Kefalonia - The beautiful South

I have recently returned from a wonderful family holiday in South Kefalonia where we spent 7 nights at the Trapezaki Villas, Trapezaki.  This was the second time we had stayed at the Villas; our first visit was back in September 2009 when my parents, my wife and I booked 2 of the 4 Villas and had a thoroughly enjoyable time.  We have all been yearning to go back ever since and this year we were lucky enough to be able to return again with the addition of my Sister’s family of 4 including my 2 young nieces aged 9 and 13.  This was not the first time all of us had been away together; we had all been to Paxos together in 2010 and shared a 4 bedroom villa but, alas, 3 generations under one roof didn’t turn out to be such a good idea and we vowed that any future family holidays would be in Hotels!  But I have always preferred self-catering and suggested that we book 3 of the Trapezaki Villas.  It turned out to be a very good idea!

We booked early to take advantage of the early booking discounts and spent the summer counting the days left before departure on the 27^th August.  Departure day arrived and getting there was quick and easy; flights were early in the morning which meant we were all relaxing on our patios by tea-time!  My nieces were almost instantly into their swimming pool and stayed there for most of the holiday! 

The Villas were just as lovely as we had remembered them.  The owners, who run the minimarket adjacent to the Villas, have done a wonderful job of designing, planting and tending the gardens which were magnificent.  There was an abundance of colourful flowers, lush hedgerows, huge palm trees and a countless variety of flora and fauna including numerous small birds and butterflies of all shapes and colours.  The gardens seemed to be in full bloom and it felt like spring (although much hotter).  As well as lifting ones spirits and providing beautiful surroundings the vegetation also created privacy between the villas, and each unit had plenty of outside space around the pool where you could not be overlooked. 

Trapezaki is a small, quiet hamlet with a hotel, a lovely sandy beach, a minimarket, a couple of tavernas, a handful of private Villas and very little else.  It is located in the foot-hills of Mount Aenos, which is stunning and dominates the landscape.  The capital Argostoli is a 15 minute drive away and the best place to go for serious food shopping. 

My Mother loves to cook for people and created some beautiful meals in her well appointed Villa kitchen.  Ingredients were all fresh from the farmers market and butchers in Argostoli and we shared lunches on the patio and around the pool most afternoons.  The minimarket next door was very useful and seemed to have everything and anything you might need on a holiday; from lilos and inflatable pool toys to 12 year matured scotch whisky, Selotape, sun-cream, fruit, veg, cold meats, pasta etc.  His beer fridge was kept at a constant 1 degree Celsius and was always full of perfectly chilled beers!  We would buy occasional ingredients there if we ran out of things and didn’t want to drive into town.

Evening meals were usually in Lourdas, a five minute drive away, which boasts an impressive selection of Tavernas.  We tried about 4 or 5 during our stay and they were all of a consistently high quality.  The portions were often huge (especially at Lorraine’s above the beach) and prices reasonable.  We would often retire to one of the pool terraces after dinner for a nightcap; they are beautiful at night, when they are lit, and we would talk into the small hours under a black velvet sky peppered with millions of twinkling stars.

I couldn't recommend the Trapezaki Villas more highly, especially for groups and families travelling together.  There is just the right amount of seperation between the villas so that they are all private, yet only a few steps away from each other.  The air-conditioning, which is included in the holiday price was much appreciated on those hot August nights, and they owners take grerat care to keep everything in tip-top condition.  They are a charming Greek couple and remembered us from our previous holiday and gave us all going away presents.

The week seemed to fly by.  I think we will probably go for 2 week's next time.  And I am sure it wont be long before we are back at Trapezaki in the beautiful south of Kefalonia!

Mark Willson,

Sunvil Holidays