We arrived at around 11pm having flown into Corfu with no real idea of what to do when we got there. The taxi driver knew Paleokastritsa and the Zefiros hotel well, not bad considering it’s a 30 minute drive away and really rather small.
As soon as we arrived Johnny stepped off of the veranda to greet us, took all of our bags and showed us to our rooms offering drinks or snacks as we went. When we said we really needed dinner he immediately rang 'Limoni,' just a short walk away and asked the owner not to close up.
On our first morning Iren rang to say that she was worried about one of our party staying on the top floor because one of the guys carrying our bags had noticed that the stairs had caused her a few problems. She offered us another room, on the lowest floor which had become available and was larger with interconnecting rooms. The gesture was incredibly sweet and very much appreciated.
During our stay we were treated like old friends, nothing was too much bother. On one occasion Iren drove our group to the Monastery to save us the walk up, very kind.
Having spent time in Italy this hotel reminded me very much of the small, authentic, family run hotels there, brick walls, high ceilings, gleaming paint work, rustic and very pretty.
I have avoided the Greek islands for years for fear of running into large stag/hen or package parties and ending up in the kind of hotels that resemble Butlins by the sea- all tattooed brits, karaoke, men drinking beer at breakfast- you know the places.
If new to Corfu be warned, they are around but Iren and Johnnys place remains blissfully detached from all such horrors and I didn’t hear any of the rumpus usually associated with that sort of clientele. Instead we were immersed in a sea of tranquility, sitting at breakfast among Architects from Vienna and a host of other well mannered, cultured and sober nationalities. The hotel offered an old school charm which is a rare find in todays world.
I loved it and would recommend it to anyone. My only observations would be, it can get a little warm in rooms without AC and the beds are rather firm but the charm and ambience of the place is second to none. 10/10