Scott Dunn's Eagles Resort: A Five-Star Luxury holiday for families in Greece
For the best part of a decade, I've dreamt about the day when I could swap the chaos of everyday life with three children for a luxury escape where I might finally spend an afternoon stretched out on a sun lounger, book in hand, with nothing more pressing to think about than whether to order another coffee or a glass of rosé.
It doesn't sound like an unreasonable ambition, yet as a mother to a four-year-old son and daughters aged eight and ten, I'd largely accepted that such holidays belonged firmly in my future. My children crave adventure and activity, and while I love spending quality time with them, family holidays have traditionally involved far more organising, supervising and entertaining than actual relaxation.
What I hadn't realised was that it was possible to have both. A holiday where five-star luxury, genuine rest and relaxation, uninterrupted family time and happy, fulfilled children could coexist perfectly. Then Scott Dunn entered our lives and completely changed our expectations of what a family holiday could be. That revelation came in the form of Eagles Resort, a stunning family-owned retreat on the Halkidiki coast of northern Greece. Elevated further by Scott Dunn's renowned concierge service and exceptional kids' club offering, this resort proved to be the rare family holiday that delivered exactly what every member of our family wanted. While our children discovered new adventures, friendships and experiences every day, my husband and I were gifted the opportunity to properly switch off, recharge and enjoy the luxury surroundings around us.
Before we even boarded the plane, Scott Dunn had already removed much of the usual stress and responsibility that comes with planning the annual family holiday. Their concierge team had called me at regular intervals, answering any questions I had (What was the villa layout? Will there be suitable car seats for the transfer? What does the all inclusive actually include? etc) and had pre-booked kids' club sessions, made restaurant reservations and arranged activities. The very useful and dedicated Scott Dunn app held our itinerary, transfer details and booking information in one place and so the room for error whilst juggling boarding passes, passports and carry-ons was pretty minimal. After a very do-able 3.5 hour flight from Gatwick, we arrived at the resort and were introduced to our dedicated Scott Dunn Guest Relations Manager, who remained on hand at the end of a WhatsApp conversation throughout our stay. Whether it was arranging a boat trip, answering questions or securing a taxi booking, my new bestie Georgia was like a holiday PA - a role I was very happy to retire from. It's difficult to overstate the value of this service. Rather than simply booking a hotel, Scott Dunn ensure every detail runs smoothly.
Eagles Resort Armyra Restaurant
Sat splendidly on the unspoilt coastline of Halkidiki, Eagles Resort combines the beachfront elegance of Eagles Palace with the exclusivity of Eagles Villas, perched proudly above the resort with sweeping views across the Aegean Sea. A family-owned hotel, the resort is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, combining warm boutique-style hospitality with the facilities of a much larger destination. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted like old friends and seamlessly checked in whilst we enjoying a chilled welcome drink and the children immediately began plotting their first swim. A few minutes later we were welcomed onboard one of the resort’s ‘Club Cars’ and driven (at some speed, much to the excitement of our merry little trio) to our highly anticipated accommodation.
We stayed in a two-bedroom Residential Pool Villa and it took my breath away. It’s hard to imagine a better setup for a family of five. Spread across two floors, the villa was dazzling. The villa offered an abundance of space and I couldn’t wait to unpack our clothes, making full use of the walk in wardrobes. Accommodation for a family of five can often feel like an afterthought, but here everyone had their own, very ample, corner of paradise. Our son happily claimed the sofa bed in the lounge while our daughters had their own bedroom and bathroom. We enjoyed a huge super king bed with a wonderfully spacious ensuite complete with a bath – a small luxury when travelling with younger children.
Outside, the villa was every bit as impressive with a private plunge pool sat alongside a dining terrace overlooking the sea. Practical touches hadn't been overlooked either, with stair gates, high glass railings surrounding the terrace and secure gates preventing little ones accessing the pool unsupervised. The villa felt luxurious whilst still having all the family friendly additions.
We quickly discovered that Eagles Resort is one of those places where you're constantly being tempted away from your room. Each morning we'd set off with the intention of spending a few leisurely hours by our private pool, only to find ourselves drawn down to the beach which quickly became one of our favourite spots in the resort. I’m not usually a beach lover (the pool is more my scene of choice) but it worked so well for all three children despite their very different ideas of fun.
The sea here is wonderfully calm and shallow, which takes a lot of the stress out of beach days with younger children. The water is so clear that spotting fish swimming around the jetty became something of a holiday pastime, and there was a lovely freedom in being able to let the older girls venture a little further while still keeping everyone within sight and lifeguards were highly visible throughout the day.
Eagles Resort has clearly been designed by people who understand family holidays. Beach towels are fluffy and ready to go, there are convenient de-sanding stations dotted around the beach entrances, and the resort even has a 'library' of buckets, spades and water toys that children can borrow throughout their stay. It sounds like a small detail, but it saves packing half of the toy cupboard into your suitcase.
I’m always looking for fabulous seafood, for my husband it’s all about the breakfast buffet and the kids want their staples. Eagles Resort had all bases covered. Breakfast can be enjoyed either at Eagles Villas or Eagles Palace, with both buffet and à la carte options available. Fresh pastries, fruits, smoothies, cooked breakfasts, local cheeses and endless coffee made mornings something to look forward to. Lunch was often spent at Armyra, the resort's beachfront seafood restaurant.The sea bream was outstanding and the squid ink seafood pasta designed for sharing quickly became a family favourite.
Clever menu names such as ‘Lightning McQueen Pasta’ and ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ worked incredibly well for my fussy eaters. My son is going through one of those phases, but add the name of his favourite cartoon character to a healthy dish and abracadabra, you have a winner. For more relaxed beach days, Ammos serves delicious Greek street food including gyros, grilled chicken skewers and chargrilled prawns wrapped in warm pittas.
The wider and more sophisicated culinary offering across Eagles Resort is impressive. From Mediterranean dining within a magical secret garden (as described by my daughter) at Patio Bistro to wine-focused evenings at Vinum and special occasion dinners at the award-winning Kamares restaurant, there is a genuine emphasis on quality throughout and many an opportunity to dress to the nines. One particularly lovely feature of the Bon Vivant All Inclusive package is the opportunity to dine outside the resort at selected local restaurants. I think it's really important to make sure we leave a resort and experience the local area so we loved venturing out and enjoyed freshly caught seafood while watching everyday Greek life unfold around us.
What truly sets Eagles Resort apart? The Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club. Our children can often be hesitant about joining kids' clubs and, if I'm honest, I rarely feel entirely comfortable sending them either. They were won over from the very moment they entered our villa. They arrived to discover individually named Scott Dunn backpacks waiting on their beds, complete with branded hats and water bottles, which instantly built excitement. Within minutes, my three little monkeys had put on their Scott Dunn regalia and announced they would be booking in the very next day.
One of the things we appreciated most was the flexibility. This isn't a holiday where children disappear for the entire day unless that's what your family wants. Instead, you can tailor the experience completely around your own rhythm, dipping in and out of the club as much or as little as suits your family. We chose to mix things up, spending plenty of time together as a family while also making use of the kids' club throughout the week. Some mornings we'd all head to the beach, take a boat trip or enjoy lunch together, before the children disappeared off on their next adventure. Other days they were so excited by the activities on offer that they couldn't wait to get there. Our four-year-old couldn't get enough of mocktail making, treasure hunts, pool games and creative activities. Meanwhile, our daughters spent their days scuba diving (yes actually scuba diving!), riding a crazy couch across the sea, exploring by pedalo and even enjoying spa experiences. Quite frankly, I was envious I was a few decades too old to attend myself! I knew kids clubs had moved on from the 90s when they largely centred around a parachute game, but this was something else.
While the children were off creating memories of their own, we enjoyed something equally valuable - time.Time for long lunches overlooking the sea, afternoons by the pool, spa treatments and simply slowing down for a while. The evening Stargazers club for kids was equally brilliant, allowing parents to enjoy dinner while the children settled onto giant beanbags with popcorn, films, games and crafts.
Of course, having that extra time on our hands meant we were finally able to make the most of some of the facilities that often go unexplored on a family holiday. The resort's spa became a particular favourite, offering an extensive menu of treatments, including options for children and teenagers, while elsewhere there are tennis and padel courts for those feeling active, yoga and Pilates sessions in stunning settings, a state-of-the-art gym, indoor pool and jacuzzi. One particular highlight was a boat trip arranged through the resort. Departing directly from the pontoon on the beach, we explored nearby islands and hidden coves before stopping at an inflatable water park floating in the sea – much to the delight of both the children and my husband.
So what's my verdict? Luxury family holidays often involve compromise. A beautiful hotel may lack childcare, great childcare can come at the expense of exceptional dining and outstanding food often means children feel like an afterthought. Eagles Resort, particularly when experienced through Scott Dunn, manages to deliver all three; the accommodation is luxurious, the setting breathtaking, the food exceptional and the childcare genuinely world-class.
We've already been back in touch with Scott Dunn and booked to go again next year, which is probably the strongest endorsement I can give. In fact, the children started asking when we were going back before we'd even unpacked the suitcases. If you're looking for a family holiday where everyone gets exactly what they want, don't blame me if you find yourself doing the same. Just make sure you leave me a sun bed.