A superb hotel in an unspoilt traditional village for off-the-beaten track luxury in Greece

Kefalonia is the largest of the seven Ionian islands and the village of Fiskardo is the jewel in its crown. Unscathed after the 1953 earthquake which damaged much of the properties on the rest of the island, Fiskardo retains its traditional Venetian-style architecture, painted in pretty pastel colours and decorated with overflowing bougainvillea flowers. The landscape around the harbour is pristine forest and has been awarded ‘protected status’ by the Greek government whilst the village overlooks the stunning island of Ithaca and the Ionian Channel. The harbour is lined with restaurants with tables laid out literally on the waterside – perfect for feeding the fish between courses. On shoulder seasons Fiskardo is a popular stopping-point for yachts as the sailing is excellent, whilst in July and August the harbour is packed with power boats and super yachts, although due to the depth of the harbour the larger ones have to moor slightly outside. The people-watching opportunities are superb!

The Emelisse Hotel is perched on the hillside with commanding views of Lefkas and Ithaca, ten minutes away from Fiskardo. With 64 rooms spread out over the estate, it has a village-feel despite having the facilities you’d expect of a larger hotel such as open-air restaurants, three pools, an Elemis spa, gym, squash court and tennis court. You could cosy up under the starry skies watching an outdoor film on the pool bar’s projector, or hire the hotel’s speedboat to visit secluded coves. Bathrooms are stocked with Korres goodies.

• Private shared swimming pool (in limited amount of rooms)
• Italian design linen and Spanish cotton bathrobes
• Double canopy beds
• Teak wood furniture
• Body and Hair products by Korres
• Mini Bars
• Terrace or balcony with full or partial sea view
• DVD-CD player
• In Room Safe
• Laundry
• 24h Porter Service
• 24h Room Service
• Satellite and Cable TV
• Direct Phone
• Housekeeping twice a day