H&H Reviews The Peligoni Club

When friends invited us to join them at the Peligoni Club in Zakynthos we jumped at the chance. The concept – one we were not familiar with prior to our trip – we now fully understand and appreciate why guests come back year after year.

The Peligoni Club is a members-only, family-run, ocean-side club on the quiet and unspoilt northeast coast of Zakynthos. Your accommodation is in one of the surrounding villas; some a 5-minute walk away, others a 10-15 minute drive.

Walking into the club we immediately felt a sense of calm and ease. The open-air feel of the club with rustic interiors, wooden furniture and white-washed walls is complemented by the signature blue décor and is surrounded by olive trees that let the sunlight dapple through. The club has a small spa with a great wellness offering, an open-air gym, a stunning yoga deck which overlooks the ocean, restaurants and cafes and for those with children numerous offerings for all ages.

The Goat Shed Spa was one of the first Peligoni experiences I was lucky enough to enjoy. A tranquil and beautiful little spot, set just back from the pool. Amanda my lovely therapist was extremely attentive to my requests and gave the most wonderful Peligoni Signature Massage using my choice of essential oil and healing crystal. I also enjoyed the Dermalogica Pro Bright Facial which left my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.

During our child-free mornings and if we weren’t diving into the impossibly blue and turquoise sea, we were enjoying the endless health and fitness classes on offer by the Oyogo team. As a Reformer Pilates instructor who also dabbles in a little Cross Fit – Peligoni was a great place to mix it up and try those other classes which there is no time for back home. During the week we were at the Club, Violet Stopford was on hand offering her expertise and knowledge with her wonderful Yoga classes. We could choose from 3x daily classes with a mixture of dynamic, power, slow flow and Yin yoga. The slow-flow yoga was perfect for me that week, a class focusing on shoulders was very much needed and with her meditative voice delivering instructions, I came away feeling revived. During the week I also took part in Uche Opi’s classes in the gym and on the deck – offering a mixture of slow bodyweight classes and more upbeat strength training – the perfect addition to our holiday to keep us moving and Uche definitely kept us mobile and our bodies energised with his dynamic classes.

If classes aren’t really your thing, the additional wellness offerings are endless; including tennis, water sports, hikes in the nearby hills, daily cycle rides with a professional guide and swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

Throughout the week the Club offers a number of themed party evenings, including a BBQ, dinner party, food festival where guests come together for a communal feast – these evenings are great fun, giving you the chance to meet other guests or just dine with your friends. Alternatively, if a chilled vibe is more your thing when on holiday, all the villas are self-catering and with the delicious Peli Deli on your doorstep there is plenty of choice to cook up your own feast using fresh local produce.

The restaurants and cafe have a delicious offering of simple local dishes – the cafe is a great spot to pick up an iced latte or fresh juice post-exercise.

The club has its own beautiful 55ft wooden yacht which guests can hire for the day or morning/afternoon. Unfortunately, the yacht wasn’t available when we were there, however, the Peligoni arranged for us to spend the afternoon on Sail and Stories stunning yacht, which took us out for the afternoon to private little coves where we could jump from the boat and swim to the beach finishing the afternoon with a trip to the Blue Caves. The yacht is run by the husband-and-wife duo with their cousin who served up the most delicious lunch for all of us. This trip was the perfect end to our week at the Peligoni Club.

The Peligoni Club membership starts from £210 per person per week in low season. Villas within the bespoke collection are all self-catered and start from £735 for a week.

The next PACE is 2^nd October and costs £400 for a week – a PACE ticket includes a week’s membership to the club, paddleboarding, kayaking, all the fitness and yoga classes, meditation and wellness workshops and a complimentary daily driver service. Book here.

words by Claire Howe

Photography: Holly Farrier