Hello!

So, you will be staying in two hotels/houses if I understand correctly. I don’t know how much time you will have, but my suggestions are:

• The nice beaches are on the Aegean side. The ones in the Pagasitikos Bay are varying in quality, many are decent but nowhere near the ones on the other side. Also, many people in Volos are afraid to swim this year in the Pagasitikos, because after last year’s floods the water were not the cleanest. The municipality though says the metrics are fine.
• Volos has a vibrant night life. Check out some “tsipouradika” for Tsipouro (a local spirit if you don’t know it, like rakija or ouzo depending on if it has anise or not) where they bring small dishes with every drink, also there are some nice bars on the seaside.
• Near Volos the most beautiful villages of Pelion are Makrinitsa and Portaria, be sure to check them out. Also Pelion has A TON of hiking paths in the forest, for example the Path of the centaurs in between the aforementioned villages is very well known, due to its position. Some are small, some are very long.
• The most well known beaches are Agios Ioannis, Fakistra, Mylopotamos, Plaka, Papa Nero, Agioi Saranta… I am definitely forgetting many great ones, but there are MANY amazing beaches for you to try, so you can choose even randomly
• For food, my usual place is ITAMOS near Tsagarada, but there are many great places to eat, check GMaps near where you are when you get hungry. You will find something.
• Zagora, Milies where you can also get the old train for a ride (or walk the distance), Tsagarada for a coffee under the plane tree are some other very beautiful villages to visit. You could also ride a horse at some places if you are into that.

In general, you will enjoy the nature of Pelion and will relax at the beaches. There are beaches to be alone, like places at Agios Ioannis, or beaches with beach bars etc. Just be aware that the drive between Volos and Agios Ioannis is about an hour and a half, with half the distance being constantly uphill and the rest constantly downhill. Be careful to not have your brakes get very hot!

Hope you enjoy your time here :)