Hotel review | Exclusive Peligoni Club on Zakynthos

While the club itself doesn’t offer overnight accommodations, it makes up for that in other ways: The Peligoni Club’s guests choose from an impressive selection of villas, cottages and B&Bs nearby. The 85 accommodations for two to sixteen people, with private swimming pool, are sometimes modern (including the villas Elia, Manousakia or Zephyros), sometimes rustic (the villas Thea, Halcyon or Kapari Bay), but always beautifully finished.

One of those accommodations is villa Halcyon, a Tuscan-looking building, hidden in the hills with a breathtaking view of the Ionian Sea. The only ones who can watch with us are the cicadas. The villa – owned by Ben Shearer, who, together with some family members, also owns The Peligoni Club – is surrounded by red climbing plants, fruit trees and herbs. The house has been tastefully restored with four en-suite bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor lounge, a shaded terrace and a long swimming pool. The kitchen contains the basic ingredients from the Deli: the supermarket of The Peligoni Club where you can not only have breakfast, but also find local products if you want to cook yourself. In addition to the Deli, the club also has restaurants such as Tasi or The Terraces, and there is occasional partying in the Courtyard.

The story of The Peligoni Club began in 1989, when British Vanessa Goldie and Johnny Alexander decided to build a cabane/beach bar on this remote piece of paradise. Roads were scarce at that time, and electricity took fifteen years to arrive. But ambiance and wine were always there. Little by little they built up a loyal customer base, including property developer Ian Shearer and his family, who spent their holidays nearby. In 2005, the future of The Peligoni Club became uncertain and Goldie and Alexander wanted to return to the UK. The Shearers did not hesitate: they bought the club, which was of great sentimental value to them.

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Fast-forward to 2024. Ian’s children, Ben and Anouska (Noosh) Shearer, are now at the helm and have modernized the club. They installed a spa, a swimming pool and luxurious loungers. Today, The Peligoni is on par with the giants of all-inclusive holidays, but with the advantage that this remains a small-scale family club. In high season there are never more than 400 holidaymakers for 160 employees.

The new generation also came up with the Pace and House Party weeks, with experts and workshops of all kinds. During such a Pace Week there are approximately 150 guests. An American, somewhere in her twenties, says that this is the second time she has participated in such a Pace Week, to recharge her batteries. A German couple, two in their thirties, even spends two weeks here.

Although the audience comes from all over the world, the guests are mainly English-speaking, as are the staff. Maybe that’s the only downside to this place. But if you want to experience some local flair, you only have to walk a few minutes. In restaurants on the beach you will discover delicious Greek dishes. Or make time to chat with Spyros & Spyros, the skippers who take us by boat to Shipwreck Bay and the Blue Caves – an absolute must-see.

At sunrise we put on our sneakers and head to The Peligoni Club. From Villa Halcyon it is a brisk walk of at least 45 minutes, along steep roads, and there are no footpaths. Parents who want to let the stress slide away can leave their offspring with peace of mind. From babies to teenagers: they are all well looked after here while the parents go to the first session of the day: yoga, at 8am. A tough session, but the view makes up for a lot. The genuine solidarity among the guests also helps: we get to know each other quickly and everyone motivates each other.

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We have lunch together at Tasi, take a refreshing dip, put on our sports outfits again and go to the next workshop. These sessions have short but meaningful names: Vinyasa Yoga or Pilates, Combat Cardio or Tone & Sculpt, Cycling or Active Recovery. You don’t have to be a genius to understand that the week is completely dedicated to finding balance, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. An advantage: all lessons are designed in such a way that even beginners can handle them.

The coaches, almost all British, are experts in their field. Like Adrienne Herbert: a digital entrepreneur and author of the book ‘Power Hour’. Her podcast is downloaded no less than four million times a week. She emphasizes that everyone deserves to take care of themselves, even for an hour a day. ‘We are like Amazon: available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.’ She encourages us to introspect, but also encourages us to push the boundaries.

That’s necessary, because after her session we immediately jump into an ice bath, led by Ryan Abbott, a bearded guy built like an American refrigerator. Although the supervisors change occasionally, the principle remains unchanged. So after a week we travel home, full of new energy, and only wonder one thing: when can we come back?

The Peligoni Club
| From 1,100 euros per week for a beach studio (for three people)
| From 3,500 euros for villa Halcyon (for eight people)
| From 17,000 euros for villa Figari (for twenty people)
| A surcharge of 470 euros for the Pace Week
| Next edition | From May 20 to 24
| Website | peligoni.com