ADVERTORIAL • February 2020
Hot hotels for a Grecian getaway
With a third property opening in the summer and it being 50 years since the opening of its first, MarBella Collection is celebrating a big year in 2020. With a calendar of anniversary activities on the cards, we take a look at what the luxury hotel group has in store…
Life’s a beach
Enveloped by the sparkling Ionian Sea, lush forest and immaculate stretches of sand, the soon-to-open, five-star MarBella Elix is gearing up to be the most beach-blessed bolthole in the Parga area come June 2020. Across the sea it’s the same story at MarBella Corfu (included in the Top 20 Resorts in Greece at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2019), where a stroll through olive groves reveals a picture-perfect scene as you gaze out over AIP beach. Meanwhile, at the adults-only MarBella Nido, the terracotta tones of the villas that surround its opulent pool give the feel of a traditional Corfu village, overlooking the ocean beyond.
A taste for adventure
The MarBella Collection is famed for gastronomy and wellness, but did you know adventure is also well and truly on the cards? For a little activity to accompany your serenity, there’s an array of exciting activities for children of all ages in both the MarBella Corfu and MarBella Elix. Choose from beach games, treasure hunts, arts and crafts amongst others. For older children, the unique partnership with the Exploration Society lets them discover cooking experiences in the surrounding woodland, or build base camps for practising outdoor skills, available to guests at an additional charge. For those wanting hardcore thrills, there are watersports on offer such as kayaking, skiing and wakeboarding.
Your boat’s come in
Hoist the mainsail, weigh the anchor and settle into the plain sailing of a voyage on MarBella Collection’s 45-seater kaiki – a traditional Mediterranean fishing boat that’s available once per stay for those lucky ultra-all-inclusive guests. Step aboard and experience the warm turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea gently lapping at your hand en route to Corfu Town. All guests have to do is slide into a seat next to the sparkling water and revel in the journey. Not only this, MarBella Collection also boasts a partnership with Vision Yachting, which means guests can embark on thematic cruises (think ‘Romantic Sunset’ tour, pictured above) for an additional charge.
Food for thought
They say there are plenty of fish in the sea, and MarBella Collection proves this to guests on a Local Dining Discovery adventure aboard the kaiki. Guests will visit traditional Corfiot tavernas, which dot the picturesque coastline and reign supreme when it comes to freshly caught fish and seafood. The delectable dining experience offers guests an indulgent insight into local food and wine, which comes at no extra charge to MarBella Corfu’s ultra-all-inclusive guests and all signature suites half-board guests. Meanwhile, at MarBella Nido, all-new cooking lessons and wine tastings will be on the menu for 2020.
Cream of the crop
Back on land, the choices at MarBella Collection are equally bountiful. Ease into the evening and begin with a cocktail from the Heritage lobby bar at MarBella Nido, before sharing with a loved one the shimmering sea view and modern Corfiot dishes at Apaggio. Along the coast at MarBella Corfu, seven dining options await hungry guests. Breakfast by the pool at Comodo restaurant and enjoy an international lunch on the beach at Dolphin restaurant. However, it’s the uninterrupted view from La Bussola (pictured above) that steals the show, as gourmet dishes can be enjoyed from a restaurant that reaches out into the calm sea, accompanied by a soundtrack of gently lapping waves on the deck.
Stay in a Signature Suite in either MarBella Nido or MarBella Corfu and make your holiday more indulgent with a range of exclusive benefits from the moment you check-in. From car hire to a massage, the exclusive benefits make your stay in a suite even better value for money.
This article has been tagged Advertorial, Hotels
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