The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
ALL BASES COVERED
OLIVERS TRAVELS oliverstravels.com
Over 490 villas, with a large number in popular regions of Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes but also in the mainland areas of Halkidiki, Pelion and Sivota. Most are family-sized with a good selection of larger villas suited to multi-generational holidays. Pre-booked catering is available in most villas, and childcare services can also be arranged if booked in advance of travel.
Top pick: Villa Pindar, sleeps eight, is a modern beach villa near Gennadi village on the south-east coast of Rhodes with large salt-water pool and contemporary interiors. From £1,332.
GIC THE VILLA COLLECTION gicthevillacollection.com
Originally launched in Paxos, and while still strong in the Ionian islands, the company now offers over 100 villas spread across Corfu, Paxos and AntiPaxos, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Lefkas, Meganissi, Alonissos, Skopelos, Skiathos, Crete, the Peloponnese and Sivota. Properties suit families and larger groups and range from romantic hideaways to spacious beach villas. Top pick: Villa Paparouna, sleeps six, on Alonissos is a recently renovated hillside retreat with views of Patitiri harbour from its flag-stoned terrace and a separate studio suite for extra privacy. From £1,113 per person, including flights, ferry transfer and car hire
VINTAGE TRAVEL (vintagetravel.co.uk)
60 properties across the Ionian islands of Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada and Ithaca, plus Crete and in the Peloponnese, all with pools and almost all (over 90 per cent) with sea views. Villa size goes up to six-bedroom but Vintage also has a cluster of well-located one-bedroom hideaways for couples, complete with private pools.
Top pick: Villa Elitsa, sleeps two, is a spacious one-bedroomed hideaway with sea views near the harbour town of Gialova in the Messinian Gulf of the Peloponnese with open plan living area and nearby sandy beach. From £642.
A portfolio of around 110 villas is spread across north-east Corfu, Crete, Ithaca, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Meganissi, Paxos and the mainland region of Sivota. Its broad range of properties fall into four categories based on location, privacy, luxurious and child-friendly. The latter includes Mousses on Lefkada, a cluster of villas in shared grounds, where childcare is provided by a team of Britishtrained nannies.
Top pick: Villa Sapphire, sleeps six, is a family-friendly hillside retreat above Mikri Ammos beach in Sivota, with sea views towards Paxos and Corfu. From £625 per person, including flights and car hire
IONIAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS ionianislandholidays.com
Can arrange stays in over 200 villas on the Ionian islands of Kefalonia, Ithaka, Lefkada, Meganisi, Paxos, Corfu and the Aegean islands of Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos. It also operates to the Greek mainland areas of Parga, Sivota and the lesser known Pelion Peninsula. Villa types range from traditional Greek stone cottages to stylish, contemporary villas all with pools.
Top pick: Villa Okiroy, sleeps two, is a spacious hillside villa above Afissos on the Pelion Peninsula with views over the Pagasitic Gulf, close to the pebble beaches of Lagoudi and Abovos. From £775 per person including flights, transfers and car hire.
THINKING TRAVELLER thethinkingtraveller.com
Numbers 59 in its growing collection of villas in the Ionian Islands (Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Lefkada, Meganissi, Kastos and, new for 2021, Zakynthos) and the Sporades (Alonissos and Skopelos). Strong on family options, its smallest properties comes with two bedrooms and largest with seven. Some include daily maid service and breakfast preparation.
Top pick: Aperghis, sleeps eight, is a stone-built villa in olive groves with four ensuite bedrooms including a detached garden guesthouse on the northwest coast of Paxos. From £4,692.
VILLA RETREATS villaretreats.com
A portfolio of 29 villas across the islands of Corfu, Hydra, Mykonos, Antiparos, Paros, Crete, Sifnos and Syros on its website, with access to more on request. Some fall into an “elite” category with particularly spectacular views or surroundings, including a property on Mykonos sleeping up to 26 people.
Top pick: Villa ref 1930 in Mykonos, sleeps ten, has a separate guest house and rustic chic interiors with brightly coloured fabrics and white curved walls. The pool terrace has sea views towards Naxos and Paros. From £5,805.
JET2 HOLIDAYS
jet2holidays.com
Almost 500 villas in destinations across Greece including Kefalonia, Zante, Crete, Rhodes, Preveza, Kalamata, Skiathos, Skopelos, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Halkidiki, with rates which include Jet2 flights, 22kg baggage allowance and car hire. Mainly newbuild properties with pools in coastal locations, the largest sleep up to 14.
Top pick: Villa Kozanitis, sleeps six, is a modern, one-storey house with a private pool and shady pergola near the bars and tavernas at Agios Ioannis beach in northern Lefkas. From £569 per person, including flights and car hire.