Villa Victoria - Acharavi, Corfu, Greek Islands

Painted pale yellow in traditional Corfiot country-style, the attractive Victoria stands off the main coastal road and is surrounded by lovely lawns speckled with olive, lemon, orange and avocado trees.

Approached along a driveway shared with its neighbour, Villa Venus, it offers light, airy accommodation over a single storey and is comfortably and elegantly furnished with tasteful touches such as cast iron beds, floor rugs and muted colours on the walls. A pleasant, cosy sitting room is arranged with bamboo furniture and centres around a brick fireplace, and the two delightful bedrooms both have ensuite shower rooms.

With escape written all over it, one lovely feature of the Victoria is its beautiful garden area. Covered patio areas provide refreshing shade for when the sun gets too hot, as do several mature trees. However, the centrepiece of the garden is the large pool, whose bordering terraces are bathed in sunshine nearly all day long. Sunbeds make the pool terrace a terrific spot for stretching out and topping up your tan, and a patio table and chairs provide plenty of scope for lazy outdoor breakfasts and dinners. The finishing touch is an enticing barbecue which provides even more reason to spend time outdoors enjoying the simple pleasures of home cooked al-fresco meals - the nearby minimarket providing many of the local ingredients.

Acharavi, with its main pebble beach and lively bars, shops and restaurants is within a kilometre from the villa along the main road.