In Greece, A Kid-Friendly Holiday That’s Just As Glorious For The Grown-Ups

The Peligoni Club isn’t your typical resort. There’s no beach to wander along, no strip of loungers in regimented rows. Instead, life revolves around a floating pontoon that juts into the Ionian, where children fling themselves off in packs and teenagers stretch out between swims. The club started life in the 1980s and has been run since 2005 by the Shearer family, who have kept its original, laid-back spirit alive while steadily refining what’s on offer. Vogue’s global beauty and wellness director Jessica Diner – in search of a family holiday that offers an opportunity for grown-ups to switch off as well as enough to entertain three growing kids – paid it a visit.

The Vogue review: The Peligoni Club

The elevator pitch:

Today, there are around 100 villas available to rent at the Peligoni Club, from chic stone houses to sleek modern glass affairs, all of which give families a chance to retreat into their own space while still being part of the action by the sea. The kids’ club is the real clincher: run by TARKA, the London-based children’s camp that pops up internationally over the summer and school holidays. Their team of instructors transform childcare into something genuinely exciting. My two eldest disappeared onto paddleboards and kayaks with their TARKA group each morning, returning sun-kissed and exhausted (the kind of exhaustion parents secretly pray for on holiday), whilst my littlest paddled around in the créche.

Courtesy of The Peligoni Club

What’s the aesthetic?

The aesthetic is deliberately unfussy. Whitewashed walls, pale stone, shaded courtyards and simple rattan chairs set the tone, softened by olive trees and the bougainvillea that spills over most pathways. It feels more homely sailing club than pretentious hotel, which is precisely its charm.

What’s the vibe?

This is a place that lives and breathes the water. We bought a watersports pass for the week and the children made full use of it – kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, snorkelling. Water skiing is also available for those brave enough. The kids’ programme is neatly organised by age group, which means activities are always pitched right. Parents can peel off for yoga or tennis, or book a massage at the Goat Shed Spa – you can do everything, or nothing at all.

A friend messaged me while I was there to say that they’d been coming for 14 summers straight. Some families are so loyal, their children return years later to work in the restaurant. That kind of repeat devotion tells you more than any brochure ever could.