Back to Corfu! Our wonderful week in Olivar Suites
I attended a training session early in 2021 on the new hotel that the Voulgaris group were opening in Corfu. As we had fallen in love with the crystal blue seas of this side of Corfu last year, I thought I would watch the training and see what this new hotel was about. I honestly fell in love with the hotel instantly and knew I had to stay there and promptly booked it for July.
No one knew that rules would come into place demanding that we not only had to pre-test if not vaccinated but also test 72 hours before coming home and on day two when back in the UK. However not to be deterred we decided we would still go on holiday and see if these obstacles would put us off. It was still 100% worth it!
To summarise, this is what we did: • Adults vaccinated so all we printed off vaccination certificates. No tests needed. • Child 12 years old – we booked lateral flow tests at Gatwick. Printed off results which were back the next day. • Child 9 years old – no tests needed. • PLF completed and printed off. • Booked day 2 tests for our return and just needed codes for form to come back to UK. • In resort – booked three lateral flow tests for two days before coming back. Very easy and staff come to your room to do it. Results back the same day in the evening. • Before coming back completed UK form two days before.
Honestly though, the holiday was amazing. Maybe even more so for the slight increase in effort involved - being away felt like a world away from the UK and the sun was hot and the beer was cold!
Corfu felt so safe and as dining is all outside, it felt freeing and we all gained a good dose of vitamin D, something lacking in the UK at the moment! The hotel itself is stunning and situated in the heart of beautiful Messonghi.
We opted for a Corfiot Suite and had two separate bedrooms, one very large bathroom with doors to toilet and shower and two sinks, a spacious paved area, and a gorgeous private pool, which we very much took advantage of! The hotel is low rise and beautiful with olive trees and stone walls surrounding the resort. The main building is an architectural delight and there is a separate restaurant and bar that serves exquisite food and drinks. The breakfast was included in our rate and was beautifully presented with a menu for hot a la carte options and a buffet full of fruits, cold cuts, breads, and cheeses.
The beach is across a small road and is gorgeous with sand and pebbles. The hotel provides cabanas, loungers, beach towels and cartons of water too. Surrounding the hotel are countless restaurants including some really great tavernas and bars. Be sure to visit the amazing Archontiko, nestled up in the hills and a five-minute taxi ride from the resort. The views are breath-taking, and the food is delicious with lots of veggie options as well as the traditional fish and local dishes.
The staff are extremely friendly and approachable, and you can book your lateral flow fit to fly directly through reception. The process is as easy as it can be, and the medical staff do it in the comfort of your suite and send results the next day. The reception staff printed off the results as well as our form to enter the UK, so we had it ready for immigration in Corfu. The big question is if it is worth travelling during covid times. Not only is it worth it and a few extra forms really isn’t much hassle, it is actually something that personally I needed. Getting away from the media, the cold and the office made a world of difference and we returned rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. The extra paperwork and a few tests did not really impact us much. The airports had no queues and Corfu was welcoming and as gorgeous as ever.
Jump on a plane and travel – it’s worth it. Trust me. I'm a Travel Agent!