Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa

The beach shuttle made getting there a hassle. It was meant to run every 30 minutes, but sometimes turned up five minutes early and other times 20 minutes late. We even saw a trip skipped altogether, until we called reception on the landline. The WiFi was also patchy everywhere. We paid about €550 a night for a mountain-view room, so we expected much better service and food from a five-star hotel. Staff seemed stretched across reception, restaurants, and the pool, and everything was very slow. At the Asian restaurant, our first seaweed salad took an hour and ten minutes, despite having booked a table. When we asked why, they said there were too many guests. The Greek restaurant was no better: we found the dishes among the worst we’d ever tried, with taste and quality well below what the high prices suggested, especially compared with the nearby village. The hotel looks lovely, with stylish design and gorgeous views, but those long waits, disappointing meals, and slow service made the stay fall far short of what we expected from a luxury five-star resort. I wouldn’t rate it four stars.

The location is the main compromise. Angsana Corfu is a long way from the parts of the island I like best, especially Paleokastritsa and Corfu Old Town, and while the beach is pleasant, it isn’t one of Corfu’s highlights. Still, this resort became the highlight of my trip. I’ve stayed at several luxury places around Europe and arrived with modest expectations, since lovely settings can come with dated rooms, uneven service, or little attention to detail. This one felt modern, stylish, and genuinely restful. My one-bedroom Seaview Villa had natural materials, a private pool, sea views, and a quiet feel that reminded me more of a high-end Southeast Asian resort than a typical Mediterranean hotel. It was spotless, thoughtfully designed, and comfortable throughout. Breakfast had loads of quality choices, and the staff were consistently welcoming. Joanna was especially nice and helpful at check-in, and stayed warm and attentive afterward. The gym was one of the best hotel fitness spaces I’ve used in Europe, with modern, extensive equipment and daily Yoga, Pilates, and HIIT classes. Angsana delivered the comfort, quality, considered design, and real hospitality that luxury resorts promise but don’t always manage.

The pool, spa, and gym are excellent, and the spot on Corfu comes with a spectacular view. The place is perfectly fine, as Sue put it, “This place isn’t that bad.” But five-star it isn’t. The rooms feel worn, with rickety wardrobe doors and thin, old towels, and the service sometimes felt two-star at best. Then there was the loud music on Thursday night, going on past midnight. Also, bring your own booze, because there’s nothing in the minibar. I really hate when a place gets called five-star and falls short.

The people at Angsana made this week memorable. From the welcome at the entrance, where a few friendly cats and a dog are usually waiting, to the valet, housekeeping, breakfast, pool and bar teams, and reception, everyone seemed genuinely keen to make our stay special. Nothing felt like a bother. We had a small booking issue, and the manager sorted it out quickly and graciously, with exactly the calm, capable care you hope for. We won’t remember every name, but we remember every smile. Thanks to the whole Angsana team. We’ve just come home from a week here and couldn’t be happier with the stay. We’ll be back next year. The hillside setting has amazing views over the sea and the mountains of Greece and Albania. Some still had snow, which looked striking against the sea. The breakfast selection was huge, more than we could get through in a week. Everything was spotless and well cared for, including the fully equipped gym, indoor pool, sauna, and hammam. The infinity pool scenery was unforgettable.