The Mar-Bella Adventure: Three Days of Greek Luxury

Stepping off the plane in Preveza, the warm Greek air and brilliant sunshine was very welcome as we embarked on a three-day tour of the stunning Mar-Bella Collection of hotels.

Day 1 of our journey took us to the Elix, Mar-Bella Collection, near Perdika on the Greek mainland. The resort is located on a pine forested hilltop overlooking the gorgeous Karavostasi beach. Our sea-facing rooms offered breath taking views of Paxos, Anti Paxos and the sparkling Ionian Sea. After a leisurely lunch overlooking the infinity pool the beach beckoned, and what a beach it is. Reached by the hotel funicular, or for the more intrepid guests down the 100 plus steps built into the cliff face, it is a perfect crescent of white sand and glittering azure water. The hotel also offers hiking and biking in the surrounding hills for anyone wanting to add a bit of adventure to their stay. As the sun began to set, we headed to Ruby, the terrace bar to soak up the views and sip the obligatory cocktail. Our first day ended with dinner at Pearl with it's innovative and absolutely delicious Greek and Corfiot inspired menu, of which the local sea bream ceviche and grilled squid were highlights.

The following morning the 9am yoga class which takes place in an amphitheatre on the cliff edge had my name written all over it! The hotel brings in a new yoga teacher and gym instructor each week and I was lucky enough to experience a flow class with Heather Hart Wellness. The full class was testament to how popular this initiative is and shows what can be achieved when a hotel gives some proper attention to their wellness program.

The rest of the morning was spent exploring the picturesque town of Parga. The town is steeped in history, and after a climb up though the cobbled streets towards the castle offered an idyllic backdrop for lunch in a local taverna.

Photo Credit, Miltiadis Fragkidis

Day 2 also ushered in a change of scenery as in the afternoon as we transferred by private boat to Corfu and on to our next hotel. The transfer is an excursion in it's own right with stops to admire the crystal clear waters of the Blue lagoon Beach and nearby sea caves. The MarBella, Mar-Bella Collection (the flagship resort), an all-inclusive family hotel, awaited our arrival. With its beautiful gardens, sea views and newly refurbished rooms, Mar-Bella is the perfect spot for a family or multi generational getaway. I was tempted to try out the onsite waterpark, but decided that a bit of sunbathing and a swim at the private beach was probably more my style.

There is a fabulous selection of restaurants and everything we ate from the lunchtime buffet with it's freshly grilled fish skewers and roasted pork belly to the upmarket French restaurant Celeste serving up mouth watering beef tartare was perfection. The Mar-Bella Collection is immensely proud of the culinary offerings in all their hotels and justifiably so.

The third hotel in the Mar-Bella fold is Nido, which is an adult’s only small hotel adjacent to Mar-Bella Corfu. As part of Small Luxury Hotels the resort is an oasis of calm, with rooms offering private pools terraces or hot tubs. Built into the hillside every room has a sea view and so much space you may never want to leave (I didn't). Our dinner there at Apaggio was sublime with local lamb, lobster and a raspberry and coconut pudding of dreams.

Our final day was spent visiting the Governor's olive oil press. This tour gave us a fascinating insight into the age-old tradition of olive oil production in Corfu. The highlight was, of course, tasting the fruits of their labour which was a fitting end to our Greek adventure.

As we bade goodbye to the Mar-Bella Collection, and made the short transfer to the airport we carried with us not only the memories of the stunning vistas and delicious food but also a sense of the warmth and hospitality of the Greek people (and a few bottles of olive oil).

(Jackie, a Travel Matters Travel Advisor, visited the Mar-Bella collection in Greece during May 2024, courtesy of our partners at Exsus Travel)