Some resort names fade into the background, well mannered placeholders in a sea of beige branding. Elisso, nevertheless, lingers. The phrase means “whirl” in Greek — a reality that would really feel contrived if it weren’t so completely apt. The resort leans into the metaphor with panache: the swirling winds of Vasiliki Bay lure windsurfers from throughout Europe, whereas the environment of the resort itself swirls with power, heat and a way of movement. After every week of bobbing between Ionian islands with Sail Ionian’s casual flotilla, the grounding luxurious of Elisso was greater than a resort keep. It was a delicate re-entry, a tender touchdown with type.
The welcome
We arrived salty-haired and semi-tanned, with baggage in tow, straight from every week on the water. We knew we had been far too early for check-in, the General Manager Harris was on reception to welcome us regardless. Our luggage had been kindly saved while we took a brief stroll to a beachside taverna simply across the nook, returning in a few hours when our rooms had been prepared.
The room
Our ground-floor double suite was, in a phrase, was bathed in daylight and with a palette of unpolluted, impartial tones that contrasted with the blues of the pool and sky exterior. The patio neglected the pool, however with enough privateness that it was a really enjoyable out of doors house to get pleasure from.
Our sons had been posted upstairs in a normal twin room with its personal balcony. Both rooms supplied ample house, had been air-conditioned and geared up with high-quality furnishings and linen.
The rest room
An excellent resort rest room walks a tightrope between design and practicality. Elisso pulls it off with crisp lighting, fashionable glass basins, ample counter house and a shower with bathe over it. Complimentary toiletries from Anyah – an eco-friendly Italian model that focuses on sustainability and delicate formulations – are additionally equipped.
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The amenities
At the guts of the resort lies the out of doors pool: massive, clear, and surrounded by loungers that all the time appeared to have loads of availability regardless of us visiting in the course of the Summer season.
A couple of steps away is the spa, the place remedies vary from deep tissue physique massages with gua sha to enjoyable facials, and there’s a small however well-equipped health centre in the event you’ve someway not already expended all of your power swimming or windsurfing.
Breakfast is a Mediterranean-inspired buffet set-up with Greek yoghurt thick sufficient to face a spoon in, native honey, just-baked pastries, seasonal fruits and a wide range of cooked choices.
The terrace transforms within the afternoons right into a snack bar and loungey out of doors bar house — a intelligent and informal transition that lets the resort stretch into the night with out attempting too exhausting.
The location
Elisso Hotel enjoys a quietly sensible location — simply 100 metres from the golden sands of Paralia Vasiliki, and a straightforward 10-minute amble to the village correct. This a part of Lefkada is perhaps much less polished than the Instagram hotspots of Santorini or Mykonos, however all the higher for it.
The island itself has loads to supply guests – Porto Katsiki and Egremni seashores are only a brief drive away, and the shoreline’s dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters present the right picture-postcard bundle. For those that enterprise inland, the areas mountains are house to some extra rugged points of Lefkada, together with varied hikes and waterfalls. For most company, although, the actual attraction is correct there on the resort doorstep – the wind, the bay, and the sluggish drift between swimming, sunbathing and souvlaki.
Other good touches
From the second we arrived — early, sea-worn, and barely dishevelled — we had been met not with raised eyebrows however open arms. If you discover a little bit, you’ll discover hidden locations to calm down and unwind while a day by day maid service means all the things is stored spotless, with out it ever being intrusive, with complimentary bottled water usually replenished. These are maybe simply small touches, however made us really feel that the employees had been attentive and all the things quietly ran like clockwork.
The value
In peak season, rooms begin a really cheap €250 per night time. Off-season charges can dip to as little as €90, making it a sexy shoulder-season getaway. Joining the Elisso Rewards Club earns you a further 10% off on direct bookings.
The greatest bit
Location-wise, Elisso hits one thing of a candy spot. The resort is extraordinarily quiet but shut sufficient to the seashore you can wander down barefoot. Even when the village bars are buzzing with windsurfing power or the tavernas are energetic, you possibly can be part of the motion — or retreat from it — at will. This seamless entry to full of life and quieter points of Vasiliki is exactly what makes the Elisso Hotel the essence of an ideal vacation.
The remaining verdict
The Elisso Hotel will not be flashy, nor overly-fussy, however as an alternative a sound luxurious resort providing with a way of belonging. It’s a resort the place you’ll be remembered and welcomed — with out intrusion or extra, however with care and thoughtfulness.
After every week of casual crusing, the place logistics are unfastened and the horizon is all the things, Elisso supplied us with a lovely counterbalance — it’s a resort that pulls you in gently, leaving you with a tender swirl of fond reminiscences. It’s the sort of place you come back to. In individual, or in reverie. Or, in the event you’re like me, in writing — attempting to carry on just a bit longer.
Disclosure: This publish is sponsored by Elisso Hotel. Our journey was sponsored by AEGEAN Airlines.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has labored within the journey trade for greater than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. In addition to different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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