My June tour of the Grecian islands continues with some serious R&R at the super-relaxed Peligoni resort on Zykanthos in the Ionian Sea. Probably the most proper holiday-like trip I’ve been on in yonks (fellow mamas & papas will know what I mean here!) – I’m talking lazy mornings in crisp white sheets, salty fresh swims in crystal blue waters, daily ice-creams and watching the sun go down nattering with pals…

Situated in the north east part of the island – just under an hour’s drive from the airport along the gloriously beautiful coast of inlets & coves – The Peligoni Club is an English family-run & family-focussed boutique resort with an emphasis on kicking off your shoes, leaving all your cares & stresses behind and just immersing yourself in holiday good times. 

The club itself is beautifully boho with lots of gorgeous little nooks for sunning and reading, rustic tables to gather round for lunch & boardgames and numerous sun beds for some serious lounging. Guests stay at an assortment of nearby villas and head to the club as and when they need – the diving board and pontoon can’t fail to entice you in for swim within minutes of arrival! Which is exactly what happened to me as Frances and I joined the lovely Lucy, Liv and Katherine who had arrived a day earlier. 

Early morning flights don’t suit me that well 😉 so after a quick change into bikini, wake-me-up swim and catch-up natters on the pontoon, I headed to the spa for the most blissful of massages to bring me back to life. A bit of lolling in the sun and an ice-cream later, we headed back to our villa Fincha (new to the Peligoni portfolio this summer) to get ready for a quite fabulous meal at local cafe & restaurant the Mohagani Art Cafe, in Agios Nikolaos, run by the wonderfully hospitable Sophia who delivered to us the very best of her dishes one after the other, no need to choose! 

Now I’ve been on many a press trip made up of journalists and/or bloggers, many with quite a strict itinerary and the rule of thumb is that you tend to come back having had a great time but pretty damn exhausted. And, for many (myself included!) the company of bloggers can be quite tiring in itself with so much on-the-go real time content creation… But while we certainly took a lot of pictures – and I’m by far the worst for this! – it became quickly clear that with this particular group, we had a very chill synergy going on and the trip quite quickly developed into a wonderfully supportive, easy-going and joke-filled few days… 

Sharing the villa felt incredibly relaxed and natural, all sorts of conversations flowed, from hilarity-filled moments to the quieter and more intimate. This, combined with the whole Peligoni vibe of nothing is a hassle, take your time and just enjoy – very much down to the wonderful Noosh, who looks after the club & its guests, and her magical ways – led to one of the most nourishing and replenishing trips I’ve ever had.

From breakfast hampers in the morning and the option to order groceries to the villa, tennis, yoga, spa & watersports in the immediate vicinity, hair-beading on hand, in-villa dining and the club boutique By Rory stocking a gorgeous range of pieces including the super laid-back & beautiful brand Faithfull, everything seemed to be thought of. And if I’d had the family with and my mama head on, the pirate themed kids area (there’s a creche too) and various kids sports & activities would have been a godsend… Plus a whole teen focus and half term revision week, which has already got me thinking ahead!

As I have about a gazillion photos to show you I though I’d start with the club and the villa, with some fabulous boat-tripping and a magical al fresco meal by an old monastery to come… 

Bikini by TCN Barcelona

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Kaftan by Talluah & Hope | Handmade Kenyan sandals by Mazzolari.co.uk (a new project, more on that soon!)

Hat by Gap (in sale!)

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Beadwork sandals by Mazzolari.co.uk – available soon

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Swimsuit by Bodas via Positive Luxury

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Pai Skincare Rosehip oil for nighttime & Buriti balm | Schmidt’s natural deodorant | By Terry lip balm  (this stuff is the creamiest!) & CC Serum | Dr Haushchka foundation | Kjaer Weis bronzer

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Morse code necklace (spells Gus!) by Esotic Jewellery | Starfish by Ellora London | Bear by Bear Brooksbank | Compass by Bianca Jones & Stylonylon (our compass collab collection coming soon!)

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Kaftan from Peligoni’s By Rory boutique from the new The Collab Store collection | Bag by The Noces

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All photography on Olympus Pen F with 25mm f1.2 lens and 17mm 1.8 lens

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*Stylonylon was a guest of The Peligoni Club.