Let the games begin .. STEPHEN MOYES finds the perfect child-friendly break in Greece, with great activities for all ESCAPE FOR SOME EURO FUN SPECIAL.

Byline: EDITED BY IAIN MAYHEW

IT'S a conundrum to fox every exhausted parent - how to enjoy a family holiday while getting a break from the troops.

So a Neilson activity week is the equivalent of solving that impossible last clue in the cryptic crossword.

Enjoy some time away with the kids while handing them a pass to go off and have the time of their young lives with pals their own age.

It's a guilt-free solution for you, and with a bit of luck, you'll even get thanked for it.

The sun-kissed Anastasia resort in Halkidiki, on Greece's east coast, runs daily organised clubs for all ages from four-month-old babies up to overexcited 16-year-olds.

The daily itinerary for our 11-monthold Reggie went something like this: dinghy sailing, swimming and painting, followed (post-lunch and nap) by making cookies, spa pool and story time.

He was one of six nappy-wearing members of Starfish, the youngest club. But it looked as if children in each of the groups for increasingly older kids - Sea Urchins, Surfbusters, Sharksters, and teenagers in TAG - were having just as much fun.

Each kids' group has dedicated and trained staff leaders who plan a series of adventures - including treasure hunts and pirate trips - all week.

Their enthusiasm is infectious and they throw themselves into their entertainment duties. To prove how industrious the groups have been, there's even a print-out report card for parents each night.

For the older children, going on holiday with their folks has never been so cool.

Admittedly before our trip, the idea of Reggie donning a lifejacket and heading out to sea in a dinghy would have concerned us.

But a first glimpse of the 24-hour creche facilities and the professionalism of the qualified nursery staff immediately banished any unease.

It meant we were blissfully free to spend the day however we chose. And to the joy of all parents there, this is where Neilson have got it spot-on.

An exhausted mum or dad is left well alone to lie by the pool if that's their wish, soaking up September temperatures of 30C, or to take advantage of the spa's beauty and massage treatments.

And the well-stocked Deep Blue poolside bar is open from 8.30am until 1am daily. With drinks and ice-creams going on a tab, it even feels as if it's all free.

But for the slightly more adventurous adults, there are amazing opportunities for thrills and spills that would be the envy of any boisterous son or daughter.

Each activity is included in the price of the holiday so it's not a case of balancing the desire to try out wind-surfing or cycling with a quick reappraisal of the budget.

And that's a relief because the temptation to emulate Olympians Ben Ainslie or Chris Hoy was great.

The sports on offer include tennis, wind-surfing, sailing, water-skiing, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, mountain and road cycling, volleyball, running and gym assessment.

Each activity, led by expert staff, offers daily classes for total beginners through to would-be pros.

My missus, with a lifelong aversion to the open water but hoarse from cheering on Team GB in Beijing, warily attended a beginner's sailing class.

Three sessions later she's a confident intermediate, and suddenly I'm hearing nothing but tack, gybe, tiller and boom, and when shall we move nearer to the coast?

The resort is on the pebble beach coastline and the Aegean Sea is a 50- yard stroll from guest apartments.

As for me, after a daily tennis class, I'm in danger of wanting to play more frequently than once every leap year.

You can do as much or as little of your chosen sports as you wish but it can make for a hectic weekly planner and don't forget to collect the children during their lunch break.

There is an end-of-week regatta and triathlon as well as tournaments rindividual sports, and even a fun ooze-fuelled awards ceremony.

To prove none of this is taken too seriously, one prize went to the poor cyclist who fell off a mountain path and cked up the worst injury of the week.

His red face certainly contrasted ith his black and blue knees.

Aside from the daily classes which you have to sign up for - there are events going on throughout the day which guests can opt in and out of at the last minute.

Water aerobics, volleyball, boules, water polo, table tennis, darts, pool, table football and quizzes to name but a few.

Or to escape from it all, grab a bike and disappear into Skioni, an idyllic, sleepy coastal town that livens up at night, 20 minutes away.

If the Anastasia resort whets the appetite then there's more good news because the local food is top draw. A Club Board stay offers breakfast and lunch daily, as well as four evening meals a week. Each meal is a buffetstyle eat-as-much-as-you-want deal. It's fresh and tasty too.

On the three non-inclusive nights, guests can sign up for evening trips to local villages and a choice of tavernas and restaurants, or pay for a meal and entertainment on-site.

To mix it up for parents, on three days during the week the kids' clubs miss a morning and instead meet during the afternoon and evening giving Mum and Dad the option of a rare free night out on their own.

So relaxed is the atmosphere of the Anastasia, and the sports facilities so impressive, that many of the guests staying at the same time as us were couples without children, or groups of friends.

Ages of holidaymakers ranged from nine months to 75 years.

But the resort is principally set up for a family break and the youngest to the oldest member will head home with a different story to tell.

Or - at least for 11-month-old babies - with a beaming smile.

GETTING THERE

SEVEN nights at the five-star Anastasia resort in Halkidiki, Greece, costs from pounds 555 per adult. That includes flights, resort transfers, accommodation, all activities, children's clubs and most meals.

Flights are from either London Gatwick or Manchester. To book direct call 0845 070 3460 or visit www.neilson.co.uk or visit your travel agent.

Supplements may apply. Price excludes massage treatments in the Buddha Spa, and extra options such as personal tennis coaching. The cost of Reggie joining the Starfish nursery was an additional pounds 230.

CAPTION(S):

WATER BABIES: Starfish Club go swimming; NO PICNIC: Nursery staff with our Reggie, right; TILLER GIRLS: One activity on offer; JUST COASTIN': Anastasia Resort; REST.. AND RECREATION: Halkidiki harbour and, left, an aquarobics class

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Title Annotation:	Features
Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Jan 24, 2009
Words:	1095
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