ADVERTORIAL • March 2021
The Club’s guide to Greek luxury
Craving that warm sand-between-toes feeling? Grecotel Hotels & Resorts, Greece’s leading luxury hotel group, can turn those summer travel dreams into reality
Greece… close your eyes and it’s likely that images of sun-bleached villages, silvery olive groves and seaside tavernas are dancing around in your head. It’s all there on Corfu, which holds some serious holiday hotspot cachet. But where to stay on this pretty Ionian island? May we suggest you put yourself in the hands of Grecotel Hotels & Resorts which, with 45 years’ experience, knows a thing or two about gracious hospitality, impeccable service and low-key luxury. With four very different beachfront properties on the island, it has you covered.
Best for… self-indulging in style
Why: Encapsulating the glamour of a bygone era, Corfu Imperial sits on the private peninsula of Kommeno, its rooms, suites, villas, bungalows and palazzos offering views across shady Italianate gardens to the brilliantly blue sea beyond. Spend long, languid days on the private beaches, by the freshwater pools or at pampering haven, the Elixir Spa.
Write home about: As the sun dips below the horizon, stroll the resort’s restaurant, bar and boutique-lined promenade, stopping for a cocktail, gelato or plate of fresh seafood along the way. Enjoy the new Dine Club Exclusive Half-Board Programme & Comfort All-In Pack at Grecotel Hotels & Resorts and you can leave your wallet in the room. There’s also the Kids Go Free option, which does exactly what it says on the tin.
Best for… stress-free all-inclusivity
Why: LUX ME Daphnila Bay Dassia hugs the pine-scented hillside of Kommeno, from the main hotel – which perches at the top – to the garden bungalows below, just a barefoot stroll from the shoreline. Be as active (or not) as you like. The seven floodlit tennis courts are a good place to start. So, too, is a session with one of the fitness gurus. For Zen, try the adults-only zone.
Write home about: With the resort’s Luxe All-Inclusive Living concept, personalised service (yes, there’s a 24-hour WhatsApp concierge), expansive food and drink options, plus every manner of activity and entertainment (including the Kids Tasty Corner, GrecoBaby and Grecoland programmes for the tots, and a world of wine tasting, patisserie and chocolate workshops for the grown-ups) are all included in the price.
Best for… laid back charm
Why: “The shallow sea in the bays was butterfly blue,” wrote author Gerald Durrell about his beloved Corfu. See for yourself at Eva Palace, Grecotel’s third beachside property on the peninsula, with its glittering 180° panorama. If this alone doesn’t beguile you, the fragrant gardens, attentive staff and oh-so-relaxed pace of life will.
Write home about: You’ll never go hungry with all-inclusive and half-board options available across Eva Palace’s restaurants and bars, as well as the neighbouring Grecotel hotels. For added glam, take a trip to the Eva Palace Elixir Rooftop Spa (with treatments inspired by Aphrodite herself), and jump aboard one of the luxury boats on hand to ferry guests between venues (they’ll also take you to Corfu Imperial).
Best for… buzz and beauty
Why: Get in touch with nature at the all-inclusive family resort of Costa Botanica in Acharavi. Set in protected wetland at the foot of a mountain, and with a 1km pristine beach, the area teems with otters, turtles and more than 90 species of bird. Stay at The Country House hotel or, for a more casual break, one of the traditional summerhouses.
Write home about: Young imaginations will run wild. There’s so much to do, from the slides and lazy rivers of the Aqua Park to the Donkey Farm and Botanists’ Lab for lessons about the local flora and fauna. After a packed day, head to the Venetian-inspired Piazza Popolare, where you can sit beneath the cypress trees and sip ouzo
Best for… old-fashioned charisma
Why: It may not be a place to stay, granted, but we couldn’t leave Grecotel’s privately owned Danilia off the list. This unique replica of a 1930s Corfiot village – actually built in the 1970s – looks so authentic, with its pastel-hued buildings, taverns and church, that it has starred in the James Bond epic For Your Eyes Only and TV series The Durrells.
Write home about: Guided tours can be arranged by the hotel group. Or think big and hire the entire village for an exclusive Greek-style celebration. Better yet, the Grecotel village welcomes guests as a Free Dine venue. What could be more magical than feasting alfresco on a fresh, organic menu at long wooden tables in the cobbled village square, all beneath the twinkling stars?
British Airways Holidays offers carefully selected hotels, a 24-hour holiday helpline and deposits from just £75 per person, all with full ATOL protection. To find out more and to book your Greece holiday visit ba.com
This article has been tagged Advertorial, Hotels
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