‘The whole place was like a warm hug’

Getting there

The writer travelled with British Airways (ba.com), which offers return flights from selected UK airports to Corfu from around £82 and to Athens from

around £107.

Staying there

Villa Jasmine, Kalamaki, Corfu, has three double bedrooms, from £997 per

week via cvvillas.com.

Beach Villa Eternity, Porto Heli, sleeps 14 in seven bedrooms, with a huge pool, outdoor lounging/ dining and access to three

small, secluded coves. Golden Land Goutos (glg. gr) has weekly rates from £15,820, including daily cleaning and a welcome

hamper.

Melissaki, Pirgiotika, Nafplio has self-catering

villas in a rural setting from £134 per night, B&B, sleeping two to six people.

(melissaki.gr)

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Porto Heli, has sea-view doubles from £112, B&B. (porto-heli.nikkibeach.

com)

Driving there Avis (avis.co.uk) offers eight-day rentals

from £280.

Sailing there Filippos Boats, Kassiopi, has the best range of

self-drive boats.

( filipposboats.com) normally be a social-phobe’s worst nightmare: too-cool-for-school staff, preening influencers, (presumed) judgment emanating like a toxic cloud from every muslin-draped daybed. But needing a place to stay, we took a gamble, and it paid off. Nikki Beach Porto Heli still had the fancy day beds, and the cooler-than-thou, white-on-white lobby, but the staff were laid-back and friendly, there were families with children, and even (shock) over-50s. We slipped through the lobby and into Kate’s impressive pool-suite without attracting attention.

Emboldened, we found ourselves on that horseshoe-shaped bay, and although frustrated not to manage to swim that day, Kate resolved to go back. I would drop her and Joe there, while I nipped over on the 10-minute ferry to the island of Spetses, spend an hour pottering around the cobbled streets, and return. Big mistake. No sooner had my boat chugged out of Kosta harbour than I got a frantic call. “Mum, a group of people has arrived. Please pick us up!” Her worst fears were realised: stranded, with nowhere to hide, and no means of escape. By the time I’d rushed back, an hour later, she was trembling and tearful, all progress undone.

Or so I thought. The gentle charm of Nikki Beach unexpectedly saved the day. The manager commented on her pretty eyes, reception staff were kind and friendly, and the whole place was like a warm hug. On departure, Kate floated out on a cloud of goodwill, the beach trauma soothed, proud that she had survived a long trip and actually spoken to Other People.

She is not over her social anxiety by a long way – but it was a start. And, ironically, we have Covid to thank for it. We may moan about mask-wearing and social distancing, but if your child is a social-phobe, make the most of it, even if it is only a short-term solution.

Overseas holidays are currently subject to restrictions. See Page 3.