Villa Helios

The garden was one of our favourite parts, with loungers, parasols and a gazebo with a hanging punching bag for exercise or yoga. There’s a spacious, gently sloping pool that isn’t too deep, which suits families with young children, though they still need supervision. A lifebuoy and rescue ring are there, and we found an air mattress and two inflatable rings, presumably left by earlier guests. The nearby beach is quiet and pebbly, with wonderfully clear water. It’s only 200-300 metres away, and water shoes can help but aren’t essential. Other beaches, shops and restaurants are easy to get to. Kassiopi is a 20-30 minute walk, with plenty of evening bars and restaurants around its romantic harbour. The outdoor kitchen is stylish and well set up, with a large gas grill, a long table, a comfortable lounge and a wine fridge that also keeps other drinks cold. Upstairs, the shaded terrace is handy for meals or hanging laundry. Indoors there are two fridges, a stovetop, a large TV for streaming and the other things you’d expect. We were glad of the welcome basket with tea, beer, ouzo and some basic groceries. Salt and pepper weren’t provided, which would have been useful since spices cost quite a bit in local supermarkets. Both bedrooms are roomy and have comfortable beds, storage and dressing tables. Each has its own air conditioning, easy to adjust, which was a blessing in 35°C weather. The two bathrooms are modern and practical, with showers. As is usual in Corfu, toilet paper shouldn’t be flushed, and signs explain this. There’s also a utility room with a washer-dryer, detergent and cleaning supplies. The house was thoughtfully laid out, well equipped and very well maintained. The pool attendant stopped by without notice, which was fine, and midweek the beds were made and a clean was done. That visit wasn’t announced either, but it was a nice surprise. We had a great week here and really enjoyed Kassiopi too.