What’s special about Dolicha Villas?

Great locations; Private pools; Highly luxurious; Close to beautiful beaches and coves; Sea views; Fully air-conditioner; Serviced daily; Free Wi-Fi Internet; Modern kitchens; Dishwashers; Washing machines.

Where are Dolicha Villas?

In the north of Kefalonia, near Fiscardo, the most beautiful village in Greece.

What’s the area like?

Greece has declared the area around Fiscardo an “area of great natural beauty” and passed laws to preserve and protect it. A dense forest reaches down to the shoreline, which is wrinkled with private coves. The sea is warm and usually calm. Fiscardo is a perfectly preserved Venetian fishing village that has become a major rendezvous point for yachtsmen and an exclusive holiday destination – including for the very rich on super yachts anchored in splendour outside the village’s small harbour. In Fiscardo, you are within easy reach of numerous other delightful islands – Ithaca, Lefkada and Meganisi included.

How do we get there?

By air or ferry. There’s an international airport at Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, an hour and a bit drive from Fiscardo. From April until October, the airport is well served by numerous daily, cheap charter flights from many European countries. In winter the island has regular flights to Athens. Some guests drive to the island using car ferries. There are good connections to Italy, the Greek mainland and the island of Lefkada. A pontoon bridge links Lefkada to mainland Greece. One of the better sites to search for cheap flights is www.skyscanner.org

What’s the food like?

Good and getting better all the time. There are some excellent traditional Greek tavernas and Italian cuisine is becoming popular.

How do we get about?

It’s best to hire a car if you want to explore. However, some people don’t want the bother and use taxis when they need them. Fiscardo is a leisurely ten-minute walk away from Fiskardo House and Villa Dolicha. Maganos is a ten-minute walk from Villa Bernice and Hilltop Villa.

When’s the best time to visit?

April is a month for those who like peace and tranquillity. I have a friend who swears the colours in April are more vivid than in any other month. It starts to get warm in April and the spring flowers start to blossom, but there are often rainy days. It’s a good month for walking and exploring; it’s not good for swimming unless you are tough, like my wife.

In May, it’s usually sunny and can get really hot but you might get some rain. The sea warms up. May is one of the most beautiful months in the north of Kefalonia – spring flowers are everywhere and the entire area feels fresh and new. There aren’t a lot of tourists so it’s easy to find a private cove all to yourself, but the tavernas are open and the owners glad to see you. It’s peaceful.

In June, summer is firmly in charge and usually offers hot, perfect weather.

The sea is warm, the days are long, the tavernas welcoming. It’s great!

July almost always has hot days and warm nights with no rain, or at worst the occasional shower. July is a very popular month and it’s advisable to book early to avoid disappointment.

August. Perfect weather, Fiskardo is bustling with people and the accents are mostly English with a dash of Italian, German, Dutch and Russian and Greek of course. Because August is traditionally holiday time in most of Europe, we advise you to book well in advance.

In September the weather is usually perfect but every now and then you get a year when it rains a bit. There are not as many people around but that means more peace, privacy and tranquillity.

October is Kefalonia’s best-kept secret. The weather is almost always good. The village is uncrowded and tranquillity reigns. You get hot days but generally I’d describe the climate as pleasantly warm. The sea temperature is perfect and a suntan easy to come by.

November is pretty much like April but warmer with less rain and the sea is still warm. However, most of the restaurants and tavernas are closed.

December can surprise you. You think it’s going to rain because, well, it is mid-winter, but often you have perfect sunny days, where all you need to wear are shorts and T-shirt. Only for those who like absolute peace and quiet. Bear in mind that only a few restaurants are open.

January, February and March. If you want sun, sea and people these are not the months for you. If you want absolute privacy and an utterly quiet life, then you are coming to the right place.

What household linen do you use?

We get a lot of questions about bed linen.

Guests have a choice of feather or hollow-fibre pillows. We use high-quality cotton sheets. Sheets are changed roughly every three days but can be changed more frequently on request. Our staff makes the beds and cleans the villa every day.

Our towels are high quality cotton, big and luxurious.

We supply beach towels that are more rugged.

Are the villas child-friendly?

All our villas are child friendly and baby cots are available. We offer a baby-sitting service at an extra charge.

Because Fiskardo House has some precious family pieces, the minimum age for this villa is six years. We were reluctant to introduce this because Fiskardo House is actually perfect for kids, but some costly restoration work forced our hand. We will waive the age restriction on pre-payment of a fully refundable breakables deposit.

Can I rent a boat?

Small motorboats are available in Fiscardo that are ideal for pottering up and down the cost and across the narrow strait to Ithaca. No licence is necessary for the boats, which are very easy to operate.