Captivating Corfu
We chose the Lux Me Daphnila Bay; set in a beautiful location on the Kommeno peninsula and directly overlooking the Ionian Sea. The hotel is nestled in a lush forest that spills down the hillside to its private Blue Flag beach. At the top of the hill you'll find the main building and reception, three of the restaurants and the freshwater swimming pool. The views from here are far reaching with the most spectacular views across Dassia Bay.
Arriving during a pandemic, things are a little different and check in is completed via an ipad facility, whilst you enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the pool and coast beyond; far nicer than standing at a desk and a lot more relaxing too. We sat for a while and enjoyed the view.
Room choices here are extensive; standard rooms are at the front of the hotel overlooking the gardens and if you like a sunny balcony in the afternoons, then these are for you. The rear of the hotel faces east across the bay and whilst you are afforded fabulous views, the sun has shifted by late afternoon. Rooms and bungalows on this side of the hotel carry a premium. All main building rooms have sea views; whilst the bungalows are dotted across the hillside and amongst the palm trees and some have garden or partial sea views, whilst others are directly opposite the beach itself.
Room cleaning during your stay is optional with restrictions in place to maintain the safety of both guests and staff. All rooms are fitted with a seal, to clearly identify them as sanitised. We opted to take room cleaning and the system worked very well, with two cleans during our stay. All staff wear face masks and guests are requested to wear them inside the hotel building. Guests are not required to wear masks in dining venues. Porterage is to/from the outside of your room; porters do not enter guest rooms.
We stayed in a Daphnila Bungalow with a Sea View; these are recently renovated and packed with character. With stone floors and curved ceilings, they are reminiscent of old caves but with very modern appliances. In-room fridges are stocked with water and a few soft drinks on arrival only. You are free to re-stock at your own expense. The colour palette is muted and creates a restful ambience. The styling is quite different to the rooms in the main building and the location is best suited to those that are happy and able to walk up and down the hills and pathways that make up the resort. There are different sizes and configurations in the bungalows that make them very suitable for families.
Not all facilities were available during our stay; children's clubs were not operating; the indoor pool was closed and entertainment was low key. This did not impact our stay in any way. There is a water-sports facility at the hotel, offering non-motorised activities, including pedal-boats, kayaks and paddle-boards. All of these are complimentary to guests and can be pre-booked. All equipment is well maintained and instruction is provided before use. We made good use of these during our stay and were very impressed with the system in place. All equipment is sanitised between users. A life guard is on duty throughout the day and beach loungers and parasols are free of charge.
The hotel has a shop which caters for most essential needs; including drinks, snacks and souvenirs.
Speed boat rental is available and is competitively priced. Most boats were new and all were very well maintained. We regularly rent boats and these were some of the best we have hired. The service provided was excellent and highly recommended. Instruction is available for all users and there are small engine cruisers suitable for those new to boat rental.
The hotel tumbles down the wooded hillside to the beach; if you don’t want to walk, you can call on the hotels shuttle service to take you down or just back up at the end of the day. Whatever you need can be arranged via the concierge service; easily accessible via WhatsApp, through the hotels own portal. or simply dialling '0' from your room. Nothing was too much trouble. It is rare to find a hotel where every member of staff seems to have a relaxed yet efficient approach to taking care of your needs. We found it here at Daphnila Bay. The calm and unhurried nature of this resort quickly rubs off on you and you relax and unwind in a short space of time.
Reservations were required for both breakfast and dinner and could be pre-booked from your day of arrival for the duration of your stay. This may not suit everybody but allowed the restaurant to maintain social distancing and a high level of personal service. We actually found this far better than the traditional buffet alternative. Restaurants were calm and ordered and having a pre-assigned time felt much more like we were going out for dinner, rather than visiting the hotel dining room. It also avoided the need to queue. All dining was open-air. Guests are permitted a complimentary visit the a la carte restaurant during their stay and the food here was far beyond our expectations. Had we stayed longer, this would have been a favourite haunt and well worth the extra expense. In the daytime, the restaurant serves as a lunch venue, where diners can come and go as they please. In the evening it is transformed and becomes a hot lava stone dining venue. The food is sublime and the view across the bay in the evening is pretty special too.
The hotel provides an All Inclusive service; with all meals, snacks and drinks provided. This is a premium service, with well known brands of drinks and an extensive wine list. Restaurant wine can be ordered to your taste and by the bottle. Speciality teas and coffees are included. There is a gelataria serving ice cream and crepes throughout the day. Add to this a choice of four a la carte restaurants and you are spoilt for choice.
Absolutely faultless!