4 Best Hotels in Paleokastritsa, Corfu

Few hotels in Corfu are so superbly positioned to take in its natural splendor the way the Akrotiri is, which lords it over a paradisaical little peninsula. Covered with trees, lapped by turquoise waters, and crowned by this sumptuously modern hotel, this gorgeous spot allows you to escape to nature in the utmost luxury. Upstairs, balconies in the chic, pastel-decorated guest rooms overlook dreamy views of grottoes, blue bays, the Agia Triada Beach, and the Alipa marina. Downstairs, a restaurant, bar, array of pools, and vast stone terraces all vie for your attention. A private elevator takes you nearly down to the beach where there is also a pool and a snack bar.

There are far grander places to stay on Corfu but few with as much quiet, unpretentious charm as Casa Lucia, where the stone buildings of an old olive press have been converted into guest cottages and smaller studios. Every one of them has its own kitchen and a little terrace overlooking the tranquil garden, filled with hibiscus, olive trees, and bougainvillea. Cottages have two to five beds and are great for families; studios sleep only two. The decor in all the units is simple and cozy. Lots of folks come back year after year. Tai chi and yoga sessions are held out in the garden by the pool. Though there's no breakfast, the management leaves a larder in the room of bread, fruit, milk, and tea and coffee for arriving guests.

Three generations of the same family have owned and managed Zefiros, the longest-established hotel in Paleokastritsa. The love shows: everything is kept beautifully up to the minute, with light and airy public areas and bedrooms decorated in sunny pastel blues and grays.

Gazing out over Paleokastritsa's central bay, the venerable Apollon is one of the village's more venerable properties: not by any means grand, but certainly cozy enough for a longish stay. Rooms in the original wing look out over the bay, but those in the newer annex overlook a busy car park.