The Tamesis
As I strolled back to the hotel along a scrubby path, nestled in a pine forest with tiers of low-slung buildings arranged like an amphitheatre, stretching up the hill to the hotel’s two private beaches, it felt a bit strange to imagine that the crowded metropolis of Athens is less than an hour’s drive away. But that’s what makes the prospect of staying in Point Sounio so appealing. Historically, holidaymakers have stayed in Athens for a night or two, visited the Acropolis, and then caught a ferry to one of the islands for a week-long stay. By combining Cape Sounio with its stylish city center hotel The Dolli (more on that later), its owners, the third-generation hotelier Daskalantonakis family (who run Grecotel, one of Greece’s leading hotel groups), are proposing a different approach to holidaying in Athens. Spend a few days in the city and a few at the beach; the latter still offers the option of going into town for shopping, or visiting a museum or two, or just strolling through the bougainvillea-lined streets of the historic Plaka neighborhood. Essentially, it’s the best of both worlds.
Especially because Cape Sounio offers a sense of isolation and escape that you wouldn’t think you’d find so close to the city. However, this is evident from the moment you arrive, pull up the wide driveway and enter the massive open lobby and restaurant buildings, which are designed to be sleeker and more modern, echoing the architecture of the Temple of Poseidon, which is visible from almost every corner of the hotel perched atop a hill. After a quick golf cart ride to your one, there are actually 139 suites, bungalows or villas scattered throughout the estate, although you’d never imagine how cleverly they’re arranged (plus there are plenty of amenities to ensure that no one spot is overcrowded, even if there are a lot of families present). Then, you might be like me and check into a suite with huge glass sliding doors that offer stunning ocean views and an interior decorated in a calm, modern style; think white marble floors, cream terrycloth furniture and minimalist paintings by Greek artists on the walls. If you haven’t felt peaceful yet, you will now.
Photo: Courtesy of Grecotel
The real highlight here, though, is the spa. Situated at the end of a winding uphill path through pine trees, your arrival has a strong sense of ceremony: before the entrance, to your left, you will find a stunning outdoor mineral pool, a geometric concrete marvel jutting out from the edge of the cliff, offering a panoramic view (probably the best vista of the Temple of Poseidon in the house). As I enter the main building, there’s a gentle buzz around me—a soothing mix of glass walls and terrazzo floors, the sound of a harp playing from the speakers—and I sit down (sipping from the Living Elixir olive oil that’s quickly placed in my hand) in preparation for an ancestral cupping massage. Because while the spa here may be beautifully designed, it also has the credentials to back it up: Point Sounio’s wellness program is overseen by Vicky Vlachonis, the Athens-born, Los Angeles-based holistic wellness guru whose programs are beloved by the likes of Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow. If it’s good enough for Gwennie, it’s good enough for me.
