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You can e-mail me if you have questions about the Greek Islands, itineraries, ferry connections, hotels or anything actually- Matt Barrett
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Corfu: The British Greek Island
Someone
actually took me to task for this heading
for Corfu, writing to me that the island is
nothing like the UK and then going into detail
about what they did not like about England.
They were really offended. I wrote them
a long explanation and the e-mail was returned
as undeliverable. But the reason I called
Corfu the British Greek Island, besides the
fact that at one time it was British and they
still play cricket there is because Corfu is
featured in the schedule of most European
package holiday companies catering for the
sort of holidaymaker who is looking for a
"home away from home" with guaranteed sun,
cheap booze and lots of nightlife thrown in
for good measure. It has, therefore, managed
to earn itself a reputation for being full of
karaoke bars, lager louts and "restaurants"
serving fish & chips and Sunday roast
beef. However, as Greek islands go, Corfu is
one of the bigger ones - 33 miles long and 15
miles across at the widest point - and
provided you stay away from the tourist
hotspots it's
easy to find parts of the island which are
virtually untouched by the tackier side of
tourism. Head north out of Corfu town and
within about half an hour's drive along the
east coast you're at the foot of Mount
Pantokrator, whose steep slopes and winding
roads have made it unviable as a mass market
development area and the coastline here is
dotted with tiny turquoise coves and inlets.
This part of the island is the closest Corfu
comes to Albania - at one point you feel you
could almost swim across - and it's almost
impossible not to be touched by an eerie kind
of sensation when you realise just how close
you are to what was so recently an Eastern
bloc country. It's also along this stretch of
coastline that Lawrence Durrell lived while he
was writing Prospero's Cell. The house is
still there at
Kalami
but it's
now been turned into a taverna. Over on the
western coast is a beach-lover's paradise with
such long sandy stretches of beach that even
in the height of the summer season it's still
possible to find a quiet spot. Look for
Halikounas,
Ermones
and
Pelekas
, but if
you want to avoid the crowds, stay away
from
Paleokastritsa
, where
the "film set" scenery inevitably attracts a
regular influx of daytrippers. Inland is where
you can discover a more untouched Corfu of
fertile valleys, citrus and olive groves,
where the most common form of transport for
the local farmers is still a donkey. For those
seeking tranquility and a place to commune
with nature, there's even a wetland nature
reserve (Lake Korisson) hidden away behind the
south west coast - perfect for twitchers in
the migratory season, or for lovers at
anytime! Recommended background reading: "My
Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell
for a glimpse of how Corfu was 50 years ago or
for maps, walks, drives and regularly upated
info - "Landscapes of Corfu" published by
Sunflower.
(-Review by Elaine Key)
There are
many boats to and from Italy, Patras,
Igoumounitsa and the other islands in the
chain. There is also an international
airport.
See my guide to Corfu at
www.greecetravel.com/corfu
For
bookings and more information contact Kostas
at
Dolphin
Hellas Travel
For hotel
descriptions, bookings and rates visit:
www.hotelsofgreece.com
 You can find more hotels in Corfu by location, price, whether or not it has a swimming pool or is on the beach, and see photos, maps and customer reviews by using this link to booking.com. Excellent prices
and many hotels
you can book and then cancel with no cancellation fee. For those who want to book without using a travel agency this is the best way to do it.
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Ithaki
One
cannot list the Greek islands without mentioning
the island of Odysseus if it is indeed the island Homer has written about. The island known as Ithaki is mountainous
and rocky but has lots of trees and olive groves, as
do the other Ionian islands. Several archeological
sites which may or may not be associated with Homer's story along with
some beautiful fishing villages and beaches make
this an interesting island to visit either from
Patras or Kefalonia. Ithaka is an ideal place for
walking full of trails and views.Generally the
island is small and quiet and June is really
wonderful for family vacations.
Vathy (the
capital of the island and the place where Odyssey
Apartments is located) brings together the
northern part of the island which has the best
hiking and the southern part has the best beaches
(quiet isolated coves, or bigger beaches). The
best way to explore the beaches is by boat
of-course.
You can take
your car and come to Ithaka through Patras, where
there is a
ferry daily. The boat departs from Patras at
12:30
For
information on the very nice Odyssey Apartments in
Ithaki go to
www.greecetravel.com/hotels/odyssey
This family
run A-Catagory hotel prides itself on making their
visitors feel completely at home and the fact that
they provide the best breakfasts in the Ionian
Islands! For more
hotels on Ithaki see
www.hotelsofgreece.com/ionian
For Kayaking among
the Ionian Islands and also inflatable
motorboat safaris see
Trekking
Greece
at
www.greecetravel.com/trekking/
 Do you want to stay in an actual windmill on the island of Ithaki? Surrounded by greenery and offering panoramic views of the sea, Razos Windmill offers self-catering accommodation. It is situated in Kalavri, 200 metres away from Deksia Beach. Razos apartment is spacious and air conditioned. It
includes a separate bedroom, a dining area and a living room with
a TV. The fully equipped kitchen features a refrigerator, a coffee maker and an oven. The centre of Vathi is 1.5 km away from Razos Windmill, offering many cafes and traditional taverns. The beach of Agios Ioannis is 10 km away. Free parking is available on site. Click for more info and booking
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Kefallonia
Lots
of Italians and British package tourists.
Large green island with caves and underground
lakes and all sorts of interesting geology.
Locals known for being clever. Nice beaches.
Village of Fiscardo was one of the most
beautiful in Greece, but that was twenty years
ago and has been taken over by tourists.
Definately an off-season island and well worth
a visit. Anyway you are lucky if you can find
a room during the tourist season which goes
from April to October. This is where the book
Corelli's Mandolin takes place. Required
reading. The movie is called Captain Corelli's
Mandolin and has met with mixed reviews but if
you see it you will probably want to come
here. In fact I made a website for the island
just in case you do:
www.greektravel.com/greekislands/kefallonia
It is nearly
impossible to find a room here during the
tourist season and if you do find one you may
find out it has been cancelled three days
before you arrive due to overbooking and the
endless stream of flights coming in from
Europe leaving one group and picking up
another to take home.
Daily
ferry from Sami to and from Italy in the
summer via Igoumounitsa and Corfu. Other
connections to Lefkada, Ithaki, Zakynthos and
Kilini in the Peloponessos. There is also an
airport. The Mellisani Cave is an underground
seawater lake featured in most guidebooks
because of the amazing color of the
sea.
New archaeological discoveries have supported a theory that Kefalonia maybe the the Ithaki of Homer's Odyssey.
You can
try contacting
Fantasy Travel and they can attempt to
find a room or check
www.hotelsofgreece.com/ionian .
For Kayaking among
the Ionian Islands see
Trekking
Greece
at
www.greecetravel.com/trekking/
You can find more hotels in Kefalonia by location, price, whether or not it has a swimming pool or is on the beach, and see photos, maps and customer reviews by using this link to booking.com. Excellent
prices and many hotels
you can book and then cancel with no cancellation fee. For those who want to book without using a travel agency this is the best way to do it.
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Kythira
I bet you did not know Kythera was one of the Ionian Islands did you? A beautiful
island popular with the wealthy Athenians. It is
south of the Peloponessos and the ferry runs from
Neapolis, Githion and Kasteli in Crete with a couple boats a week leaving from Pireaus.
Nice beaches, beautiful towns. Accommodations are
scarce so book before you go especially in August when returning Greek-Australians fill the island. if you are looking
for a beautiful off the beaten path island this
may be it. Most travel agents won't book this
island so if you go you are probably on your own.
If you get to Neapolis and the ferry is booked
check out the island of
Elefonisos. That's what I did. You can find hotels for Kythira at www.hotelsofgreece.com
You can book holidays on Kythira through Aegean Thesaurus Travel.
You can find more hotels in Kythira by location, price, whether or not it has a swimming pool or is on the beach, and see photos, maps and customer reviews by using this link to booking.com. Excellent
prices and many hotels
you can book and then cancel with no cancellation fee. For those who want to book without using a travel agency this is the best way to do it.
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Lefkada
An
island you can drive to in the Ionian chain, it is
actually connected to the mainland by a narrow
isthmus that was seperated by a canal. It is
surrounded by several smaller islands which can be
visited, with beautiful pebble and sandy beaches,
great restaurants and very friendly people who
still dress in traditional attire. Nydri is
Lefkadas primary tourist village but it has
retained a certain charm. Anyway you have to go
there to visit the smaller islands, one of which
is the famous Skorpios of Aristotle Onassis and
Jackie fame. For
hotels on Lefkada see
www.hotelsofgreece.com
Buses to Lefkafa leave from Bus terminal A at 7, 13:00, 16:30 and 20:30
every day. The trip is 5 and a half hours and costs 30 euros. As far as
I know you can't get tickets in advance. If you are a group for not much more you
can get a nice Mercedes taxi and be picked up at the airport. See
www.greecetravel.com/taxi and ask what George charges.
Lefkada is also known for a series of small islands between it and the mainland that are sheltered and excellent for Kayaking. For information on Sea Kayaking in the Ionian Islands see www.greecetravel.com/trekking
For more about Lefkada read Nick Edward's Guide to Lefkada
You can find more hotels in Lefkada by location, price, whether or not it has a swimming pool or is on the beach, and see photos, maps and customer reviews by using this link to booking.com. Excellent
prices and many hotels
you can book and then cancel with no cancellation fee. For those who want to book without using a travel agency this is the best way to do it.
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Paxos
The east coast
has small pebble beaches while the west coast has
dramatic cliffs and caves accessable only by boat.
Has not been infected by mass tourism the way it's
neighbor Corfu has, though there are day trips
from the larger island.Not many places to stay so
if you are coming high season book in advance. You can find hotels for Paxos at www.hotelsofgreece.com or read a review of the island by local Elias Dendias at www.greektravel.com/greekislands/paxos
You can book holidays on Paxos through Aegean Thesaurus Travel.
 Amfitriti Hotel: Surrounded by lush greenery and only steps from Harami Beach, this family run hotel offers a small pool with pool-side bar and sunbathing terrace, and spacious rooms with private balcony. Each of the air-conditioned rooms of the hotel Amfitriti offers view of both mountain and sea. All of them have a kitchenette with refrigerator
and a TV. Right in front of the hotel, guests will find the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea, which is equipped with sun beds. Lakka is just 150 metres away. For photos, reviews and booking information click here
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Zakynthos
(Zante)
Favorite
Ionian Island of many expatriates and
philhellenes. Shipwreck beach is one of the
most famous Greece tourist photos and one of
the most amazing beaches. Just because it is
the last island on the list does not mean it
is the last place you would want to go, unless you believe in the conservation of endangered species. One down-side to the
island is the beach development that is
endangering the sea-turtles who lay their eggs
here. So is that a good enough reason to skip this island? Probably not. Read Nick Edwards Guide to Zakynthos and decide for yourself.
For hotels on Zakynthos see
www.hotelsofgreece.com
You can find more hotels in Zakynthos by location, price, whether or not it has a swimming pool or is on the beach, and see photos, maps and customer reviews by using this link to booking.com.
Excellent prices and many hotels
you can book and then cancel with no cancellation fee. For those who want to book without using a travel agency this is the best way to do it.
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