A Slice of Slow: Our Family Escape to Ekies All Senses Resort, Halkidiki

There are some places that stay with you — not because of grand monuments or bucket-list bragging rights, but because of how they made you feel. For us, Ekies All Senses Resort in Halkidiki is one of those places.

In 2018, we packed up and headed to Halkidiki, Greece. The kids were 17, 9, and 7 at the time — that magical (and mildly chaotic) window when everyone still wanted to be on a family holiday, and everyone wanted something slightly different out of it. Finding somewhere that meets all those needs? Not easy. But somehow, Ekies did.

Tucked away on a quiet stretch of the Vourvourou coastline, Ekies isn’t loud or flashy. It hums. Think: pine trees swaying overhead, hammocks strung between trees, swing beds near the water, and a design aesthetic that marries modern Greek minimalism with a warm, bohemian soul. It felt like someone imagined a dream and then just… built it.

We arrived calm and well-rested — the kids had all napped during the drive from the airport, and for once, there were no travel-day dramas. Within hours, it felt as though the whole family had exhaled anyway — not from exhaustion, but from the gentle welcome of the place itself.

The younger two tore through the gardens barefoot, discovering hidden corners and playful surprises. Our eldest found peace by the water, headphones in, book in hand, teenage cool intact.

And the grown-ups? We found silence. Not the awkward kind — the good kind, the kind that fills in when there’s no need to talk.

Breakfasts were a highlight — a spread of local honey, fresh fruit, thick yogurt, just-baked pastries, and strong Greek coffee. We lingered each morning a little longer than necessary. Why rush? Days slipped easily between sea and pool, with the occasional nap or round of cards in the shade. In the heat of the afternoon, we’d retreat to our room — simple, light-filled, with bursts of colour and a relaxed, beachy vibe.

Dinner by the water was the golden hour of the day. The food was excellent — local, fresh, unfussy — but it was the setting that made it magical: sand between our toes, lanterns swaying, laughter in the air.

One evening, we left the kids in the room with their big sister watching a movie and slipped away to the resort’s adults-only fine-dining treehouse restaurant. At our table for two, surrounded by lanterns and the gentle rustle of leaves high above the gardens, I savored every bite and felt a deep sense of calm — and thought, This. This is what it’s all about.

We didn’t do much. And that was kind of the point. No checklists, no must-see sights. Just presence. Space to notice each other again.

Years on, we still talk about that trip. Out of the blue, one of the kids will say, “Remember that place in Greece with the swing beds and the sea?” And I do.

Ekies wasn’t just a holiday. It was a pause. And sometimes, a pause is exactly what a family needs.

Travel Tips for Ekies All Senses Resort

Best for: Families with kids of all ages, couples, and anyone needing to slow down

Don’t miss: The swing beds near the sea, breakfast under the trees, and the magical sunsets

What to pack: Beachwear, books, and a willingness to unplug

Getting there: Fly to Thessaloniki, then it’s about a 90-minute drive to Vourvourou