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MARCH 2019 businesstraveller.comacropolis at Lindos. The countryside around Archangelos
and the ruins of Ancient Kameiros are also worth exploring.
In May, the all-inclusive Grecotel resort on Kallithea
beach will become the Grecotel LUX ME Rhodos, with its
276 rooms and 46 bungalows receiving a deluxe makeover.CRETE
The largest of the Greek islands, as you might expect, is
also one of the most diverse. Across 8,336 sq km on the
southern side of the Aegean Sea, quaint inland villages are
sandwiched between turquoise beaches to the north, and
coves, cliffs and canyons to the south.
Myth and legend are the stuff on which Greece is built
and the island can claim more than its share of evocative
tales and classical history – the Ideon Cave is believed to
be the birthplace of Zeus, while the vestiges of the Minoan
civilisation, which ruled about 4,000 years ago, are
peppered all over the island.
Crete is a hit with hikers throughout the year thanks to
its mountainous terrain and mild winters. A popular route
is the 16km Samaria Gorge, a seven-hour walk that ends at
the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. Finish that and you’ll
be in need of a good meal – rest assured that the island’s
cuisine is thought to be one of the healthiest in the world,
with an emphasis on nutrient-packed organic produce,
lashings of olive oil and little meat.
New openings this season include the 311-room
Wyndham Grand Mirabello Bay in the coastal town of
Agios Nikolaos. The Nana Princess hotel and its state-of-
the-art spa opened in Hersonissos in June last year, while
those looking for beachfront villas can now stay at Elounda
Mare Hotel’s Minoan Palace, launched in August last year.CORFU
Part of the Ionian Islands, the “emerald isle” has a more
European character than the rest of the archipelago. It has
long been popular with travellers for its beaches, pastel-
hued villages and lush olive groves.
The UNESCO-listed Corfu Old Town bears physical
reminders of the island’s military history. Exploration
of the town’s sea-facing fortresses, which protected the
Venetian-ruled island from Ottoman sieges over four
centuries, are highly recommended and bring an extra
dimension to the postcard-pretty looks.
Elsewhere, you’ll spot the unmistakeable influence
of 19th-century British rule – cricket is a popular sport
here – while Greek mytholog y holds that a shipwrecked
Odysseus washed up on Corfu’s shores.
For a luxury all-inclusive stay, the Ikos Dassia resort,
which opened in May last year, has views of the Ionian Sea
and a 600-metre private sandy beach. Travelling without
kids? Adults-only options include the luxurious Marbella
Nido Suite Hotel and Villas in Agios Ioannis Peristeron,
which also opened in May.
British Airways and Easyjet fly direct to all five islands from
London between April and October.BTABOVE: Descending
into Samaria
Gorge, Crete
RIGHT: The pastel hues
of Corfu Old TownDESTINATIONS