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WelcomeA littlemore aboutVilla PlusWelcome to Villa Plus. We hope you have a fabulous holiday inCorfu and would like to tell you a little about the company. As adirect sell operator we only sell our own holidays. This meanswe place great emphasis on quality and service. In fact we takea personal interest in the enjoyment of your holiday and all ourstaff receive ongoing training to ensure we provide you withconsistently good service.Villa Plus Service CentreVilla Plus have arranged villa holidays since 1986. Our product focus is on better villas,in better locations with private pools and more facilities. Over the years we’ve grownfrom just one destination to 13 across Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Greece. We’re nowone of the largest tour operators in the villa market and offer over 900 exclusive villas.This holiday guide is designed to help you enjoy your holiday. Please readit carefully before you go. That way we can ensure all the arrangementsmade on your behalf run smoothly.Thank you for choosing Villa Plus and we hope to see you again in the future.Villa Plus Service CentreOur resort staff are there to ensure all aspects of your holiday goas planned and to maintain your privacy. In general, they will notvisit unless in an emergency or to carry out villa checks. Details ofyour Villa Representative can be found in the security informationin your travel pack.4 5

About your holidayBefore you goHere’s our tick list...Travel documentsYou’ll receive your holiday documents - specifically itinerary andflight reference number (to quote at check in), accommodationdetails, directions, car hire information and voucher - about tendays before you travel. Please check the documents match yourreservation.Holiday insuranceWhether you have taken the ‘Villa Plus’ holiday insurance ornot, if you or a member of your party have a pre-existingmedical condition, then you MUST advise your insurancecompany straight away. Failure to do so may invalidate yourinsurance.European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you toaccess state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area(EEA) countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimesfree of charge. The card is free of charge and, in addition to yourtravel insurance, we recommend you sign up. Register online atwww.ehic.org.ukMoneyWhilst MasterCard and Visa cards are widely accepted, and mostresorts have ATM’s, we recommend that you get some Euro’sbefore you go. Please note: travellers cheques are no longer usedin Spain.Travel adaptor/sIf you bring your own electrical equipment then you will need tobring a European travel adaptor.Passport detailsYou must give your Advance Passenger Information (API,sometimes called APIS) details to your airline before you fly.Baggage allowanceBaggage allowance, normally 20 kilos per person, can depend onwho you’re flying with and will be specified on your itinerary.Collapsible wheelchairs, car seats for infants, pushchairs andcarrycots may be carried as hand luggage in excess of thebaggage allowance and can usually be taken to the finaldeparture gate to be stored in the hold during the flight. Manycharter airlines now charge for excess baggage and equipmentsuch as golf clubs.Dangerous goodsPlease refer to the security policy of the airline you’retravelling with.Special needs and requirementsIf you, or any member of your party, have any special needs orspecific requirements then please let us know at the time ofbooking. We’ll send you a form for disabled and less mobileclients for you to complete and return so we can ensure the villaand flights you’ve chosen are completely suitable for your needs.About your holidayTowelsAlthough towels are provided in the villas, you’ll need to bring yourown beach and pool towels with you.Any queries just call + 44 (0) 1727 836686 oremail info@villaplus.com6 7

Getting to and from your villaGetting to and from your villaVilla Plus transfer from airportIf you booked a Villa Plus transfer then, ingeneral, you’ll see your Representative inthe arrivals hall who will have organisedyour transfer. Please refer to the itinerary inyour travel pack for more information.Villa Plus car hireIf you’ve booked a car through Villa Plusthen please refer to your itinerary and carhire voucher for collection details. It isadvisable that one member of the partywaits for the baggage whilst another goesto the desk to complete the contract andpay the appropriate deposit and so on.Directions to your villaYour directions are included in your travelpack.Arriving at your villaYou can get into your villa at 1pm. If youarrive before 4pm, particularly in thelarger villas, the maid may still be tidyingup.Lost luggageIf you’re unfortunate enough to lose yourluggage then you need to report this at thelost luggage desk in the baggage reclaimarea.Left luggageIf you have a late return flight, then thereare normally facilities where you can leaveyour luggage on your last day. Thisinformation can be found in the villa manualor you can contact the local office.Villa Plus Travel InsuranceVilla Plus holiday insurance is provided by Union Reiseversicherung AG. If you’vetaken this out there is a 24 hour medical emergency assistance facilities service whoyou can call directly on +44 (0) 845 260 3 260. Remember to have the followinginformation to hand:n A contact telephone numbern Name and age of patientn Location of hospital and doctor’s telephone numbern The medical problemn Your premium receipt number and details of booked travel arrangementsPlease refer to your Insurance policy for details of the procedure you should follow,should you require outpatient treatment.Villa Plus Travel InsuranceLeaving your villaPlease vacate your villa by 10am. The maidcould arrive as early as 8am.Flight delaysEU legislation entitles passengers tocompensation from the airline if there isdenied boarding, cancellation or delay toflights. Reimbursement in such cases isthe responsibility of the airline and will notentitle you to a refund of the price of yourarrangements from us. If the airline doesnot comply with these rules you shouldcomplain to the CAA on +44 (0) 20 74536888 www.caa.co.ukVilla keysThe keys to your villa will be contained in asecurity key box at your villa. Details of thistogether with the boxes security numberare included with your final documentation.Normally only one set of keys will besupplied for the villa that you will beoccupying. We would appreciate it if youcould take care of the keys as obtainingreplacement keys, or changing the lockscan be expensive.8 9

About Your VillaAbout Your VillaCots/extra bedsThe majority of the cots that we supplyare of the collapsible travel type. All cotssupplied in the villas comply with localsafety standards. All linen is launderedtogether so if you have concerns about cotlinen, please bring your own. Extra bedsare normally of the fold-up variety and aresuitable for children only up to the age of11 years old.Gas SupplyNot all the villas have a gas supply. Ifapplicable, the villa will usually be suppliedwith an orange coloured Butano gasbottle. In the unlikely event that the gasshould run out, please contact our localVilla Representative, who will arrange for areplacement. Where gas water heaters areused in villas, they are subject to an annualinspection by local qualified engineers. Acarbon monoxide detector is provided foryour additional peace of mind.ElectricityElectricity is 220 AC with continental twinplugs. Your villa electricity supply is notalways as constant as in the UK. You mayfind that the electricity will “trip off” if toomany appliances are used at once. Thishas become more apparent as we haveadded more equipment into the villas. Ifthis happens, simply turn off someappliances and reset the main fuse box(the location and full details will be inthe Villa Manual at the villa).InternetMost Resorts have an Internet accesspoint ‘Hot Spots’, where you can checkemails etc, and the location will be givento you in the Villa Manual. Some individualvillas have internet access. Please see yourVilla Manual for more details.Air ConditioningMany villas now include airconditioning/heating in the bedrooms asstandard. Please see the individual villadescriptions. Some of these units operateon a sensor that will turn off the unit if theroom is not in use. Please consult the VillaManual for full details. In the case of anymalfunction, we will endeavour to rectifythem as soon as possible, Villa Pluscannot be responsible for anynon-operational time that is out of ourcontrol.BarbecuesAll our villas have barbecues andwherever possible, brick built. It is notnormal for maids to clean the barbecueand we ask guests to leave them in areasonable and useable condition. Wehave asked owners to supply cleaningimplements.TV’sTo keep you entertained inside your villa,you’ll find a TV which will have a mix ofsatellite and terrestrial channels and alsooffer some English speaking channels too.DVD players (including films) are providedin the majority in our villas.About Your Villa10 11

Health and SafetyHealth and SafetySafety informationYou’ll find a Villa Manual with safetyinformation specific to your villa at theproperty. Please take the time on arrivalto familiarise yourselves with the safetyfeatures and layout of your villa. If you’retravelling with children then please takethe time to point out to any areas wherethey should take particular care such asthe pool and balconies. If you have anyquestions or concerns, then your VillaRepresentative will be happy to assist.Should you have an accident anywherein or around the villa you must report thisstraight away to your Villa Representative.SmokingSmoking is not permitted in any of ourvillas and we would request you onlysmoke outside the villa. Please do notleave cigarette stubs in the garden.Swimming poolWhilst the swimming pool is an essentialpart of the pleasure of holidaying for manypeople, if misused it can be dangerous:n Make sure you know the depths of thepool.n Please observe our strict no divingpolicy.n Do not run around the pool side -especially children with wet feet.n Do not go out of your depth unless youare a good swimmer.n Do not swim if you cannot see thebottom. If this is the case contact yourVilla Representative as soon aspossible. Bad weather, thunderstorms and/or excess suntan oil(especially the non waterproof types),can turn the water cloudy. Use thepoolside shower before swimming tokeep the pool clean.n Children and fair skinned peopleshould wear a hat and T-shirt whilstin the pool as harmful ultra violet rayscan penetrate water up to a depth of1.5m and are reflected off the watersurface.n Beware of dangerous surfaces,drainage channels, slippery tiles orraised edges.n Always supervise children andnon-swimmers in and around the poolarea.n Do not swim if you have been drinkingalcohol, especially late at night.Report an accident immediately to yourVilla Representative, who will attend thevilla. Any fault with the pool or itsequipment will be inspected andimmediate action taken to correct theproblem. If, in the opinion of the VillaRepresentative the pool must be closedfor your safety until a repair is facilitated asquickly as possible, you will beinstructed in writing to cease using thepool and our liability shall not exceed 33%of the villa rental portion of the holiday.Pool HeatingMany of our swimming pools have beenfitted with a Pool Heat Pump, making thepool 3°C to 5°C warmer at 1pm during theday than a non-heated pool under normalcircumstances. This provides the pool witha beneficial warming, but does not make ita “hot” pool. Villa Plus cannot beresponsible for any non-operational time,out of our control.In the case of any malfunction, we willendeavour to rectify them as soon aspossible and our liability shall not exceed£150 per villa per week in total. If the poolhas a cover, please use it as it willsignificantly increase the temperature ofthe water.Tap waterWater from the tap is generally ok forcooking purposes. For drinking werecommend you drink bottled water only.Sun bathingThe best, safest and longer lasting tansare built up gradually - but although mosttravellers are aware of the danger, manyholidays are still ruined by the effects ofsunburn. Do take extreme care not toover-expose yourself or your children(particularly young babies), especiallyduring the first few days. We suggest youstay under shade except for about 15minutes in the early morning or lateafternoon on the first day, graduallyincreasing the time as your skin becomesaccustomed to the sun. Even then be sureto use a suntan preparation of the correctfactor for your skin and apply it liberally atregular intervals, particularly afterswimming. Children should wearsun-hats and their shoulders should becovered as much as possible. We stronglyrecommend the use of good quality,waterproof sun creams especially when inand out of the pool or down at the beach.BeachesPlease be aware of the local safetyprecautions when you visit the beaches.At all times, for your own safety, complywith the suggestions of the local lifeguards,warning notices or flag systems. Shouldyou have any concerns consult a qualifiedauthority or your Villa Representative.BreakagesPlease notify our Villa Representativeshould you notice any shortfalls in thequality of furnishings/cleaning etc. In caseof breakages during your holiday, eitherreplace with a matching item or report thedamage to the Villa Representative. Fordetails of our accidental damage waiver orsecurity deposit, please refer towww.villaplus.comSecurityPlease store valuables in the safe providedincluding vital documents If you do not usethe safe provided you may invalidate anyinsurance claim that you may have.Most villas have an alarm and nightlight.Ensure the alarm is switched on when youleave the villa.Additionally make sure all doors/windowsare closed/locked if you leave the villa orare around the pool.Health and Safety12 13

Places to visitPlaces to visitBeachesWith over 200 beaches to chose from inCorfu it would be difficult to describe themall so here we will give you a glimpse ofsome of the beaches close to your areasand others a little further afield but worthvisiting.The North East CoastThe North East coast of Corfu is one of themost beautiful areas on the island and iswhere the majority of our villas are situated.A winding road follows the coast fromIpsos to Kassiopi with breath taking viewsand plenty of places to stop and admirethe scenery or take a dip in the crystalclear waters. It is also a perfect coast toexplore by boat.Dassia. A bustling and lively resort witha good selection of places to eat anda wide variety of shops and cafes. Thelong strip of pebbly beach is backedby a promenade and there are threewater sports jetties and a popular beachnightclub.Ipsos is a 1 km strip of shingly beach thatruns alongside the road. There are twoattractive local harbours where you canoccasionally buy fresh caught fish. Linedwith bars, discos shops and tavernas,Ipsos is a bustling resort perfect for youngpeople.Barbati. The village of Barbati is alongthe roadside with several very good localtavernas all with paths nearby down tothe stunning long pebbly beach whishis perfect for swimming. There are alsoseveral café bars and tavernas along thebeach itself, a water sports jetty and boathire.Nissaki. Nissaki is one of the prettiest littlebeaches and harbours along the coast. Ithas a small shingly beach with enticingturquoise waters, tavernas, watersports,and a pretty fishing harbour where boattrips and hire can be found.Kaminaki. A steep narrow road leadsto the a little village and lovely beach ofKaminaki, a curve bay of white pebbleswith a jetty and two tavernas.Kalami. One of the larger ‘resorts’ on thecoastline Kalami boasts a beautiful widebay, and horse shoe pebbly beach withseveral tavernas and shops in the villageand along the beach. There is watersports,boat hire and Nautilus boat trips availablefrom the village.Kouloura. Perhaps one of the mostphotographed villages on the island witha stunning circular harbour, small tavernaand nearby pebbly beach shaded witheucalyptus trees.Kerasia. Another spectacular long shingleand pebble beach frequented mostly bylocal people as it can only be accessedvia St Stephanos or the sea. It has atraditional taverna and a café bar, and iswonderful for swimmingAgni. A narrow pebbled bay at the bottomof an olive and cypress tree valley wherethere are three tavernas. The scenery isbeautiful, a popular stop for boats.Agios Stefanos. One of the most populartraditional resorts on the north east coastAgions or St Stephanos (east, there is alsoa St Stephanos on the West coast) is alittle village resort with several tavernasand a couple of very smart café bars andshops. It has a beautiful natural harbourand is therefore a favourite for all types ofsea craft and a small shingly beach withlovely walks around the headland to otherhidden beaches.Avlaki. A spectaculary beautiful horseshoestretch of shingly beach with stunningazure waters avlaki is almost always breezyand borders on a natural lake and currentlyundeveloped area of wilderness. There area couple of tavernas along the beach anda windsurfing and dingy sailing school.Kassiopi. The largest resort along thenorth east coast and a bustling seasideand historical harbour town Kassiopi hasall a traditional resort has to offer plus threelovely beaches dotted around a prettyheadland.The North CoastKalamaki. About 10 minutes drivealong the North coast from Kassiopi. Awide shallow sandy bay with a couple ofpleasant tavernas and is great for kids.Places to visitKrouzeri. Take the road to Nissaki beachhotel and you will come to Krouzeriabeach, a long pebble and shingle beachwith a couple of tavernas and a watersports jetty.Agios Spiridon. A lovely sandy beachbacked by a lagoon and nature reserveabout a 15 minute drive North West ofKassiopi.1415

Places to visitPlaces to visitAlmyros and Acharavi beaches. Alongthe North coast of the island runs a 7kmsand and shingle beach passing theresorts of Almyros, Acharavi and Roda. Agreat place for walking and often breezythis beach has a nature reserve at one endand several tavernas, café bars and shopsat various points along the beach.Sidari. A very busy resort in the summerSidari is known for its ‘canal d amour’ alovely sand stone canal. There is a centralsandy beach and for those that like toexplore there are several other lovelybeaches in the surrounding areaThe West CoastArillas. A short distance around theheadland from Ag Stefanos (West). Asandy beach & bustling resort with severalbeachside bars and tavernasAgios Georgios (North). Seen from thecoastal road leading to Paleokastritsa,Agios Georgios is a large horseshoeshaped bay, with a lovely sandy beach andseveral seaside bars and tavernas.Paleokastritsa has a large harbour withvarious boat trips and boat hire available,a central shingly beach and several smallbeaches around the coast the mainone being the lovely sandy bay tuckedbetween impressive rocks and cliffs.Glyfada. One of the most beautifulbeaches on the island. A sandy beachtucked away at the bottom of pineclad cliffs 20 minutes drive from CorfuTown. Various beach bars/tavernas andwatersports.Pelekas. Located a short distance downthe coast from Glyfada is this lovely sandybeach set at the bottom of the tree cladhillsides.Agios Gordis (North). Through the lovelytraditional village of Sinarades wind downthe olive slopes to Agios Gordis with itslong strip of sand and beautiful scenery.AttractionsCorfu Town. The capital and main port ofthe island Corfu Town is one of the mostbeautiful and most impressive cities inGreece. It’s a joy to discover with a historythat dates back centuries. Evidence ofthe original site of the ancient Greek citycan be seen in the gardens of Mon Reposand the Archaeological museum. DiscoverByzantine churches, Italian plazas, Frencharcades and Venetian fortresses. Thecafé at the Liston is probably the place to‘people watch’ while enjoying a drink.The Achilleon Palace. An impressivepalace built in the early 1890’s for theEmpress Elizabeth of Austria. 5km southof Corfu Town through the lovely village ofGastouri.Pantocrator Mountain. The highest pointof Corfu it stands majestically overlookingthe North East corner of Corfu, CorfuTown and the mainland beyond. Fantasticpanoramic views from the monastery atthe top.Gouvia marina. One of the largestmarinas in Greece Gouvia marina has apublic swimming pool, playground andseveral smart cafes and restaurants. It is alovely stop on a trip to Corfu town and foranyone with an interest in boats.Places to visitPaleokastritsa. Known for its spectacularscenery and breath taking views from thevillage of Lakones above the main town.16 17

Festivals & EventsFestivals & EventsGreece has a tradition of celebrating every possible occasionwith a festival. The patron Saint of the island is Saint Spiridonand several festivals are dedicated to him.MayEnossis ton Eptanisson (The Ionian Islands’ Union with Greece) 21 May.Marked with a procession through Corfu Town, wreath laying, parades and brassbands.August - SeptemberCelebration at the Monastery on top of Mount Pantokrator. 3-6 August.There is a church service that continues for three days and a traditional panayiri(festival).Garitsa and other bays (the date can vary year on year) 10 August. TheVarcorola (boat procession). Commemorates a time in 1717 when St Spiridon issaid to have protected the island from Turkish attack. Various floats are built ontotraditional ‘caiques’ and these sail through the Bay of Garitsa as the tale is retoldwith fireworks and music.Corfu Town. 11 August. One of several days in which a religious procession withpriests and brass bands dedicated to St Spiridon meanders through the streetsof Corfu Old town. It is believed that on this day in 1717 St Spiridon appearedduring a tremendous thunderstorm and helped to fight off a major Turkish attack.The Assumption of the Virgin Mary. 15 August. Throughout the Island is aGreek national holiday. Villages come alive with local residents and visitors alikeand there are festivals in several villages around the island.Summer events and the Corfu Festival. August & September. Various eventssuch as traditional ‘cantades’ singers, dance groups or brass bands take placein public areas such as the Liston, the town hall square and the bandstand in thepark. In September there are small concerts, plays and shows.SportsCricketCricket was traditionally played just in frontof the Liston in the centre of Corfu town.Now the pitch is only used for specialevents and an annual cricket tournamentbut there is a pitch in the Corfu Marinawhich occasionally holds matches as wellas a croquet clubCyclingBicycle hire is available from most resortsand there are a few very good organisedcycling tours available for groups orindividuals. Two of the larger ones areGiant bikes in Dassia and Acharavi Bikeson the outskirts of Acharavi that run selecttoursGolfThere is a golf course located in the lovelygreen and fertile Ropa Valley about 20minutes out of Corfu town and 10 minutesfrom the nearest beach at Ermones.. It is ahighly rated 18 holes par-72 course and isopen 7 days a weekFor full details checkwww.corfugolfclub.comTel +30 26610 94220 oremail info@corfugolfclub.comHorseridingHorseriding is becoming more popular inCorfu and there are several stables aroundthe island. Of these two popular ones areone in Kato Korakiana, run by a Welsh ladycalled Sally and one near Pelekas on theWest coast called SilvalandSailingThere are sailing schools dotted around theisland. In Avlaki (well known for constantbreezes) there is a dingy sailing schoolwith different small ‘fun and fast’ craft. Forlarger craft go to Gouvia Marina that offercaptained or bare boat charters.Scuba DivingThe clear waters are lovely for scuba divingand there are various scuba diving schoolsaround the island. Some of the betterknown are Water Hoppers who operatefrom Gouvia and Ipsos and Dive Med whooperate in Paleokastritsa. There is also adiving school in Kassiopi.Self Drive Boat HireThe North East corner of Corfu is anideal location to hire a boat and skipperyourself and family for the day. A numberof resorts offer boats and you do not needa speedboat licence to drive a boat with anengine smaller than 25hp.TennisThere’s a tennis club in Corfu town,otherwise tennis can be played at manyof the larger hotels such as Nissaki beachhotel on the North East coast.WatersportsVirtually all major beaches and manysmaller ones have some kind ofwatersports available. Pedalos and smallcanoes can be found and sports such aswater skiing, water boards, para-gliding,ringos and banana boats.WindsurfingAlthough not known particularly forits windsurfing Corfu has two goodwindsurfing schools, one in the south ofthe island and the other is on Avlaki beachin the North.Sports18 19

Children’s ActivitiesChildren’s ActivitiesWater ParksThere are three large water parks inthe north of the island including Sidariwaterpark at the far North West of theisland, Hydropolis on the outskirts ofAcharavi on the north coast and thebiggest, Aqualand in Ag Ioannis justoutside Corfu Town. All parks have a goodselection of slides and pools and variousrefreshments available.Play ParksOn the main road to Corfu town thereare two indoor play parks that are fun forsmaller children with bouncing inflatables,padded adventure playgrounds andpleasant cafesHorse & Buggy RidesTake a ride on a horse and trap for a smalltour of the town. You will see them aroundCorfu Town and it is well worth the houryou spend holding up traffic!Ten Pin BowlingJust outside Corfu town. Open from10.00 to 02.00. A great place for a day orevening out. 12 bowling alleys, café bar,billiard and mini football tables, pinball andbasketball machines and various computergames.Boat TripsEasily one of the best ways to see Corfuis from the sea. Whether you are happyjust to remain local with a pedalo, beadventurous by hiring your own little boat,prefer your boat to be captained or fancygoing for the ferries to other islands, thereis something for everyone.Nautilus is a beautiful 14 metre motoryacht that does boat trips betweenKassiopi and Ipsos along the North EastCoast of Corfu and to Corfu town. With orwithout a meal included it is a relaxed wayto see the beautiful coast and some of thebeaches only accessible by boat.Paleocastritsa has little boats which dosmall tours to the nearby caves. It’s a lovelyway to admire the dramatic scenery andsmall caves of the West Coast.Calypso glass bottom boat. Leavingfrom Corfu old port a large glass bottomboat heads towards a spot just off theisland of Vidos. Children can see sea lionsand the fish around the island.ShoppingShopping in Corfu caters for all tastes, there are traditionalhandmade goods as well as classic souvenir shops.Shopping in Corfu caters for all tastes,there are traditional handmade goods aswell as classic souvenir shops. Specialitieson the island include anything to do witholives such as olive woodcarvings, oliveoil and even olive soaps. Corfu even hasits own traditional sweet liqueur which canbe found all over the island and is madeusing Kumquats.There is a wide varietyof pottery, jewellery and small sculpturesbased on ancient Greek classical design,also some beautiful pieces of jewellery.The gold is all of 14 carat and above andoften sold by weight. A good selection ofsilverware in many attractive designs canalso be found. Corfu town is naturally thebest place to shop with a huge variety ofstores to choose from, many of the besthidden down the little side streets of theold town. Here you will find art studios,handmade leatherwear stores, handmadejewellery studios, local honey co-operativesand lots of little shops.MarketsThere is a large and colourful fruit,vegetable and fish market every morningfrom 7am – 2pm except Sundays in Corfutown located just under the New Fortresswalls.Shopping20 21

Agios StefanosAgios StefanosTucked in a beautiful secluded bay amongst the olive trees withstunning sea views, Agios Stephanos in Corfu started life as a littlefishing village. It’s managed to retain much of its natural charm andis now a chic low key villa resort.In the town you’ll find inviting traditionalbeachside tavernas, a lovely gift shop,a small tourist and boat hire office, tinybeach and harbour. There are a couple ofwell-stocked small supermarkets andseveral tavernas. Although hidden fromthe outside world and deliciously lazy,Agios Stefanos is also conveniently closeto a good range of activities and beachesincluding the bustling resort of Kassiopiand the beautiful beaches of the NorthEast Coast.BeachesA small beach at Agios Stefanos skirts theharbour but better beaches can be foundjust a 20 minute walk away at Kerasia orAvlaki. Both these beaches are accessibleby road or foot and are lovely long pebblybeaches perfect for swimming andsnorkelling. Both have plenty of sunbedsand a few lovely tavernas.Boat TripsBy far the best way to travel from AgiosStephanos is by sea, you can pick up aday trip with the ‘Nautilus’ complete withal fresco meal and local wine Tel 6932 452739 to explore the beautiful coastline.ShoppingAlong the main stretch of the village aretwo well stocked supermarkets. There arealso several little tourist shops including ashop at the end of the village which sellsgoods and clothes.Dining & Nights OutFour tavernas are in Agios Stefanos plustavernas at Kerasia beach and Avlaki ashort distance away. Two cocktail bars arealso situated in the village.WatersportsNearby Avlaki beach offers windsurfingand dingy sailing and Kalami beach is thenearest beach for watersports includingwaterskiing and ringos.Places of InterestAgios Stefanos has some lovely walksalong the coast towards Kerasia andKalami, through the footpaths of theEremitis peninsular or up through the olivesto Sinies. Kassiopi is only a 10 minute driveaway as are the sandy beaches of thenorth coast. Hyropolis waterpark is about a20 minute drive.BarbatiBacked by the commanding slopes of mount Pantocrator, Barbatiis best known for its beautiful long pebbly beach and crystal clearwaters.A large Corfu village, it has several goodtraditional tavernas all commandingsplendid views, a few souvenir shopsselling olive wood goods and ceramics, atourist office, three small supermarkets anda couple of attractive bars all set above thebeach.BeachesThe beautiful 2km long pebbly beach hasstunning views and a range of excitingwater sports including parasailing, bananaboats and water skiing. The south end ofthe beach is quiet and perfect for anyonesimply wanting to relax. As you continuealong the pebbly beach it becomes busiermeaning there are plenty of water sportson offer as well as snack bars and even acouple of swimming pools just behind thebeach.Boat TripsThere are boat trips that depart from thebeach to take you down to Corfu Townor along the North coast to a number ofsecluded beaches. Small boats are for hireif you want to find your very own secludedspot.ShoppingThere are a few tourist shops and giftshops selling olive wood goods andceramics. Several supermarkets can befound on the main road.Dining & Nights OutSeveral tavernas are located on the beachfront and the main road in Barbati. Thenightlife in Barbati is low key but CorfuTown is only 30 minutes away.WatersportsAn array of watersports can be found atthe southern end of the beach.Places of InterestRocky shores at both ends of Barbatibeach provide interest and the remains ofSt Nikolas, an ancient church, is right onthe beach, although closed it is worth alook. Traditional villages in the hills behindthe resort are also worth exploring.Barbati24 25

KalamiKalamiKalami, with its enchanting scenery and roughly in the middle of theNorth East of Corfu, is a beautiful horseshoe shaped bay that usedto serve as one of the main harbours for transporting olives andolive oil to Corfu by local caique and as a base for the local fishermen.It is known in particular for its one timeresident Lawrence Durrell who lived fora time in the white house on the rock bythe side of the bay. With its lovely pebblybeach, this family friendly, Corfu resort hasseveral good beachside tavernas, threetourist offices, a couple of pleasant bars,water sports, boat hire and a small collectionof shops and supermarkets.BeachesThe main Kalami beach is long and pebblywith its clear and calm waters perfect forswimming, snorkelling and water sports.There are three tavernas with their terraceson the beach and a short walk away is thebeach of Gialiskari which is another pebblybay accessible by foot or boat.Boat TripsOnly one or two boat trips are availablefrom Kalami. ‘Nautilus’ boat trip goes alongthe coast and into Corfu town. You canalso hire small self drive boats from thebeachShoppingThere are several mini markets and smallshops in the village and a gift shop set onthe beach with a good range of gifts andbeach wear.Dining & Nights OutThere are five traditional tavernas inthe village of Kalami and four of themhave lovely seaside locations. A shortdistance around the headland to thenorth at Kouloura is another fish tavernaoverlooking the harbour and to the southis Agni with its three beachside tavernas.Two low key bars are set to the back of thevillage both of which stay open until theearly hours and have a variety of music.WatersportsThere is a watersports jetty in Kalami withwater skiing, ringos and paragliding andthe waters around the bay are ideal forsnorkelling and swimming.Places of InterestA coastal path goes to Kaminaki headingsouth and to Kerasia and Agios Stefanosto the North and a short distance away aresome of the prettiest coves and beachesKassiopiThis pretty harbour-side town at the Northern end of the north eastcoast of Corfu has three attractive beaches and is the largest townin the North of Corfu.Until the Venetians took control in the 13thcentury, Kassiopi was a heavily fortified,strategic and thriving port. It was the laststronghold to be taken by the Venetianconquerors that promptly dismantledthe powerful fort for fear of it falling intoenemy hands. The remains of the vastwalls and gatehouse can still be seen onthe hillside overlooking the town. Overthe years Kassiopi has become a livelyand enchanting resort which still retains atraditional feel. There are plenty of goodshops, various activities, and a goodchoice of places to eat, drink and dancethe night away.BeachesKassiopi has one main reasonable sizedbeach to the north of the town withconvenient beachside tavernas and snackbars. There are several smaller beaches ashort walk from the harbour as well. Twoof these shingle beaches are large enoughfor a few sun loungers and have beautifulclear waters while along the footpath thereare even a few hidden coves that are fairlyquiet and peaceful.Boat TripsThere are a good range of boat tripsavailable from Kassiopi town including tripsaboard the beautiful motor cruiser Nautilus.You can also hire your own boat and takeyour time exploring the region.ShoppingThere are several mini markets and twobigger supermarkets in Kassiopi. Thelargest two can be found on the mainsquare and there is another down by theharbour.Dining & Nights OutKassiopi offers a good range of tavernas,restaurants and snack bars. Most of themare traditional Greek tavernas but there isalso a very good Italian restaurant.WatersportsA scuba diving centre can be found inKassiopi and a windsurfing/dingy sailingschool in Avlaki. Kalami, a short drive downthe coast is where the first watersportsjetty is and offers calm secluded waters.There are also watersports facilitiesincluding waterskiing, ringos andparascending at Kaminaki, Nissaki andBarbati.Kassiopi26 27

NissakiNissakiNestled at the foot of the impressive Pantocrator mountain on asweet little pebble cove is the village of Nissaki. As was the casewith most of the seaside villages in Corfu, Nissaki was used largelyby fishermen or by local people wanting to send their olives orvegetables to Corfu town by boat.The ‘little island’ has since become apopular resort with a beautiful little beachat its doorstep. There is a large church, acouple of well-stocked small supermarkets,a friendly water sports centre, a fewattractive souvenir shops and a collectionof traditional tavernas.BeachesThe picture perfect pebbly beach atNissaki has inviting turquoise waters andtends to get busy in the summer monthsbut is always a great place to spendyour days. There is a watersports jettywith waterskiing, ringos and paraglidingfacilities. One or two hidden little beachesaccessible by foot or boat are nearby andthe long pebbly beach of Barbati is a shortdrive away.Boat Trips‘Nautilus’ boat trips are a particularfavourite from Nissaki as the boat has hermoorings in the little circular harbour. Sheand her captain do day trips to Corfu townand up along the lovely north east coastwith or without an al fresco meal included.This is a favourite way for many to explorethe picturesque coastline and make themost of the beautiful weather by enjoying aday out at sea.ShoppingThere are two large and two smallsupermarkets in Nissaki - Katerinas andAphrodites on the main Corfu Kassiopiroad have the best selection of goods.Dining & Nights OutDown by the sea there are 3 traditionaltavernas and along the road above thebeach are further tavernas within a shortdistance. Nearby Barbati also has a goodrange of tavernas and snack bars.WatersportsThere is a very nice watersports jettyat Nissaki with waterskiing, ringos andparagliding facilities.Places of InterestSome beautiful scenic driving routes arenearby and Corfu town is only about halfhour drive away.Useful InformationLanguageGreekCurrencyEuroInternational dialling code+30Emergency Services100 or 112TimeEastern European Time - If you are travelling from the UK then you must set your watchforward 2 hours.Electricity220 AC - travellers from the UK will need a two-pin plug adaptor.Opening Hours for ShopsShops are open from 09:00 till 14:00 hrs throughout the week and from18:00 until 21:00 hrs Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Most tourist shops are open all dayseven days a week.Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in thispublication Villa Plus cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions and this holiday guide does not formpart of our contract with you.Restaurant recommendations have been made by past clients and on occasions restaurants close or changehands and therefore we are unable to guarantee quality or availability.Copyright is reserved to Villa Plus Limited and this material may not be circulated, reproduced orpublished in whole or in part without the written consent of Villa Plus Limited. 01/05/2013Useful Information28 29

CorfuOne of the most popularislands in GreeceA place of beauty and richcultureFamily friendly resortsBeautiful sandy beachesPretty pebbly covesCharming traditional villagesDelicious Greek cuisineExciting sports for everyoneWonderful climateOver 60 villas with poolsYou can find our villas in13 destinations across EuropeThe AlgarveCosta BlancaMenorcaMallorcaCorfuCosta del SolTenerifeLanzaroteKefaloniaRhodesFuerteventuraCreteCyprusFacebook: facebook.com/villaplusTwitter: @villaplusnews