THE SIMPSON TRAVELLER 2024

THE SIMPSON 

TRAVELLER 

SUMMER 2024 

DIVE 

INTO 

SUMMER

INTRODUCTION 

INTRODUCTION 

Image: Diaskari, Crete 

WELCOME 

The publication of our latest magazine marks a 

particularly proud moment in Simpson Travel’s 

history as we welcome new investment into the 

business and accelerate plans to bring you new 

destinations and enhance our portfolio. 

Established in 2002, it’s been extremely gratifying to see the 

business flourish over the years, with a host of industry awards 

and a near-perfect Trustpilot score: a glowing and entirely 

independent endorsement from the people who matter most. 

At heart, Simpson Travel remains a family-run business and it 

gives me great pleasure to watch my three children and the wider 

team take the company forward with the same passion and 

commitment that I have always enjoyed. 

You may know that I now live in Crete, the island where my 

career in travel began and the place where Yianna and I have 

embarked upon our latest adventure along the road less travelled. 

Here, by the warm Libyan Sea, we are in the process 

of renovating the house of our dreams on Diaskari Beach; 

a 150-year-old warehouse originally used for storing olive oil 

and wine. It’s a simple place, untouched for many years and 

it is very special to have come full circle since the halcyon days 

when we started Simply Crete in 1978. 

Though much has changed during my career, I am more 

mindful than ever that distinctive, quality accommodation 

coupled with exceptional service are the pillars upon which 

Simpson Travel’s first-class reputation is built. These founding 

principles remain central to the company ethos and, as ever, our 

outstanding team understand the importance of going the extra 

mile to deliver unforgettable holiday experiences. 

Whether you’re reading this magazine at home or abroad, 

I hope you’ll find plenty of inspiration in the pages that follow. 

With my best wishes, 

Graham Simpson 

Founder 

02 SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM 03

WHAT’S INSIDE 

WHAT’S INSIDE 

CONTENTS 

SUMMER 2024 

INSIDE SIMPSON TRAVEL 

06-07 Reportage 

Simpson news from home and abroad 

08-09 Travel Insider 

Meet Martina and find out what your Pre-Departures 

team can do for you 

10-11 Latest Arrivals 

The best new villas and hotels in our collection 

GREECE 

12-15 Lucy Thackray Discovers Mochlos 

Solo adventurer Lucy embraces island life in Crete 

15 Five of the Best: Greece 

16-19 Walking Holidays in Greece 

Discover our curated trips led by expert guide, Jonathan Peat 

20-23 Kefalonia Dreaming 

30 years on, Captain Corelli’s Kefalonia is as dreamy as ever 

24-27 Bella Mare Hotel Hosts the 

Stars of Mamma Mia 

Journalist Tracey Davies enjoys an Abba-infused 

trip to Corfu with her daughters 

28-29 Adult-Only Greece 

Child-free oases for a more tranquil 

holiday experience 

TURKEY 

30-35 A Turquoise Dream for Tweens and Teens 

Actor Timothy Watson on why Turkey’s Turquoise 

Coast is a hit for all ages 

35 Five of the Best: Turkey 

COLLECTIONS 

36-37 Simpson Hotels 

Character, charm and impeccable personal service 

38-39 Simpson Exclusive 

The cream of our collection 

40-41 Simpson Kids 

Family-focused accommodation and holidays with childcare 

MALLORCA 

42-45 Make the Most of Mallorca 

Family-friendly yet quietly chic, discover Spain’s 

most versatile island 

44 Five of the Best: Mallorca 

ITALY 

46-51 Puglia, Please 

Destination specialists Éva Vidák and David Conitzer 

enjoy an epicurean adventure in Italy 

51 Five of the Best: Italy 

CORSICA 

52-55 Corsica Calling 

Royal photographer Chris Jackson on the child-friendly 

charm of Corsica 

54 Five of the Best: Corsica 

FRANCE 

56-61 Kate Mosse: en famille in Île de Ré 

Three different generations fall for one magical destination 

62-65 Vive La Différence 

A region-by-region guide to choosing your next French holiday 

65 Five of the Best: France 

INSPIRATION 

66-67 Festival Culture 

The summer events to plan your next break around 

68-69 Every Dog has its Holiday 

French and Italian villas where your canine 

companion is welcome 

70 Testimonials 

Feedback from our guests 

71 VIP SKI 

Enjoy 10% off your next ski holiday 


REPORTAGE 

REPORTAGE 

Giving 

BACK 

NEWS 

from home and abroad… 

Three cheers 

FOR ED… 

We’re delighted to announce 

that our very own Ed Pyke, who 

joined the Simpson team in 2017, 

has stepped up into the role of 

Managing Director. With a new 

investor on board, he’ll be leading 

the way as we look to introduce 

exciting new destinations to our 

award-winning portfolio. Sign up 

to emails at simpsontravel.com 

to be the first to know. 

Simpson Travel 

BOOK CLUB 

‘I am enormously 

proud of all we have 

achieved to date 

and hugely excited 

for the future.’ 

Ed Pyke 

Kefalonia 

COMEBACK 

We love Kefalonia, though in 

recent years it’s been a struggle 

to find a selection of villas on 

the island that meet our exacting 

standards. But for 2024, 

Product Director Mathew 

Simpson has pulled out all 

the stops to bring you a newly 

expanded programme to be 

proud of. With its dazzling 

coastline and emerald interiors, 

this is the year to revisit the 

Ionian Island made famous by 

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. 

Find out more on page 20. 

Mamma Mia at 

BELLA MARE 

In 2023, our very own Bella 

Mare Hotel in Corfu welcomed 

the cast and crew of the ITV 

series Mamma Mia! I Have a 

Dream as they searched for the 

new stars of the hit West End 

musical. Winners Stevie Doc and 

Tobias Turley stayed at the hotel 

alongside host Zoe Ball and 

judges Alan Carr, Jessie Ware, 

Amber Riley and Samantha Barks. 

Tracey Davies follows in their 

footsteps on page 24. 

Your chance 

TO WIN 

An award of 

SPECIAL 

INTEREST 

This year, we continue to support a number of 

charities in the UK and abroad, including Great 

Ormond Street Hospital, Operation Christmas Child 

and Cancer Research UK. We also donate £2 to 

Together for Short Lives for every completed holiday 

questionnaire. Visit simpsontravel.com for details. 

You no longer need to leave your 

holiday reading to chance, with 

The Simpson Travel Book Club; 

our month-by-month guide full of 

lovingly curated recommendations 

from bestselling author and 

Simpson Traveller, Kate Mosse. 

Available via the Simpson Travel 

app when you book a holiday. 

Every year we run a number 

of holiday competitions 

exclusively for our followers 

on Facebook and Instagram. 

This year is no exception, 

but as the saying goes – 

you’ve got to be in it to win it. 

Follow @simpsontravel today 

for your chance to win. 

In 2023, we received another set of prestigious 

accolades from The Telegraph, Condé Nast and 

The British Travel Awards, citing us amongst 

the world’s best travel companies. But we were 

particularly thrilled to be named runner-up in the 

Best Special Interest Holiday category at the BTAs 

as our new programme of walking and special 

interest weeks continues to go from strength to 

strength. Discover our walking holidays on page 16. 


BEHIND THE SCENES 

EXPERIENCE MORE 

The 

TRAVEL 

INSIDER 

with Pre-Departures Manager, Martina Filina 

Concierge services to elevate your holiday experience 

Martina has been with us in various 

roles since 2016, so you may well 

have been in touch with her as part 

of your holiday planning. Born 

in Bulgaria, she came to London 

to study aged 19. She’s a natural linguist, speaking 

Spanish, English and Bulgarian as well as basic Russian 

and Greek. A self-confessed aviation geek, she has 

worked at London Heathrow and secretly loves dealing 

with airline delays! 

Martina’s job involves making sure queries are 

dealt with quickly and effectively, as well as looking 

at new ways to improve the pre-holiday service for 

our guests. For summer 2024, her team have worked 

hard to expand the number of pre-bookable activities 

and experiences available, and these now range from 

private outdoor cinema nights in Mallorca to luxury 

in-villa massages. The most popular options (boat hire, 

private chefs, massage, bike hire, yoga and cooking 

classes) are now also available to view on our Simpson 

Travel app, and the Pre-Departures team will be happy 

to book them on your behalf. 

We caught up with Martina in the pre-season 

preparations to ask her more about her own personal 

Simpson Travel experience and travel loves. 

Q: What’s your favourite destination? 

A: Tuscany, no question. I visited Italy for the first 

time last year and it’s my spiritual home. I had 

dreamed about going there for so many years that I 

thought I might be disappointed, but if anything, it 

Above: 

Martina Filina 

Below: The app 

is easy to use 

was even better in reality. One day, my colleague 

took me on a bike ride through the vineyards and 

I felt like I was in a movie. The food and wine are just 

incredible, and now I really want to learn Italian. 

Q: What’s the best thing about your job? 

A: I love talking with guests. I’ve known some of 

them for several years now, and it’s really satisfying 

being able to enhance their trip, as well as making 

sure things go as smoothly as possible. I also like 

having the freedom to be creative – the company 

encourages new ideas, so if I see something that can 

be made better, I know I can go for it. 

Q: Beach or pool? 

A: Pool. Sunset beach walks are great, but I’m not 

a confident swimmer so prefer a pool with a lilo 

and a book. 

Q: Ouzo or Apérol? 

A: Has to be Apérol – Italy in a glass. 

Q: Lazy days or active exploring? 

A: I can’t sit still for long, 30 minutes on a sun 

lounger maximum, so definitely active. That’s another 

reason I love Italy. There’s so much to see. 

Q: Super central or ‘the road less travelled’? 

A: I’m quite a private person so ‘the road less travelled’ 

is more my style. My dream day is to visit a new 

place and then come back to a peaceful villa with a 

beautiful view to watch the sunset. 

Q: Last-minute or book ahead? 

A: Months ahead. I’m a fanatical planner – you 

absolutely need to be for this job! 

Call the 

Concierge 

Pre-bookable experiences 

and activities for 

unforgettable holidays 

Designed to enhance your holiday 

and help you make the most of 

your chosen destination, our 

pre-bookable activities and experiences 

ensure a magical, memorable escape. 

Whether you’re looking for a private chef 

or a tour of the local vineyard, cookery 

lessons or a day out at sea, our Pre- 

Departures Concierge team will take care 

of the details, leaving you to experience 

more of the country you love. 

Boat hire 

Take to the sea and enjoy the shimmering 

waters, dropping anchor to swim off 

the back of the boat, or swim ashore for 

lunch in a beachfront taverna. Visit idyllic 

islands in your own little boat, hire a 

rib with a skipper, join a group tour for 

guaranteed fun or pull out all the stops 

and charter a private yacht. 

Recommended: Self-drive boat 

hire in the Ionian Islands. 

Private chef 

For a birthday, anniversary, special 

occasion or just a holiday treat, we can 

arrange a chef to come to your villa to 

prepare, cook and clear away meals 

on a weekly or one-off basis. Personable 

as well as professional, the chefs will 

liaise with you on the choice of dishes, 

and present them at the table so that 

dinner becomes an unforgettable 

gastronomic experience. 

Recommended: Kalkan, Turkey. 

Wine tasting 

Take a tour of a winery to discover unique 

red, white, rosé and dessert wines. Visitors 

can take in the wine-making process, walk 

through the vineyards and, of course, 

sample a range of local vintages. 

Recommended: Dourakis Winery, 

Chania & Western Crete. 

Bike hire 

Hire a hybrid or electric bike and have 

it delivered right to your villa door. 

Whether you take your time, zip along at 

speed or join a guided tour, this is a great 

way to explore your local area. 

Recommended: Hossegor, France. 

Depending on your chosen destination, 

our Concierge teams can also arrange 

guided tours, cooking classes, in-villa 

massage, yoga, horse-riding, scuba diving, 

a private nanny or an outdoor cinema. 

Visit simpsontravel.com/holiday-types/ 

experience-more for more information. 


VILLAS 

SIMPSON VILLAS 

NEW 

VILLAS 

2024 

MAS DES BOUILLONS 

Provence, France, Sleeps 6 

Superbly restored traditional 

Provençal stone house in the heart 

of lovely Luberon. 

MAISON AURORE 

Provence, France, Sleeps 6 

Top-spec village house with air-conditioning 

and private pool; excellent shops and 

restaurants on its doorstep. 

GENESIS 

Meganissi, Greece, Sleeps 4 

An island idyll by the water 

overlooking Kalamos, 

a blissful retreat for couples 

and smaller families. 

Discover our 

LATEST 

ARRIVALS 

TRULLO ASHI 

Puglia, Italy, Sleeps 9 

Puglian tradition meets contemporary 

comfort, with a guest annexe and large 

heated swimming pool. 

VILLA NEPITA 

Corsica, Sleeps 6 

With sublime views and a 

boules pitch, Nepita is a five-minute 

drive from beach. 

LA ROVINETA 

Mallorca, Sleeps 8 

Perfect for a mixed group, everything 

you could possibly need is just a 

walk away. 

Tastes change and so do destinations, which is why we 

regularly refresh our portfolio to ensure it stays in sync 

with guests’ requirements. Seeking out the best new villas 

and hotels is a company-wide commitment, and when 

something wonderful comes up, our teams on the ground 

make sure that Simpson Travel is the first to know. 

EDEN COLLECTION - VILLA BABIL 

Kalkan, Turkey, Sleeps 8 

Decadent new villa with stylish interiors 

and the longest private swimming 

pool in Kalkan. 

TORRETTA VILLAS - GAIA 

Lefkada, Greece, Sleeps 6 

One of three contemporary new villas just 

a short walk from the sea near vibrant 

Lefkada Town. 

VARKO VILLAS - AFRODITI 

Palairos, Greece, Sleeps 2 

On the mainland close to Lefkada, 

a cluster of three elegant new villas 

overlooking Varka Bay. 

10 .SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM .SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM 11

GREECE 

GREECE 

Lucy Thackray discovers 

MOCHLOS 

Finding solace in Mochlos, 

a hidden gem on Crete’s 

fashionable Gulf of Mirabello 

Image: Mochlos Blue hotel 

Pushing aside overgrown fronds and shrubs, I crunch 

over pebbles. I can hear the waves but I can’t see 

them yet. Rounding the hump of the track, I gaze 

down. Jackpot! No one else in sight. Shimmying 

out of my shorts and flinging off flip-flops, I launch 

myself into the shallows. A few hundred metres away to the 

north I spot two fishermen casting rods from the rocks. There is 

not a cloud in the sky, nor one sound from the hills above. 

When I pictured Crete, this is not what I imagined. Though 

a long-time fan of Greece, I’d always browsed elsewhere, 

imagining that the largest of the country’s islands was given over 

to slick all-inclusive beach hotels and party-mad Malia breaks. 

It looked perfectly nice, just a little too mainstream. This was 

foolish, of course. An island bigger than Corfu, Kefalonia, 

Zakynthos, Rhodes and all of the Cyclades combined, it was sure 

to have many untouched corners. One is Mochlos, a diminutive 

fishing village 90 minutes’ drive from Heraklion airport. Here, 

just a handful of villas and apartments pepper the surrounding 

olive grove-strewn slopes. There are six tavernas and two bars. 

Day visitors drop in occasionally for a picturesque lunch, but 

in the mornings and evenings, Mochlos belongs to an exclusive 

club of overnighters. It’s a place in which you could happily do 

very little, but which also has hiking trails, sleepy beaches and 

Minoan ruins on the doorstep. 

I’m here to check out Mochlos Blue, a new boutique hotel 

exclusive to the travel company Simpson Travel. The former 

family clifftop home has been transformed into a smart sixroom 

bolthole, each bedroom kitted out with chic emeraldgreen 

headboards, soft white linen, mini-fridges and balconies. 

Checking in late to pitch-black darkness and the sound of the 

waves below, I suspect it’s remote, but when the sunlight hits 

my balcony view in the morning, I am staggered. Expanses of 

12 SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM 

SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM 13

GREECE 

GREECE 

Images (both): Mochlos 

Five of the best 

GREECE 

“I am rewarded with my first dazzling glimpse of a smooth, pale jade bay, 

so clear you can see each cluster of rock, backed by blonde sands.” 

green-gold countryside and ochre cliffs stretch out on either side. 

Behind are unspoilt hills and mountains, where thick shrubs 

and, yes, olive trees hide the odd mountain goat. 

An eight-minute walk leads to Mochlos, curving like a 

beckoning finger into Mirabello Bay. With its huddle of tavernas 

and one mini-mart, the village has everything you need. 

“This is the gateway to hidden Crete,” says Simpson’s founder, 

Graham Simpson. “People will tell you that Mochlos is like 

Greece 30 or 40 years ago, but there have always been offthe-beaten-track 

places like this.” Simpson set up the holiday 

company Simply Crete here in 1978 before selling it and 

founding Simpson Travel. His wife is Cretan and they live here 

much of the year. 

Mochlos Blue’s simplicity quickly puts me into retreat mode. 

After a breakfast of yoghurt, fruit and hot, flaky spanokopita 

(spinach filo pie), there is little to do but lounge by the pool, with 

its shimmering view of the bay. At times, amiable chatter breaks 

out over the sunloungers, but mainly we – nine guests in total – 

read and snooze, all here for the pin-drop peace and quiet. 

Over morning coffee, my fellow guests Alison and John tell 

me about the 3,250-year-old olive tree close to nearby Kavousi, 

urging me to stop by on my way out of Mochlos. Two other 

holidaymakers, Linda and Alan, recommend a snoop around 

Agios Nikolaos, a stylish town a 45-minute drive away with 

great seafront dining, stopping at Gournia’s Minoan ruins 

en route. The closest ruins to Mochlos, the hotel’s concierge, 

Nikos, points out, are on Pseira, the tiny island opposite the 

village’s harbour. “You pay the owner of Kochilia taverna, he 

will ferry you across,” he explains. “Is that the one with the 

octopuses hanging outside?” I ask. It is. 

More glamorous sounding is Crete’s northeastern tip, 

around Vai Beach, a scoop of sand backed by protected palm 

groves and famous as the location for the 1980s Bounty bar 

ads. There are other, sleepier beaches nearby, Nikos promises. 

And with just two minuscule scoops of shingle on Mochlos’s 

waterfront, I am craving a proper beach. 

The next morning, I set off by car following mountain 

roads to a more arid, ochre and sage landscape. An hour or so 

away is Toplou monastery, where some walls date back to the 

14th century. It’s charmingly set above a gorge, with a dinky 

belltower and peaceful courtyards, and its incense-scented 

passages hold priceless Orthodox icons, books and priest’s 

robes. The monks here also make wine and host 

tastings. It’s a little early for me, so I settle for an iced 

coffee in a shaded café instead. 

Nearby Vai Beach is indeed lovely: golden sands, 

thatched parasols, swaying palms. But I had smaller 

fish to fry – a local source had tipped me off that 

Erimoupolis Beach, a five-minute drive north, is 

often near-empty. Parking up and scrambling over 

the small headland, as instructed, I am rewarded with 

my first dazzling glimpse of a smooth, pale jade bay, 

so clear you can see each cluster of rock, backed by 

blonde sands. Just a handful of nudists lounge at its 

north end. After a dip in beautifully clear waters, I 

linger in the sole sliver of natural shade under the 

lip of the cliff and ponder lunch. “Hiona Beach is 

lovely,” Nikos had told me. “There are two tavernas. 

The seafood one on the left is very nice.” 

Nice? It is perhaps the most divinely situated 

taverna I’ve ever eaten in. Simple white tables are 

perched on a covered patio right on the rocks, 

surrounded on all sides by rippling water, set off 

by soaring russet cliffs on one side and an empty 

crescent of pale-gold sand on the other. 

The food is equally memorable – lightly fried, 

whole red mullet, zingy salads of Cretan tomatoes, 

avocado and red onion, fresh taramasalata and tiny 

fried shrimp I crunch whole, like whitebait. 

It’s no hardship to return to my mellow Mochlos 

bubble. At sunset the village is doused in a halo of 

coral pink. I sip a “rakito” (a mojito fired by raki, 

Cretan brandy) at the sea-view bar Barraki before 

settling in at Mesostrati for a wedge of moussaka. 

On my last day I remember the ancient olive tree. 

Trundling up a country path, scanning the rows of 

regular-sized trees for the headliner, I finally spy its 

chunky, gnarled trunk, roots spiralling down in a 

waterfall of bark – a 3,000-year-old presence on this 

very special island. 

LUCY 

THACKRAY 

Lucy is a 

freelance travel 

writer. A version 

of this article also 

appeared in The 

Sunday Times. 

VILLA AVGI, 

ZAKYNTHOS 

Sleeps 6 

With sleek interiors, and 

spectacular views, Avgi 

sits close enough to the 

ocean to hear the sound 

of waves rising and falling. 

MONODENDRI 

BLUE, PAXOS 

Sleeps 4 

This spacious property is 

a five-minute stroll from 

its namesake beach: 400 

metres of white pebbles 

lapped by crystal sea. 

SPILIA VIEW, 

MEGANISSI 

Sleeps 4 

A symphony in blue, this 

chic villa offers views of 

the exclusive private island 

of Skorpios and the 

Lefkada mountains. 

VILLA ISIDORA, 

CRETE 

Sleeps 6 

Contemporary luxury in 

east Crete, overlooking 

nearby Sitia. Three floors 

of smart interiors and 

breathtaking views. 

VILLA ALBA, 

ITHACA 

Sleeps 4 

This Greek island escape 

has beach access just 

beyond its secluded 

garden, and a friendly 

waterfront taverna nearby. 


GREECE 

GREECE 

Walking holidays in 

GREECE 

Discover a side to Greece that most visitors never experience, 

expertly guided by Jonathan Peat 

Experential travel is 

a growing trend, 

with many intrepid 

explorers seeking 

to expand their 

horizons beyond the tried-andtested 

city break or beach getaway. 

Enter the walking holiday, a trip 

that combines exploration and 

discovery with endorphin-fuelled 

exercise, boutique accommodation 

and delectable local cuisine. 

Tempted? Absolutely. 

At Simpson Travel, our bespoke 

walking trips include flights, car 

hire or transfers, seven nights’ 

accommodation (with a tantalising 

breakfast included), a welcome 

dinner and drinks, plus five 

unforgettable walks led by our 

expert guide Jonathan Peat. 

These walks range from 2-5 hours 

in length, with plenty of pauses 

to rest and refuel. Even better, the 

groups on these trips are limited 

to no more than 15 people, so 

there’s a real sense of community. 

Pack your sturdiest walking boots, 

a handy water bottle and your 

sense of adventure! 

Right: 

Preveli, Crete 

Walking in western Crete 

In the ever-changing landscape 

of western Crete, our carefully 

planned itineraries offer a chance 

to take in the fascinatingly rich 

flora and fauna that benefit from 

the island’s isolation, favourable 

climate and wide variety of habitats 

(from coastal marsh to mountain 

range). Discover remote and 

timeless monasteries, the evocative 

ruins of ancient Minoan palaces, 

the breathtaking geological features 

of the White Mountains and 

Crete’s wonderful gorges and 

plateaux. Informal stops at tiny, 

whitewashed chapels or rustic 

kafenions (cafés) give a taste of 

the slower pace of life in the 

rural community and you’ll also 

uncover other aspects of island 

life including Cretan myths, 

edible and medicinal plants, 

cultivated and farmed crops, and 

the history of plant lore. 


GREECE 

GREECE 

Walking in 

southern Crete 

Left: Loutro 

Below: Itanos 

Based in Loutro, our walks in 

southern Crete cover the most 

dramatic terrain of all our walking 

holidays but the effort is more 

than rewarded by the views – so 

astonishing, they remain etched 

in the memory for a lifetime. 

Loutro epitomises the sort of 

unpretentious fishing village that 

many visitors to Greece look for 

but never find; accessible only by 

boat, or by a walk along a cliffside 

path, it enjoys an idyllic position 

in a sheltered bay on Crete’s 

impossibly blue southern shores. 

Led by Jonathan Peat, the trip’s five 

daily walks encompass deserted 

beaches, magnificent gorges and 

Byzantine wonders. Few visitors 

to Crete ever see this part of the 

island, but those who discover it 

will want to return again and again. 

Walking in 

eastern Crete 

The countryside in eastern Crete 

remains the most rugged, wild 

and unexplored on the island. 

Stunning beaches washed by water 

of amazing clarity and colour 

are cooled by a fresh sea breeze, 

while inland, tiny villages dot the 

hillsides and the distant jingle of 

goat bells echoes in the valleys. 

The gorges in the east (of which 

there are many) have a unique 

geology and you’ll find endemic 

plants, insects, and animals that 

have disappeared from many other 

parts of the island. The unspoilt 

landscape evokes a sense of Crete 

as it was thousands of years ago 

and you will come to a greater 

understanding of the island’s rich 

history in your journey along 

ancient pathways to discover 

archaeological sites, hidden 

churches and deserted villages. 

Based by the lovely sandy beach 

at Kouremenos, your holiday 

accommodation is well-placed for 

leisure, with a couple of excellent 

tavernas just a stroll away and 

a windsurfing school if you’re 

feeling energetic. 

Walking in Corfu & Epirus 

Corfu is blessed with a rich 

natural landscape of mountains, 

olive groves, fertile valleys and 

a coastline dotted with secluded 

coves, sandy beaches and 

rocky inlets. Conquered by the 

Phoenicians and Venetians, and 

loaded with history and culture, 

its vibrant capital is arguably the 

most impressive of all the Ionian 

island towns, and a wonderful 

place to begin your two-centre 

adventure with a tour of the town 

and time for a swim. Part two 

is a thrilling contrast to Corfu, 

venturing into the wildly beautiful 

region of Zagoria and the Pindus 

mountains, where you’ll spend five 

days walking in the Vikos Aoos 

National Park area, learning about 

its unique fauna and flora. Often 

described as one of the last great 

wildernesses in Europe, the scenery 

here is rugged and dramatic, 

with the mighty Vikos Gorge as 

its centrepiece. Longer than the 

better-known Samaria Gorge on 

Crete, Vikos is one of the deepest 

gorges in the world, and there’s 

a real sense of achievement in 

walking part of its 32km length. 

Above: Vikos 

Below: 

Paleokastritsa 

“The Vikos Aoos National Park is 

often described as one of the last 

great wildernesses in Europe.” 

Your expert 

guide to Greece 

Jonathan Peat is a qualified 

European Mountain Leader 

and has been hosting walks in 

Greece for more than 30 years. 

The son of a Greek mother 

and Scottish father, he grew 

up in Greece and the UK and 

is fluent in both languages. He 

also speaks French, is a keen 

organic gardener, an artist and 

a daily practitioner of yoga and 

meditation. In 1990, Jonathan 

was instrumental in setting up 

the walking programme for 

Simply Crete and lived on the 

island for many years, enjoying 

its culture, natural history and 

proud tradition of hospitality. His 

abundant knowledge affords our 

guests insights into aspects of the 

island that often go unseen, and 

his natural enthusiasm for the 

Greek people ensures a warm 

welcome from the locals. 


GREECE 

GREECE 

KEFALONIA 

DREAMING 

Densely forested hills and a coastline of quiet coves make Kefalonia an unspoilt delight 

Image: Foki Beach

GREECE 

This year marks 

three decades 

since readers first 

fell in love with 

Kefalonia through 

the pages of Captain Corelli’s 

Mandolin. Louis de Bernières 

wove his gripping story of 

wartime love in amongst the 

day-to-day lives and landscapes 

of Kefalonia, taking inspiration 

from the warmth of the people 

and the outstanding natural 

beauty of the island, poignantly 

contrasted with the brutality 

of war. 30 years on, the lure 

of Kefalonia’s enchanting 

coastline and emerald interior 

is undimmed, and we are 

delighted to offer our most 

diverse Kefalonia collection 

ever for 2024. 

North 

Kefalonia 

Fiskardo sits close to the 

northern tip of the island, 

made extraordinarily 

photogenic by the Venetian 

houses that line its sheltered 

harbour inlet in sugaralmond 

shades. These 

beautiful old buildings are 

home to the many charming 

shops and restaurants that 

help make Fiskardo so deeply 

desirable, whether you come 

to sail, shop or simply relax 

and watch the world at work 

and play. Bobbing in the 

peacock-blue water are boats 

of all kinds, from fishing craft 

to luxury cruisers lured by 

the prospect of fine waterside 

dining and tiny, jewel-like 

bays for a secluded swim. The 

north is also home to Myrtos 

beach, possibly the mostphotographed 

stretch of sand 

in the whole of Greece. 

Image: Myrtos Beach 

“Bobbing in the peacock-blue water are boats of all kinds, 

from fishing craft to luxury cruisers.” 

VILLA NATURA 

Sleeps 4 

Lie in bed and gaze at the sea 

from this immaculate two-bedroom 

gem above Trapezaki bay. 

A perfect honeymoon getaway. 

TRAPEZAKI BLUE 

Sleeps 6 

This impressive family villa offers 

a garden and sublime views, 

and it’s just a short walk to 

Trapezaki beach. 

VILLA STELLINA 

Sleeps 4 

Superbly positioned villa, close 

to Trapezaki with spectacular 

views over Mount Ainos and 

the sparkling Ionian. 

South Kefalonia 

In the south, Trapezaki 

nestles beneath mighty 

Mount Ainos, the island’s 

highest peak, with a string 

of sandy beaches at its 

feet. One of our favourites 

is Trapezaki beach, which 

is narrow but well-supplied 

with sunbeds and a great 

taverna that’s open for 

lunch and dinner in the 

season. If you like a little 

more activity then Lourdas 

is the place, popular with 

families thanks to its 

shallow water and seafront 

restaurants. For older kids, 

Agios Thomas beach has 

rock pools to swim in and 

exceptionally clear water. 

You can walk to a beach 

from most of our south 

Kefalonia villas, so a car isn’t 

a necessity; and if you want 

to see Kefalonia’s famous 

loggerhead turtles, head to 

Argostoli harbour. 

ISLAND VIEW 

Sleeps 6 

Set on a hillside close to the 

village of Fiskardo, Island View 

is secluded, comfortable and 

full of Kefalonian character. 

THE 

TRAVEL INSIDER 

Once you’ve explored 

the more popular sites of 

Kefalonia, make time to visit 

St George’s Castle in the 

south. High on a hill between 

Trapezaki and Argostoli, 

this impressive structure was 

started by the Byzantines 

in the 12th century and 

finished by the Venetians in 

1545. The castle became 

the administrative capital 

of Kefalonia, until the18th 

century when it moved to 

Argostoli. Visitors today will 

pay a small fee to enter and 

marvel at the coats of arms 

and atmospheric ruins. If you 

need to refuel, there are three 

excellent restaurants within the 

city walls with stunning views 

over the south of the island. 

VILLA ANELLE 

Sleeps 4 

Statement villa style in an 

elegant, couple-sized package 

near Trapezaki; wonderful 

garden and views. 

Image: Trapezaki Beach 

“Trapezaki nestles beneath mighty Mount Ainos, the island’s highest peak, 

with a string of sandy beaches at its feet.” 

TRAPEZAKI BAY 

Sleeps 8 

Stylish and family-friendly, 

this villa occupies a fantastic 

location just 10 minutes’ walk 

from tavernas and the beach. 

GREECE 

VILLA HORIZON 

Sleeps 4 

Romantic sea views and 

beautiful sunsets near Fiskardo; 

a short walk to the local tavernas 

of Antipata. 


GREECE 

GREECE 

Bella Mare hotel hosts the stars of 

MAMMA 

MIA 

Journalist Tracey Davies discovers 

the home of the hit show 

Image: Bella Mare Hotel 

Last year’s primetime ITV talent show, Mamma Mia! 

I Have a Dream saw creator and producer Judy 

Craymer search for the next Sophie and Sky to take 

over the lead roles in the West End version of the 

Mamma Mia! musical. Filmed on location in Corfu 

last summer with Zoe Ball presenting and Alan Carr, Jessie Ware, 

Amber Riley and Samantha Barks as judges, the eight-week series 

put the wannabes through their paces before the winners took it 

all in the live final in London’s West End. 

I’m a lifelong Abba fan and my twin daughters, Nancy and 

Lola, grew up with Abba tunes coursing through their veins. 

I’m still kicking myself for not naming them Agnetha and Frida. 

I’m also painfully aware that – now 17 and in their final year 

of A levels – they’re Slipping Through My Fingers and perhaps 

our days of holidaying together are numbered. I’m taking every 

girls’ holiday with them I can still get – and since my chances of 

landing the prime role of Sophie are slim (even Donna might be 

a push . . .), last summer, I figured a trip to Corfu would be one 

way to live out my Mamma Mia! dreams. 

Seven miles off the western coast of mainland Greece and 

Albania, this lush island in the Ionian Sea has long been 

a darling of the rich and famous. The Rothschilds, Aristotle 

Onassis and Gerald Durrell, the British naturalist and author of 

My Family and Other Animals, had homes here. More recently, 

Corfu was the backdrop to the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, 

which came out in September. 

When I told the girls we were going to Corfu, their eyes lit up 

and they whispered “Kavos” as if it were the eighth wonder of 

the world. I’m not sure even Tanya, Donna’s cougar best friend, 

played by Christine Baranski in the film, could cope with the 

fights, foam parties and flaming sambucas in Corfu’s notorious 


GREECE 

GREECE 

Image: Bella Mare hotel 

Below: Jessie Ware, Alan Carr, 

Zoe Ball, Samantha Barks and 

Judy Craymer 

Clockwise from top left: Bella Mare, 

Agios Stefanos, Kassiopi 

party resort. So while I’m loathe to be a killjoy, I informed the 

girls we would be staying on Corfu’s quieter, north east coast in 

the beautiful Bella Mare hotel on Avlaki beach; the base for the 

celebrities and crew while they were filming Mamma Mia! 

I Have a Dream. 

Experience reminded me to manage my expectations of 

a holiday with teenagers. So after the hotel breakfast – the 

homemade orange cake should be illegal to serve – I factored 

in plenty of sunbed time at Bella Mare. By a spectacular infinity 

pool overlooking the sea, I cracked through my to-be-read pile 

while the teenagers worked on their tans. 

It was good to get them out in the afternoons though, 

Mamma Mia! locations or not – Corfu’s craggy north east coast is 

scalloped with beautiful beaches lapped by impossibly clear seas. 

The next bay around is Agios Stefanos, where the crew filmed in 

Eucalyptus, a lovely shaded taverna on the waterfront where we 

ate the freshest seafood with our toes in the water. In their cool 

cotton dresses, salt-tousled hair, dangling bare feet in the sea, 

my girls could easily have been cast as Sophies in the show. 

Naturally, the score to Mamma Mia! became our holiday 

soundtrack as we drove round the island in search of filming 

spots. Corfu is a master of the scene with its sparkling whitepebble 

beaches lapped by warm cobalt seas, and Venetian villas 

the colour of sun-blushed kumquats scattered across the hills. 

Further round the coast from Agios Stefanos is Kalami, 

another location that featured in the show that’s a sliver of white 

beach banked by wooded hills and tumbles of dusky lemon 

and white houses. Famous as the home of the Durrells, the 

White House where the author’s family once lived is now 

a villa and restaurant overlooking the bay. Despite its bijou size, 

Kalami is not unaccustomed to film crews – The Durrells, 

The Greek Tycoon and James Bond’s For Your Eyes Only were also 

filmed here. 

In the evenings, we’d wander down to one of Avlaki’s two 

beachfront tavernas – Cavo Barbaro for its marvellous moussaka 

or Avlaki Seaside for its heavenly homegrown olives – or walk 

“Corfu is the master of the scene with its sparkling beaches lapped by warm cobalt seas.” 

a mile or so into Kassiopi for a livelier night out as the 

girls were keen to sample the nightlife. 

We ate in Janis restaurant, another filming location 

no doubt chosen for its abundant authenticity – red 

check tablecloths, plinkety plink Greek folk music 

and the prevalent moggies waiting patiently for 

discarded prawn tails. Then I let the girls loose on 

this quiet, unsuspecting resort. There are a handful of 

bars to sate teenagers, including the Harbour Bar with 

its late-night disco, and Illusions – their favourite – 

where the manager, Panos, told us that the Mamma 

Mia! cast and crew hung out during their six-week 

stay. Both Mr Carr and Ms Riley are said to have 

wowed the locals with their karaoke skills, he said. 

Over the course of our week there we took the lead 

from the cast and crew and explored Kassiopi’s many 

tavernas, feasting on enormous plates of fresh fried 

calamari dipped in garlicky tzatziki, swords of smoky 

souvlaki and beef pastitsada, a rich Corfu stew cooked 

with love by doting yiayias (Greek grannies). 

Of course, an endless stream of enamoured waiters 

meant the girls got a taste for ouzo (and handsome 

Greek boys), while I favoured the soft, sweet citrus 

flavour of kumquat liqueur, the Fanta-hued islandgrown 

tipple. 

One blisteringly hot afternoon, we drove west of 

Kassiopi and into the cooler hills to Old Perithia, 

Corfu’s oldest village. Once used as a hideout from 

marauding pirates, this 14th-century hill village on 

the northern slopes of Mount Pantokrator is reached 

by a narrow and painfully switchback road. All but 

abandoned in the Sixties, when everyone flocked to the 

coast for work, Old Perithia has since had a new lease 

of life. Scenes for the ITV show were filmed around the 

traditional tavernas in the tiny shaded village square, 

which, with their handsewn tablecloths and peeling 

wooden shutters, are more than reminiscent of Villa 

Donna, the rustic hotel in the movie and stage show. 

On our last day, we wound our way down the east 

coast to Corfu Town and the airport, stopping off for 

a final Fanta Lemon in Gouvia Marina, where some 

of the TV show’s performance or workshop scenes 

were filmed. With its giant stone swans and neon-lit 

fountains, the palm-lined music bar was delightfully 

kitsch – just like Mamma Mia! – and I thought, Corfu, 

my, my, how can I resist you? 

TRACEY DAVIS 

Tracey is a 

freelance travel 

journalist. A 

version of this 

article also 

appeared in 

The Times. 


ADULT-ONLY HOTELS 

ADULT-ONLY HOTELS 

KATOUNA SUITES 

Lefkada, Greece 

Wake up to sensational views and a day of 

infinite possibilities. Discover Lefkada’s exquisite 

beaches, untouched villages and the vibrant 

bars and restaurants of nearby Lefkada Town. 

MOCHLOS BLUE 

Crete 

Whether you’re looking for pure relaxation, 

or a chance to explore eastern Crete, you’ll 

enjoy Mochlos Blue’s privileged position by 

the water’s edge, just a short walk from a 

charming seaside village. 

AROSMARI VILLAGE HOTEL 

Crete 

Base yourself in one of Arosmari’s pretty 

cottages, nestled in jasmine and lavenderscented 

gardens, and enjoy fabulous 

food, weekly musical entertainment and a 

delightful spa. A timeless Cretan classic. 

BAY VIEW HOTEL 

Paxos 

There’s nowhere quite like Paxos to soothe 

the mind and nourish the soul. Enjoy 

consummate hospitality and hypnotic views 

from this six-suite retreat above Gaios, with 

its tempting tavernas and laid-back vibe. 

Discover 

ADULT-ONLY 

GREECE 

For a unique holiday experience and a focus on the finer 

things in life, our Adult-Only Hotels in Greece enjoy a 

fantastically loyal following. Chosen for their character, style 

and exceptional locations, these distinctive boutique hotels 

are made for lazy days of pure escapism, where time by the 

pool is a tranquil affair and the hotel concierge is on hand to 

offer a personalised service that’s as individual as you are. 

WHITE ORCHID HOTEL 

Sivota 

A little piece of paradise on the mainland, 

where understated style and mesmerising 

views create a blissful hideaway, just 

moments from the sea and the waterfront 

tavernas of Sivota. 

PURPLE APRICOT HOTEL 

Paxos 

Unearth the exquisite beauty of Paxos from 

the comfort of this bohemian gem, where 

exotic style and colourful flamboyance 

blend to create a stunning retreat in an 

outstanding location. 

THYMARI HOTEL 

Paxos 

Discreet, sophisticated and unashamedly 

luxurious, Thymari is a one-off. Comprising 

six beautifully restored stone houses, it 

strikes the perfect balance between Italian 

elegance and blissful informality. 


TURKEY 

TURKEY 

A turquoise dream for tweens & teens 

KALKAN 

Actor Timothy Watson explains why this fashionable Turkish town has universal appeal 

Back in January last year, and with A levels looming, 

I made a promise to my daughter (who am I 

kidding? It was a thinly veiled bribe) that if she 

pressed on down the home straight towards those 

last exams, we’d reward her – and a friend or 

two – with a summer trip to somewhere they could all let their 

hair down. Conditional on the effort being put in. Completely 

unenforceable, of course. 

“Sorry, you haven’t spent enough hours on your chemistry 

this week – holiday’s off.” 

“Ok Dad. Not sure I want to go to uni anyway.” 

My canny 12-year-old son got wind of the deal and made 

it clear that he wasn’t going to stand by and let this happen 

without a suitable slice of the pie. If his sister was going to be 

lolling about by day and out on the tiles by night, he would need 

a friend to stave off the tedium of spending endless hours alone 

with the parents. And truth be told, he’d tapped into a moot 

point. Not quite at the bottom of the pecking order (that’s the 

dog, he doesn’t get to go anywhere) are my wife and I. We also 

needed to fit into this one-size-fits-all holiday somehow. 

How then, to meet the tricky brief of complicated needs – 

nightlife for the cocktail-guzzling 18-year-olds, water sports 

for the thrill-seeking 12-year-olds and peace, quiet, fabulous 

food, and (call me old-fashioned) more than a brushstroke of 

cultural interest for the parents? Not to mention uninterrupted 

sunshine for all. 

Step forward, Kalkan. 

We’d visited some years ago and stayed at the Kalkan Regency 

hotel; a gorgeous and incredibly welcoming flop-and-drop 

destination that served our needs with two younger children 

perfectly. And the more we thought about it, the more a stay in 

Kalkan made sense now, as we browsed through a selection of 

dreamy villas that would both accommodate us all and, more 

surprisingly, fall within budget. 

Unfortunately, the days of cheap holidays in the Eastern 

Med are long gone. I remember visiting Greece for the first 

time in the late Eighties and having change from 50 drachmas 

at the end of the (admittedly budget) week. But Turkey – 

even the upmarket Turquoise Coast – still offers very good 

value for money. 

What it doesn’t lack is opulence, and our villa, The Korsan 

Guney (right), felt positively palatial for the needs of a mere 

seven guests. The views out to sea, whether from the vast 

terrace and infinity pool or from the various balconies serving 

the bedrooms above, were to die for. There was so much space 

we almost didn’t know what to do with it. I’ve stayed in whole 


TURKEY 

TURKEY 

“Kalkan was as charming as ever. Its swish beach clubs help retain its elegant feel.” 

Left and above: 

The Korsan 

Guney and fun 

on the water 

Top right: the 

incredible sights 

and tastes of 

Kalkan 

apartments smaller than our en suite. 

Below the pool, we wandered down 

towards the sea via our own boardwalk 

leading to not one, but two decked 

platforms, the first shaded with an outdoor 

kitchen (no need to trek back 

to the villa for a beer) and the second ideal 

for unadulterated sun-worship, fishing, 

paddleboarding or diving straight into the 

gin-clear water teeming with marine life. 

Kalkan has unquestionably expanded 

in recent decades, but thankfully not 

in any high-rise or faceless way. Friends 

who’d revisited recently after a 30-year gap 

commented that Kalkan was as charming as 

ever – a larger version of its former self, but 

with its character intact. The proliferation 

of swish beach clubs is both a marker of the 

development and a clever way to retain its 

elegant feel. No rammed beaches, just wellspaced, 

impeccably served bars and eateries 

with direct sea access and one modest bill 

to pay when you leave. Our favourite beach club was Indigo, 

which we enjoyed free entry to as part of our Simpson Travel 

villa booking. 

Doubtless, one of the joys of being there is to simply browse 

the warren of lanes that amble down towards the harbour. 

This is the Old Town, with an eclectic array of boutique shops, 

restaurants and shisha bars gently competing for your custom. 

There are deals of all sorts to be done too; you may have heard 

that Kalkan is a mecca for those in search of a ‘genuine’ fake 

Rolex or replica football kit for a fraction of the price of the real 

thing. You heard right. However, these shops and stalls are not 

the tacky sideshow you’d perhaps imagine them to be. I rather 

enjoyed the irony of having spent a blissful few hours exploring 

the wondrous ruins of the Lycian city of Patara (a short taxi 

ride away) only to find myself haggling over a knocked-off PSG 

kit with the word Mbappé on the back 50 minutes later. Let’s 

just say our luggage was a fair bit heavier on the way home. As 

indeed was I! 

The food, whether you are plant-based or dedicatedly nose-totail, 

is exceptional. Kalkan is famous for its rooftop restaurants. 

The splendour of these places only reveals itself when you have 

climbed the stairs and emerged out into the balmy evening 


TURKEY 

TURKEY 

Three (more) 

good reasons to 

visit Kalkan 

Every Simpson Travel holiday to 

Kalkan includes three blissfully 

relaxing experiences that capture 

the spirit of this wonderful location, 

with our compliments... 

2 

Enjoy a traditional 

Turkish hamam 

A luxurious experience, 

and a delightfully soothing 

way to prepare for relaxing 

in the sun. All our guests 

can enjoy a complimentary 

hamam (steam bath) at 

the Kalkan Regency’s 

celebrated spa. Why not 

extend the pamper session 

with a choice of massage 

or treatment? 


TURKEY 

VILLA RUYAM, 

BOZBURUN 

PENINSULA 

Sleeps 4 

Just metres from the water’s 

edge, Villa Ruyam is a blissful 

spot to sit and soak up the 

mesmerising sea views. 

VILLA ZARIF, KAS 

Sleeps 8 

Glass-fronted balconies and 

light-filled, minimalist interiors 

lend this villa a glamorous, 

grown-up vibe, ideal for 

a group of friends or perfect 

for a special occasion. 

“It’s cosmopolitan and bohemian, 

with a hint of bustle thrown in.” 

air for a sumptuous supper, under lantern light and 

gazing at the stars reflected in the twinkling bay before 

you. On all sides you will see diners at other venues 

enjoying their similarly elevated spots, and you can’t 

help feeling as though you must have slipped past the 

doorman and up to a private members’ club in the sky. 

Kalkan is tantalising in the breadth of its appeal. 

Until relatively recently, it was inhabited by Greeks 

and named Kalamaki. The architectural influence can 

still be seen, but the five-times daily call to prayer is 

an atmospheric reminder that this is very much Turkey. 

It is cosmopolitan, but also bohemian, and with just 

a hint of the push-and-pull of a bustling street market 

thrown in for good measure. Add the dawn-to-dusk 

sunshine, phenomenal cuisine and the clearest water 

you will ever swim in (don’t miss the complimentary 

trip along the coast on the traditional gület boat) and 

you have a heady mix of ingredients, amongst which 

there is something for just about everyone to enjoy. 

PS Exams passed and uni place happily accepted! 

Though I’m not sure Kalkan can take all the credit. 

TIMOTHY 

WATSON 

is an actor and 

regular Simpson 

Traveller, best 

known for 

playing Rob 

Titchenor in 

The Archers. 

1Try a Turquoise 

Coast cruise 

The best way to appreciate the magnificent scenery 

of the Turquoise Coast is from the water, so all our 

guests are invited to spend a relaxing day aboard 

the Kalkan Regency’s private gület, Poseidon. The 

traditional-style boat cruises at a leisurely pace over 

the aquamarine water of Kalamar Bay, visiting sea 

caves and secluded beaches that can only be reached 

by boat. There’s plenty of time to swim or snorkel for 

those who wish, and a delicious buffet lunch served on 

board, delivering a wonderful day out for a couple or 

a family with children. 

3 

Beach club 

benefits 

There are some well-organised beach clubs positioned 

around Kalkan Bay. Simpson Travel guests enjoy free access 

to Indigo Beach Club, conveniently located close to the Old 

Town. Here, there are sunbathing platforms, comfortable 

loungers with waiter service and direct sea access when 

you fancy a swim or want to try out the watersports. There’s 

also an excellent restaurant for drinks and meals. Take your 

Simpson Travel towel and you won’t have to pay an entry 

fee. Palm Beach Club is another popular destination for a 

day of relaxation by the water. Here, Simpson Travel guests 

are treated to 5% off the cost of any purchase. 

VILLA ZAFFRE, 

KALKAN 

Sleeps 8 

Spoil yourselves with 

a rooftop terrace and bar, 

statement swimming pool 

and incredible views of 

Kalamar Bay and its islands. 

VILLA SADE, 

ISLAMLAR 

Sleeps 6 

A Simpson Exclusive, 

delivering everything the 

holiday heart could desire, 

including a gym, sauna and 

22-metre infinity pool. 

VILLA SU, KALKAN 

Sleeps 6 

Tastefully finished, from its 

rooftop bar to the generous 

curves of the swimming pool, 

Villa Su is cocooned in lush 

gardens yet enviably close to 

the Mahal Beach Club. 


SLUG 

SIMPSON HOTELS 

SAN NICOLAS HOTEL 


Set in the beautiful south of Lefkada, 

our exclusive suites enjoy pole position 

in this well-run waterfront hotel which 

boasts a poolside restaurant and beach 

bar with direct access to the sea. 

KALKAN REGENCY 

Kalkan, Turkey 

Adult-only off-peak and family-friendly in the 

school holidays, its outstanding hospitality and 

spectacular setting have made the Kalkan Regency 

legendary on the Turquoise Coast. 

KORSAN SUITES 

Kalkan, Turkey 

Set high above the coast for mesmerising views, yet 

still within walking distance of Kalkan’s vibrant heart, 

the Korsan Suites combine luxury hotel service with 

the generous space of a private apartment. 

Discover 

SIMPSON 

HOTELS 

Distinctive, charming, unique 

Whether you’re after some adults-only sophistication or a touch 

of family-friendly luxury, all Simpson Hotels promise the same 

thoughtfully designed accommodation, a dedicated concierge 

service, and days that begin with a mouthwatering breakfast bursting 

with fresh, local ingredients. The idyllic location is up to you… 

GK BEACH HOTEL 

Crete, Greece 

With the striking White Mountains behind and the 

warm waters of the Aegean in front, GK Beach 

Hotel is ideal for anyone who wants to explore the 

delights of western Crete. 

BELLA MARE HOTEL 

Corfu, Greece 

Luxury beachfront living on the coolest coastline in 

the Ionian; this is the place to be for kayaking and 

boat hire, as well as discovering the wonders of 

Corfu’s iconic towns and villages. 


SLUG 

SIMPSON EXCLUSIVES 

NEW 


EXCLUSIVES 

2024 

THE ARTISAN’S HOUSE 

Crete, Greece, Sleeps 10 

Glorious for a group, with stylish interiors, 

sea views and a tennis court, it’s also within 

walking distance of tavernas and the beach. 

Villa Xeni, Meganissi 

Discover 


MIKRO NISI HOUSE 

Zakynthos, Greece, Sleeps 10 

Metres from the shoreline with private 

sea access, day beds and a summer kitchen, 

this is an impressive villa for any occasion. 

MIRABELLO BAY HOUSE 

Crete, Greece, Sleeps 10 

Beachfront opulence near Agios Nikolaos 

with a heated pool, large outdoor kitchen 

and breathtaking views. 

IONIAN GREEN 

Sivota & Epirus, Greece, Sleeps 10 

Arguably Sivota’s ultimate villa, with a vast 

17-metre pool, stunning outdoor space and 

daily breakfast service included. 

EXCLUSIVE 

When only the best will do 

TRULY EXCEPTIONAL VILLAS · OUTSTANDING LOCATIONS 

STUNNING VIEWS · EXCLUSIVE CONCIERGE SERVICES 

VILLA NUCIOLA 

Corsica, Sleeps 12 

Beautifully located, immaculately finished 

and ideal for entertaining, complete with 

home cinema and gym. 

VILLA SERENITY 

Corfu, Greece, Sleeps 6 

Nestled into the hillside above the foodie 

haven of Agni, Villa Serenity is a five-minute 

walk from waterfront tavernas and the sea. 

VILLA KIYI 

Kalkan, Turkey, Sleeps 8 

Outstanding, spoil-yourself Simpson 

Exclusive with two private pools and a guest 

cottage with a delightful garden. 


SIMPSON KIDS 

SIMPSON KIDS 

FAMILY 

HOLIDAYS 

without the hassle 

The success of a family holiday can be measured by the approval of 

the hardest to please. Whether you’re trying to entertain a demanding 

toddler, a tricky teen or an ever-so-slightly grumpy grandad, there’s 

always a difficult nut to crack. As parents and grandparents ourselves, 

we understand the importance of catering to everyone’s needs 

and offering a variety of options to tick that most elusive of boxes: 

the perfect family holiday. Choose from our selection of villas with 

child-friendly layouts, garden games, flexible childcare and fenced 

pools or pick a beachfront hotel with a programme of supervised 

activities to keep them out of mischief while you soak up the sun. 

Discover 


KIDS 

A childhood remembered 

The Simpson Kids collection is a one-stop shop for families 

with children aged 11 and under. From award-winning villas 

with expert childcare on hand, to beachfront hotels with a 

complimentary programme of supervised activities, our goal 

is effortlessly relaxing holidays for all the whole family. 

MOUSSES CRÈCHE AND KIDS’ CLUBS 


A week or two away with young children 

can sometimes seem daunting without the promise 

of a little down time. How many nursery rhymes 

will you have to sing before you can stretch out for 

a bit of shut-eye? How many hours will you have 

to spend in the gated pool judging handstand 

competitions before you can put your feet up? 

Treat the whole family to a well-deserved break 

at Mousses Villas in Lefkada, and make the 

most of their private nannies. 

SIMPSON BEACH LIFE 

Corfu & Crete, Greece 

Whether you’re on a quest for hidden treasures, 

assembling a labyrinth of sandcastles or setting sail 

across the waves, little ones love to be beside the 

seaside…beside the sea! In the school holidays, 

Bella Mare and GK Beach hotels make life a breeze 

with a complimentary programme of supervised 

activities designed for children aged 5 to 11. 

Activities include: scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, 

mocktail making, table football, beach chill-outs, 

pool games, cookery, a movie night and more. 


MALLORCA 

MALLORCA 

Make the most of 

MALLORCA 

With an abundance of activities for all ages, Mallorca will surprise and delight 

For beach-lovers and bird-watchers, golfers and gourmets, 

hikers, bikers and shop-till-you-droppers there’s one 

wonderful island that has it all covered: Mallorca. The north 

east is synonymous with chic villas and family-friendly 

beaches, a perfect study in contrasts to the historic towns and 

dramatic cliff-scapes of the Tramuntana coastal range. The capital Palma 

is top tapas territory, and if you love locally produced food and wine 

you’re in for an absolute treat wherever you go. 

To whet your appetite and help you plan your visit, we asked our island 

concierge to tell us which places and activities her guests love. 


MALLORCA 

MALLORCA 

Image: Cala Deià 

experience, it’s fun to book a walking 

tour that can be tailored exactly to your 

interests and energy levels. 

“Palma is the perfect day - 

trip destination. The main 

attractions are hard to miss, 

but for a more bespoke 

experience, it’s fun to 

book a walking tour.” 

Shop local 

Markets all over Europe have lost some 

of their charm due to cheap imports, but 

Pollensa’s Sunday event is a food-focused 

delight where you can buy individual 

ingredients or entire prepared dishes to 

make self-catering a breeze. There are 

around 300 stalls, featuring jewellery, 

ceramics, clothing and plants as well as 

edible delights, and live music helps to 

create a party atmosphere in the high 

season. It’s usually a packed-out affair, 

so aim to get there for the 8am opening. 

Private outdoor cinema 

If you’re a movie buff, it can be hard to 

get your film fix on holiday. Instead, 

bring the movies to you and host your 

own outdoor screening. Enjoy a highquality 

cinema set up in the privacy of 

your villa garden, complete with large 

outdoor screen, state-of-the-art projector 

and sound system, comfy bean bags, 

ambient lighting and even a popcorn 

machine. Simply pick your movie from 

the wide choice available, and get ready 

for the best family night in ever! 

Golf for all 

Mallorca boasts more than 20 golf 

courses, most with breathtaking 

backdrops and beautiful greens. Our 

guests love the very scenic 9-hole Pollensa 

course, with sea views to one side and 

lots of trees to increase the challenge. You 

can hire clubs and a buggy if needed, but 

you will need a handicap to play here. 

For novices and non-handicap holders, 

there’s a great alternative at the Son Quint 

Pitch & Putt close to Palma. All the holes 

are a par 3, ideal for learning without the 

pressure of other players behind you! 

Unbeatable beaches 

The obvious choices for sand fans are 

the long beaches of Pollensa and Playa 

de Muro, both exceptionally beautiful 

and conveniently close to most of our 

villas. If you want to try something a bit 

different, there’s a stunning stretch of 

wild coastline between Ca’n Picafort and 

Artà, which offers wonderful walking 

in the cooler months. For a contrast to 

Pollensa, consider Cala Deià on the north 

coast, which featured in the TV show 

The Night Manager. Small, shingly and 

sharply shelving, it’s a steep path down 

(and up) so not ideal for little ones but 

still a superbly scenic spot with two 

great restaurants. 

Capital attraction 

Palma is the perfect day-trip destination, 

easily reached by car or train from all 

over the island. Perhaps while some 

of the party are at the pitch and putt 

nearby, the rest can indulge in a little 

culture (and retail therapy!) The main 

attractions, like the cathedral and 

Passeig d’es Born shops, are hard to 

miss, but if you’re after a more bespoke 

Image: La Seu, Palma 


MALLORCA 

CA’N SION 

Sleeps 6 

A charming stone house with a private pool, 

this villa offers the tranquillity of the beautiful 

Campanet Valley while being close enough 

to Pollensa, just a 15-minute drive away. 

CA’N MOIXET 

Sleeps 6 

The convenient location between beach 

and town plus masses of prime garden 

play space make this practical, singlestorey 

villa a popular choice with families. 

VILLA S’ARIETA 

Sleeps 8 

A classic, finca-style villa, tastefully 

upgraded with contemporary luxury 

touches to make a very comfortable 

summer home-from-home. 

VILLA BONAIRE 

Sleeps 6 

Light-filled and luxurious, Villa Bonaire sits 

in the exclusive residential area of the same 

name, with beaches and restaurants within 

walking distance. 

FINCA CAN LLAMAS 

Sleeps 6 

A family classic, immaculately cared for both 

inside and out, this villa offers a children’s 

play area in the garden and easy access to 

the sandy beaches of Muro and Pollensa. 


ITALY 

ITALY 

PUGLIA 

PLEASE 

Our Simpson Travel specialists Éva and David on the joy of eating well, Puglia-style 

Image: Polignano A Mare

ITALY 

ITALY 

Image: Polignano 

Clockwise from top left: 

Puglia, Alberobello, 

Trulli Rosalinda 

well gives a spectacular joy to life and 

contributes immensely to goodwill and 

happy companionship.” 

So wrote the iconic Italian designer 

“Eating 

Elsa Schiaparelli, and, having spent a 

joyous (and somewhat gluttonous) week exploring the 

Simpson Travel collection in Puglia, we agree that she was 

definitely onto something... 

We began (of course) with dinner. After we cleared diminutive 

Bari airport in just 10 minutes, our smiling host and operations 

manager Francesco whisked us off to his favourite local for 

a burrata (more on that later) pizza, plus three other toppings just 

for comparison. So far, so full, and this was just our first night. 

Morning saw us heading for Polignano. The tiny old town is 

charming, combining white-washed streets with beautiful old 

churches and panoramic terraces with amazing sea views. It’s also 

home to the Cala San Giovanni beach club, a popular choice in 

the area. Another essential Polignano experience is fresh fish, and 

here we tucked into giant seafood sandwiches, which looked, 

oddly, like a cooked football cut in half. They tasted a lot better 

than they looked and after one we were full, but still managed to 

squeeze in a caffé speciale overlooking Piazza Vittorio: a shot of 

coffee with lime zest, whipped cream and Amaretto. Superb. 

Just 4km from Polignano is the elegant La Tenuta villa. 

Sleeping 18, it’s the largest in our Puglia collection, and we 

“Polignano is charming, with 

white-washed streets and beautiful 

old churches.” 

both loved its simple but sophisticated design. It would be an 

awesome venue for a multi-generational party – or two or three 

active families – with lots of space to shoot a few hoops, play 

five-a-side football or show the kids who’s boss at table tennis. 

And if you feel the need to atone for extra calories, the 13-metre 

pool is big enough to tell yourself you’ve worked hard! 

Also close to Polignano, we nipped into Villa Flavia and loved 

its Scandi-style simplicity and stunning sea views. 

Back on the foodie trail, we stopped off at the underground 

Savoia oil mill, Masseria Pezze d’Aglio, where we witnessed the 

first press of the bright green, new-season virgin olive oil and 

tried some different varieties. Apparently, it’s the done thing to 

suck your teeth, Hannibal Lecter-style, when sampling olive oil, 

and if you get it right you’ll taste the difference. The newer the 

olives, the more peppery and bitter the oil… Never again will we 

be fooled by the supermarket mass-produced blends! 

Positively bristling with antioxidants, we pressed on to the 

divine Masseria le Torri hotel, where owner Silvana treated us to 

a full guided tour. Our pick of the suites was La Capella: molto 

romantico. With the light fading we set off for the next 

villa, the one we were most excited to see: Trulli Rosalinda. 

Wow, wow, and wow. A huge garden, very secluded location 

and a Big Green Egg barbecue give you all the right ingredients 

for a very upmarket pool party – and the pool can even 

be heated if you come early or late in the year. Francesco 

recommended hiring a chef for an evening or two, but with 

Monopoli and Polignano nearby, you’d never have to venture 

too far for food and entertainment. 

Day three started with a bike ride, but the calorie deficit was 

quickly annihilated by Francesco and his creamy pasticciotti, 

a classic Italian breakfast treat that was just too good to refuse. 

Stamina was needed for another property-packed day, taking in 

newly built villas and the palatial Villa Favorita, a 19th-century 

baronial home with spectacular outdoor entertaining space. 

A highlight for us both was Trullo Raffaella, located in 

a small village between the UNESCO World Heritage Site 

in Alberobello and the fashionable town of Martina Franca. 

Rafaella is an authentic original trullo, rather than the more 

common new-builds, with the benefit of a large pool in a mature 

garden. Also authentic was the belt-busting lunch spread ordered 

for us by Francesco in nearby Locorotondo: starters, antipasti, 

mains, dessert and, of course, a mandatory shot of Padre Peppe 

liqueur, one of the oldest in Italy, made from green walnuts and 

apparently good for the digestion. 


ITALY 

ITALY 

Image: Ostuni 


ITALY 

Image 

VILLA DDÒ, 

PUGLIA 

Sleeps 6 

A triumph of minimalist 

design, this villa glistens 

white amidst the beautiful 

Puglian countryside, 

surrounded by olive trees. 

An olive tree legacy 

Around a decade ago, Puglia produced up to 

half of Italy’s olive oil. However, in recent years, 

many groves have fallen victim to Xylella fastidiosa 

bacteria, which has killed over 20 million trees, some 

of which were over a hundred years old. Scientists 

around the world are developing solutions to fight 

the disease, which also affects vines and other fruit 

trees. In Puglia’s Torre Guaceto nature reserve, where 

there is understandable reluctance to use chemical 

agents, a new approach is being trialled. By planting 

new seedlings around the base of old trees, the Torre 

Guaceto team aim to increase biodiversity and create 

a natural protective barrier around the surviving trees, 

without any negative environmental impact. 

We’re acutely aware of being guests in each of 

our featured destinations, and we try to support local 

community initiatives where possible as a way of 

saying thank you. We were pleased to donate 500 

young plants to the project, and some of our local 

team went along to help with the planting. This being 

Puglia, the day turned into a wonderful community 

event, with generous supplies of local food and 

drink for all the volunteers. Our thanks to our local 

representative Ketty, and to everyone else involved. 

“Ostuni boasts not one, but four 

Michelin-starred restaurants.” 

If you don’t do dairy then look away now, because 

our next adventure was creating mozzarella and 

burrata: a Puglian speciality made from mozzarella 

and cream. After donning natty hair nets, adding 

some whey and heating the milk in a hot bath, we 

were set (or, rather, the mozzarella was). Stretching 

the mozzarella was the last stage, and then we 

displayed our skills by making various shapes. 

Mozzarella mastered, it was on to the burrata, 

which required more skill. Break into the outer 

layer and you’ll find an oozing, soft interior made 

of small cheese curds and cream. The Italian 

word burro translates as butter, giving you an idea of 

just how rich and creamy it is. Next, it was off to the 

cellars to see how the cheese matures. While it doesn’t 

look (or smell!) pretty, it certainly tastes amazing. 

After the hands-on cheese experience, we were 

ready for something rather more sophisticated. 

Fortunately, Il Sogno delle Benedettine in Ostuni 

delivered. You would have no idea that such an 

amazing hotel was hidden right in the centre of the 

town. Neither of us had ever stayed in such a cool 

place, and were thrilled to be given room 3, which 

not only had a freestanding bath in the room but 

also its own Jacuzzi pool. Everything in the hotel is 

sourced locally (within 1km) including the artwork, 

breakfast and even the signature room fragrance 

(which Éva bought to take home). It’s definitely a 

place for those wanting a unique experience, but with 

the added convenience of being in the centre of an 

historic town. Even better, it boasts not one, but four 

Michelin-starred restaurants. We settled for a simple 

dinner in Ostuni but hadn’t mastered the art of 

ordering without Francesco; my pork shank was the 

size of a small child. 

The next day saw us back in Francesco’s 

capable hands as we sped Italian-style to fill an 

unexpectedly free couple of hours and get to 

Alberobello before the crowds. Part of a UNESCO 

World Heritage site, it’s among the most famous 

of the region’s attractions and home to the largest 

collection of trulli. Admittedly, it is very touristy but 

still worth a visit, though perhaps not in the height of 

the season, unless you arrive early. For an alternative 

day out, we’d suggest Cisternino, a Slow Food town 

that holds a number of food festivals in August, or 

Lecce, with its Roman amphitheatre and Baroque 

architecture. After a week of fantastic properties and 

the most memorable meals we’ve ever had, it was 

sadly time to return home to restrained portions and 

no more cake for breakfast – but what an experience! 

ÉVA VIDÁK 

& DAVID 

CONITZER 

Destination 

specialists 

Е`va and David 

are in-house 

experts at 

Simpson Travel. 

TRULLO RAFFAELLA, 

PUGLIA 

Sleeps 5 

Live the dream and 

stay in an authentic 

converted trullo in the 

magical Valle d’Itria. 

Truly original. 

TENUTA FONTE, 

PUGLIA 

Sleeps 8 

Combining gleaming 

white walls, ancient olive 

trees and a striking 

design, this is a unique 

and stylish retreat. 

VILLA FORCONI, 

UMBRIA 

Sleeps 6 

A classic Italian villa, 

cradled in a fairytale 

Umbrian landscape and 

blessed with endless 

views across gentle hills. 

VILLA MILLE 

DESIDERI, TUSCANY 

Sleeps 11 

Full of original 

character and charm, 

a six-bedroom home 

where all the family 

are welcome. 


CORSICA 

CORSICA 

CORSICA 

CALLING 

Royal Photographer Chris Jackson enjoys a child-friendly island getaway 

Image: Calvi & The Balagne 


CORSICA 

CORSICA 

Images: Calvi 

Left to right: 

Arinella Beach, Calvi 

A 

fter spending a lot of time 

in the South of France 

before having children, we 

were really excited about 

getting to explore Corsica 

as a family – we had heard so many good 

things. First impressions as you fly in are 

instantly memorable, with impressive 

peaks and quaint mountain-top villages 

giving way to sandy beaches. 

The drive from the airport was the 

perfect introduction to this diverse island 

and we were blown away by the views as 

we dropped down from the mountain 

traverse towards the sea. Arriving at 

our villa and looking down across the 

stunning, bustling port of Calvi was 

made even more exciting thanks to 

the advice and recommendations from 

Simpson Travel. Prior to arriving, the 

local concierge team had helped us 

make some reservations, eliminating the 

guesswork of arriving in an unknown 

destination with two little ones. 

Calvi and the surrounding area 

(known as The Balagne) was the perfect 

place to visit with young children. The 

shallow beaches and vibey-but-friendly 

beach clubs made for perfect morning 

excursions, and afternoons were spent 

exploring the cobbled alleyways 

and winding streets of the region’s 

enchanting inland villages. 

Simpson’s concierge service was 

second to none. It was totally invaluable 

having recommendations from someone 

who had ‘real life’ experience of the 

area. We have never used this type of 

service on a holiday before and now we 

can’t imagine a trip without it! It meant 

we could plan our week-long stay to 

make the most of all the opportunities 

“Calvi was the perfect place to visit with young children.” 

available locally and there were no issues 

with dinner bookings or beach-club 

reservations (a must in summer). 

We spent the penultimate night on the 

terrace of our villa, where we enjoyed a 

prime position for a spectacular firework 

show that lit up the harbour. The 

children were in heaven and we couldn’t 

have hoped for a more special end to our 

family holiday. Combining adventure, 

relaxation and some much-needed 

downtime, Corsica certainly delivers! 

THE 

TRAVEL INSIDER 

The beating heart of Corsica lies in 

its magnificent mountains. Head inland 

for hair-pin bends and spellbinding 

views along the Route des Artisans. 

Stop off at historic hill-top villages for 

a hearty lunch and the chance to buy 

jewellery, ceramics, honey and more, 

direct from the makers. 


CORSICA 

VILLA FIORELLA 

Sleeps 4 

A bijou residence in a lovely hillside setting 

with views towards the sea, Villa Fiorella is 

an ideal choice for a special celebration. 

Foodies will love its gadget-filled kitchen. 

VILLA PETRA BIANCA 

Sleeps 8 

This stylish Simpson Exclusive offers 

stunning views and an enviable location 

close to Santa Giulia Beach. There’s even a 

separate annexe for teens or grandparents. 

VILLA MARE 

Sleeps 8 

A short stroll from a sandy beach and a 

seasonal restaurant, this elegant villa is 

perfectly placed for exploring the island’s 

dramatic north. 

VILLA SOTTU 

Sleeps 10 

Elegant contemporary villa with great 

entertaining space and mesmerising views 

towards Calvi Citadel and the coast. 

Ideal for a large group or two families. 

A LICCIA 

Sleeps 10 

Super chic and very spacious, with a guest 

annexe and boules pitch, A Liccia is a short 

walk to the beach and pizzeria. The large 

deck is perfect for al fresco dining. 


FRANCE 

FRANCE 

KATE 

MOSSE 

en famille on Île de Ré 

Why Île de Ré is the perfect multigenerational destination 

Image: Trousse Chemise, Île de Ré 

It had been a good 30 years since I last took a baby on 

a plane, but here I was, a week after my grandson’s first 

birthday in early September, embarking on a family 

holiday to Île de Ré on the French Atlantic coast. I was 

with my husband, our son, our daughter and son-in-law, 

and the baby. It might have been my first holiday with him, 

but I’ve picked up a thing or two along the way about making 

multigenerational trips work for everyone. We have lived for 

the past 25 years in a multigen household and my 93-year-old 

mother-in-law, Granny Rosie, is still going strong, so this was 

familiar territory. I had a great feeling about the next seven days. 

Once described by Time magazine as one of France’s best-kept 

secrets, Île de Ré is now so popular with chic Parisians in summer 

that it’s been nicknamed the 21st arrondissement. But I knew 

that the island would have something to win each of us over, 

something that’s key to this sort of break. Being in a small town 

would suit my husband, for his morning walk and glass of pineau; 

the woods and seaside would suit my daughter, son-in-law and 

grandson; my son would be partly working, but wanted to be able 

to dust off his cycling skills in between calls; and I would have 

plenty of charming streets and ruined abbeys to explore. 

I also knew that I could find the perfect accommodation for 

us. I decided to book through a villa company, which meant 

that, unlike having to rely on an Airbnb description, I could 

talk through what we wanted and take advice from someone 

who knew the island and could help us find the right holiday 

(and provide a cot and highchair). 

We settled on the beautiful, modern Villa Fontaine in the pretty 

fishing port of La Flotte, on the north of the island. It had three 

separate sleeping areas, so everyone could have a bit of privacy 

and their own bathroom; a huge open-plan living space, essential 

for playing with a Duplo-scattering one-year-old (I moved all 

the artworks and attractive pots to higher shelves); and a separate 

television room. The fabulous kitchen suited the four adults who 

love to cook. The heated pool was close to the house, which felt 

really important to allow everyone to spend time together easily. 

Booking through a villa company also meant that a concierge was 

waiting for us on arrival. As was a welcome pack of local produce 

including beer, wine, delicious handmade crisps known as pétales 

fermières and petites rétaises, salted caramel biscuits. 

My husband and son-in-law were driving with the luggage, 

while my son, daughter and grandson were flying with me. 

We were travelling separately as part of a cunning plan that 

meant we’d save on car hire and could pack what we wanted, 

but take minimal luggage on the plane. The only drawback was 

the limited flights from London to La Rochelle, which are at 


FRANCE 

FRANCE 

hopeless times of the day for a young child. 

But Gatwick’s dedicated family channel to 

get through security eased the pain, and the 

process was much easier than I remembered. 

What hasn’t changed about flying with a 

baby or toddler is that it helps enormously if 

adults outnumber the children. Also key to 

success are plenty of snacks, for diversion and 

nutrition, and wet wipes. 

When I was writing The Ghost Ship, my 

recent pirate novel that’s set partly in 17thcentury 

La Rochelle, I spent a fair bit 

of time in the city looking wistfully at the 

bridge linking Île de Ré to the mainland. 

Everyone told me how special the island was 

and I’d been hatching a plan to visit ever 

since. The island is skinny, about 16 miles 

by three at its widest point. There are seven 

whitewashed villages, magnificent pink 

hollyhocks everywhere, sandy beaches, forests 

of cypress and pine trees, marram grass, sand 

dunes and oyster beds. It is a sailor’s and 

surfer’s paradise, but also a cyclist’s dream. 

There are more than 60 miles of cycle paths 

and every village is connected safely by wellsignposted 

networks through fields of vines, 

This page: 

Ars en Ré, 

Villa Fontaine 

Opposite: 

La Flotte, 

St. Martin de Ré 

“La Flotte is the sort of beautiful village that instantly spells relaxation.” 

sunflowers and parasol pines. Bike-hire shops are everywhere, 

renting helmets (obligatory for under-12s in France), child 

seats, extension bikes and wooden trailers. 

We were lucky that our September week was one of perfect 

weather. It was 25°C during the day and rain showers (and two 

impressive thunderstorms) held off until night-time, so we 

could explore the island easily. The key thing in a multigen 

family holiday is to be organised – sorting children’s nap times, 

eating times and age-appropriate fun – but also flexible, so that 

when things don’t go according to plan everyone is relaxed. 

Children’s needs must be met, but adults have to feel they are 

on holiday too. 

It helped that La Flotte is the sort of beautiful village 

that instantly spells relaxation, with narrow cobbled streets, 

whitewashed houses and sage-green shutters. There is a market 

every day between 9am and 3pm, beneath wooden canopies, 

selling gorgeous local produce such as wine, freshly caught fish, 

cheese, olives, tomatoes, thyme, pastries and breads. The stalls 

offered plenty for us all to try as we walked around. 

With three generations, all preferring to eat at different times 

and with different appetites, I knew that self-catering would suit 

us best. There was also the quality of the local food, including 

oysters, pineau de charentes (a fortified wine aperitif) and 

the locally grown l’Île de Ré potatoes. 

A big plus for our group was La Flotte’s promenade, not least 

because it has several playgrounds: clean, wooden structures, 

with swings and climbing frames. And, at the port itself, there 

was the brightly painted summer carousel with spinning 

teacups and horses. 

I am an early riser – and am loving being a grandmother – 

so, most mornings, I would play with my grandson so my 

daughter and son-in-law could have a lie-in together. Little by 

little, as everyone else got up, a plan would start to form. We 

might all go down to the port for a coffee, or one of us would 

scoot off on a bike to buy pains au chocolat and croissants, or 

one of the boys would start cooking breakfast. Eventually we’d 

meet up for a glass of chilled pineau or another coffee at the 

harbour brasserie, Le Français, watching the bikes and the 

world go by. 

Although restaurants on the island are mostly child-friendly, 

with highchairs and staff who like little ones, we found it 

simpler to dine at home. But we made up for our lack of 

gastronomic exploration by spending early evenings at L’Escale, 

a fabulous bar at the port, about 15 minutes’ walk from the villa. 


FRANCE 

FRANCE 

“St Martin de Ré is a UNESCO world heritage site and its look is carefully cultivated.” 

My grandson is a bread fiend, so he was happy with baguette 

and tapas of hummus or tuna rillettes while the grown-ups sipped 

sundowners and took it in turns to take him to the carousel. 

All week I’d seen posters advertising a craft market in the 

Cours Félix Faure, a broad promenade parallel with the sea. 

We went to wander around the soaps, candles and embroidery 

on sale, but the highlight was the donkeys. The Baudet du 

Poitou, the mascots of Île de Ré, are such a part of island 

tradition that fluffy donkey toys fill the windows of every 

tourist shop. Wearing striped trousers of blue or red to 

protect their legs from mosquitoes and ticks, the donkeys 

once worked on farms and alongside salt workers and grapegrowers. 

Nowadays, the trousers are for special occasions 

only – our donkeys were as nature intended – but you still 

see real-life versions grazing in the dry moat outside the city 

walls of the capital, St Martin de Ré, two miles northwest 

along the coast from La Flotte. 

On our hired bikes, we followed the cycle path towards 

the fortified town and pedalled in under the great arch of 

the Porte des Campani. Cobbled streets, old bikes and 2CVs 

and restaurant tables set out for lunch make it a picturesque 

place, which is no accident. The town is a UNESCO world 

heritage site and its look is carefully cultivated – for example, 

no new construction or overhead cables are allowed. Shutters 

must be painted in one of 16 shades, eight of which are blue, 

the other eight green. 

In the 17th century, La Rochelle was the de facto capital 

of the French Protestants, the Huguenots, who were being 

persecuted out of existence by the Catholic king and his 

chancellor, Cardinal Richelieu. The island was coveted by 

both sides for its strategic military position and its production 

of salt and wine. In 1627, Île de Ré was invaded by and almost 

lost to the Duke of Buckingham and his English troops, who 

were supporting the Huguenots. Toiras, the island’s governor, 

hid in the citadel of St Martin de Ré until Buckingham gave 

up and left his Protestant brethren to their fate. 

Victorious, Louis XIV in 1628 sent his star architect, 

Vauban, to build impregnable fortifications to protect the 

city from the English, from their Dutch allies and from the 

last remnants of the Huguenot forces. St Martin has a small 

museum, several art galleries and a ferry sailing regularly across 

to La Rochelle. We didn’t have time to take a harbour trip 

and my grandson was a bit too young to sit still on a boat. 

But when he’s a little older I’ll take him out into the Pertuis 

d’Antioche strait to Fort Boyard, where the Nineties 

television endurance game show of the same name 

was filmed. 

Newly up on his feet and keener on climbing 

than sitting, he was thrilled to clamber along the 

fortified city walls with his uncle, while his parents 

visited a couple of the local art galleries and I nipped 

off to the museum for a dose of history. When we 

all met up later back at the harbour, everyone was 

rather taken by the amazing colours of the ice-cream 

parlour, La Martinière. Almost 40 different kinds of 

ice cream formed a dazzling rainbow display, with 

choices including nougatine, salted chocolate, violet 

cassis, caramel with Chantilly cream, lemon sorbets 

and banana splits. 

We loved the pool at the villa, which was perfect 

for building my grandson’s confidence in the water, 

but we wanted to visit at least one of the beaches for 

which Île de Ré is famous. One day we packed the 

car with a picnic and set off to explore. Rivedoux- 

Plage on the eastern side of the island has two 

beaches: Trousse Chemise beach, at the western 

end, is celebrated in a song by Charles Aznavour 

(and still has that wild and windswept Sixties vibe). 

Meanwhile, Les Grenettes is popular for water 

sports, especially surfing. At the furthest point of 

the island from the mainland is La Conche beach, 

stretching nearly two miles from the lighthouse in 

Saint Clément des Baleines to the tip of Lizay and 

is the largest on the island. 

But for our multigenerational day trip we chose 

Le Bois Plage en Ré, about a 20-minute drive 

west from La Flotte. A wonderful pine wood leads 

almost to the shore, while grasses and dunes offer 

a landscape to explore. A small surf shack rents 

out boards, and there’s plenty of unspoilt sand for 

children to run on, build sandcastles with, play 

beach cricket on and fly kites. The only challenges 

are the lack of shade and the gulls, expert thieves. 

I made the mistake of leaving my baguette 

unattended while sandcastling, only to watch it 

being carried off into the air, shedding emmental 

and lettuce as it went. Gros Jonc, just to the 

south-east, is one of the busiest beaches but 

popular with families because of its children’s club 

and a sailing club where you can windsurf, kayak, 

surf and paddleboard. 

When my grandson is older we’ll head there as 

I know this isn’t our last Île de Ré visit. With so 

much to suit everyone, and cycle paths making it 

feel safe and slow-paced, it was even better for a 

multigenerational holiday than I’d hoped. Perhaps 

we’ll make it four generations next year... 

KATE MOSSE 

Kate is a 

best-selling 

author and 

founder of 

The Women’s 

Prize for Fiction. 

A version of 

this article also 

appeared in The 

Sunday Times. 

THE SIMPSON TRAVEL 

BOOK CLUB 

Recommended reads to 

complement your holiday, from 

bestselling author Kate Mosse 

It’s a great pleasure to be curating the first-ever choices 

for the Simpson Travel Book Club. As a devoted 

Simpson traveller, any holiday begins at the moment 

I start to pack the books that will keep me company – 

on Crete, in a village of the Luberon or southern Italy, 

on Mallorca or the Île de Ré. Add to that the one or 

two ‘just-in-case’ reads flung hastily into a bag at 

the airport or Eurostar terminal, it’s books that make 

a holiday something to remember. 

The key to holiday reading is balance – it’s not 

supposed to be work, or a chore, but rather a chance 

to catch up on all the reading you never have time 

for at home. So, don’t pack books you ‘should’ have 

read, or all beach reads, or only prize winners and 

hefty biographies of great women and men. Rather, 

take a mixture of light and serious, classics and staples, 

familiar friends and new releases. 

All Simpson guests will receive our month-by-month 

selection of titles for 2024, books to entertain, thrill, 

excite, educate, move, enjoy, share, thrill: fiction and 

non-fiction, different genres, different settings, authors 

of different nationalities, classics and just-published. 

And, as a writer inspired by landscape and by place – 

particularly the beautiful landscape of Languedoc – 

I’ve thrown in a few additional destination-specific 

suggestions that will bring to life the countryside 

through which you’re walking: endless skies and pink 

horizons, sun, sea and sand, pine forests and 

mountains, there’s a perfect book for everyone. Enjoy! 

Kate Mosse, January 2024 


FRANCE 

FRANCE 

VIVE LA 

DIFFÉRENCE 

The mistress of reinvention, the allure 

of France continues to enchant us 

France never fails to 

impress. From its 

endless, uncrowded 

Atlantic beaches to the 

majestic, sun-gilded 

landscapes of Provence, our villa 

collection is as varied as France 

herself. Whether you dream of a 

family holiday in contemporary, 

coastal luxury or an active trip that 

packs plenty of historic, manor 

house charm, we’ll help you find 

the holiday that’s exactly right for 

you this summer. 

PROVENCE 

From honey-gold hilltop towns 

to fabled Roman cities, lavender 

landscapes to luxury country 

houses, even a year in this stunning 

region could never be enough. 

BEST FOR: Fantastic weather; 

Roman cities and French 

landscapes; all age groups. 

TRAVELLER INSIDER TIP: 

When it’s too hot for sightseeing 

but you’re keen on Roman remains, 

the River Gardon at the Pont du 

Gard is a wonderful, child-friendly 

spot to paddle or swim. After all, 

a Roman aqueduct bridge makes a 

great change from the beach. 


FRANCE 

FRANCE 

ÎLE DE RÉ 

With 100km of sandy coastline 

and a micro-climate that makes 

it one of the sunniest regions in 

France, the broad appeal of Ré 

belies its modest size. 

Read more about author Kate 

Mosse’s multigenerational stay in 

Île de Ré on page 56. 

BEST FOR : 

A car-free break; seaside charm; 

couples, groups and those with 

young familes. 


The Saturday market in La Flotte 

is packed with artisan products in a 

display that is both supremely chic 

and deeply traditional, as only the 

French know how. 

VENDÉE 

Ideal for children, this is the place 

to come for sun and sand without 

the stress. Boasting 200km of 

coastline and a glorious inland 

patchwork of sunflower fields 

and vineyards, there are also golf 

courses and a waterpark for those 

with energy to burn. 

BEST FOR: 

Gently-shelving beaches; wine 

and seafood; those with young 

familes and groups. 


Take a break from the beach along 

the cool green waterways of the 

Marais Poitevin (or Green Venice), 

home to artists, craftsmen and an 

idyllic way of life. 

AQUITAINE 

COAST 

Atlantic surf is the most obvious 

attraction here, but there are also 

calm lagoons, charming towns 

and a cool Cali-French vibe 

that’s unique to this coast. 

BEST FOR: 

Surfing for all; huge sandy 

beaches; teenagers and older kids. 


Sunset drinks and tapas at one of 

the Sud Landes beach bars is the 

perfect end to a day in the waves, 

even if you only paddled! 

DORDOGNE 

AND THE 

SOUTH WEST 

Deeply traditional despite 

decades of delighted visitors, 

you’ll discover a lush green land 

of caves and castles, winding 

rivers and world-class wines. 

BEST FOR: 

Outstanding food and wine; 

active holidays; couples and 

adult groups. 


For something different, head 

to La Distillerie Denoix in Brive 

for a taste of its award-winning 

walnut liqueur. 


FRANCE 

THE OCEAN VILLA, 

VENDÉE 

Sleeps 10 

Tucked between pine 

trees for extra peace and 

privacy, this ideal family 

villa is a short, easy stroll 

from an unspoilt beach. 

VILLA D’OLEA, 

PROVENCE 

Sleeps 10 

This gorgeous, homefrom-home 

is set in 20 

acres of landscaped 

gardens filled with 

lavender and olive trees. 

VILLA BELLE VUE, 

PROVENCE 

Sleeps 6 

Perched on a hillside near 

Roussillon, Villa Belle Vue 

combines seclusion and 

proximity to some of the 

best local restaurants. 

MAS DES 

LAVANDES, 

PROVENCE 

Sleeps 12 

A fabulous location 

and a practical layout 

polished with magazineworthy 

interiors. 

VILLA GETARIA, 

AQUITAINE 

COAST 

Sleeps 8 

Enjoy long summer days 

by the heated pool, and 

two Michelin-starred 

restaurants nearby. 


FESTIVALS 

FESTIVALS 

aims to bring together more than 300 

photographers from around the world. 

On the first Sunday in August you 

can see a colourful re-enactment of a 

traditional Lefkada wedding in the 

village of Karya, complete with live 

music and folk dancing. 

SEPTEMBER 

MAY 

The Arezzo Antiques Fair is the oldest 

in Italy and takes place on the first 

Sunday of every month. The piazzas in 

Arezzo are filled with stands and dealers, 

and the event attracts many visitors 

looking for a unique treasure. For more 

information visit fieraantiquaria.org 

Greece celebrates Labour Day on the 

1 May. Families picnic in the countryside 

while collecting flowers to make a May 

Day wreath to decorate their front door. 

JUNE 

The Fêtes de Bayonne, between 

Hossegor and Biarritz, is France’s largest 

festival, offering five days and nights of 

musical and cultural events. Visit fetes. 

bayonne.fr to find out more. 

The Mizithropita (cheese pies) festival 

in Palekastro in Crete sees traditional 

music and dancing at the Folklore 

Museum, with cheese pie tastings and 

cooking demonstrations. 

Kalkan celebrates Kabotaj Bayramı, 

the festival of the sea on 1 July. Expect 

swimming races, watersports demos, 

food, drink and a party atmosphere. 

L’Île Rousse in Corsica hosts a hotly 

contested boules competition, with a 

funfair and live concerts across town. 

Visit corsevent.com to plan your visit. 

Latinossegor is a completely free 

three-day Latin and Salsa music festival 

in Hossegor, held on the first weekend in 

September. Expect concerts, food trucks 

and lots of dancing. 

The Chania-based Vamos Orchestra 

performs a popular classical music festival 

during the final days of September. 

From food to music: experience unique events 

FESTIVAL 

CULTURE 

From antiques markets to jazz concerts and from saints’ days 

to street-food festivals, there’s a world of both modern and 

traditional events to discover around the Med this summer 

The Calvi Jazz festival in northern 

Corsica sees live music performed 

around town and the surrounding 

Balagne villages over four nights. For 

more information visit jazzincalvi.com 

Saint Marie on the Île de Ré comes 

alive to the sound of swing in early June, 

with live concerts and dance lessons. See 

larochelleswing.com/swing-in-re for 

more information. 

The Lycia Festival in Kaş, Turkey is 

a fun-filled day of live music, traditional 

folk dancing, a swimming race to Meis 

Island and much more. 

In Mallorca, Alcudia celebrates Sant 

Pere, a day dedicated to the patron saint 

of sailors, with elaborate processions 

on land and sea, street parties and even 

a sardine festival, culminating with 

midnight fireworks on the 29 June. 

JULY 

Jazz in July takes place at Vamos in 

Crete, welcoming top quality national 

and international musicians who 

perform in a charming village setting. 

AUGUST 

The Palio di Siena on 2 July and 

16 August is a world-famous event, 

culminating in a horse race around the 

main square. Pre-booking is essential if 

you want to see the race up close. 

The feast of Agios Dionysios, patron 

saint of Zakynthos, is celebrated on 24 

August. Expect religious processions, 

street markets and fireworks. 

2 August sees an elaborate battle 

re-enactment as part of the Fiesta de la 

Patrona in Pollensa. There’s a week-long 

build up around town, with fireworks on 

the night of the ‘battle’. 

Chania International Photo Festival 

is run by the Blank Wall Gallery, and 

Get to know Mallorcan wines at the 

Festa des Vermar in Binissalem, where 

the annual grape harvest festival includes 

parades, grape-crushing competitions 

and wine tasting. 

Vino al Vino is the annual Chianti wine 

festival held in Panzano in Tuscany during 

September. Lots of opportunities for wine 

tasting and other Tuscan specialities to try. 

OCTOBER 

The late summer Tsikoudia Festival 

sees dance, music and a revival of the 

traditional way of tsikoudia distillation at 

the Venetian Port of Chania. 

Mallorca’s Red Pepper Festival on 22 

October celebrates this staple of Catalan 

cuisine. It’s relaxed and family-friendly, 

with traditional ‘giants’ and workshops. 


PET-FRIENDLY 

PET-FRIENDLY 

Every dog has its 

HOLIDAY 

Pet-friendly villas for all the family 

DOMAINE 

PERIGOURDIN 

DORDOGNE, FRANCE 

Sleeps 8 

Perched on a hilltop, this 

handsome 18th-century manor 

house is set in the heart of the 

Dordogne’s Bessède Forest, with 

tranquil views across wooded 

valleys and green fields. 

ALSO TRY: 

The Dordogne & 

South West 

Maison de la 

Combe, Le Grand 

Logis and Le Clos 

Colombier 

LES OLIVIERS 

PROVENCE, FRANCE 

Sleeps 5 

This charming villa is just a 

10-minute walk from Gordes, 

one of the loveliest little spots in 

this whole delightful region. It’s 

the perfect base for an active or 

foodie holiday (or both!). 

ALSO TRY: 

Provence 

Beaumonnes 

106 BEACH HOUSE 

AQUITAINE COAST, 

FRANCE 

Sleeps 12 

In one of the most sought-after 

spots in Hossegor, this stunning 

property blends contemporary 

chic with laid-back luxury, 

resulting in the perfect coastal 

retreat for all ages. 

ALSO TRY: 

Aquitaine Coast 

Villa la Piste, 

La Chartreuse and 

La Cabane 

If you can’t bear the thought of leaving your beloved dog 

at home while you’re on holiday, we’ve got some good 

news. After a successful trial in France, we’ve extended our 

collection of villas that welcome pet dogs to include three 

further properties in Italy. Check out the full list opposite, 

or search our site using the filter ‘Pets Possible’ to see where dogs 

are welcome. And for those with allergies or who simply prefer 

a non-doggy space, you can be assured that only the houses 

listed with this filter are permitted to have dogs staying in them. 

If you’re keen to bring your pup on your next trip, you will 

need to make a few preparations. Dogs travelling to Europe must 

have as a minimum: a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, 

and an animal health certificate or a valid pet passport that’s 

accepted in the country you’re travelling to. Before you travel, 

check the rules of the country you’re visiting for any additional 

restrictions or requirements. Full details can be found online 

at: gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-countryor-northern-ireland. 

All bookings are subject to a charge per dog and permission 

from the owners, so please ensure you give us plenty of time to 

make the request on your behalf. We regret that we’re not able 

to arrange air transport for dogs. 

CASA AL COLLE 

TUSCANY, ITALY 

Sleeps 10 

Deep in the Garfagnana 

Mountains, in one of the most 

authentically Italian parts of 

northern Tuscany, this spacious 

retreat boasts panoramic views 

and an inner courtyard that’s 

perfect for gazing at the stars. 

ALSO TRY: 

Tuscany 

Villa Romantica 

and Villa da Vinci 


THEY SAID 

PERFECT PARTNERS 

The Traveller 

TESTIMONIALS 

What do our guests say? 

Olivia Bayliss, Villa Rahi, Corfu, July 2023 

“Heaven. Stunning stay in a wonderful wonderful location. Couldn’t rate the 

villa enough and the owners were so unbelievably kind and helpful. Felt like saying 

goodbye to family by the end. Would go back to Villa Rahi and San Stefano 

in a heartbeat. Every year!” 

In 2023 we began a partnership with VIP SKI, French chalet holiday specialists who share 

our passion for personal service. VIP offer top-of-the-range catered chalets and ski hotels in 

the French Alps, with additional child care possibilities run by their own, qualified UK staff. 

For winter 2024/25 we are delighted to offer Simpson Travellers a discount of 10% on any 

new VIP holiday – just quote The Simpson Traveller when you call to make your reservation. 

vip-chalets.com 

Jonathan Lucas, Villa Flavia, Puglia, June 2023 

“The villa was simply wonderful with the most stunning swimming pool with 

views from the veranda over the pool to the Adriatic Sea. Simpson delivered again, 

we have now been to 3 different countries, on 6 or 7 occasions with them, and 

every time we returned happy, rested and already planning our next 

Simpson Travel holiday as we land back in the UK!” 

Ms Judith Catherwood, A Liccia, Corsica, September 2023 

“My holiday with Simpson (another one!) was absolutely superb. 

Claire and Roberto go to great lengths to ensure that my stay in Corsica is 

always a roaring success. And this is why I return year after year!” 

Sarah and Michael, Maison de Gordes, Provence, October 2023 

“A paradise which we have loved every minute of. Thank you Sarah and Camille for 

a seamless stay. Lovely meals in town. Great antiques hunting in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue – 

although my hunt for a ‘guillotine du pain’ must wait until next year! Thanks again.” 

Mark and Linda, Mochlos Blue, Crete, October 2023 

“We loved this place from the moment we drove in. It just said: ‘Welcome!’ 

We can see and feel it is a home and a place of love – thank you for your kindness 

and hospitality. The rooms and attention to detail are wonderful. The breakfasts are 

mighty and delicious. Mochlos and Mochlos Blue are very special.” 

Simpson Travel customers say excellent – 4.9 out of 5 based on 954 reviews. 

70 SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM 

020 3053 8815 | SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM | SIMPSONTRAVEL

Genesis, Meganissi 

020 3053 8815 | SIMPSONTRAVEL.COM | SIMPSONTRAVEL

THE SIMPSON TRAVELLER 2024

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