Zante Maris Suites Hotel

Greece

Tell someone you’re going to the island of Zante and you’ll be met with one of two responses: confusion or condolences. Confusion because they can’t fathom why you’d want to holiday somewhere that has flown the Brits aboard flag since the Nineties, and condolences because they think you’ve made a mistake. The mistake, however, is firmly in the hand of people who have overlooked this Ionian island for far too long. Up in the Planos hills you’ll find a 45-suite bohemian beauty with interiors that mix the hedonism of Ibiza with the laid-back lustre of Los Cabos. Guests are likely to be veterans of the two; found sipping ginger iced tea around the polished concrete sunken pool bar. Elsewhere you’ll find suites with infinity pools big enough to swim lengths in, daybeds shaded by olive trees and a lot of rattan, all of it created and constructed by local craftsman. The carpenter who designed, sourced and built the restaurant was also our captain for a speedboat tour of the island – a must, by the way.

Doubles from £200. zantemarissuites.gr balsamicospeedboats.com

Words by Fleur Rollet-Manus