MarBella Hotel

Ag. Ioannis Peristeron, Corfu, Greece

Practise your serve on tennis courts as you look out over the Ionian Sea, cool off in the stunning infinity pool and spend long, lazy days on the private Blue Flag beach – MarBella has more than enough ingredients for a thoroughly enjoyable week in the sun, and after a three-year refurbishment it’s putting its best foot forward this summer.

The makeover involved knocking through existing rooms to create spacious suites, several of which have private infinity pools. They’re naturally heated by the sun and achieve that elusive balance between refreshing and warm enough to bask in. If a roomy terrace with plenty of sunshine and shade sounds appealing, we’d recommend the Whirlpool Suites.

Although there are 384 rooms, everything from standard doubles to the presidential suite (honeymooners, look no further) feels private thanks to clever positioning of the six tiered wings. Out of the six restaurants, we recommend Comodo Italian for its outdoor/indoor atmosphere created by huge windows that are always open. The menu features Italian plates paired with Greek wines. It’s an unusual combination but it works perfectly. With beautiful swimming spots and crumbling Venetian architecture, Corfu is one of the prettiest Ionian islands. MarBella Beach is nestled on its south-east coast near Agios Ioannis, a quiet village shaded by ancient olive trees and surrounded by orange groves.