The Sunday Times - UK (2022-05-01)

The Sunday Times May 1, 2022 9

restaurants and bars at every
turn. Fundamentally the
house is medieval, with
baroque and gothic sections,
and a heated pool that can
transform from indoor to
outdoor thanks to moveable
walls. Facilities include a
sauna and hot tub, and a cellar
of local wines. Out front, boats
depart for islands and distant
waterfront restaurants; Split
is an hour away by ferry.
Details Seven nights’
self-catering for ten from
£6,524 (theluxurytravel
book.com). Fly to Split

BEACHFRONT ALGARVE

A privileged location right

on the beach and an eye-

catching circular pool are

what distinguishes Villa Praia

near Albufeira. That and its

traditional exterior, with

huge window shutters and

Moorish-style turrets. Inside,

all is bright and shiny, with

kitchen, lounge and terraced

dining on the first floor, along

with the hot tub, to get the

best of the breeze and the

views. Out front, a private

path snakes down to the

beach, for a soft sand sashay

to Albufeira Old Town, with

its beach bars, shops and

restaurants.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for ten from

£3,699 (jamesvillas.co.uk).

Fly to Faro

LUXURY CORFU

Corfu is at its swankiest in the

northeast, where top-end

villas dot the shore and hills.

Soukilia is among the most

elegant, with eight bedrooms,

an infinity pool and beach

access. And it’s a ten-minute

stroll to the harbour town of

Kassiopi. There are other

beaches within walking

distance at Coyevinas, Kanoni

and Avlaki, which also has

a taverna. With four of the

bedrooms in an annexe, the

villa is ideal for multigen

holidays. It’s great for

outdoor living, with an

outside kitchen and vast sea-

view terrace. A chef and host

are included in peak season.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for 16 from

£16,900 (villacollective.com)

Clockwise from top left:

poolside at Casarella

Cesarina on Corsica

and Soukilia on Corfu;

Casa Giardino in Umbria;

Villa Pherenike on Hydra

PERFECT POOL

IN CEPHALONIA

The pool is the thing with

Villa Seagull. This newish villa

is one of three lined up to

face the sunrise (and the

mainland, when it’s clear)

on the southeastern corner

of Cephalonia. Interiors are

spotless, smart and functional,

but it’s the sea-view terrace

and the pool on the end of the

lawn that are the main event.

The laid-back resort of Skala

is a 20-minute walk away,

with generous beach and

shops, and there’s a gorgeous

pebbly little cove (and

restaurants) a lot closer.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for seven from

£847 (freelancevillas.com).

Fly to Cephalonia

HILLSIDE CORSICA

In northern Corsica,

Casarella Cesarina stands

above the beaches, shops and

restaurants of downtown

Calvi, with great views over

the glistening bay from an

elevated terrace and pergola,

ideal for alfresco dining. The

pool area rests at a lower

level, shielded by flowers and

mature olive trees. Interiors

are a mix of contemporary

and local, with leather and

linen, terracotta and wrought

iron. Calvi has its own beach

and promenade, and it also

has a station for the eccentric

local trains, which totter

eastwards, stopping at

virtually every dune.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for four

from £929 (corsica.co.uk).

Fly to Calvi

of Kaunos; the invigorating

mud baths of Sultaniye — all

these are connected by

regular boat to the riverbank

town of Dalyan, the home of

Villa Dilek. Laze on the terrace

shaded by cypress trees next

to the saltwater pool or take

a five-minute walk to

riverside restaurants. With

five bedrooms and four

bathrooms, this villa is great

value for extended families

who don’t want to get in each

other’s hair. Plus it’s only 40

minutes by private transfer

from Dalaman airport.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for 11 from

£918 (oliverstravels.com).

Fly to Dalaman

VENETIAN BEAUTY

In Venice, a car is about

as much use as a chocolate

teapot. Water buses, taxis

and gondolas connect

everything and everyone,

and there’s a vaporetto bus

stop just around the corner

from the historic palazzo on

which A Venetian Affair stands

— this holiday home even has

its own jetty. St Mark’s Square

is a five-minute walk away,

but you could easily just sit

out on the balcony, like

something out of Romeo and

Juliet, and watch the boats

slide by. The Othello character

Desdemona supposedly lived

here, and with its beautiful

tapestries, gilded antiques

and full-size chandeliers it

is easy to imagine yourself

a merchant of Venice.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for eight from

£13,570 (plumguide.com)

GLOSSY COSTA DEL SOL

Marbella has long had its

Ab Fab tendencies, and the

Villa Penelopez rides that

wave. Despite being close to

the centre, it feels private,

with a gazebo, sunbeds and

a pool in a walled garden. The

air-conditioned interior even

has cinema and games rooms,

the latter with a pool table,

punchbag and bar. Marbella’s

beaches and yacht-filled

marina are a short walk away,

as are the charming old

town’s restaurants and cafés.

Malaga’s art galleries and

seaside fortresses are

45 minutes by train too.

Details Seven nights’

self-catering for 11 from

£4,795 (splvillas.com).

Fly to Malaga

TURKISH DELIGHT

Iztuzu, one of Turkey’s most

famed turtle beaches; the rock-

cut tombs of the ancient city