Review: Grecotel Corfu Imperial

_Location: Hidden away in a private corner of the lush green island of Corfu. The property sits on a peninsula and overlooks the Ionian Sea. Corfu Town is around 20 minutes’ drive away and the airport can be reached in less than half an hour.

_{First impressions:} Manicured gardens, white stone statues of goddesses and a marble reception area with ornate furnishings set the scene at this refined property. Hospitality shines brightly here and the service is exceptional from the moment you arrive. The hotel stretches out into Kommeno Bay and the views from the main building are simply spectacular.

_{The facts:} With 300 rooms across 37 room types, the Imperial is not boutique, yet it somehow retains the charm and attention to detail you’d expect of a hotel half its size. Grecotel has invested €50 million over the past three years, part of which has been spent on new swim-up room categories, bungalows and villas. Room and suite design is crisp and clean – white walls, wooden floors and epic views.

The culinary offering is impressive, with five venues to choose from. My favourites were the floating Yali Seafood restaurant and Italian outlet Trattoria. The property boasts three private beaches (one of which is exclusive to villa guests), with watersports spanning windsurfing, canoeing, pedalos, water-skiing and sailing, plus a diving centre. The Elixir Spa has an indoor pool (heated in April, May and October), four single-occupancy treatment rooms and one couple’s room.

_{Ideal for:} Families will feel at home here. While the main pool isn’t ideal for younger kids (there’s no shallow end), there’s a smaller option for tots to splash around in. The Grecoland Club offers fun activities for those aged four to 12; younger children can attend but need to be accompanied.

The hotel also provides equipment for guests with babies, with cots, highchairs, bed rails, trainer steps, potties, buggies, baby monitors and bouncy chairs just some of the items available. Children aged up to 12 eat for free between 11am and 5pm and there’s a fun ‘Tasty Corner’ buffet available at lunch.

_Explore: Take advantage of the complimentary boat shuttle whisking guests between the Imperial and nearby sister properties Daphnila Bay and Eva Palace.

_Wow: The hotel’s new villa offering is out-of-this-world good. With options accommodating up to 12 guests, there’s a type of villa to suit every client, and many can be combined to create an even greater space. Villa Palazzo Libro D’Oro, which has a private pool and direct beach access, was one of my favourites.

_{Book it:} Rooms lead in at £210 a night.
corfuimperial.com