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The Greek island of Corfu has many faces: a party island with an incredible clubbing nightlife, an island of history and tradition, a place to experience traditional Greek food, history and culture, a place for rest and relaxation, with its rugged landscape, beautiful sandy beaches and stunning sea. For me, our trip the Greek island of Corfu was perfect for the latter - a family getaway, a week to relax on the pristine sands, swim, eat local food and read books while my young family enjoyed all that was on offer in hotel.
We stayed at The LUXME Costa Botanica, a laid-back, recently renovated, all-inclusive resort, set on the North side of the island, approximately an hour’s drive from Corfu Town. Don’t be misled by its Lux name, despite the more bling, Instagram influencer-worthy glamour of other LUXME hotels, what we loved about this hotel was its more rustic, laid-back, village-like feel, due to its vast green landscape set over 350,000 metres, multiple restaurants, long stretch of private white sandy beach and four, large, fresh-water swimming pools. Not to mention its own onsite waterpark with multiple wild slides and the small petting farm, with its friendly fat donkey, two deer and some geese.
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LUXME Costa Botanica is an all-inclusive hotel which meant we could enjoy all five restaurants including, wine, all within the price. And we really did eat and drink like kings. Their restaurants offer everything from basic fish and chips or pasta bolonese, pizza and chicken nuggets to chocolate-filled crepes, a gelateria by the beach and the new addition of an upmarket lobster bar.
We loved Nonna’s Italian House, which cooks the salmon, shrimps or pork at your table on a slab of boiling hot lava stone, as well as offering delicious Truffle pizzas and creamy burrata starters with juicy red tomatoes.
Our favourite restaurant was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the buzzy traditional Greek restaurant Tavernaki, one of three open air restaurants nestled around a cobbled yard. The menu was mouthwatering, with starters including moussaka with vegetables and sharing mezzo plates of tzatziki, fava beans, Greek salad, Bouyourdi, with feta cheese from Corfu, vinegar octopus with olive and oregano and grilled local cheeses. For main, we ate fish fillet with potatoes and garlic and ‘genista’ stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice and aromatic herbs.
We also enjoyed, Asiana, an Asian fusion restaurant and ate most frequently at the buffet which had mountains of healthy salads, pasta, fish and local delicacies.
There are seven village neighbourhoods at LUXME Costa Botanica, offering different types of village accommodation, The bedrooms have all been recently refurbished. As a family of five with an 13, 11 and 9 year olds, our mini villa had two bedroom and two bathrooms. It was modern, with newly refurbished bathrooms, one with a shower the other with a bath. Both rooms have a glass door leading to a small patio and seated area. The main bedroom is minimalist, but chic, with a breezy sandy beach feel to it with a double poster bed swathed in white organza netting and a large hallway between the rooms meaning that as family we had some privacy and space.
Though, to be honest, we barely spent any time in the room, the number of daily activities on offer meant that we were always out and busy or lounging by our favourite Palm Tree pool.
Anyone with a young family will know, that no matter where you are in the world, a day at a waterpark inevitably beckons. This hotel takes the need for a day trip away, thanks to its small, but perfectly formed onsite water park, with four slides of varying adrenaline-filled joy and a lazy river that kept my children entertained for hours each day, meaning we could take it in turns to sit by the swimming pool conveniently placed next to the slides so we could keep an eye on the action.
The hotel also offers a constant array of activities - including yoga, football, beach volleyball, kids cinema night, family disco, fire eaters’ dinner performance and more. We were in the mood for doing little more than sunbathing and relaxing, but the size and scale of the land meant that you were never disturbed by activities and could always find areas of quiet. So if you’re looking for an action-packed week or a total chill out like us, that involved lying on by the pool reading all day, this hotel has it all to offer.
Post our stay, the hotel completed their renovation of their state-of-the-art spa with its indoor swimming pool, so spa aficionados will not be disappointed! The spa has a hamman, sauna and private treatment rooms. Treatments at the Elixir Botanical Spa include facial and massages, as well as couples treatments and a full menu dedicated to children's and family wellness experiences. Bespoke treatment menus include the Special Therapies and the Elixir of Vineyards treatment, a unique massage using grape seeds, with anti-oxidant and detoxifying benefits.
The resort also features a newly opened fitness centre featuring a tennis academy, Padel court, outdoor gym and boxing ring.
The hotel is located an hour from Corfu town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We took a day trip to visit Antipaxos Blue Caves, where we all jumped into the a stunning baby blue lagoon, slightly spoiled by the fact there were another two ships full of people also jumping off at the same time! We loved Paxos, a tiny island with only 21 residents, traditional Greek restaurants and souvenir shops, surrounded by small fishing boats, and sandy beaches. It was the perfect day out, booked through the hotel. And if you're looking for something more bespoke you can hire your own boat to sail you for your own private trip to the blue lagoon and beyond.
All in all, a blissful week that I have recommended to so many friends who have loved it too!
Rates from €306 for a Botanica Room with private balcony.
