Fiskardo Cottages

The Original House (3br)

The original and most family-friendly house is a light and airy space, with elevated views from the terrace and pool over olive groves to the sea. You enter into an open-plan kitchen and living room, with white-and-grey flecked marble floors and a whitewashed wooden pitched ceiling. There's a built-in sofa, eclectic artworks and lovely old trinkets and collectibles, including mantel clocks. Soft lighting makes it very atmospheric after dark.

The master bedroom has exposed stone walls with built-in shelves, a white wrought-iron double bed and French doors opening onto a small balcony with views across the fields towards the sea. The other bedroom (double or twin) is rather basic though nice, with one exposed stone wall. An extension provides a third double bedroom with ensuite shower room and corner patio. The family white-and-grey marble bathroom has a big walk-in rain shower.

The open-plan kitchen is fully equipped with a cooker, big fridge/freezer with an ice maker, kettle, toaster, microwave and oven, espresso machine and dishwasher, plus a wealth of crockery. There's a table in the kitchen, but you'll probably want to dine alfresco in the lovely outdoor eating space with a long wooden table. It’s a fine spot for breakfast, with the sea merging into the sky in the distance, and you also get sublime sunsets.

Ionian House (2)

The 2-bedroom house in the middle of the trio feels homely and lived-in: woven rugs, floor cushions and oversized clay pot plants made us feel like we were staying at a friend's chic pad. Exposed stone walls, wooden shutters and concrete surfaces give the cottage a rustic feel, but bright linens and modern tech (including underfloor heating for the cooler months) add a dash of contemporary. We loved it here.

There are two spacious double bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master has a full ensuite with a quirky layout, while the second bedroom only has a shower and basin - the toilet is downstairs. Each bedroom has its own peaceful balcony, too, for taking in that dreamy view. The mattress was quite firm, as often in Greece, but it wasn't an issue for us.

The living room has a comfy sofa facing out to the distant sea, and the wooden doors open to the terrace. The kitchen comes fully equipped - better than my own home - with an American-style fridge-freezer, an oven, dishwasher, a professional coffee machine and plenty of crockery. There were also a few sweet treats and cooking essentials on the side. There's a chunky wooden table indoors, but we chose to eat on the covered terrace to soak in our scenery.

The lovely lap pool has cool curved sunloungers on one side and a newly planted garden on the other. A lane runs along the front, but hardly anyone passes by (these are the only houses along it). From here you gaze out at olive groves which drop down to the sea on the horizon.

Butterfly House (2br)

The newest addition to the stable is this spacious, stylish 2 bedroom cottage. It has a lovely indoor-outdoor flow, with an open-plan living-dining-kitchen area and three sets of French windows opening onto a bamboo-shaded eating-chilling space above the pool. You could happily spend your holiday right here. There are dry stone walls and inbuilt daybeds, herbs growing in painted amphoras, a barbeque, and views rolling past low olive groves to a strip of blue sea.

Step inside the rustic stone house to find smooth polished cement floors, white walls, high wooden eaves and an artful mix of recycled and new furnishings. The kitchen comes with all the usuals, including a double-fronted fridge-freezer, ice machine, espresso machine and juicer. In the living area is a Bluetooth sound system, a wood-burning stove, a coffee table from salvaged roof beams, and two wide stone-built sofas (which could work as extra beds if you don't mind the lack of privacy).

As for the two bedrooms themselves, both are comfy doubles with ensuite bathrooms, air-con and ceiling fans. The master suite is particularly generous, with an extra-wide bed, French doors opening directly onto the terrace, and a handmade cement bath with separate walk-in shower. Seriously spoiling. The second bedroom is smaller, with a double bed (twin beds may be available on request) and a Med-inspired outdoor covered shower and washbasin.

Kids

Families are welcome. The 3-bedroom Original House is best for those with young children; the 2-bedroom Butterfly is great for all ages. Kids will enjoy having a pool to splash in, though teenagers could get a little frustrated by the isolated location. The houses are in a tranquil setting yet conveniently close to tavernas, shops and beaches. The nearest shop is a 5-minute walk away, but up an unsurfaced track, which could be difficult for young children or those with limited mobility.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The original 3-bedroom house is perfect for a family with 2-3 younger kids (e.g. aged 5-10), having 3 bedrooms (2 doubles, 1 twin) and its own slim pool right outside. The 2-bedroom Butterfly House works well for a family with 2 children of any age; it has one double and one double/twin bedroom, plus extra beds in the sitting room if needed. Note that both 2-bedroom houses have unprotected steps and drops; the balconies and stairs in the Ionian House are unsafe for young children.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 90 minutes
• Hospital: 45 minutes
• Shops: 10 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Fiskardo Cottages are set in Markandonata, a peaceful hamlet built into a west-facing hillside, overlooking the Ionian Sea and close to the northern tip of Kefalonia. The fishing village of Fiskardo lies a 5-minute drive away.

By Air
Fly into Kefalonia (58km - served by charter flights from the UK throughout the summer), or Athens then get a connecting flight.

From The Airport
You can take a taxi - approx €90 - but we'd recommend hiring a car. It is not essential because tavernas, minimarkets and 2 beaches are all within walking distance, but you'd probably want one for food shopping and sightseeing. Note that taxis are expensive on Kefalonia.

By Car
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. For an idea of distances, the airport is 5km south of the island's capital, Argostoli, and Fiskardo is 45km north, at the top of the island.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.