Villa de Loulia

Rooms

Bedrooms are all in the old house, which stands 20 paces beyond the pool. Rooms on the ground floor are cooler; those on upper floors look over the hills or the village, but can get hot in midsummer (there's no air-con). All have an ensuite bathroom - mostly with shower.

Expect Corfu colours (reds, yellows, pinks and blues), cast-iron beds, thick stone walls and painted beamed ceilings. Crisp white linen covers the beds, green shuttered windows help keep you cool at night. You might get a mirrored armoire, an old wood dresser or an exposed fireplace. There are towels for the pool and bathroom, maybe a carafe of home-brewed liqueur. No clutter, no gadgetry (apart from TV and a small fridge); just graceful, unfussy old rooms.

Don’t feel you have to splash out on the best room; Standard Doubles up in the eaves are well-sized, very pretty and have great views, while Superior Doubles have high ceilings and one has a private entrance up a stone staircase in the garden. The ground-floor Suite opens onto a second (smaller) courtyard garden that is geometric in design, while the first-floor Junior Suite overlooks the pool and gardens.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• In-room treatments available

Eating

Breakfast is served quite late (starting at 9am); lie-ins are encouraged. One tree in the garden provides sweet oranges, the fruit of which is (in season) pressed for breakfast. Much is homemade and home-grown. Marmalades (you can buy a jar), olive bread and home-buzzed honey from the village all make it to table, along with lots of fruit, cakes and yoghurts, even feta when we stayed. You can eat in the dining room or outside on the vine-shaded terrace by the pool.

From time to time in high season, Loukia offers dinner by prior arrangement only - please request this when booking. During our stay, we started with lentil soup and courgette balls, then tucked into lamb pastitsada and stuffed tomatoes, and finally a wonderful strawberry and almond cake (a Corfu speciality). There are lighter options too, including salads (using produce from the garden), omelettes, delicious homemade cheese and vegetable pies, and ocean-fresh fish.

Otherwise, there are three tavernas within walking distance in Peroulades. The best of these is Bikolis: think tasty trad-Greek cuisine, such as courgette fritters, moussaka, stifado stew, keftedes meatballs, and portokalopita (orange pie) to finish off. There are more tavernas sprinkled along the north coast, while in Corfu town (a 40-minute drive) you’ll find plenty of restaurants spilling onto pavements and squares.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Fridge
• Lunch by arrangement
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Head half a mile west to the beach, a narrow sandy strip set beneath sunset-facing cliffs, and reached via a long flight of steep steps. And there are more beaches all along the north coast - Cape Drastis, Almiros, Astrakeri - or follow your nose south and take your pick (the west coast is less developed than the east)
  
• Stroll through the sleepy ancient village to see Corfu as it used to be
  
• Horse riding in the interior can be arranged; as can sailing (with a group or solo)
  
• Sign up for cooking lessons and spend an afternoon making marmalade and jams
  
• Work up an appetite with a good walk. You can follow your nose out of the village and up into gentle hills, but there’s also an excellent guide book at the hotel, so take to the hills, the cliffs or hidden country
  
• Water sports are available at Sidari, an English resort up the road
  
• For those in search of a little history, head up into the mountains of Perithia and discover the ancient abandoned village; locals used to flee here in the time of pirate invasions

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Windsurfing

Kids

Villa de Loulia is a quiet romantic place and therefore not recommended for children. However, the 2 suites have a single sofabed available for children aged 12 and over.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Book either of the 2 suites as they have a single sofabed and plenty of space.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Villa de Loulia is in the charming traditional village of Peroulades on the North West coast of Corfu (Kerkyra), renowned for some of the best panoramic views and sunsets on the island. Corfu is one of the Ionian Islands off the west side of the Greek mainland.

By Air:
Fly into Corfu (35km - restricted flights) or Athens (550km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

By Sea:
Car ferries from the mainland arrive at Corfu Town. They run all year round (weather permitting), more frequently between May and September. From Igoumenitsa (6-hour drive north from Athens) ferries run almost hourly, with journey time taking up to 2 hours. In high season, there is also a twice-daily hydrofoil express which takes 30 minutes. From Patras (3-hour drive from Athens) there are several weekly ferries, each taking 7 hours to arrive in Corfu.

By Car:
You will need car hire to make the most of the island - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions are provided when your booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.

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