W Costa Navarino
As someone who adores every part of the Mediterranean, I was extremely excited when I got the chance to return to Greece. This time I stayed in the newly opened W Costa Navarino Hotel.
The first W Escape Hotel to open in Greece, the W Costa Navarino is situated in Messinia, in the southwest Peloponnese. It is one of the most spectacular and breathtaking landscapes that you will find anywhere in the Mediterranean. The hotel, which opened on 9th August 2022 will eventually be part of a mixed-use hotel complex in a sustainable location and the first of its kind in Greece.
Watch the overview of my stay here:
This incredible 5-star hotel will cater exclusively to adults and those over the age of 12 years old to offer a relaxing and luxurious stay. The product of considerable planning the hotel has been designed to create a connection between a diverse mixture of individuals whilst ensuring that the authentic experiences and cultures of the area, and those visiting, are respected.
Accommodation
There are a total of 246 rooms, 2 bedroom suites and 3 bedroom villas – with infinity private pools – at the hotel. They have been sympathetically decorated using natural woods, crisp cottons and elegant neutral colours to reflect the stunning scenery and colour palette of the location. All of the rooms are thoroughly contemporary but with a soft, warmth to the décor. With spectacular beachfront views from many of the rooms and plenty of carefully planted greenery, the vibe is one of peace and tranquillity. This really is the perfect location for a holiday where unwinding and simply relaxing are the order of the day.
Each of the rooms has all of the amenities that you would expect, and the majority of the rooms have either access to a shared pool or their own private pool with plenty of outside space for relaxing.
The facilities
As expected, this is a fantastic hotel for those people who just want to relax in the wonderful Greek sunshine, with the occasional dip in the pool or swim in the sea, but for those who want a little more, then it has plenty of options. There is an onsite Anazoe Spa that offers a range of different treatments designed to relax and recharge the body; in a contrast to the luxury offering of the hotel with a “less is more” philosophy.
There is a Health and Fitness club with a fully equipped gym that features both indoor and outdoor facilities and is perfect for those who want to keep up their fitness routines during their holiday. For those who love their sport, the hotel offers a wide range of outdoor sports facilities including 3 tennis courts, a water sports center that makes full use of the turquoise waters of the local beach and a golf experience that offers access to four signature golf courses.
Guests at either resort can also get on a free shuttle to the sister properties The Westin Resort and The Romanos. Guests at W can book/use the Anazoe Spa and guests at the other two properties can also book/use the W’s AWAY Spa. Guests at any hotel can also book to dine at restaurants in different properties such as the iconic Barbouni Restaurant.
With Navarino Outdoors you can discover Messinia and Greece on hiking, cycling and rock climbing tours, you can also rent bicycles. We were taken on an amazing hike to Voidokilia Beach, a popular beach in Messinia in the Mediterranean area. In the shape of the Greek letter omega, its sand forms a semicircular strip of dunes. On the land-facing side of the strip of dunes is Gialova Lagoon, an important bird habitat. The beach has been named “A Place of Particular Natural Beauty”. We then did a short hike to watch the sunset overlooking the view of the beach and eat traditional foods from Messinia. It really was a beautiful experience.
The food
As most of you know, I love to sample the local cuisine when travelling, and Costa Navarino didn’t disappoint. The hotel offers a range of different dining experiences with something to suit everyone. Parelia is the all-day beach club restaurant that offers a range of different Greek dishes from their International Kitchen. Platia operates four different dining spots, which are a Deli, coffee shop, bakery and cookery – these serve a wide range of artisan food and drink with an international theme. W Lounge is the onsite bar area which offers a good selection of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, including speciality coffees and some eclectic food options.
For something a little bit special, there is Between, the place to find cocktails and lighter dinner delicacy dishes which include the hotel’s signature raw foods. These are served by the pool overlooking the Ionian sea and made for the perfect location to observe the Messinian sunset – something I won’t forget in a hurry.
My overall thoughts on the hotel
Whilst the hotel has only been open for a very short time, it has already seen plenty of visitors, and the reviews (including mine of course!) are very favourable. The modern, calm décor alone makes this a hotel I really felt like I could relax in. The setting with the proximity to the sea and with plenty of unspoiled nature surrounding it promises a peaceful stay, as too does the hotel’s policy regarding the minimum age of its guests.
One last point I must mention, which really put the icing on the cake when it came to my stay, was their Whatever/Whenever service. This service helps to plan a few excursions to explore the local area. Whatever/Whenever is a signature 24/7 concierge service that has been designed to help guests make the most of their stay and plan trips, order room service, and enjoy Greece just as they want to. With all the options they have available, it’s entirely possible to make your trip to this beautiful place whatever you want it to be.
This was a press trip and gifted stay, all opinions are my own.
