I recently visited the wonderful Costa Navarino Golf Resort in Greece - which has two fantastic 5* hotels together with two lovely golf courses.

Hotel The Romanos

Great service begins as soon as you arrive at the resort. We had a car and the valet team take the luggage out of your car as soon as you arrive and then park your car for you (we can also arrange transfers). There are currently two hotels on-site and we stayed at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino - which has more than 400 rooms. The other hotel is The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort - which have elegant rooms, suites & villas. Both hotels are a short walk to the on-site recreated village which have a number of bars, restaurants and shops.

Golf - Dunes Course

The first course I played was The Dunes - walking distance from both hotels and a Bernard Langer design. Generously wide fairways and large greens (some on different levels) are accompanied by strategic bunkers. This resort course is fun for the average golfer but also provides enough of a challenge that better golfers would feel they have properly tested. The course has a lot of memorable holes with some amazing waterfront views. Buggies are not mandatory but I would recommend as there are some fairly large walks between green to tee.

Golf Bay Course

The Bay Course was my favourite - with some of the most stunning views I have seen on a golf course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr - the first two holes are alongside the beach before heading up and down through the hills and canyons. Many holes have a wow factor with views over the Bay of Navarino. A 15 minute journey from the hotel - the resort provides complimentary shuttles every 30 minutes. Buggies are mandatory here and included in the rate. They have a nice touch on the 8th hole where the GPS on the buggy asks if you would like a snack at the start of the 9th - which is ready for you once you have finished the hole.

Practice Area

The resort offers huge practice areas - which are fantastic and free - range balls are set up ready for you.

Food, Drink & facilities

Breakfast is included in the room rate from the buffet restaurant and has a good selection. You can upgrade to the resorts 'Dine Around' half board meal plan for 35€ per night - which includes the buffet restaurant or a credit of this amount at a number of their a la carte restaurants - such as Italian, fish & steak. Alternatively you can choose to pay as you go for dinner (the Souvlakerie Greek restaurant is excellent value with traditional Greek gyros kebabs less than 10€ and ready in minutes). Drinks are on the pricey side - but nothing you wouldn't expect from a 5* resort. The resort offers a lovely Spa and a kids pool / play area - so it also caters for family holidays.

How to get there

The resort is more accessible now that easyJet has this year started flights from Manchester twice a week (ideal for 4 or 7 night stays) - together with flights from Heathrow, Gatwick & Stansted. Kalamata Airport is the smallest I have been to - with just two gates - but makes for quick time getting through security and collecting your luggage. It is around a 45 minute journey - with a lovely view of the resort on your way in as you come down through the hills.

Off-site

We visited two local villages - the first being Gialova - just past the Bay Course. Here there are some lovely little restaurants to choose from overlooking the Bay. We then tried Pylos - a 25 minute journey - which was more lively with a main square of bars together with some nice restaurants again overlooking the bay (highly recommend the grouper fish at Four Seasons).

Prices

We recommend you stay between April and October and prices start from £475pp for a 4 night / 3 round stay. Please see further details on our website here.

The Future

Costa Navarino are currently in the process of building a further two hotels and a further two golf courses - which they hope to be ready towards the end of 2021. The resort is great as it is but once they have four golf courses to choose from I think this will become one of the top golf resorts in Europe.

2020 Golf Trips

If you haven't yet booked your 2020 golf trip please contact us for some ideas and quotes. We are currently updating our website with 2020 prices which we hope to have complete by the end of December - however we do have most rates available.