WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

In July 2019 our son, his wife and our eight-year-old granddaughter from Australia are joining us in the UK with our other son, his wife and a three-year-old granddaughter, to celebrate my 60th birthday. We would like to rent a self-catering villa for all eight of us to spend a week or so in the Kassiopi area of Corfu. We need a swimming pool and somewhere within walking distance of shops and restaurants.

BARBARA TEMPLE

Dear Barbara

Corfu’s verdant north-eastern corner, around Kassiopi and Agios Stefanos, is very popular, and villas book up in advance, so it’s not too early to think ahead.

Pythia is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa, sleeping eight, in the fishing village of Kalami, which has recently been added to the portfolio offered by Vintage Travel (01954 261431; vintagetravel.co.uk). It has a private swimming pool and lies within a short walk of shops, cafes and a choice of tavernas. Kassiopi is a 15-minute drive away. This year, a July week is £3,794, rental only (2019 prices to be confirmed).

CV Villas (020 3773 9125; cvvillas.com) can offer a couple of options with private pools and within walking distance of Kassiopi, including the stonebuilt Villa Cassia, sleeping eight, from £6,337 per week, and Villa Indiana, sleeping 11, from £3,972 per week in July 2019.

GIC – The Villa Collection (020 8232 9780; gicthevillacollection. com) offers Avlaki Beach Villa, near Avlaki Bay. Kassiopi is a five-minute drive from this retreat which starts at £1,086 per person in July 2019, including flights and car hire.

Of the properties offered by James Villa Holidays (0800 074 0122; jamesvillas.co.uk), perhaps best suited is Villa Aetos, which can accommodate up to eight and offers panoramic views of Avlaki beach. Prices from £5,208, rental only, in July 2019.

Simpson Travel (020 3393 4924; simpsontravel.com) also has good options, including a couple that overlook the bay of Agios Stefanos.