Isle of plenty - Travel Weekly

DESTINATIONS — GREECE AND CYPRUS
destination
Isle of
plenty
➠
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CORFU
Corfu is the island that has everything, so
where do you start? Katie McGonagle finds out
B
The palace at Gastouri was
the setting for the casino
in For Your Eyes Only
destination
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destinations
The 13th-century Theotokos
monastery is perched high on a
clifftop and affords the best views
of the bay, plus a fascinating
glimpse of its religious history
and even a silver bible inlaid
with jewels.
Glass-bottomed boat tours from
the nearby harbour of Alipa are
the best way to see the crystalclear waters of the Ionian Sea, and
visitors can finish off the day with
a taste of the famous Corfiot liquor
at a nearby kumquat distillery.
Although the island has some
amazing sights, it’s also within
reach of other popular attractions.
Planet Holidays offers agents 10%
commission on trips to the small
islands of Paxos and Anti Paxos,
packed with endless olive groves,
vineyards and isolated bays,
perfect for getting away from it all.
For history buffs, suggest
hopping across the water to see
the rich heritage of Albania.
It’s only a stone’s throw from
Corfu, and has Greek, Roman and
Ottoman influences as well as a
fascinating recent history.
▲
l SEE
No matter where clients stay,
Corfu town is within easy reach.
They can get lost in the Old
Town’s labyrinth of narrow
cobbled streets, step back in time
at the old and new forts, or get
a real taste of the culture with a
culinary walking tour.
For those keen to get out of the
city, suggest driving north through
Ipsos and Kassiopi for unmissable
views of the Albanian coastline.
Once there, Kassiopi is one of the
best diving centres on the island.
Alternatively, head south for a
boat trip to Pontikonisi, aka Mouse
Island, and stunning views of
Kanoni bay.
Lambrianides also recommends
a trip to nearby Achilleion, the
summer palace of Empress
Elizabeth of Austria at Gastouri,
which is filled with statues of
Greek mythology. “The palace
served as a casino in the 1981
James Bond film For Your Eyes
Only and has since been a
museum. Parts are open to
the public and it makes a
great day out,” he says.
For the best scenery
on the island, venture
west to picturesque
Paleokastritsa.
➠
rits have long had a love
affair with Corfu, and it’s
easy to see why. It’s the closest
Greek island to the UK, but
also the most diverse, boasting
golden-sand beaches, lush
greenery, mountain landscapes
and a bit of history and culture
thrown in for good measure.
Photis Lambrianides, Olympic
Holidays commercial director,
says: “It’s one of the most scenic
of the Greek islands. You’ll find an
abundance of greenery wherever
you go, coupled with a lovely
coastline and crystal-clear waters.
“The people of Corfu have been
welcoming the British for decades
and have a special relationship
with us. And their love of children
helps to make the island truly
family-friendly.”
Here is a run-down of what to
see, where to stay and how to sell it.
15 March 2012 — travelweekly.co.uk • 47
DESTINATIONS — GREECE AND CYPRUS
Clients can visit the old
and new forts in Corfu
ASK THE
EXPERTS
Airtours offers seven nights’
half-board at three-star Hotel
Mimosa, Sidari, including
flights in May, from £312.
thomascookworld.com
0871 230 2399
“Glyfada beach is one
of my favourites. It’s
the best on the island
with a long stretch of
sand, a really cool beach bar and
a stunning backdrop of green hills.
I also love going to La Cuccina, a
restaurant in Corfu town. It’s a real
find, hidden in a cobbled street.”
Nikki Birrell, area manager of
Corfu, Thomson and First Choice
“Corfu town is an
eclectic mix of
architectural styles
and influences,
including French, Greek and
Venetian. The best – and the
shadiest – place to people-watch
is from the cafe at the Liston, a
colonnaded French building on
the Spianada.”
Mathilde Robert, managing
director, Planet Holidays
“Boukari is a hidden
gem in the southeast
of the island that
has many tavernas
on the water’s edge. They have
the best fish and seafood on the
island (and the biggest prawns
and mussels you’ve ever seen)
at a fraction of the price of the
northeast. Few tourists venture
this far south, but the area really
shouldn’t be missed.”
Julia Manetas, island manager
for GIC – The Villa Collection
Sample
Product
Symi has been
added to Cosmos’s
Greece programme
Hotel Akrotiri has
fantastic views over
Paleokastritsa bay
Attraction World has a full-day
guided tour of Corfu including
the Old Town, Kanoni, Achilleon
Palace, the Bella Vista viewing
point overlooking Paleokastritsa
and a drive through traditional hill
villages. Adults £50, children £25.
attractionworld.com
0871 700 8888
Kontokali Resort is
perfect for couples
The cobbled streets
of Corfu town
48 • travelweekly.co.uk — 15 March 2012
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nearby Roda, or head eastwards
to Nissaki Bay and Kalami, where
the 1930s home of British authors
Lawrence and Gerald Durrell is a
popular sight. It’s worth warning
clients that Kalami and Nissaki
have shingle beaches with just
a bit of sand at the waterline to
avoid any disappointed youngsters
crying into their buckets and
beating the floor with their spades.
The east and west coasts
are a haven for couples, with
upmarket resorts such as the
five-star Kontokali Bay Resort &
Spa offering affordable luxury.
Kanoni’s stunning scenery and
easy access to the capital make it
popular too, particularly among
older visitors.
On the western edge,
Paleokastritsa – the island’s best
beauty spot – can get crowded
with day-trippers, but those
who stay at one of the romantic
hideaways along this part of the
coast will have time to seek out
quieter beaches.
Sunvil managing director, Noel
Josephides, also recommends the
quiet village of Maltas, which has
one of the longest beaches on the
island. He says: “Hidden away on
the southwest coast, it really is a
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taste of old rural Corfu and is still
a farming community. It gets busy
on Sundays and on Greek holidays
with locals, but other than that
remains a peaceful backwater.”
On the other hand, clients who
want to party until dawn and work
on their tan during the day can try
Kavos, which turns into a hive of
activity after nightfall. Clubs and
bars fly in DJs from around the
world and there’s music to suit
every reveller.
l SELL
Corfu is the second-largest Greek
island and lies further north than
Thomson Excursions’ fullday Albanian Adventure visits
Saranda, the amphitheatre
and temple in Butrint, then has
a woodland walk to a hill fort.
Adults £53.50, children £30.99,
not including the €10 port tax.
thomsonexcursions.co.uk
0871 231 4289
Sunvil offers seven nights’
self-catering at the Kalami Bay
Apartments, including flights and
transfers in June from £536.
sunvil.co.uk/agents
020 8758 4758
▲
l STAY
There are resorts to suit every
client, whether they want buzzing
bars, knockout views or a chance
to soak up some sun.
The north of the island is home
to the most established family
destinations. Sidari’s long sandy
beaches offer water sports for
every age and a host of childfriendly restaurants. Cosmos
product manager Erica Collins
recently took three generations of
her family to Sidari and says it was
the perfect choice with activities
to suit everyone.
For a quieter family feel, try
Islands of Greece offers
seven nights at Hotel Akrotiri,
Paleokastritsa, including flights
and transfers from £429.
islands-of-greece.co.uk
0845 6752600
15 March 2012 — travelweekly.co.uk • 49
DESTINATIONS — GREECE AND CYPRUS
most, meaning it escapes the
other islands’ scorching summer
temperatures and instead has a
lush, green landscape.
It also has the shortest flight
compared with other Greek
islands – three to four hours –
with departures from more than
a dozen regional airports. Cosmos
has introduced weekly charter
flights from Newcastle and East
Midlands airports this summer,
plus a scheduled service from
Luton.
There’s also no shortage
of supply – the tourist board
estimates there are 140,000 beds
in hotels and apartments across
the island.
If the prospect of rugged
mountains and stunning scenery
don’t tempt clients, suggest they
try one of the many activities on
offer. Hiking, horse-riding, cricket,
golf, diving, windsurfing and other
watersports are all popular on the
island, with options available at
most resorts. TW
50 • travelweekly.co.uk — 15 March 2012
What’s new in greece?
The Liston in Spianada is a
great place to people watch
Paleokastritsa is a
favourite beauty spot
Planet Holidays offers
commissionable trips to Paxos
Book a break at an Aldemar
Hotel before March 31 with
Classic Collection and your
clients could benefit from an early
booking offer. Couples will love
the flagship five-star Aldemar
Royal Mare in Crete, which has a
tennis academy, golf facilities and
award-winning cuisine. Classic
offers seven nights’ half-board
from £695 including flights and
transfers departing May 8, saving
£154 per couple.
Cultural cruise specialist Peter
Sommer Travels has a new
island-hopping adventure around
the Aegean Sea. Cruising to the
Cyclades visits more than a dozen
islands in two weeks aboard the
Aegean Clipper. Departs May 19,
from £3,675 full-board, including
transfers and entrance fees.
Olympic Holidays has added the
five-star Rodos Palladium Hotel in
Kalithea; Atrium Prestige Thalasso
Spa Resort & Villas in Lachania
(pictured); and the Grecian Park
Hotel in Protaras, Cyprus, to
its new 2012 Gold & Platinum
Collection brochure.
New to the Sunvil Holidays’
2012 Greece programme is the
emerald isle of Thassos, featuring
the four-star Ilio Mare Hotel
located on a Blue Flag beach,
and the peaceful Geni peninsula
on Lefkas. Sea kayaking safaris
around the rugged island of
Alonissos – located in the largest
marine-protected area in Europe
– are also on offer for the first
time. Nearly 40 new properties
have been added for 2012, with
more choice on the islands of
Alonissos, Ithaca and Tilos, and
in Sivota, Pelion and Kardamili on
the mainland.
Greek villa specialist GIC The
Villa Collection is offering
options on the mainland for
the first time this year. Sivota
is located in Epirus on Greece’s
unspoilt northwest coast, facing
the Ionian islands, and there are
four properties here. For clients
seeking the extra wow factor,
the operator has introduced
premier properties, which offer an
extra level of style and comfort,
and there’s a new concierge
service that can arrange a VIP
escort through UK airports,
access to airport lounges, private
speedboat transfers, a personal
chef and even a small motorboat
for the duration of their stay.
Sani Resort, an eco-friendly
reserve in Halkidiki’s Kassandra
peninsula, has expanded its
appeal to ‘green’ tourists with
new wetlands tours by bird
experts and complimentary visits
to the organic farms that supply
the resort.
15 March 2012 — travelweekly.co.uk • 51