Pleasantly surprised: that was the emotion detected on every single diner’s face after a post-supper shot of honey-infused tsikouda, a Greek tipple more commonly known as raki. The fiery and sweet spirit didn’t burn our throats, but instead perfectly rounded off a tantalisingly traditional dining experience at Danilia Village and was one of many new flavours a group of travel advisors discovered during an alfresco evening in Corfu.
The trip with Grecotel Hotels & Resorts and Indulgent Escapes by Jet2holidays was the first TTG Luxury Journey since 2020, celebrating the chance to give agents enriching experiences in destinations with travel partners around the world. The hotel group’s director of sales for the UK and luxury, Konstantinos Sinis, was the brains behind sampling the honey-infused tsikouda, and helped showcase other Greek delicacies made with local produce such as braised rooster with rigatoni, loukaniko (sausages) and spinach-stuffed crepes.
Something of a hot-spot restaurant and tourist attraction on the island, Danilia Village will be recognisable to some film and TV buffs from its use as a film set for the popular British comedy-drama series The Durrells, as well as the 1981 James Bond blockbuster For Your Eyes Only and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, which is scheduled for release this September. The colourful 1930s replica village is also home to a museum of ancient Corfiot artefacts, a souvenir shop and agricultural apparatus.
“Danilia Village is something unique,” comments Matthew Sanders, senior travel consultant at Scotts Travel, who joined the trip. “It’s such a lovely place to spend an evening.” The atmosphere is helped by the village’s rustic paved courtyard edged by weathered farmyard buildings and a butter-yellow church, as well as its smiley team members and tranquil ambience.
It’s also handy for the host hotel for this trip, being just a 10-minute drive from Grecotel Corfu Imperial, and the group benefited from a complimentary transfer between the two. Guests at this five-star property on the island’s east coast can also make the most of The Dine Club, a culinary concept offering one free meal at Danilia Village for those on a half-board basis staying seven nights or more. The Dine Club also includes a complimentary a la carte dinner at an in-resort restaurant of guests’ choice; Italian eatery Trattoria is one such option, where we were blown away by every dish.
“My favourite meal was at Trattoria,” says Ross Johnson, owner of Travlux. “The quality of the food was excellent, as was the selection on the menu and the service.” Those menu highlights included beef-smoked Nubulo with tartufo cream; freshly made tortelli stuffed with porcini mushrooms, Parmesan and truffle; and seabass in a fragrant saffron sauce. “It was such a feast,” adds Catherine Dorsett, travel consultant at Colchester Travel. “Everything tasted wonderful and the courses just kept coming!”
Even if you’re too full for dessert, Corfu Imperial’s gelateria just around the corner provides a little extra temptation and is open from 11am until 10pm (between June and September) – perfect for satisfying afternoon sugar cravings and located just above one of the hotel’s many sandy beaches to provide divine sea views.
Rooms with a view
Ocean vistas are a regular feature at Corfu Imperial. “There are 300 glorious rooms and every single one has a sea view,” explains Scotts Travel’s Sanders, with Hannah Alexander, a travel consultant at Off Broadway Travel, adding: “You just look out of your window every morning and feel like you’re in paradise.”
Alexander was also impressed by the variety of room types, with Corfu Imperial offering a choice of suites, bungalows and villas – each one as elegant as the other. “My top selling tip would be to highlight the variety of room types,” she says. “There is a huge range, going from the standard lead-in suites to massive villas with private pools – there are tons of options for all different types of client, including families.”
The group were staying in a range of areas of the resort, some in the Imperial Building – home to the main hotel with reception, large communal pool and breakfast restaurant Mon Repos – while others were in the swim-up bungalows of the Corfu Gardens Collection and the Waterfront Collection’s villas, which have private pools and sun decks with direct sea access.
“All the rooms were so clean and modern, with lots of space,” recalls Emma Morgan, a sales consultant at La Vida Travel. “My room was the swim-up bungalow, and it was amazing. The terrace is the perfect size to come back to and chill out on in the evening.”
“The swim-up pool is a showstopper!” adds Colchester Travel’s Dorsett, while Scotts Travel’s Sanders was in one of the Imperial Building’s Deluxe Suites and said it gave a “massive wow factor upon entry”.
“Traditionally you open a room door to a bed and bathroom, but in the suite, first you see living space and an unspoilt view of the bay, then you go to the adjacent room, which is the bedroom, and that has another stunning view and a massive, inviting bed. It’s just the spot for a really special stay,” Sanders adds.
Travlux’s Johnson, meanwhile, loved the fact there was “plenty of space, it’s beautifully decorated and there’s a wonderful sunrise view from the balcony”.
With around 50 room types, agents agreed there was truly no preference that can’t be met. Private beach required? No problem. Party of 12? Absolutely. One handy tip when considering accommodation options at Corfu Imperial is that it’s possible to mix ’n’ match. The villas and bungalows can be sold individually for couples and smaller families or in bulk for larger groups, which could include multigenerational families or groups of friends.
The swim-up bungalows, for example, have four rooms per block and share a pool, so one can be sold to a solo traveller or couple, or four could be sold to a group of eight. This flexibility with booking options was taken as a sign of things to come, with nothing too much trouble for the staff, and every guest made to feel special for the duration of their stay.
“The incredible staff and attention to detail at this property are second to none – it’s a true five-star luxury property,” says Dorsett.
Isle of plenty
Corfu Imperial is just one of four gorgeous Grecotel properties on the Greek island, with the latest addition being Lux Me Costa Botanica. The TTG Luxury Journey took place just one week before this north-coast property was due to welcome its first-ever guests, so the group were permitted a sneak peek. They immediately fell in love with Costa Botanica, highlighting its Tuscan-esque Country and Summer Houses, central Piazza Popolare, and 1,000-metre-long sandy beach as key selling points.
