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Family Whitsun Week in the Ionian Islands

2nd April 2016 Print
View from Villa Icarus

Late May is one of the best times of year to visit Greece with warm, early summer sunshine, crowd-less beaches and enticing early-season prices.

Greek island villa specialist Ionian Villas – which offers only the very best villas across eight of the islands – has numerous options for families looking for a week in the sun this coming Whitsun half term. Here are just a few ideas…

Three-bedroomed Villa Icarus (as in Icarus and Daedalus in Greek mythology) on the island of Lefkas is one of four villas, each with a private pool, perched high above the sea on a south coast promontory. The sumptuous retreat has theatrical views across Vassiliki Bay towards the islands of Ithaca and Cephalonia.

The owner offers a breakfast delivery service, private chef and babysitting. The port of Vassiliki with its many tavernas and cafe bars is a 10-minute drive away. A week’s stay from 29 May costs £2040 or £340 pp when fully-occupied by six people.

Dexa Beach House on the island of Ithaca lies within a large bay of olive groves, one kilometre north of Vathy, the island’s capital port. In Homer's Oddysey, Odysseus is returned to Ithaca by a Phoenician longboat and it is said that the Phoenicians dropped him off whilst he was sleeping, on Dexa Beach.

The two-bedroomed property is set amongst olive groves, just 15 metres from the beach and looks out through the trees towards the sea. There is a simple snack bar/cantina just above the beach and the small town of Vathy with its shops, tavernas and boat hire is just a five-minute drive away. A week’s stay from 28 May costs £1210 or £302 pp when fully occupied by four people.

Averto Avalli is a magnificent three-bedroomed apartment on the island of Paxos, located within a grand building that was once home to the British Governor from 1815-1864, prior to the island being re-united with Greece. The stylish, spacious, waterfront property has views across the water to a Venetian fortress and is a two-minute stroll to Gaios square, with its pedestrianised side streets of shops and tavernas (there is also a beach within a five-minute walk).

A hired boat can be moored directly below the apartment, ideal for exploring the coastline and to get to the sandy beaches of AntiPaxos. A week’s stay from 30 May costs £1420 or £236 pp when fully occupied by six people.

None of the prices quoted include flights (the islands can be reached by no-frills carriers such as Easyjet, which flies to Corfu). For more information, visit ionian-villas.co.uk.

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

View from Villa Icarus