Any Kefalonia experts?

[longlostauthor]

We’ve booked flights to kefalonia for family holiday in June. First time to Kefalonia but been to Greece lots and love the islands. Wasn’t expecting it to be so hard to find accommodation that ticks our boxes.

ideally we’d love:
2 bedrooms
access to a pool but not a private pool
access to a bar / cafe / restaurant or similar on foot
beach access

i don’t want an isolated villa with a private pool. I was hoping we’d find a complex of villas or maisonettes with a bar and pool etc but am coming up with very little after more than a couple of full on days researching.

anyone got any gems to share please? I’d be so grateful.

San Lorenzo Village in Lassi might fit the bill, they have 2 bed maisonettes I’m pretty sure.

Marinos Apartments and San Lorenzo Residence are apartments but also in Lassi

You called? Kef every year for, erm, a loooong time.

We stay at Avithos Resort in Svoronata. Ticks all your boxes.

@NotYourHolidayDick do you know if the renovation of the maisonettes at Avithos has finished yet? It’s a beautiful resort

I just had a nose on booking. Com

There's a few that would suit you. Can recommend staying around either...
Argostoli
Fiskardo
Skala.

I went to Kefalonia on my honeymoon and visited all three, heaven on earth. I'm jealous!!

Ranzo ionio villas, north of the island near fiskado. Beautiful

Yeah most of the reno is done. They've done loads to it over the last few years. And absolutely NO SUNBED WARS. Any time of the day you'll get a beautiful wooden lounger, no fighting over them.

Its not got direct beach access, but book a car and grab it from the airport when you land. Its literally a 10 min drive straight to the hotel, then you've got the freedom of the car to explore.

We like Makris Gialos beach for lively/water sports, but we have kids to entertain. There's loads of other more peaceful beaches nearby.

Skala and Lassi def have more of a 'Brits abroad' feel, but nothing too awful.
Fiskardo is beautiful but the further north you go, the less sand you find. The beaches turn a bit shingley!

Ah thank you so much!

Really interesting to see Avithos Resort on here as this is why I originally booked the flights - looked like there were some decent deals on there. Then I gradually put myself off it thinking we might all feel a bit on top of each other (I can't bear the thought of us all in one room for a week - I need to be able to get up in the morning and make a coffee etc in peace for one thing, plus we have a baby who still wakes in the night and I don't want him waking the whole lot up).

It looks so nice, but I can't work out whether the maisonettes or apartments might feel like enough space rather than the family rooms. And breakfast is another £600 for the week which seems steep. I'm so confused!

Will just go and look at everywhere everyone else has mentioned now too, thank you

Nine Muses Hotel in Skala.
Lovely staff. Low key, several pools, onsite restaurant for breakfast. Short walk to town for huge variety of local restaurants.

Some brilliant tips, thank you - a few seem to already be booked up which is disappointing!

Avithos is not cheap.
We don't bother with the breakfast. The best bit is that housekeeping do your washing up. So DH wanders up to the local shop and grabs doughnuts, bread, cheese and ham for brekkie. We eat on the balcony and then the cleaners wash up for us.

We always stay in the top floor maisonettes as a family of 5. It's meant to be max 4 but they know us so well they let us crack on 😆

Teenagers sleep downstairs, DH and I, plus the 8 year old sleep upstairs. Nobody gets much space or privacy but we are quite a close family and have a right laugh.

I think Christina charges us 220€ a night, and we pay cash when we get there. We fly Ryanair from Manchester, and then use Pefanis for car hire.

I'm no expert but there's a Facebook page full of wonderful recommendations.

Kefalonia frequenter here
Highly recommend the Elektra Hotel in Svoronata. It ticks all your boxes. The maisonette offers two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Absolutely fantastic hotel in every respect. Restaurant is superb, but you also have lots of lovely tavernas within easy walking distance. Bus stop just down the road for an easy and very scenic trip into Argostoli for a more lively night.

I've visited Avithos resort but not quite enough space in the room for us.
A less pricey option would be Astra Village, also in Svoronata.
Kefalonia is absolutely beautiful. You can't fail to fall in love.
Happy to answer any other questions.

Enalion Suites in Lassi, pool overlooks the bay, no sunbed wars, steps down to the beach, we were there in August.

Thank you - I have been eyeing up the Elektra / trying to convince DH we should spend a bit more than we planned and go for it... it looks really lovely.

Enalion Suites also look wonderful but I can't seem to see any availability or even a proper website/ way too book!

@longlostauthor we booked Enalion Suites via Tui

Elektra is one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in, and totally worth the money. And the best bit is, you're sipping cold beer by the pool within 10 minutes of leaving the airport. You will receive the warmest welcome and will leave with a bunch of new friends in the staff (they work together throughout the year, working in Elektra Athens in the winter). The management value and look after their team, and it shows. The food is incredible, their cocktails to die for. And you won't find a better view of the sunset anywhere on the island.

Oh, and Ammes beach is just below the hotel. An easy/safe walk.

you have convinced my husband, @morbidhamster thank you! Think we will book tomorrow!

I'm sure you won't regret it. BTW - we've booked for August 24 with Jet2. If your dates aren't totally fixed, have a scroll through date options because June was looking quite expensive for Elektra although that's not true of Kefalonia as a whole.

They have just replied and have availability for our dates. Looks stunning! And it’s £1k cheaper…. Would you say it’s family friendly? We have 3 young children. Did you eta breakfast there at all? Thanks so much!

We stayed in the nine muses in Skala. Close to beach and restaurants etc.

I think nine muses is full for our dates. Looks lovely

@Toomanycaketins

They have just replied and have availability for our dates. Looks stunning! And it’s £1k cheaper…. Would you say it’s family friendly? We have 3 young children. Did you eta breakfast there at all? Thanks so much!

Wow, already for next year? We've already booked corfu for next year. Holidays seem to be making a comeback and will only get more expensive as time goes on.

Ooh, could I seek advice too, please?

I am looking for a quick getaway within the next couple of weeks, and I am seeing affordable packages to the coast S of the Airport and Argostoli, Skala and Poros.

No children to consider on this trip, I am looking for a location where I can swim in a lovely sea, maybe go on walks to adjoining beaches and coves, eat Greek food I. low key tavernas and possibly be able to book a few day trips or take a bus to the National Park and Mt Ainos.

Any advice?