Corfu in spring is simply beautiful. I had heard that it is fantastic for an early season holiday but hadn’t anticipated that the weather would be that glorious. For the whole trip we were blessed with clear blue skies and comfortable 25-30 degrees weather - not too bad for the first half of May!

Understandably, the sea was was still quite fresh but it didn’t stop me or numerous other visitors from taking a dip - at the end of the day you had a warm sun to dry you! As a nature lover, I was blown away by the rich vegetation and colourful blossoms adorning the island - Corfu is one of the greenest islands in Greece but Spring is particularly great for those who love to stop and smell the roses - or rather rosemary in Greek reality! Corfu has numerous walking and cycling trails and there is no better time to explore those than in Spring. Or how about witnessing a magical spectacle of fireflies while walking from your dinner from a local taverna? This also happens only early in the season.

I travelled to Corfu courtesy of Simpson travel, a well loved family-run holiday tour operator with hand picked properties around Europe. Their portfolio in Corfu is certainly very impressive - from stand alone villas, be it a traditional Greek beachfront house or a luxury hilside contemporary abode, to small charming hotels and self-catering estates. Enough to satisfy even the most discerning of guests. Their support in resort from highly experienced concierges and reps is second to none - many of them have been with the company for decades and really love what they do. 

I viewed numerous properties on the island - get in touch to discuss your next holiday. I particularly liked Rou Estate - a beautifully restored hamlet of 14 stylish and elegant houses with breathtaking views  and magnificent landscaped gardens. The atmosphere of the estate is that of an utter peace and uniting with nature - smells, sounds and views are just a treat to all your senses. With a variety of units Rou Estate is simply ideal for single or multiple families travelling together. A great place to socialise in an intimate environment or be as private as you want - the choice is yours. 

The resort that we had as our base was the lovely hotel Bella Mare - a delightful beachfront hotel overlooking the stunning Alvaki beach with only 31 rooms, most of which had royally sized terraces with enchanting views. I loved that the part of the beach where the hotel is located always felt very private. This little gem is perfect for families as it has supervised children activities in July and August. While for those seeking peace and relaxation they have a new exclusive section of the hotel with it’s own infinity pool that is adults only outside school holidays. 

On this trip we were treated to some of the best local restaurants on the island. Everyone knows that Greek food is among firm favourites around the world but the eateries we visited were just another level - mouth watering mezes, melt in your mouth seafood and excellent local wines. We will be delighted to make some recommendations on your next trip to Corfu!

Maryna travelled to Corfu with Simpson Travel in May 2022

The island of Corfu, or Kerkira how it is known in Greek is the northernmost of the Ionian islands. Being so close to the mainland the island is very verdant and fertile, with orange and olive groves covering large areas of the island. I also loved how rugged the shoreline was, with picturesque wild beaches hiding in pretty coves.

Beautiful beach in Southern Corfu

Being a mountainous island, Corfu has several stunning viewpoints with views stretching to the mainland Greece and neighbouring Albania. In fact, day boat trips to these two destinations are very popular along with an alternative of visiting Paxos and Antipaxos. The sea around these islands is stunning, the water is so turquoise that this stretch is often called Mediterranean Caribbean. It really is dreamy and numerous caves add even more to the experience. No wonder renting a boat is a very popular past time in Greece!

One of the main reasons why this island is so good for families is that it never gets too hot, even in summer the average temperature is 29-31 degrees – very comfortable compared to the southern islands. Having travelled in mid-September we were spoilt by hot and sunny weather but Corfu is excellent for spring breaks, too, when the hypnotising smell of orange blossoms fills the air. The average temperature in April is 20 degrees and is ideal for exploring Corfu old town. This UNESCO heritage site is the perfect example of Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Having travelled to Venice back in July, it was astonishing to see how similar the buildings looked! Corfu old town is built between two ancient fortresses and is resembling an open-air museum.

Lunch at a local taverna

Did you know that Prince Philip was born in Corfu and you can visit the historical Mon Repos palace where he spent his early days?
I highly recommend hiring a car or a quadbike and explore the island. I especially loved the unspoilt southern cost, covered in pine and olive trees – beach hopping there was the highlight of our trip and we particularly liked the secluded Rovinia beach.

Steps to Rovinia Beach

It is a bit of a hike down the hill, but totally worth it! Another trip highlight was stumbling on Halikounas lake full of flamingos!The Korission lagoon attracts thousands of flamingos every year and the best time for bird watching is between May and early October.

Halikounas lake

The hotel we chose as our base was MarBella Corfu, a very comfortable and popular family resort that is one of our best sellers in Corfu. The location is very scenic, overlooking the mainland and away from the hustle and bustle of busier parts of the island yet only 30 min away from Corfu town and the airport by local bus or a taxi. The resort offers several board basis options from Half Board to All inclusive. We went for Half board allowing us to have lunch in local taverns and enjoying buffet dinner at the hotel. We found the buffet to be really good, always with generous portions of Greek salad, good selection of grilled meats, fish and vegetarian dishes.

The menu was changing daily and we never got bored with the food choices available. All-inclusive clients have a chance to dine at the a la carte restaurants three times per week, as well as have other additional benefits, so upgrading is really worth it. 
Marbella Corfu boasts a blue flag beach and we loved the options of swimming off the pebble beach as well as diving right into the sea from the platforms. 

Beach at MarBella Corfu

Our Superior Seaview room was very comfortable and contemporary, with a balcony overlooking the sea. We really enjoyed our holiday to Corfu as it was a fantastic balance between relaxation and exploring. 

Give us a call on 0208 675 7878 to discuss your next holiday.

Maryna travelled to Corfu with her husband in September 2020