Villa Forestata Apartments & Studios

The rooms were spacious, pleasant and very clean, but the owners’ management needs serious work. We stayed for a week in June 2024 and the room cleaning was irregular. The grounds were very overgrown when we arrived; a gardener showed up near the end, strimmed the grass and weeds, then left the cuttings lying around. There were cats everywhere, constantly weaving around our legs while we ate. The elderly lady spent more time feeding them than looking after breakfast, so anyone with allergies should be wary. On arrival, an elderly woman and a man we assumed was her son met us in a cluttered lounge, bar and reception area. He left us water, a couple of apricots they grow, and a small plate of jam they make, then disappeared behind a desk. After about ten minutes talking together in a corner, he returned with what he called “our” menu and said orders had to be placed at breakfast. The food and drinks cost much more than at other local places, and the menu prices seemed to have gone up, so we didn’t eat or drink there. The owner never spoke to us during the week. When we returned the keys at departure, the elderly lady took them while he sat with his back to us without a word. We probably won’t be back.

Forestata is handy as a base for exploring the island, though I’d rent a car since few sights are within walking distance. Lixouri and beaches around the peninsula were usually about a 30-minute drive, while Argostoli and the airport took around 45-50 minutes. From the hill, you get a nice view of the surrounding area and sea. Our room was roomy and clean, with older furniture and equipment. The owners fixed a toilet issue, and the air conditioning leaked water, though neither problem was major. Service was good, with daily room cleaning and towels changed fairly often. Breakfast was a plus, with cold options such as bread, salami, cheese, yogurt and jams, plus boiled eggs and drinks including juice, lemonade and coffee. It’s a good cheaper option with what you need for island exploring.

The family running Forestata have been there for generations, and they were wonderful hosts who worked hard to make sure we were happy. Breakfast and dinner were great, with a garden dining area overlooking the sea and mountains. Just breathtaking. The hilltop villas have lovely views of the sea and Kefalonia’s mountains, and the area is quieter, about 10 minutes from Lixouri and near some of the island’s nicest beaches. We drove all over Kefalonia and really loved this part of the island. We’d definitely like to stay here again.

I’d tell Forestata to keep its word and be consistent with prices. We didn’t book in the end because the way this was handled felt weird and shady. We were still waiting for the ferry, so I wasn’t sure about the stay. Booking showed 287€ with breakfast. I messaged them on WhatsApp to ask about booking directly and paying cash, which would have saved them the Booking fee. They quoted 280€. An hour later, when I confirmed we’d arrive if all was okay, he said 280€ without breakfast, or 300€ with it. Meanwhile, someone changed the Booking price to 330€ with breakfast. When I pointed out the 287€ price I’d seen, the reply was something about a stock price. The next day it was back under 300€, but by then we’d decided against booking. Was it worth losing us over 20€? The money wasn’t the main issue. That behavior made it hard to trust them, and the stock market excuse was just funny.