January 2022 Newsletter

We wish our clients a very Happy New Year.

We would like to introduce two new members of our team: Samantha DeCourcy, who joined us in November, and Reggie, who is the office’s official shredder of sensitive documents and socks.

If, like us, you are concerned about the fragile environment of the Ionian islands, you might be interested to know that we are setting up a partnership with the Ionian Environment Foundation. We will keep you in touch with partnered projects for each island.

If you were unable to enjoy a tactile Christmas with the whole family, you might be looking forward to a family holiday in 2022 as a positive step towards more freedom. We have some new properties to entice you:

Paxos

Lithari and Popylena’s House

Lithari
Popylena’s House

Lefkas

Koumaria and Panorama

Koumaria
Panorama

Kefalonia

Liakada

Liakada

Ithaca

Diamanti

Diamanti

Corfu

Flamingo Retreat

Back in the days when the Watrous family ran the company, Greek Islands Club, they started a villa programme on the Sporades islands. After a recent revisit, we felt that Alonissos still offers a special escape from the crowds:  a rich green interior of umbrella pine forest, olive groves and plum orchards; small, secluded beaches and deep sea caves carved out of steep cliff faces; sheltered ports with a colourful jostle of large and small fishing caiques. Contact us if you might be interested in an Alonissos escape with such properties as Paparouna and Fisherman’s cottage.

Paparouna
Fisherman’s cottage

We still offer the chance to defer your 2022 holiday to a future date if, as a result of Covid conditions, travel in 2022 is prevented by Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice or a cancelled flight.

Please let us know if we can help you plan a special Ionian escape.

Alex, David, Catherine, Samantha & Reggie

MISSING OUR TRAVEL FIX

We understand the continued anxiety that you will all be feeling about when your future plans can be realised. Not just holidays but a general return to a sense of normal life.

All six of us Watrous’ at Ionian Villas have flights booked during May as part of our early season island visits to meet our villa owners and look at prospective new properties. We wait to see if these visits will be possible.

We keep in regular contact with all our villa owners and we know that Greece is desperate to welcome you this year. Continued lockdown measures in Greece are still in place and a national rollout of vaccines (click here for details) are hoped to ensure a safe welcome for visitors this summer.  

Our booking conditions ask for a final balance payment 8 weeks before the booking start date. In order to hold on to bookings and to show understanding and goodwill, nearly all of our villa owners are happy to be flexible on this so if you need to wait a bit longer for a confirmed green light to travel (fly) – please speak to us and we will let you know how flexible the villa owner can be.

Alex and Catherine’s children, Archie & Norah, are growing fast – no house is big enough for lockdown kids. Alex spends any free time on his passion for trail running. Catherine runs after Archie & Norah. Vivienne has a yoga & pilates routine and David waits for the garden to break into Spring mode.

Like you, we miss Greece passionately and we hope that travel will be possible so that all of us can heave a happy sigh of relief on a deserted Ionian island beach in the not too distant future.    

Ionian Villas Newsletter

We realise that for many, thoughts of 2021 holidays might well be on a back burner but for those of you who would prefer to select and reserve another Ionian escape in 2021, here are some reasons to do so now:

Availability of villas in 2021, especially in peak season, will be more limited than in previous years, caused by a combination of bookings deferred from 2020 to 2021 and a good number of people having already planned ahead.

We have recently introduced some new Paxos and Kefalonia villas (links given below) which we believe will be popular.

We continue to give a guarantee that your deposit and final balance payments will be carried over to a 2022 booking of the same property if you are prevented from travelling due to Covid-19. Further detail can be seen here.

New for 2021 on Paxos:

Aloni
Clementini
Erimitis Bay House
Mogonisi Bay House
Saffron
Sunset House

New for 2021 on Kefalonia:

Astakos
Barbouni
Fiscardo Waterfront House
Seahorse

We were lucky enough to visit the Ionian in September. This was baby Norah’s first opportunity to meet our Paxos manager, Dimitris, and his family.

In the new year we welcome Catherine back to our office after some time away raising the babies.

We hope you have an uncomplicated winter – stay safe and keep dreaming of the Ionian.

David, Vivienne, Alex & Catherine

Travelling to Paxos with Covid-19 Safety Protocols – What To Expect

The Best-Shaws at Eagle’s Nest, Paxos

The Best-Shaw family are regular visitors to Paxos and this year they were our first clients of the season to experience the journey after Greek airports opened to British airlines on 15th July.

Here is their report of the experience:

“We weren’t sure what to expect on our journey to Paxos this year but I’m pleased to report that it was far easier and less stressful than usual.

Early morning of 16th July – we arrived at EasyJet check-in to find no queue and were checked in within two minutes. We then sailed through security to find a relatively quiet departure lounge where everyone was social distancing. There were a few shops and food outlets open, all with minimal queues.

The plane was almost full, with everyone wearing masks but very civilised boarding and disembarking with passengers and crew respecting the EasyJet guidelines. There was a reduced trolley service and no hot drinks but you are allowed to take your own food and drinks on board and remove your mask while eating and drinking.

On arrival at Corfu airport the plane parked just outside the terminal so we could walk to passport control, which was very efficient and went smoothly. Approximately forty people off our flight were selected for a Covid test. One member of our party was tested which only took a couple of minutes. She was not told to self-isolate and was never contacted with the results.

The baggage claim was quick and efficient and no risk of not being able to social distance due to the reduced number of flights arriving.

There were plenty of taxis available at the airport, we all wore masks, as did the driver and he kept the windows open.

The Hydrofoil from Corfu to Paxos was busy, but there were seats blocked off to enable groups to be separated. This was the only part of the journey where wearing a mask was not very comfortable due to the heat – but a small price to pay as Paxos quickly came into sight!

A Paxos beach to escape the crowds

We are now ensconced at Eagle’s Nest and will not feel daunted by the journey home when it comes.

On Paxos we have been made to feel welcome – a genuine friendliness coupled with a respect for safety guidelines. We wish we could have self-isolated here for the last 3 months!”

An Ancient Footpath to Erimitis Spring

Paxos has three ports and the central village of Magazia. Magazia means “shops” and was once the main shopping centre of the island (it even had a ginger beer maker!). In surrounding valleys and on olive-clad hilltops are family hamlets consisting of a cluster of houses and a family church or two.

When the island was more self-sufficient (important when winter bad weather could prevent any supplies reaching Paxos for weeks on end) and the olive was king, a well-trodden network of pathways connected villages and hamlets with olive groves, vineyards, pasture land, terraces of wheat, schools, shops, friends and a supply of water.    

During the British occupation of the Ionian islands in the early 19th Century, tracks (wider than the goat paths) connecting the three island ports were turned into a central road – donkey tracks became a donkey road!

During the earlier, four centuries of Venetian rule, cisterns to collect rainwater were introduced to island house building. River and stream beds still traverse the island with fast flowing waters in the winter but the only source of natural spring water was and still is just above Erimitis beach on the west coast.

A series of stone-floored pathways, bordered by dry stone walls, lead from the hamlet of Boikatika (the hamlet of the Boikos family) down a wild valley of untended olive groves to a point above Erimitis Bay where soaring limestone cliffs look down onto a chalky turquoise sea.

A steep, stepped path winds down to the spring’s source and a well, enclosed by stone. Even in the heat of summer, water oozes and seeps through the rock face to give life to a variety of small wild plants, just above the sea.

In 2008 a large chunk of limestone cliff broke away and slid into the sea. What was a rocky inlet beneath the cliffs suddenly became a beautiful beach of limestone and pulverized stone – now turning into golden sand.

Look carefully at the surrounding hillsides of maquis and myrtle and you will see the remains of stone houses and overgrown terraces, which were once cultivated – a perfect place to live with fresh water on your doorstep. Prime position is now given to two modern villas at the top of the last flight of steps to the beach but there is still a dominant feeling of a rich, green wilderness, framed by the Erimitis cliffs.    

First glimpse of Erimitis cliffs

There is now a road down to the last flight of steps but parking is nigh impossible so choosing one of the ancient footpaths is the advisable (and more interesting) alternative. Tall olive and cypress trees provide a canopy of shade and the first views of the cliffs and blue sea are breathtaking. A good path to choose starts close to the cat feeding station on the track leading from Magazia to Erimitis Sunset Bar.

Old untended olives
Start of the last section
Final flight of steps to the spring

Take a stick to carefully detach spider webs and a non-plastic container to drink from the Erimitis well (you will find a bucket & rope attached to the well’s lid). On my last visit I saw “I was here” styled graffiti on the rock face close to the well – resist the urge to leave any mark of having been there and enjoy its natural beauty – one of Paxos’ many treasures.

Remember to take a spider stick
Descent to the beach
Erimitis Spring

On Paxos there are 2 organisations dedicated to the preservation of the island’s heritage and culture Volunteers of Paxos and Friends of Paxos – they work with the Paxos Municipality to open, clear and maintain the network of ancient footpaths on the island.

The Royal Baths – a seaside retreat close to Corfu Old Town

Corfu Old Town has preserved the fine architecture of Venetian, French and British occupation; a stroll through the maze of narrow streets will enamour both the historian and the romantic sightseer: tall Venetian houses with flaking pastel plaster; a maze of cobbled shopping streets; fruit and fish markets; simple and sophisticated restaurants; the people-watching bars of the Liston beside the cricket pitch and an exciting hustle & bustle.

A pleasant 2 kilometre coastal walk from the central Liston takes you along a stone-flagged esplanade, lined with purple blossoming Judas trees, skirting the sea and passing grand, Venetian waterfront houses, to the seaside windmill of Anemomilos. Here there is a wooden pontoon, used by fishermen and bathers and a small beach used by the locals of Garitsa.

Garitsa is a peaceful escape from Corfu town and has a good selection of tavernas and cafebars, all with dramatic views across the bay to the Venetian fortress.

100 metres from Anemomilos is the Royal Baths – a delightful beach, bar and restaurant retreat at the foot of Analypsis Hill, forested by pine and cypress trees.

Royal Baths bar
Royal Baths beach
Royal Baths beach

At the top of this hill is the Mon Repos Palace, surrounded by 250 acres of colourful gardens and a series of pathways leading to the remains of the 7th Century Hera’s Temple and 6th Century Kardaki Temple, just above a small beach. This is believed to be Corfu’s ancient city centre.

Mon Repos Palace

The Palace was built in 1826 by the British Commissioner, Frederic Adams, as a gift to his Corfiot wife, Nina Palatianou. The Palace then became the summer residence of the British Governors of Corfu and when the Ionian Islands were united to Greece in 1864, it was gifted to King George I of Greece.

Prince Philip was born here in 1921. During the Italian occupation of Corfu, in the Second World War, the Palace became the residence of Parini, the Italian Governor of the Ionian Islands.

On 13 December 1967, King Constantine was forced to flee the country, following an unsuccessful countercoup against the military junta. He remained the head of state in exile until the junta conducted the 1973 Greek republic referendum, which abolished the monarchy.

Legal battles about the Palace’s ownership lasted for almost 30 years, during which time it fell into disrepair. Restored in the 1990’s, the Palace became State owned and is now looked after by the Municipality of Corfu. It houses the Palaeopoli Museum, displaying works of art, furniture and historical documents about the estate.

The Royal Baths was once the private bathing beach for the Greek Royal family and friends residing at Mon Repos Palace on the hill above. It is now a little-known seaside escape from the world outside. Hidden by high walls, there is an open-air restaurant, a beachfront bar, lawned areas shaded by tall jacaranda trees and bordered by well-kept, Victorian changing huts (and outside showers), a wooden pontoon and sunloungers beside a sandy beach.

Royal baths pontoon
Victorian changing huts
In June 2018 Archie had a lot of fun relaxing at the Royal Baths before heading to Paxos!
Chilling in a hammock

Highly recommended as a relaxing break for those staying in Corfu Town Liston View Apartment, the Liston View Apartment has a special, central location. Or for those with a few hours to kill in between leaving for or arriving from Paxos – Corfu airport is just a 5-minute taxi ride away.

ITHACA FAQ’S

When is the best time to visit Ithaca?

When is the best time to visit Ithaca?

Visit Ithaca any month of the year and you will never be part of a crowd. Ithaca has no cruise ships and no crowded beaches. Athens based Ithacicians will return for their summer break in August but there are still many deserted beaches to be found.

April & May: Normally mild with lots of sunshine and the one-off shower. The olive groves are carpeted with wild flowers – ideal conditions for trail walking. Rivers and waterfalls that have dried up in the summer months are flowing.

June: Pool and sea temperatures are comfortably warm and the views to offshore islands are crisp and clear.

July & August: Higher temperatures, warmer seas and more visitors to the island.

September: Perfect conditions for escaping the crowds but still with high temperatures.  

October: similar to May.

Are beaches sand or pebble?

Apart from some beautiful sandy beaches in Afales Bay (only accessible by hired boat), all beaches on Ithaca are pebble and fine shingle. Most of the beaches are natural (no sunloungers etc) and usually deserted. The following beaches have “cantinas” (serving drinks & snacks): Filiatro, Vathy, one of the beaches in Kioni Bay, Aetos, Marmaka, Gidaki, Polis Bay. Polis Bay beach has sunbeds and umbrellas, toilets, showers, kayaks for hire – all supervised by Takis the beach manager .

What is there to do for teenagers?

Life on Ithaca tends to be low key. There are a few music bars on the Vathy waterfront but the other villages are for those wanting a quieter alternative to city living. Family activities on offer include boat hire, kayaking & paddle boards at Filiatro Beach just outside Vathy, scuba diving, snorkelling trips; hiking trails, electric bike hire.

Eating out costs?

There is a good selection of tavernas in all the island’s villages plus a few off the beaten track. In the main they will be traditional Greek cuisine with Mediterranean twists & fusions. The average cost is around 30 euros per person for a 3 course meal including house wine – freshly caught fish however, will be more expensive.

There are some excellent and very innovative waterfront tavernas in Frikes.  

The house wine offered in tavernas is usually very good but there are now some very good Greek wineries on so well worthwhile trying them.

Kioni Taverna

Is it easy to buy fresh fish?

You can often buy fresh fish direct from the fishing boats on the harbour front during the mornings. You will also find a fishmonger in Stavros and Rigos (the man with the fish van) sells in all the villages.

Are supermarkets well stocked?

You will find everything you need. Most also sell fresh fruit and vegetables. Many have a butcher’s and a deli counter. British products are readily available, although may be more expensive.

Local Store in Rachi, Kioni

Do supermarkets sell gluten free/dairy free products?

The majority of the larger supermarkets sell a good range of dairy and gluten free products. Supermarkets in coastal resorts will also generally sell them, although the range may not be as good as in the larger supermarkets.

Do supermarkets deliver?

Most supermarkets and minimarkets are usually happy to deliver to local properties providing you spend a reasonable amount in their shop.

Are pharmacies well stocked?

Yes – and more treatments available over the counter than in British chemists. You will also find well known brands of baby formula and more specific baby supplies that may not be stocked in the supermarket such as creams, dummies etc.

There are 3 chemists: 1 in Stavros and 2 in Vathy.

Are credit cards widely accepted?

Most shops, supermarkets and tavernas now accept credit/debit cards but you’ll get a bigger smile when paying in cash.

Best parts of the island to stay?

Ithaca’s east coast hillsides of olive groves, pine and cypress forest, shelve gently to small coves – with distant views of the Greek mainland. Ithaca’s west coast is steeper and has dramatic views to the east coast of Kefalonia.

The seaside villages of Kioni and Frikes are picture postcard pretty. Vathy is more of a working town but has beautiful views across the bay to the east coast of the island.

The drive from Frikes, in the far north, to Vathy, in the south, takes around 30 minutes so wherever you stay, you are never far from a beach or village.

View over Vathy Bay

How child friendly is Ithaca?

Greeks love children and Ithacicians are no exception.

Very few pools are gated and some gardens can be uneven with prickly shrubs.  Most tavernas have a childrens’ menu or are happy to provide child-size portions.

Is Ithaca good for boat hire?

There are boat hirers in Vathy, Kioni and Polis Bay. A speedboat licence needs to be shown for hiring a boat with an outboard over 30HP. Hiring a boat is the best way to find your own private beach and to explore the coastline.

Frikes

Are there good medical facilities?

There is a Medical Centre in Vathy and a smaller medical centre in Stavros. The GP and Head of Vathy’s Medical Centre is a good heart surgeon!

Ferry service to other islands?

There are ferry services connecting Ithaca with Patras and Killini on the mainland, Kefalonia and Lefkas. The ferry from Piso Aetos on Ithaca to Sami on Kefalonia takes just 30 minutes – alternatively, private speedboat charter takes just 15 minutes.

KEFALONIA FAQ’S

When is the best time to visit Kefalonia?

April: Normally mild with lots of sunshine and the one-off shower. The olive groves are carpeted with wild flowers – ideal conditions for trail walking. Rivers and waterfalls that have dried up in the summer months are flowing. Sea and pool temperatures are still bracing.

May: Similar to April but with warmer temperatures and most of the rivers will just be trickles. 

June: Pool and sea temperatures are comfortably warm and the views to offshore islands are crisp and clear.

July & August: Higher temperatures and warmer seas but more visitors to the island.

September: Perfect conditions for escaping the crowds but still with high temperatures.   

October: similar to May.

Are beaches sand or pebble?

The south coastline of the island is generally sandy with gently shelving beaches. As you go further north they become a mix of sand and shingle. In the far north they are mostly pebble beaches.

Makris Yalos Beach
Alaties

What is there to do for teenagers?

Although the biggest island in the Ionian group, Kefalonia is not really a destination for those looking to party as it is relatively low key. There are a few nightclubs in the capital, Argostoli, one in Fiskardo and one outside Skala, but generally the nightlife revolves around cafes and cocktail bars and the very occasional Makris Yalos beach party during high season. 

Watersports are available at Skala, Lassi, Xi and Antisamos beaches. You can  hire motorboats in many of the ports and some beaches and there are a number of organised boat trips to explore the coastline. Also to be found are kayaking, pedaloes, bicycle hire (including electric bikes), scuba diving, jeep safaris, caving and paragliding.

Drogerati Caves

Eating out costs?

In the coastal resorts you will find many tavernas catering for all tastes, in the main they will be traditional Greek cuisine with Mediterranean twists & fusions. The average cost is around 30 euros per person for a 3 course meal including house wine – freshly caught fish however, will be more expensive. 

Strike inland and sample small village tavernas and you will find cheaper fayre.

The house wine offered in tavernas is usually very good but there are very good wineries on the island so well worthwhile trying them.

Simple Taverna Fayre
Trapezaki Beach Taverna

Is it easy to buy fresh fish?

You can often buy fresh fish direct from the fishing boats on the harbour front during the mornings. You will also find fishmongers in Argostoli, Skala, Sami and Lixouri. 

In some areas there is a “Fish Man with a Van” who drives around the villages selling his freshly caught fish.

Are supermarkets well stocked?

You will find everything you need. Most also sell fresh fruit and vegetables. Many have a butcher’s and a deli counter. British products are readily available, although may be more expensive, and you can also find stores selling Waitrose and Tesco products!

Do supermarkets sell gluten free/dairy free products?

The majority of the larger supermarkets sell a good range of dairy and gluten free products. Supermarkets in coastal resorts will also generally sell them, although the range may not be as good as in the larger supermarkets.

Do supermarkets deliver?

The larger supermarkets will not deliver. Smaller supermarkets and minimarkets are usually happy to deliver to local properties providing you spend a reasonable amount in their shop.

Are pharmacies well stocked?

Yes – and more treatments available over the counter than in British chemists. You will also find well known brands of baby formula and more specific baby supplies that may not be stocked in the supermarket such as creams, dummies etc.

Are credit cards widely accepted?

Most shops, supermarkets and tavernas now accept credit/debit cards but you’ll get a bigger smile when paying in cash.

Best parts of the island to stay?

Kefalonia’s landscapes are diverse.

In the centre, the foothills of Mount Aenos fall to pastures, olive groves and vineyards.

To the south, the foothills lead to gently shelving, soft sandy beaches – perfect for children.  Many of the sandy beaches have sunbeds, unbrellas and beach cantinas – the more “off the beaten track” beaches are wild & natural. The airport is in the south, so shorter transfer times. The island’s capital, Argostoli, is also in the south – here you will find the larger supermarkets, more choice with shops and the island’s most famous residents: the Loggerhead Turtles, locally named Caretta Caretta. Views in the south are generally over crystal clear turquoise waters across to the neighbouring island of Zakynthos.

In the north the beaches are mostly pebble with only a handful having sunbeds and umbrellas. The northern coastline has small coves with crystal clear water – perfect for snorkelling.  Fiskardo is a magnet for yachts and is nicknamed the St Tropez of the Ionian by the locals. Views from the north are Ithaca, Lefkas and the mountains of the Greek mainland.

Fiscardo

How child friendly is Kefalonia?

Greeks love children and Kefalonians are no exception. Most of the coastal resorts have pavements and therefore good for pushchairs. 

Very few pools are gated and some gardens can be uneven with prickly shrubs.  Most tavernas have a childrens’ menu or are happy to provide child-size portions.

Family friendly Kefalonia – Alex & Archie 2018
Archie and Cat Kefalonia 2018

Is Kefalonia good for boat hire?

Kefalonia has many boat hire companies. A speedboat licence needs to be shown for hiring a boat with an outboard over 30HP. Hiring a boat is the best way to find your own private beach and to explore the coastline.

Are the ferry services reliable?

Ferries can sometimes be affected by high winds. There are regular ferries to the Greek mainland: Kilini in the North Peloponese from Poros and Patras and Astakos from Sami. There is also a direct ferry to & from Brindisi in Italy during July and August. You can also get to the neighbouring islands, Ithaca from Sami, Lefkas from Fiskardo and Zakynthos from Pessada.  A regular ferry goes from Argostoli to Lixouri Town, halving the driving journey time.

Are there good medical facilities?

There is a general hospital in Argostoli with an A&E department. There is a smaller hospital in Lixouri dealing with minor issues as well as medical centres in Skala and Sami.  Throughout the island and in the resorts there are private doctors, who will charge for a consultation.

There are dentists in Argostoli, Lixouri, Sami and Poros.

PAXOS FAQ’S

When is the best time to visit Paxos?

April: expect some rain but usually a month ahead of northern Europe so beautiful Spring days – perfect for walking & wild flowers.

May: warmer but could still rain. Perfect month to escape the crowds and meet locals when they are not so busy.

June: temperatures can be high but less humidity so good visibility/views to mainland mountains & other islands.

July & August: Hotter temperatures and warmer seas but more visitors to the island.

September: Sea at its warmest, kids back at school, locals not so stressed.

October: similar to May.

Olive Grove in May

Are beaches sand or pebble?

Most of the beaches on Paxos are pebble (beautiful clear water) but a 15-minute boat ride away are the sandy beaches of AntiPaxos.

Kloni Gouli Beach

What is there to do for teenagers?

Paxos will not appeal to those looking for all night music bars (Castello Night Club, just outside Gaios,  is the exception) – each of the 3 ports has a variety of waterfront café & cocktail bars for all ages. For activities there’s a watersports centre and 2 tennis courts. Families who enjoy boating can hire boats and ribs with 30HP to twin 350HP engines. There are two local companies who organise kayak excursions and walks to hidden island parts. A recently opened gym in Gaios can be used on a day to day basis. There are 2 scuba diving centres and in Gaios, a shop for fishing tackle.

Eating out costs?

In most Greek villages you will have a good choice of tavernas to suit all budgets and tastes. A simple, traditional meal with a half kilo of house wine should cost around 20-30 Euros per person. Select octopus carpaccio rather than stuffed peppers or a wild mushroom risotto rather than fresh sardines and you might spend more. There are now many excellent Greek wines but as most come from small wineries they can be expensive (10 – 20 Euros in the shop & perhaps double that in the taverna) but do try them if you can.

Is it easy to buy fresh fish?

During the busier months of the season most of the locally caught fish is bought by the taverna owners (put on ice & on display in each taverna). You will find fishermen selling their fish from their boats on each village waterfront around 8 – 9am. Otherwise there are two fishmongers in Gaios

Gaios fishmonger with patient audience

Are supermarkets well stocked?

Yes! From Alpen or avocados to zucchini. Good deli counters, big variety of pasta, diverse fruit & veg, drinks galore and even marmite (shame on you). Each village will have a bakery with assorted breads & pastries.

Do supermarkets sell gluten free/dairy free products?

Some supermarkets, in particular the supermarket in Gaios High Street, stock a range of products for food intolerances such as dairy free milk, rye bread, rice cakes and other gluten free snacks and confectioneries.

Do supermarkets deliver?

Yes – most do but the busier the season the harder it is for them so check.

Are pharmacies well stocked?

Yes – and more treatments available over the counter than in British chemists. You will also find well known brands of baby formula and more specific baby supplies that may not be stocked in the supermarket such as creams, dummies etc.

Are credit cards widely accepted?

Most shops, supermarkets and tavernas now accept credit/debit cards but you’ll get a bigger smile when paying in cash.

Best parts of the island to stay?

On an island 7.5 miles by 2.5 miles you are never far from a taverna, a beach, a shop, total seclusion or village hubbub. Your holiday view is important – west coast views are over a big sea, aerial displays of seagulls & swifts & birds of prey against a backdrop of white cliffs and valleys of cypress trees; east coast views are across the sea to the mountains of the Greek mainland and a soft Paxos coastline of olive groves , peppered by tall cypress and wild myrtle. Try both coasts!

How child friendly is Paxos?

Children are welcomed everywhere on Paxos. The terrain however is not so friendly towards toddlers. Most of the villas will have split level terraces and gardens and only a very few swimming pools are “gated”. Tavernas have a good choice of child friendly dishes and the Greeks
love their ice cream almost as much as the Italians

Villa Loula
Swimming pool is separated by a gate for extra toddler safety.

Is Paxos good for boat hire?

Paxos is great for boat hire. There are boat hirers in Lakka, Loggos and Gaios. Fibreglass boats & ribs with outboards from 30HP – twin 350HP (Speedboat License required for over 30HP). A fun way to explore the coastline, beach picnics and visit AntiPaxos beaches.

Loggos boat hire

Are the hydrofoil/ferry services reliable?

From time to time the Paxos/Corfu hydrofoil and fast boat service can be affected by mechanical problems or bad weather. If your flight to Corfu is delayed you might miss a hydrofoil/fast boat departure. Our Paxos manager will put a Plan B in place to ensure that you are looked after.

Any other languages spoken by locals?

Most locals will speak/understand English and Italian. French and German by a few. If you hear a language unlike any other, it could well be Albanian – the Albanian population on Paxos is about 20% of the total.

Are there good medical facilities?

There is a well-run clinic in the village of Bogdanatika, not far from Gaios, and two doctors. Gaios has a good dentist.

 

Kalo Pascha

We just wanted to wish you all a very happy Greek Easter!

If you want to visit the Ionian Islands for Greek Easter 2020, we recommend visiting Corfu Town where the Easter festivities are spectacular. With colourful processions, Philharmonic bands, dancing and even a tradition of throwing ceramic pots from windows and balconies to ban bad spirits from the house. A unique, cultural experience – not to be missed.

We have some fabulous apartments, villas and hotels available in and close to Corfu town – please get in touch for further details.

© 2018 Ionian Villas Limited

Call us on: +44 (0) 1243 820928    ..or email enquiries@ionian-villas.co.uk

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