A review of The Romanos Resort at Costa Navarino by BBC’s Vanessa Feltz

A brisk three hours and forty-five minutes on British Airway’s best transports you to a perfumed world of rosemary, myrtle and lavender bushes, sunken pools lined with sparkling pebbles, linen canopies, deep green towels and wall-to-wall comfort.  

If the fancy takes you, indulge in the spa’s menu of a myriad massages and beauty treatments, romp round the lushly verdant golf-course whizz round the bay in a variety of water sports or take a tour through the hotel’s glorious organic garden.  

If it doesn’t – chill, cocktail in hand and gaze upon the sheer beauty of the waving cypress trees, golden butterflies and exotically costumed guests while looking forward to breakfast, lunch and of course dinner.

The Romanos prides itself on its freshly picked homegrown produce, locally sourced meat and daily caught fish, not to mention cakes and biscuits light and airy enough to make Mary Berry’s eyes water.  We dined on magnificent sushi at Inba, succulent sweetbreads at Flame, tiny shrimp wrapped in lettuce served in a saffron sauce at the Taverna and rigatoni al dente at Da Luigi.  If we’d had a few days longer we’d have tried the seven course tasting banquet about which our fellow guests could not stop raving.

We thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the tempting boutiques in the resorts Agora, market place, and even watched Elton John’s 60th birthday concert on the huge screen in the square.  My Other Half Ben was favourably impressed by the gym which, open 24 hours a day was so well equipped he found working out a positive pleasure.

A week at the Romanos resort, listening to the sound of the sea, inhaling the scent of oleander, strolling along the surf and chatting to new friends has left us relaxed, unwound and nourished mentally and physically.  

For a complete break from all the world’s pressures and the highest standard of care and pampering I can’t think of anywhere a quick hop from Heathrow that fits the bill better or more stylishly.

BBC London’ Radio Presenter Vanessa Feltz, was invited to travel to The Romanos Resort courtesy of Berkeley Travel, kindly reviewing her time there and sharing her experience with us.