If you are someone who loves to stay active and try new things, then Costa Navarino is the place for you. Its four 18-hole golf courses, 12 state-of-the-art tennis courts, three padel courts, two pickleball courts, cycling routes across the hills, basketball court, climbing wall, kayaking, and beach yoga are just a taster of the many activities that will be keeping you busy throughout your stay.
Costa Navarino comprises a luxury collection of high-end resorts, multiple golf courses and secluded bays, all spread across the region of Messenia. The collection’s portfolio is home to The Westin Resort, Romanos, The W and, soon, the first ever Mandarin Oriental in Greece.
The resort is also home to the only grass tennis court in the whole of Greece, part of the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre, situated on the bay offering breath-taking views of the Ionian Sea. We checked into The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino to find out more.
The resort
The Westin is situated in Navarino Dunes, the first area of development of Costa Navarino. Whilst in the resort, you will feel like you are in a small Greek village, comprising of the traditional cobbled square, abundance of shops, and 20 restaurants and bars dotted around. To get around between facilities, you will need to use either the golf buggies or request a transfer.
The architecture of the resort is inspired by the ancient history of Messenia highlighting the use of stone and woodwork throughout the building. This, blended with the serenity of the beautiful landscapes and the Ionian Sea, make it the perfect Greek escape.
The room
As you walk into the deluxe guest room you are welcomed by the glistening waters of the Ionian Sea in front of you. The room is spacious with a traditional design, stone floor and wooden features.
The best feature is the balcony, which is covered in stonework throughout, resembling a traditional Greek house for the ultimate home comfort. The rooms all have the award-winning Heavenly Bed which is a staple feature for all Westin hotels, and the deluxe guest room is designed to facilitate all of its guest’s needs with 24-hour room service and in-room dining, best taken on the balcony to enjoy the spectacular views!
Food and drink
With its plethora of restaurants, you will have a hard time choosing which one to dine in first. For a lunchtime Greek feast go to Souvlakerie, situated in the square of the resort. There, you can really satisfy your craving for homemade tzatziki, golden fries sprinkled with feta and oregano and, of course, tasty pittas filled with grilled souvlaki.
For dinner, book yourself a spot at Flame, where you can indulge in a fine dining setting and enjoy locally sourced meat right from the grill.
But for the true meaning of the word authentic, the hotel offers cooking classes where you can learn how to prepare a traditional Greek family dinner. The classes are located in a small village house on the hill, a short drive away from the resort, and are taught by local Greek women, following their families’ recipes. You can enquire at reception about the classes.
To do
Whether you are a beginner and want to pick up tennis as a new hobby, or you have been playing for many years, the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre has all of your tennis needs covered.
The tennis sessions are led by many talented coaches and headed by Eirini Georgatou, a former professional player who has played in many Grand Slams across the world and has now been coaching for the past eight years.
At Mouratoglou Tennis Centre you can play on clay, hard or grass. Even if you are a beginner (like me), you will still appreciate how special it is to be playing on the only grass court in the country. The academy is fully equipped, so you don’t have to worry about packing your own racquets, or even tennis shoes, which you can purchase at the Academy shop. The Academy facilitates for all levels and also organises tournaments during the summer months.
Apart from tennis, Costa Navarino is known for its world-class golfing experience featuring four 18-hole signature courses. You can choose from The Dunes Course, with its stunning sea view, or The Hills Course, which is tucked into the Navarino Hills overlooking the landscape of Messenia.
After a long day in the sun playing tennis or golf, indulge in relaxation in the multi-awarded Anazoe Spa and Thalassotherapy. The Anazoe Spa offers a peaceful sanctuary, and its signature treatments feature locally-produced olive oil.
Last but certainly not least, to honour the region of Kalamata, famous for its olives and olive oil, you can join an olive oil-tasting experience. The liquid, that is more valuable than gold in this region, is at the core of the Kalamata region, so, knowing the essentials of how to recognise a good olive oil, what else apart from cooking you can use it for, and which flavour goes best with what food, is an essential skill that you can learn at the resort.
Factbox
The price for a deluxe guest room starts from £248 per night (room only). You can fly directly to Kalamata three times a week with British Airways between the end of March to September. Outside of this period, you can fly to Athens and get a 2.5-hour transfer to the hotel.
Address: Costa, Navarino Dunes Messinia, Pilos 240 01, Greece
Phone: +30 2723 095000
Website: costanavarino.com/westin-resort/
All imagery credit: costanavarino.com
