Call us on: +44 (0) 1243 820928 ..or email enquiries@ionian-villas.co.uk
We are offering some fantastic last minute Easter deals on Paxos for UK Easter week. Stay in either Avra, Elissa or Angelika…
15th April – 22nd April
** Only £500 **
Or maybe you fancy the festivities of Greek Easter instead…
22nd April – 29th April
** Only £500 **
Please get in touch with us for further details call 01243 820928 or email enquiries@ionian-villas.co.uk
For many people, the concept of a relaxing holiday is not to be dependent on a car. The smaller Greek islands are therefore conducive to chilling on foot and not slumped behind a steering wheel.
On most of the Ionian islands you can hire fibreglass boats and larger ribs with outboard engines ranging from 30HP to twin 350HP. A speedboat license is required for engines over 30HP.
Hiring a boat with outboard engine is a fun and to many, an out of the ordinary way to explore an island. Distances on the Ionian islands are not large but a few special properties have a mooring spot within a stone’s throw:
Angelika (sleeps up to 5) is a 2-minute walk to Gaios waterfront.
Averto Avalli’s (sleeps up to 6) doorstep is Gaios waterfront.
The Levrecchio Beach Villas (each sleeps up to 4) are a 4-minute walk to Loggos waterfront.
Marina (sleeps up to 15) has a mooring point at the bottom of the gardens.
Mermaid Cottage’s (sleeps up to 2) doorstep is Loggos waterfront.
Sula’s Apartment ( sleeps up to 6) is an olive stone’s throw away from Gaios waterfront.
Dora’s House (sleeps up to 7) is a few steps away from Vathy waterfront.
Limonia (sleeps up to 8) is a short stroll to the Vathy waterfront.
Marmika House (sleeps up to 4) is 50 metres away from the Vathy waterfront.
The Kioni Suites (sleeps 2) are 10 paces away from the Kioni waterfront.
Waterfront Villa (sleeps up to 4) is 50 metres away from Vathy waterfront.
Katy’s Apartment (sleeps 2) has complimentary bikes and the Fiscardo waterfront is a 2-minute bike ride away.
Sonia’s Apartment (sleeps 2) and Villi’s House (sleeps 6) are a 5-minute stroll to the Fiscardo waterfront.
The Ionian islands of Greece have some of the most beautiful, natural coastlines and crystal clear waters in southern Europe.
The islands offer a diverse playground for both explorer and cushioned deckchair enthusiast.
Say you are the one responsible for planning the family holiday or for trying to get a party of friends together – say Sally wants to escape city pressures and read a book in the shade of an olive tree; Malcolm only has a week off and wants to experience a different island coastline each day; Isobel just wants everyone else to be happy (especially Malcolm as he just won’t sit still); twins Frank & Fiona can’t do boats as they fear sea sickness; Pops and Granma want to be pampered. The Huddlestones and the Brinkmans don’t yet know if they can join the party.
How do you choose the right compromise for everyone’s holiday enjoyment?
A more conventional decision might be to either book one Greek island villa for all or one crewed yacht for all. But why not mix the two and satisfy everyone?
Ionian Villas offers a wide selection of Ionian island properties for parties of 2 to 20. Fleewinter offer luxury crewed yachts in the Ionian for up to 10 people.
Why not spend a week in a comfy Ionian island villa to keep everyone except Malcolm happy, followed by a week on a Fleewinter yacht exploring the other Ionian islands. If Sally and the twins don’t want to join the yacht party, they can fly back home or extend their villa stay. In any case there’ll be plenty of room on board for the Huddlestones and Brinkmans.
Fleewinter’s yachts have from 3 to 5 cabins taking up to 10 and each one has a skipper and private chef. You can get involved in the sailing or just take it easy and let the crew do the work. Each day you decide with the crew whether to take it easy in a beautiful bay or explore some of the villages and tavernas.
It’s a bit like having a floating luxury villa, and like all great houses each yacht has a garage full of toys: waterskis, wakeboards, paddleboards, windsurfers and inflatable toys that are towed behind the private speedboat. All meals are included except dinner where you have the option to dine onboard or head ashore to explore.
If you book a 2019 Fleewinter yacht charter through us before the end of March, a 10% price reduction will apply.
Call us on 01243 820928 to get more information.
After the Trojan War it took Odysseus 10 eventful years to return to his Ithaca home.
Reaching the end of his journey, Odysseus was taken from Kefalonia to Ithaca in a Phaeacian longboat. Seeing the Phaeacians returning to Kefalonia, Poseidon raised his trident and turned the boat and oarsmen to stone.
Tzika House and the Sunset Cottages look down to an outcrop of rock emerging from the sea in the distinct shape of a Phaeacian longboat.
It is said that the Phaeacians dropped Odysseus off at the beach below Dexa Beach House and Villa Areti. The photo below was taken by the owner of Areti – the rainbow falls onto the beach.
Nowadays Odysseus could fly to Kefalonia, then a 40 minute taxi journey to the port of Sami with a private speedboat to whisk him over to Ithaca in 30 minutes. All arranged by our Ithaca manager, Sue.
And to regain his strength before slaughtering Penelope’s suitors he could hide himself away in comfort at Hilltop House.
What boxes need ticking when you look for that special Greek island holiday?
Most people look for: a modern villa with pool but one that feels Greek; the biggest and most dramatic sea views possible; seclusion but close to a village and beaches; privacy and tranquillity.
All of our Ionian properties have one or more of these attributes but here is a shortlist for each island of the ones we consider to head the wow list.
Bougainvillaea (sleeps 2) – forested, west coast hillsides and the open sea.
Evangelia (sleeps up to 4) – birds eye views over Gaios port.
Jupiter (sleeps up to 6) – east to the Greek mainland, north across Mogonisi Bay, west to AntiPaxos.
Chimara (sleeps up to 8) – a big sea and the mountains of the mainland, framed by tall cypress trees.
Sunset Cottages (sleeps 2) – watch the sun set behind the north coast of Kefalonia.
Fassoulou’s Cottage (sleeps up to 4) – over Afales Bay and across the sea to the islands of Lefkas, Meganissi, Kalamos, Arkoudi and Atokos.
Hilltop House (sleeps up to 5) – the highest spot above Kioni Bay.
Tzika House (sleeps up to 8) – across the sea to Kefalonia’s north coast.
Sonia’s Apartment (sleeps 2) – watch the fishing boats and yachts arrive at and depart from Fiscardo port.
Villa Lito (sleeps up to 4) – a valley of olive groves to the sea, the pine and cypress forested foothills of Mount Aenos and the sandy coastline.
Villa Cara (sleeps up to 8) – looks out over a spectacular, natural landscape of pine and cypress to the sea and in the distance, the island of Zakynthos.
Rhoda (sleeps 2) – the sun sets directly opposite.
Vassiliko (sleeps up to 4) – over a valley of olive groves and across Vassiliki Bay to the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia.
Victoria (sleeps up to 10) – across Vliho Bay and up to Lefkas’ mountainous interior.
Helena (sleeps up to 10) – panoramic views over the offshore islands of Skorpios, Sparti, Skorpithi, Meganissi and across the sea to the Greek mainland.
Aspro Alogo (sleeps 2) – a tiny hamlet of just a few houses in the hills above Loggos.
Cressida (sleeps up to 6) – only the sound of cicadas to disturb.
Spiantzi (sleeps up to 11) – a private headland of 2 acres and private access to the beach below.
Loutsa Retreat (sleeps up to 8) – hidden from the outside world within beautiful private gardens and forested hillsides of olive and pine.
Paradiso (sleeps up to 7) – a total escape with an acre of lawns overlooking a landscape of olive groves and cypress trees.
Acacia (sleeps up to 10) – large, private grounds look out across the sea to the tiny island of Dias and to Zakynthos.
Efkalyptos (sleeps up to 16) – a spacious and comfortable retreat above Spartia’s sandy beach.
Spartia Retreat (sleeps up to 18) – surrounded by 5 acres of beautiful, extensive gardens just inland from the seaside village of Spartia.
Helios (sleeps up to 8) – dramatic views all the away along the east coast to Corfu Town’s fortress.
Perivoli (sleeps up to 10) – 2 acre private gardens of crimson bougainvillaea and orchards of orange, lemon, avocado, pear, apple, plum, grapefruit and a private olive grove.
The Manor House (sleeps up to 10) – a mid 18th Century Venetian residence, hidden away amongst five hillside acres of citrus orchards, olive groves and cypress trees above the east coast.
Mermaid Cottage (sleeps 2) – 5 paces away from the sea.
Delia (sleeps up to 4) – just above Monodendri beach (Ben’s Bar).
Anastasia (sleeps up to 6) – you really couldn’t get closer to the sea!
Beach House (sleeps up to 7) – set above a small beach.
Dexa Beach House (sleeps up to 4) – set in an olive grove, just 15 metres from the beach where Odysseus ended his odyssey.
Poseidon (sleeps up to 7) – set above a small cove within the bay of Frikes.
Above the Beach (sleeps 2) – bordered by gardens of fruit trees, just above the beautiful sandy beach of Makris Yalos on Kefalonia’s south coast.
Villi’s House (sleeps up to 6) – from the front terrace you can hear the sea lapping on to the bathing rocks below.
Lassi Beach House (sleeps up to 10) – a sumptuously comfortable home just above the sandy beach of Makris Yalos.
Beach Villa (sleeps up to 12) – a private pool just above Makris Yalos sandy beach.
In Episode 5 of the latest series of The Durrells, the family are invited for dinner by some Italian friends.
The beautiful Manor House was chosen as the filming location for this dinner.
You too can be part of the Durrells’ adventure and have a special holiday escape on Corfu at The Manor House.
The Manor House, a mid 18th Century Venetian residence, hides away from the outside world and is a perfect venue for the Durrells. The visitors books contain the signatures of crowned heads and their families, film stars and celebrities – testament to a special comfort and privacy.
The house has the peaceful feel of a bygone era but modern touches include a 72 square metre pool. The views over the channel between Corfu and the mainland of Greece, are magnificent.
We can offer good availability in June, July and September for parties up to 10.
Fiscardo is undoubtedly one of the most colourful and prettiest ports in the Ionian.
In 1953 an earthquake destroyed all Kefalonia buildings except those in Fiscardo and a few outlying villages.
In my early Greek Islands Club days we took on a small programme of village houses for those visitors wanting to spend lazy days people and boat watching on Fiscardo waterfront.
In the early 1980’s a coffee on Fiscardo waterfront would have cost around 25 cents in today’s money.
Many of the Greek islands still hold on to a simple lifestyle and do not let the demands of blinkered tourism dictate their future. But whereas an older island generation may not want change, the younger generation will naturally be aspirational: the BMW versus the donkey.
Running a travel business often leads one to hypocrisy. I always tried to offer holiday opportunities to those wanting to escape the crowds and to get to know and be part of a simple Greek island community. In 1990 the BBC Holiday Programme asked me if we would host a film crew in Fiscardo. I said yes. Holiday bookings to Fiscardo soared the following year and Fiscardo started to take on a more chic appearance.
A coffee on Fiscardo waterfront can now cost 4 Euros.
The following photos were taken in 1990 when my mum (Buz), my wife (Vivienne) and I introduced Lorraine Chase (as the Presenter), a BBC researcher plus a cameraman and sound man to the beautiful landscapes of northern Kefalonia and Fiscardo.
You will see that there were only a very few café bar tables and chairs and wooden fishing boats outnumbered fibreglass cruisers. There were also no waterfront sun umbrellas. Today’s waterfront wall of sun umbrellas provide welcoming shade but I still prefer the openness that existed pre-invasion and also the look of traditional, rickety cafenion chairs and chipped metal tables.
But life goes on and Fiscardo will still dazzle and delight.
Whether Greece stays in the Euro and/or the European Community or not, she will continue to depend on tourism as one of her most important income opportunities.
Thousands of visitors each year to the smaller Greek islands have a serious impact on local infrastructures. Over time these islands will inevitably lose part of their culture, traditions, lifestyle, character, identity and soul.
Once this has happened it will be hard to recover what has been lost.
On the tiny island of Paxos, a new initiative has been set up by Faye Lychnou and Christos Boicos to initiate, encourage and organise cultural activities of every type on the island to include concerts and festivals, art exhibitions, art residencies and workshops to involve people and culture from Paxos and from outside.
This initiative is called Friends of Paxos. Faye and Christos understand the fragility of Paxos’ heritage and its environment and are keen to encourage projects concerning the island’s preservation.
At a time when public budgets and cultural initiatives in Greece are few, Friends of Paxos will look to private financing of its projects.
Ionian Villas wants to become a Friend of Paxos and once the projects become more concrete, we will announce them on this blog in the hope that we can encourage others to become a Friend.
I was once managing director of Greek Islands Club. When we had offices in Old Isleworth it meant a 2 hour drive from home in West Sussex and then a 2 hour drive back home. The M25 was my companion and pacemaker. I now look after Ionian Villas from our home in a little Dorset village and occasionally tune in to radio traffic reports to see how my companion of old is faring. Not too well by all accounts.
My wife and I travel round the Ionian islands for 3 weeks in April/May and 3 weeks in September/October. Refreshing perks of the job but also very important to give knowledgeable advice to prospective clients and to retain good personal links with all our property owners. A plate of grilled octopus by the sea beats the M25 snarl-up any day.
This May we spent Greek Easter on Paxos and then took the hydrofoil to Corfu and then a SkyExpress prop plane to Kefalonia – the ubiquitous grilled octopus at Sami port and then a 30-minute ferry to Ithaca, where we stayed at Dexa Beach House just a few steps away from the beach.
Ithaca hasn’t been tamed or compromised by tourism – it has a beautiful wild side, hidden hamlets, inquisitive locals – many with a lingering Australian or South African twang (many fled Ithaca during the civil war after the 2nd World War), a welcoming lack of coastal development and stunning views from mountain top monasteries.
Back to Kefalonia where we stayed at the superb Avra Suites – above sandy Makris Yalos beach. 5 Star accommodation with only the sound of the sea and the occasional sea bird. Memorable breakfasts procured from the owner’s garden of fruit trees, strawberry patch, vegetable garden and the magic touch of Eleni the creative chef.
Then another Sky Express plane hop of 15 minutes to Lefkas (via Preveza airport) where we stayed at Villa Yasmina – above the west coast with our own theatre of an orchestra pit of silver olives, a stage of Ionian sea and a backdrop of oooo – arrrrr sunsets.
On Lefkas’ east coast port of Nidri a ferry takes 25 minutes, passing Skorpios and other small islands, to reach the tiny island of Meganissi. We stayed at Villa Arenaria – a few paces away from a secluded beach. Vasco, the ever-smiling owner, is half Greek and half Florentine.
Sky Express then took us to Corfu where we met up with Jan Manessi, who owns The Manor House– possibly the most beautiful house in the Ionian.
Photo – Villa Arenia on Meganissi
Most people’s prerequisites for a relaxing Greek island holiday will include being close to a beach.
Fortunately there are ancient laws within Greece to restrict building close to the sea and “private” beaches do not exist. It is not easy therefore to find an island retreat above the sea, which is close enough to hear lapping waves from a private terrace.
There are however, a few in the Ionian Sea which will appeal to those wanting to dip a toe from their Greek holiday home:
On Paxos, Villa Skipper’s terraces extend to sea and look out to the mountains of the Greek mainland.
On Ithaca, Dexa Beach House nestles amongst olive trees just a few steps away from a beach where possibly the Phoenicians left Odysseus at the end of his journey.
On Corfu, flamboyant Villa Azzuro has a small cove just below its colourful gardens.
On Kefalonia, the The Avra Suites look down through tall pine trees to the soft sands of Makris Yalos beach.
On Meganissi, Villa Arenia sits just above a sheltered beach on an untouched coastline in a wilderness of olive groves.
If you are looking for a special holiday escape close to the Ionian sea – try Ionian Villas.
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Call us on: +44 (0) 1243 820928 ..or email enquiries@ionian-villas.co.uk
