Neilson Messini Beachclub- Right Decision ?

We booked Neilson Beachclub Sivota, Greece for this coming summer after looking last summer, and checking out some of the threads on here from a while back.

Yesterday we got an email from Neilson saying that they can no longer offer Sivota as they have been unable to renew the contract.

In a rush last night we quickly googled again, and based on availability of either Croatia, Sardinia or Messini we have chosen Messini. It in essence is costing £600 more, but Neilson are paying that difference.

Is it worth me paying £95 to have a carbon road bike for the week, or will the standard free ‘stock’ ones be fine ? I am not in to busting KOM’s etc just want something that will be nice to ride and encourage me to get out.

Have we made the right choice?

Mrs FD – likes swimming (pool or sea) and book reading (eg quiet place to read on beach or room terrace)

Me – Biking (either mtb or road), Relaxing, Dingy Sailing, try windsurfing

12yr old son – very sporty, will try anything.

My concern of Messini is that it looks like its the middle of no where, which suites us, but also nice to have bars / restaurants for evenings.

Have we made the wrong decision, should we try and rebook at one of the above before space goes (if it hasnt already). I love Sardinia as a place, especially the interior, but its a few years since Ive been so is it now a commercial place?

We went to the baia del mori neilson on sardinia a few times just before the pandemic and really enjoyed it. There is a village/town up the hill and more stuff round the coast.
We would def go back if it wasn’t so bloody expensive during the holidays

I’ve done messini and sivota

Messini more windsure.
Sivota was better for sea swimming, as messini is just a straight beach.

Never tried the road bikes, the mtb and gravel standard bikes were adequate for the terrain, and I never thought against bike riding because the bike was poor (which it certainly wasnt) or worse than my mtb at home (which it was).
Would have loved the bikes to have droppers – because riding with a dropper is more fun, not that the riding despeartely needed it – but that was 2019, so maybe they do now.

We’ve been to messini twice, and it’s great, I think with your family’s interests you’ll all be happy. The standard road bikes were absolutely fine, and the road riding is excellent, with a good range of guided rides. Water sports, tennis, swimming pool all great, reliable afternoon wind for exciting sailing.

Went in 2014, it is way out in the middle of nowhere although a couple of the rides stopped in local towns/villages, night out might have been possible via a local taxi but never felt the need, food and bars on site were good. Hire bikes were fine, anyone serious travelled with their own. Seemed to be a good mix of types/pace of guided rides.

Loads of space around the pool or on the beach to find a quiet spot, usually decent wind for sailing or windsurfing.

I’d love to go back but that was our last holiday before kids in a cheap September week, the cost to go as a family now is bonkers.

Gutted to hear Sivota has gone. We went a few times, although our personal circumstances have changed and Neilson holidays are probably beyond us financially now (no kids but as a teacher we have to go in school holidays so cost is prohibitive).

Not been to Messini but my sister has. I think the accomodation is probably a higher standard but it never appealled. I was/am into open water swimming and Messini is void of adventure or ‘destination’. I used to swim into town or around some of the islands if I wanted a really long swim at Sivota (or goat island in front of the club if I wanted something quicker)

Bikes – hired one once at Sivota. I thought it worthwhile. Set it up as I wanted, think I swapped the stem and kept it in my room so could go out early or return late. The stock bikes are fine but well used/abused. Having one that I’d got sorted and fettled rather than having to sort every time was worth it imo.

P.s. I think, though not been myself, that the accom can be closer to the ‘action’/bar or further away. As a reluctant mover I’d be asking for a room layout and requesting a room of your choice as part of the switch depending on if you plan on being at the bar until last orders and want the shortest stagger home or if you are more into an early night and done fancy drifting off the bar staff’s choice of tunes.

Just back from our week at Messini.

Probably the best summer holiday I have had for some years.

Positives

Short transfer

Incredible staff through out the resort, and not just talking activity staff here, lifeguards, waiting staff etc etc just all went above and beyond.

We went for a week and I struggled to do everything I wanted, the range of activities was incredible.

No nanny state on use of equipment ie. you make the decision if you are competent to use the equipment and what conditions to use the equipment in (to a large degree)

Kids clubs were great, although weirdly no one of our sons age was there for most of the week.

Road riding was stunning scenery (but surprisingly hilly!) Loved not having the hassle of planning routes and just following  a guide. Was reasonably fast paced too.

Brilliant how the sea was flat calm in the mornings but by lunchtime but be a mess of 3/4ft high wives with a very strong on shore wind. Apparently the week before they had closed the beach as the sea had got too dangerous. (good fun though !)

Other Guests – everyone was really nice, all like minded approach to stuff ie respectful of each other, kids well behaved etc etc

Negatives

The pool was too busy for the first part of the week, ie no where to sit.

The beach isn’t great – its lovely and unspoilt, but not somewhere you want to spend time, not great for sea swimming, snorkelling etc.

There were not that many organised road rides, and what they were started too late in the morning IMO ie 8:30am which meant you were riding at 12-1pm in temps approaching 40deg.

Bathroom – Ive got a knackered hip and the step in to the bath/shower was about 2.5ft high and 1ft wide.I had to be really careful.

I probably didnt just chill out on a sunbed as much as I should have !

Its not a cheap holiday, but we came away thinking it was good value, and brilliant service. We are already looking at booking for next summer, but are just trying to decide which resort to go to !

So sat looking at next year .

Anyone been to Vounaki Beachclub? Just wondered if it’s worth a change from Messini

Surely there were no kids of your son’s age because they were all at school?

Dunc may have had permission to take his son out of school.

Edit: probably best to apply the 4 Fs before posting – first find the ******* facts.

Of course he may have had.

But that doesn’t alter the fact that surely there will be loads of kids next week and not so many last week.

What a strange edit.

Quite a lot of schools have broken up already.

Lots of fee-paying schools are off for summer already. State schools mostly have another week to go.

Glad a bit of time (and Covid) haven’t changed the place too much.

I took my own road bike when I went. Did a mix of road, mtb and windsurfing. Although I never got a good windsurfing session, it was either lighter winds or 40knots then close the beach as we cant launch the rescue boat.
Rode solo or some of the group rides. The pace was surprisingly high. Wanted to head to the hills out to the east but never made it that far.
Agree about the bathroom, went late September and the pool didn’t seem too busy

Heading out to Vounaki in the next couple of weeks.

Any heads up on good road/mtb rides, and other stuff to do ?

Thanks