You can kick-start each day with a breakfast buffet of fresh fruit, freshly-made breads, local meats & chesses, plus delicious hot food including eggs, bacon & sausages. For lunch & dinner, enjoy a wide range of delicious options, including fajitas, steak, fresh fish, pasta, salads & traditional Greek specialities such as pork gyros. Bottled water, tea & coffee are provided free at all meal times.
On your non-inclusive evenings, try one of the traditional Greek tavernas on stilts, overlooking the sea, in the beautiful village of Skala Eressos.
Meal times:
Breakfast: 7.30am – 10am: Full Breakfast
& 10.00am – 11.00am: Continental only
Lunch: 12.30pm – 2pm
Dinner: 7.30pm – 9pm:
Top tip: Make use of happy hour between 9pm – 11pm, where you can enjoy 20% off the cocktail menu!
When To Go:
This resort is open from early May to late September. For adults only travelling, choose the ‘shoulder’ off-peak months such as May & September for more comfortable temperatures & chilled-out atmosphere.
I stayed in early June & enjoyed beautiful sunshine, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees!
How To Get There:
Neilson offer weekly Saturday flights from Birmingham, Gatwick or Manchester with Thomas Cook Airlines. Flight time is around 3 hours & 55 minutes.
How to Book:
Prices for Neilson Aeolian Village Beachclub start from just £579pp* off-peak & include flights, transfers, accommodation, Club Board dining, Kids Clubs & activities. Call Travel Club Elite on 0800 707 6229 or email our Neilson Specialists on info@travelclubelite.com for huge extra savings.
*based on 2 adults departing 28th September 2019 from Birmingham. Price correct as of 24/06/2019 & is subject to change.
My Verdict
This was my first visit to Lesvos & it was one of the best holidays I have ever had. Some firsts for me included Yoga and Pilates, and not forgetting taking the bikes out for a spin in the sunshine!
One thing’s for sure, I’ll be back to Neilson Holidays in the future and I would recommend them to anyone looking for an inclusive activity holiday where you can still relax and enjoy the Greek charm and tradition.
About the author – Lucy Nash is the Digital Marketing Manager, at Travel Club Elite.