Armenistis in Sithonia (Camping Sites in Greece)

Member Name: littleemma

Product:	Camping Sites in Greece
Date:	05/05/02 (645 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: beautiful beach, not too expensive, fun also for children

Disadvantages: a bit isolated, it would be better to have a car

When I went to Greece last summer, I didn't really know where exactly to go at first. I had just booked a ticket to go to Thessaloniki, taken the bit of money that I had and planned to try and stay for as long as that would allow me to stay and where it would allow me to stay. Realising soon after landing that it was tourist time and hotels were far more expensive than I had expected, I and a friend of mine decided to try and find a camping site somewhere and just go - risking a total destruction of our holiday but at least getting somewhere where there would be a beach and sea clean enough to swim in.

On the internet which we checked in a funny little internet cafe somewhere in Thessaloniki, we found that there are quite a few camping sites in Halkidiki which means on the three "legs" or "feet" (podia in Greek) of land stretching out south of Thessaloniki. Not wanting to go too far in case we would have to get back soon, we chose Sithonia, the "second leg" and also decided to go to a camping site facing eastwards, that is towards the direction of Mount Athos where the elite of Greek priests isolate themselves from the world. As a result, we simply went on the bus and decided to wait until we would see a place that looked worth it: and we got off at a camping site called Armenistis.

Armenistis is situated in a bay surrounded by the sides of a mountain and in a place where there is really just the camping site and one large asphalt (or something like asphalt) street leading to it. The bay has a beautiful golden beach with a cafeteria in its centre which turns into a bar at night and sometimes has a stage built up next to it where bands perform about once a week.

It is moderately big with a number of regulars from different countries that come there every summer for a few months but also with quite a few people that just happened to turn up the way I did. It is a great place for swimming because even if the

re is wind which usually makes it pretty difficult or dangerous to swim out too far, it doesn't actually reach the bay so it is even alright for younger children to play in the sea without parents having too worry to much. Most of the camping site is full of trees (ranging from maple to olive) and there is even a playground close to the beach, a few little shops for basic needs as well as a kafeneio for older people and a tavern where they serve brilliant Greek which is not too expensive (especially compared to England).

The only actual problem for somebody wishing to stay there for long is the fact that it is very difficult to get away from there without having a car because to reach the next village on foot it already takes quite a bit of walking on asphalt and in the Greek summer heat. Otherwise, however, and especially for people who simply wish to relax on the beach, Armenistis is definitely worth it.

Summary: