A messy adventure. If you had asked me to describe my recent travels, this would have been my first answer. As a group of five girls who had recently graduated from Roehampton University, this was the first time we had ever been away together. And as you would expect the alcohol consumption was at a new high with the introduction of inclusive cocktails at our hotel, Cyprotel Corfu Panorama. Every night we sat at the hotel bar with a grand display of drinks on our table. If you only had two Tequila Sunrises in front of you that was your queue to head back to the bar to pick up a few more and as the clubs were a 10 minute walk we used the hotel as our designated pre-drinking location.  Can you expect anything else from a group of 21 year olds who have spent 3 years labouring over their degree? Personally I can, my idea of a holiday doesn’t often involve peeing behind parked cars or screaming ‘Wonder Wall’ at the top of my lungs (both of which occurred). Now I don’t mean to act like the disappointed scholar because in all fairness I was the first to decorate Calypso toilets with the green tequila shots I had been drinking all night. These were not the prettiest of nights but a lot of our environment was very beautiful.  Corfu is a major holiday destination, mostly due to its sandy beaches, affordable pricing and convenient distance but because of this it doesn’t have many unturned pebbles. It also has an infamous reputation for teens to go a little wild which was only reinforced by our holiday. However this doesn’t undervalue the beautiful places we discovered travelling around the island. Here is a vague map of the best aspects of the island that I personally experienced. Luckily the island is very small so it is possible to travel to each corner of the isle for day trips.

Cyprotel Corfu Panorama  

North Western Corfu was our base during the holiday, it was here that we stayed at Cyprotel Corfu Panorama. This hotel is perfect if you are on a budget but do not want to sacrifice on location as the beach and strip is only a 10 minute walk away. There are a variety of clubs and restaurants in the town and while it does get rowdy in the early hours of the morning it is fairly well contained compared to larger resorts such as Kavos. The beach is beautiful and sandy but keep in mind there is a large stretch of shallow water which is handy for families with younger children.    The only major problem with the hotel is that the majority of the rooms are up a colossus hill which can make running up to your room for something very inconvenient, however they have compensated by running a transfer up and down the hill. (View of the beach from Cyprotel Corfu Panorama)  

Canal d’Amour                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Even the name of this place sparks interest and it should do. The Canal d’Amour, which means channels of love, are a series of rock formations made from narrow sea channels. The layers of rock sediment contrasted against the blue sea make this a beautiful place to visit. The best time to go is sunset where you can climb one of the rock formations and watch the falling sun. It is located in the town of Sadari, where you can find plenty of restaurants and it is only a stone throw away from the Cyprus Hotel Panorama. The history of this place, like most in Corfu, is inspired by mythology. The idea is that if you were an unmarried women all you had to do was swim down one of the channels and you would see your true love’s reflection in the water. Unfortunately none of us tested this theory so I cannot confirm whether this experiment works, although I feel sceptical. 

Kerkyra Town

   When travelling to Corfu going to Kerkyra is a must, often called Corfu Town. The island is so small that you can happily make this a day trip and most hotels will organise transfers. This place offers lots of history, such as the Old Venetian Fortress, and many restaurants and shop along the dockland and old district. But don’t be surprised to find rows of tourist shops along the busiest shopping districts which can ruin the authenticity of some areas.

  Paxos and Antipaxos

    Both Paxos and Antipaxos are off the Southern coast of Corfu and they were by far the most authentic and favourite part of my Greek experience. While there is not much to do on Paxos it is surrounded by turquoise water that is the perfect place for snorkelling and swimming. If you do go snorkelling keep an eye out for a pair of green sunglasses which I lost last time jumping off the back of a boat.    If you picture cobbled streets and coloured shutters, Antipaxos is the place to go, and luckily there are hotels available on the island. It is not a massive island but it is bordered by a long port full of boats of every size and colour, the best way to explore this place is by taking a relaxed stroll through the allies and search for a restaurant called ‘The Tavern’. It is located in an outdoor courtyard where a massive olive tree grows in the centre. There is Greek mythology surrounding this island too, the theory is that Poseidon stroke Corfu with his trident and broke a piece of the island off, Antipaxos, for him and his wife, Amphitrite, to have a haven away from everyone else. Excursions to these islands can either be booked through a tour company or be provided by your hotel.