Latest news with #Corfiot
The Irish Sun
26-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Step back in time and discover beautiful beaches and fish feasts on the island of Corfu
WANDERING along the cobbled alleyways, the air is filled with the scent of lemon and pine trees, and the pastel-coloured buildings are dripping with bougainvillea. Corfu's pedestrian-only, UNESCO-protected Old Town feels like stepping back in time. Advertisement 4 This horseshoe-shaped bay is both sandy and pebbly, with calm, clear waters and jet-skis to rent 4 Our stunning home for the week is Villa Icarus My last visit to this Ionian island was to go clubbing in Kavos as a teen, but I'm keen to discover the real Known as Greece's greenest island, its interior is lush and mountainous, while the edges are filled with sandy beaches and stony rugged coves, and Lake Korission even boasts a flamboyance of flamingos! SUNNY STAY We're staying on the eastern side of the isle near Benitses, a sleepy little fishing town. Our home for the week is Villa Icarus, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom pad with open-plan living area and a large balcony with views across the mountains. Advertisement READ MORE TRAVEL There are plenty of shady spots around the private pool to escape the midday sun and a small outdoor kitchen with a barbecue. It's great for young families, as you can request everything from cots and high-chairs to kid-friendly cutlery and stair gates. 4 Corfu's pedestrian-only, UNESCO-protected Old Town feels like stepping back in time 4 Lake Korission even boasts a flamboyance of flamingos Advertisement It's also just a 15-minute drive to the Old Town, and we spend one evening exploring the 16th-century Old Fortress and people-watching at Cafe Kohlias, sipping sweet, ice-cold kumquat cream liqueur, from £4 ( The best spot to get ice cream has to be the retro Papagiorgis patisserie, which dates back to 1924. Most read in Beach holidays And it would be rude not to try the kourabiethes (little almond biscuits), £4 for 100g, too ( The Old Town is full of cool shops, such as Mezzo Mezzo, where you can pick up dresses and sandals from emerging Greek designers, and Patounis' Soap Factory for olive-oil soaps. Advertisement I visited Corfu's 'secret' beach – and you can only get there by using a lift The next day, we pack a picnic and drive 45 minutes to rent a motor boat for the day from Ampelaki Boats on Paleokastritsa beach, from £75 for six hours ( We chug around the coast exploring hidden beaches and dropping anchor for swims whenever we spot a patch of turquoise water, before finding a secluded stony bay to eat our sandwiches. Our boat comes with snorkelling equipment, and there are shoals of tiny fish, with the occasional large tuna and grouper to marvel at. Sun-baked and salty, we dine that night at the quaint family-run Taverna Elizabeth in Doukádes, filling up on traditional fish dishes – seafood pastitsada, a Corfiot pasta bake stuffed with mussels and prawns, and fresh seabream and octopus salad. Advertisement Mains cost from £12 ( STREET PARTY Craving more beach time, we head to the Blue-Flag-awarded Agios Georgios, an hour's drive from the villa. This horseshoe-shaped bay is both sandy and pebbly, with calm, clear waters and jet-skis to rent. On our final night, we keep it local and dine alfresco on lemony garlic fish stew, Greek salad and saganaki (fried cheese) at Klimataria in Benitses. Advertisement Mains cost from £18 ( Afterwards, we stroll by the harbour, eyeing up the luxury yachts as the sun sets and a brass band fills the street in a lively procession. A bystander explains it's a local fiesta and, after a couple of glasses of tsipouro fruit brandy, we join in. Who needs Kavos anyway? FYI A week's stay for eight people at Villa Icarus, including return flights and car hire, costs from £1,230 per person (
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Telegraph
An Ionian island escape geared to every type of traveller
If you're yearning for a sun-drenched island holiday, prepare to be bowled over by Corfu. With its history-rich towns, glittering coastline home to Blue Flag beaches and olive-grove-studded peaks easily reached with a hire car, you'll see why holidaymakers return here year after year. It's easy to get to Corfu from the UK, thanks to direct flights with British Airways Holidays. As with all its holiday packages, your Corfu trip is Atol protected and comes with a 24-hour holiday helpline and generous checked baggage allowance, putting your mind at ease when you travel. And for a little extra luxury, why not upgrade to Club Europe (Business Class) and enjoy delicious food and drink on board, lounge access**, inflight extras, priority check-in desks and boarding? If you're a member of The British Airways Club, you can collect Avios and earn tier points on your holiday package with British Airways Holidays, leaving you free to focus on planning trips to the fantastic museums and charming cafes of the Unesco-listed Corfu Old Town, loved for its Venetian and Byzantine-style architecture. You might even hop on a ferry from here to the tranquil island of Vido or tour the history of the old town, taking in its striking fortress, the neoclassical Palace of St Michael and St George and St Spyridon Church, named after the island's patron saint. Aeolos Beach Resort: a warm and welcoming Corfiot hotel If you're wondering where to base yourself while soaking up all of Corfu's splendour, look no further than Aeolos Beach Resort, a four-star hotel located seven miles down the east coast from the island's fortified Old Town. It caters for all types of guests, with distinct areas for couples and families. And as with all British Airways Holidays, it provides great value for money, with a premium all-inclusive board basis which grants you access to high-quality dining, premium beverages, and a diverse range of activities and entertainment. With British Airways Holidays, you can secure your trip with a low deposit and pay in as many instalments as you like*. Alternatively, settle your balance closer to departure*. When you arrive at Aeolos Beach Resort, you'll instantly fall for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, created by its collection of stone buildings, designed to evoke the feel of a Corfiot village. Its 437 guest rooms, suites and bungalows are spread across a verdant hillside in a terraced design – 100 of the rooms are brand new, while the remainder have undergone a complete renovation with soothing pastel palettes and minimalist designs. Families will feel right at home in the two-bedroomed Family Bungalow Suites, which sleep up to four people. Couples, meanwhile, can opt to stay in the newer 37 sq m Deluxe Sea View rooms. These brim with creature comforts – from tea and coffee-making facilities to in-room movies – and floor-to-ceiling windows frame blissful views of lush greenery and the glittering Ionian Sea. Wherever you drop your bags, you'll find the swimming pools and sun-kissed beaches are never far away. Of the three pool areas, one has been specifically designed for families, with a shallow section and a separate baby pool. A new relaxing pool for everyone over the age of 14 will open this summer. Over on its caramel-hued Aeolos Beach, you'll find a stylish jetty, abundant sun loungers and an array of watersports. In the heart of the resort is the infinity pool, perfectly positioned for coastal panoramas, while the hotel's spa centre offers an array of reviving body treatments. The resort also boasts a tennis court, a padel court, a gym and a wide range of sports. If families need any more reasons to love this resort, they'll find it: the babysitting and onsite kids' club and mini disco tick the childcare and kids' entertainment box. In fact, there's entertainment for all, with the Aeolos Animation Team offering an array of games, competitions and live music events. Much like the creative activities it provides for the youngest guests, the hotel gastronomy found across the hotel's three restaurants, embraces the much-loved Mediterranean culture with touches of international flair throughout. The family-friendly main restaurant comes with a kids' corner, buffet-style dining and show cooking, while the seaside Paralia Beach Restaurant impresses with artistic takes on pasta and pizza, cooked to your personal liking. With all this, and the delectable rotisserie and meze-style dishes of the poolside Ionian restaurant, plus the Beach Sweet Corner, which dishes out waffles and crepes at selected times of day, this is a hotel – and an island – of which you won't be able to get enough. Aeolos Beach Resort with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly.* *Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure for short-haul holiday bookings. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
