Our week in Corfu – test-driving a Solos holiday
What’s is like to join a Solos Holiday group in Corfu? We sent team members Alice and Nadia ‘out of office’ for a week
Alice says: “We put ourselves in the shoes of first-time Solos travellers as so much of our tour planning and conversations with customers is based around someone taking their first holiday with us.
We’ve arrived!
Ah... the blue skies and sunshine of Corfu. At the airport we immediately spotted a Solos sign and Haris (the son of the hotel owner, Kiki) took our cases and put us in a lovely transfer to the Aronda hotel in Dassia Beach, which took about 20 minutes. Dassia is a peaceful, beachside location and it’s only a five-minute walk from the beach to the hotel. After dropping our bags, we went for a stroll and had the first of many caramel iced coffees! As well as a café, supermarket, pharmacy and ATM, there are plenty of beachfront restaurants and bars near the hotel. A bus stop right outside the property takes you straight to Corfu town and the village of Gouvia.
The charming Aronda and Kiki
The one thing our guests talk a lot about is Kiki and her wonderful home cooking. I couldn’t wait to try it for myself! Kiki and her family look after you every step of the way and nothing was too much for them – she makes the holiday with her warm hospitality. The first night we all tucked into a delicious moussaka and the next evening we enjoyed a fantastic BBQ at the Aronda. This was a relaxed, sociable evening where everyone got to know each other.
A fully-stocked bar meant we could enjoy drinks throughout the day, and they even went as far as making us lunch so we didn’t have to leave the pool.
Some people were nervous to start with, but by the end of the trip everyone relaxed. The Aronda house is just for Solos guests and we saw first hand how friendships were made and how easy it was to maintain these throughout the holiday.
Our Tour Leader, Monica
Monica organised everything, kept the days running smoothly and made sure there was always a plan for dinner in case anyone fancied company. During the week we had a couple of emergency dentist appointments and Monica drove the guests where they needed to go and made sure they didn’t miss out. She went out of her way to ensure we had a great time – showing us the best places to go and giving us tours around the area.
Exploring… so much to see
Mid-week we took the bus to Gouvia for a traditional Greek meal. The food was spectacular, particularly the Lamb Kleftiko, which is slow cooked lamb, potatoes and vegetables cooked in a paper bag to keep all the juices in. The restaurant also has amazing Greek entertainment and dancing to get you in the holiday spirit. One of our favourite evenings was spent in Corfu Town where we watched the sun set over the Old Fortress from a rooftop terrace with a cold Mythos beer before joining Monica and sampling some delicious Greek wine. After a mooch around the old town we finished off with some traditional gyros for just $3 before getting a taxi back to the Aronda.
On our penultimate evening we explored the picturesque village of Paleokastritsa. The town is overlooked by an 19th-century monastery and there are several beaches to explore. Views from the monastery were spectacular. Guests gathered at the beach for cocktails with a sea view and we then headed to restaurant up in the cliffs with postcard perfect views – the short climb was well worth it!
We are sailing
During the Corfu Boat Trip on our last day, we met up with Solos tennis coach Mark. The boat stopped off at a beautiful beach for snorkelling and a delicious BBQ was served on the beach. Relaxing in the sunshine we all talked about our reasons for travelling solo and it was so inspiring to hear each person say how much this holiday truly meant to them.
The boat continued to the fishing village of Kassiopi where we had an ice-cream overlooking the harbour. We then re-boarded for a final swimming stop at some stunning caves. We jumped off the side of the boat into the warm sea and many guests took the opportunity to swim in the luminous blue hues of the caves. Suffice to say our week away was a resounding success!
Do you like the sound of this holiday? We’ve still got spaces left on our Solos trips to Corfu this summer. Visit www.solosholidays.com or speak to one of our friendly team today – or ask for Nadia, who can give you her first-hand tips.
