Agents say they’re ‘blown away’ after returning from a VIP fam trip with Grecotel to experience its properties in the West Peloponnese.
Held from 7th June to June 10th, the tour brought six top advisors to Mandola Rosa, a member of Grecotel’s Iconic Collection, to see everything the luxury hotel and its surrounding area has to offer.
“The purpose of the trip was to showcase how accessible our portfolio in the West Peloponnese is to the UK market – just because there's no direct flights, that doesn’t mean you can’t get there easily,” explained Liz Mason, sales manager at Grecotel.
In fact, she believes that this lack of direct flights only presents an opportunity for another high-end experience.
After arriving in Zante Airport, the agents took a 45-minute speedboat from Zakynthos port to the port of Kyllini. From there, it was just a short chauffeured transfer to Mandola Rosa.
“Everything can be pre-booked with Grecotel,” Liz said. For clients who have a more limited budget, they can take a ferry across – which takes one hour and 15 minutes.
There’s also the option to fly into Kalamata Airport, which is a two hours’ drive from Mandola Rosa. “This is a popular choice for Americans and Canadians, they love it,” said Liz. “But for the UK market, it might be preferable to go for the boat or ferry crossing.”
Mandola Rosa, a Grecotel property, has only suites or villas
Alternatively, clients can fly into the nearby Araxos Airport, which is the primary civilian gateway serving the resort for private flights.
After arriving at Mandola Rosa in style, the agents received an in-depth tour of the ultra-luxury property. The Iconic Collection hotel is considered the ‘crown jewel’ of the Grecotel Riviera Olympia & Aqua Park, which is also home to Grecotel La Riviera, Grecotel, LUX®ME Oasis and Grecotel Ilia Palms.
Highly exclusive, it features just 52 units comprising either suites or villas.
“I was completely blown away by Mandola Rosa,” said Emma Frearson, founder of Luxury Travel by Emma. “It was like a fairytale – until you experience it firsthand, it's impossible to truly appreciate just how exceptional it is.”
The award-winning agent went on to hail the accommodation as “outstanding”, before adding that the beach – which has a designated private area for Mandola Rosa guests – is “one of the most pristine I’ve seen anywhere in Greece.”
The advisors were particularly impressed by the Royal Pavilion, which has earned its title as the hotel’s highest level villa.
With a capacity for up to six adults and two children, this palatial five-bedroom residence is completely beachfront – with unobstructed sea views and private steps leading to the sand. It also has an outdoor and indoor pool, the latter of which is temperature controlled to allow for year-round swimming.
The agents also learned how to make traditional Greek dishes in the hotel's botanical garden
“What makes it particularly special is that, although the villas feel wonderfully secluded, they're part of a larger resort, giving guests access to outstanding restaurants, facilities and activities whenever they choose,” said Emma.
“That makes it an excellent option for high-net-worth families, including multi-generational groups, where some guests may want complete relaxation while others enjoy making the most of everything the wider resort has to offer. It's a place where time seems to stand still, yet everything you could possibly need is within easy reach.”
The agents also enjoyed multiple on-site experiences, including an outdoor culinary class on how to make traditional dishes such as tzatziki and moussaka.
The itinerary also included a site inspection of Grecotel Filoxenia, a two-hour drive from Mandola Rosa. The visit to the Messinia hotel was conjoined with a tour of the surrounding city of Kalamata, which, despite being a hub of ancient history and sandy beaches, remains one of Greece’s least touristy areas.
Despite only happening last month, the trip is already proving to have paid off.
“I actually received an enquiry while I was still at the property, which really highlighted how relevant Mandola Rosa is for my client base,” said Frearson. “Since returning I've also had another long-standing client, whose travel style is perfectly suited to this type of luxury experience, get in touch to discuss it for a future holiday. I have no doubt it will become a property I recommend regularly to clients looking for an exclusive luxury escape in Greece.”
