From swim-up private pools to all-day chicken nuggets, Elix is an upmarket resort on mainland Greece that offers uninterrupted downtime for families with kids. Lotte Jeffs reports

Open from April to November, Elix is one of the family-owned Mar-Bella Collection’s most stunning luxury properties and the only on mainland Greece. Alongside the flagship property MarBella – which has a waterpark and is great for kids but much more "mass market" in design and service – there’s the adults-only Nido (also part of SLH) and the Avali, which opened in August this year, all on Corfu and all easily accessible by a small private charter boat (on a good day) from Elix should you want to explore a different vibe.

We had a vision of arriving at Elix in style, via a catamaran boat transfer from the MarBella on Corfu island – but sadly the weather wasn’t co-operating so we chugged into the port at Parga as foot passengers on a local ferry. Things rapidly improved on being whisked into an air conditioned vehicle and driven for half an hour through olive groves and little villages until the hotel appeared, tiered into the hillside, stone and glass arranged as if the landscape had agreed to it.

We were welcomed with a drink on the terrace (including a juice for our daughter), given a comprehensive overview of the resort and then guided to our room a few minutes away on one of the lower levels. From our swim-up private pool terrace, the Ionian Sea was an unbroken blue, Paxos and Antipaxos just visible on the horizon. Some days the water was so still the distinction between pool and sea blurred. At night, the blackness was total; only the sound of cicadas marked the shift from day.

LOCATION

On Greece’s less well-known Epirus Coast, the hotel is near Parga – a pretty and colourful town, with higgledy-piggledy pastel-hued houses that seem  to tumble down the hills towards the sparkling sea. From Elix there’s direct access to Karavostasi beach which is nicely broad, and just the right length for an easy early morning jog. To access the resort, you can either fly to Preveza airport or take the ferry or catamaran from Corfu.

ETHOS

The standout feature of Elix is its "premium all-inclusive" proposition that means you can eat and drink whatever you like. Guests can eat three times a week at the fine-dining restaurants, and also get wifi, use of the Grasshoppers Kids Club by Worldwide Kids, unlimited ice cream, minibar top-ups (beer and soft drinks) included. We loved how at ease this made us feel, not having to sign for things multiple times a day and wonderfing how much it would add up to. One meal "out" in a local restaurant is also included in the package, which help direct a little spending to the local economy. The property is also very LGBTQ+ friendly.

The hotel’s scale is striking – the high-ceilinged reception is strung with Moroccan lamps, walls displaying traditional Greek costumes in oversized frames – yet the atmosphere is wonderfully lowkey and measured. The buildings step down eight floors towards Karavostasi beach, linked by lifts, stairways, and a sturdy little funicular that turns the descent (and more importantly, ascent) into a miniature voyage. It doesn’t feel splashy or somewhere you want to show off on Instagram. In fact, for such a large resort it still has a calm feeling and there’s a sense that everyone staying there would quite like to keep it that way.

GUEST PERSONAS

Mostly middle class families from the UK and other European countries with a mix of young kids and some teenagers, although there would be less for them to do as there isn't much happening in the way of evening discos or nearby villages to walk to. Couples would also enjoy the serenity, especially if they had a room with a private pool, and value that comes from choosing the "premium all-inclusive" package that includes all meals and alcohol. It's not a trendy place – but that's part of the appeal. Elix would also work well for a multi-generational holiday with the grandparents. One of the things we loved most was the fact that our daughter was able to make friends with other kids.

THE BEACH AND POOL

The beach is accessed via a long flight of steps through the pine forest or via the funicular railway. The pale sand is coarse (a better texture for some kids as not so sticky) and the water is so clear you can see fish in the shallows (our daughter loved going under water to look at them). The watersports centre is well equipped for kayaking, paddleboarding or more high-octane pursuits, and the hotel organises boat trips to the Blue Caves, and the small surrounding islands. All guests get 30 minutes of free canoe or snorkelling a day. There are loungers, towels and parasols for those who want shade. We loved ordering "free" drinks, ice cream and Greek salads to our spot for seaside picnics.

The hotel's main pool is really long with a decent "shallow-ish" section that meant our daughter could touch the bottom with her toes. There is no loud music or lots of inflatables so it had a nice relaxed feel and sweeping sea views. When we visited in May half term it was still quite cool to swim in as is not heated but that didn't put us off.

ROOMS

Rooms are pared-back but warm: earthy tones, blond wood, rattan lamps, tiled floors. All have sea-facing balconies; some, like ours, come with a private section of an infinity pool shared with our neighbours, and others have a totally private pool. Most mornings we had coffee on the terrace while our daughter practised underwater headstands, the sea stretching behind the pool like a Rothko of blues.

DINING

The buffet restaurant Saffron serves a generous, high quality, breakfast spread – Greek pastries, yoghurt, honey, fruit, eggs, waffles, crêpes, cereal – the usual, plus a mix of Greek and international dishes for lunch and dinner. The view of the sea from the balcony here is spectacular if something of a suntrap in the mornings. Pearl is the fine-dining option, serving chic Asian-inspired cuisine amid sleek décor and an intimate glow from table lamps. 

Indigo by the infinity pool is the spot to lounge in all day, playing cards, drinking ice cold rose and eating pizzas, salads and ice cream. It’s casual but still superior quality, while down on the beach, at Azure – you can enjoy a similar menu of easygoing fresh fare eaten with sand still on your feet (the chicken nuggets and chips were a favourite). Note that they stop serving at around 6pm though. Service throughout the hotel is consistently good, with staff across the board striking the right balance between friendly and efficient.

THE KIDS' CLUB

Kids aged four and above can use the Grasshoppers Kids Club by Worldwide Kids but our daughter preferred to spend her time with us. Nevertheless, I checked it out and found it was an attractive set-up outdoors with astroturf and sheds for activities. There were also table tennis tables, a basketball court and an indoor nursery for little ones, although that looked a bit depressing as there was no natural light. It's recommended to book your kids' club slots in advance of your stay, especially during school holidays.

WELLNESS

There is a gym, outdoor yoga, tennis, hiking and a small spa. I had a very good massage here one afternoon but wellness is not central to the experience.

MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD'S REVIEW

"I really loved it here. I made two friends who were brother and sister. We first made friends when I was on a lounger pretending to be a lifeguard and they were in the pool, playing. But then I was getting hot so I decided to go in the pool and that’s how we made friends. And then we were friends for the rest of the time I was at Elix. We went in the sea together. We put bread in it so the fish came and we could go under and see them. I did not go to the kids club but I did go to a pretty cool restaurant and did some nice drawing and ate a yummy meal.

"It was the first time I tried real chicken and the first time I made friends with someone who had a dog like me. Our room had a swimming pool and I did swimming in it with Mummy and Mama. There was a TV in my room and I had a very big bed. I had brung my parrot floaty so I could go in the sea without sinking.

"For breakfast on the way to the buffet I saw roofs that had sand or grass on them and it looked like someone could go up there and walk on them. In the buffet for breakfast I had jam on toast with some fruit on the side and sometimes yogurt with it. There were croissants, buns, pastries – all sorts of fruit, different cereals. It was a very good buffet. I liked how clean the hotel was. It was so clean I could walk barefoot everywhere if I wanted to. I really want to go back to the hotel Elix again."

MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD'S IDEAS FOR HOW IT COULD BE EVEN BETTER

"The floor could be paved with cupcakes. There could be a climbing wall up to the roof so people could walk on it and I could do cartwheels and have meditation on it. Dig a hole big enough on the beach to fit 1,000 golden seashells in. There should be a huge pink waterslide with bumpy swimming pools at the bottom to dive into."

VERDICT

Elix is pretty remote. You’ll need a car to explore villages like hilltop Perdika, or the coves near Sivota. But it’s effortlessly chic as in, it's not trying to be anything other than itself. It’s a happy, uplifting place that even the most demanding of guest (ie my daughter) would love. We also felt incredibly welcomed as a same-sex couple with a child (in fact, we weren't the only ones), both in terms of the warmth of the staff and the other guests. The premium all-inclusive option is excellent and really alleviates any concerns about the bill.

PRICE

From £775 for a two-night premium all-inclusive stay in a Family Sea View Room in October 2025.