One of the first Greek islands to suffer from vulgar mass tourism in the 1960s, Corfu has squandered
much of its natural beauty to demands of cut-price holiday firms. Beautiful bays have been scarred by cheap hotels, happy hour bars and noisy discos. Yet some of the loveliest beaches and most romantic villages can be found just a few minutes walk away. The remote west, in particular, can still lay claim to unspoiled beaches and some impossibly beautiful scenery.

CORFU OVERVIEW
A favourite since Victorian times Corfu is still the most popular Greek island for Brits. Around 490,000 went at the last count, more than Crete or Rhodes and 10,000 Brits now live there. Cheap air travel once made it a major target of downmarket package holiday firms and in the 70s its lager-and-chips reputation was a byword for the vulgar face of the British abroad.
Cement replaced cypress as heartless hotels and sprawling holiday resorts proliferated. Corfu beaches were scarred and once-peaceful hamlets heaved with the cream of the UK's brain dead drunks. Fortunately the worst was contained along the narrow coastal strip north and south of Corfu town, leaving many parts of the island relatively unscathed. That said beaches are some of the best in Greece and with 31 of them designated blue flag they are the cleanest and safest. Corfu resorts that avoided the cement mixer are still the loveliest in Greece and the regenerated Corfu town itself is one of the finest, if most expensive, to be found in the Greek islands. North Corfu is dominated by mountains while the centre and south are home to lush farmland and islanders that are famously friendly - even by Greek standards. Corfu is also the nearest Greek island to the UK with around three hours flight time.

CORFU GREECE HOLIDAYS
Holidays in Corfu are packed with variety. Described as the Emerald Isle, the Garden of Eden, the Happy isle and even – by Homer – as a rich and beautiful land, this island has large modern resorts, tucked away fishing villages, myriad beaches ranging from loose pebbles to gorgeous sandy sweeps and hidden inlets along its coastline. It also features wide fertile plains, towering mountains giving commanding views of the island and beyond (from Mount Prantokrator you can glimpse Italy!) and a huge diversity of wildlife.
Take your holidays in Corfu and you can expect to come face-to-face with over 600 species of wild flowers…and a surprising number of exotic birds – including pelicans and hoopoes, golden orioles and bee eaters. As well as creatures like foxes and pine martens and even the island's famous wild tortoises! So last minute holidays in Corfu are full of surprises and even cheap holidays to Corfu are full of richness; especially if you like to throw a little sightseeing into the sea, sun, sand and nightlife mix. Corfu - having been prized by many nations, including the Corinthians, the Romans, the Venetians, the Byzantines, the French and the British - has had a rollercoaster of a history, as evidenced by its village architecture, fortresses, museums, temples and churches. Added together, it means that holidays to Corfu are always much more than the sum of their parts. Hire a car and explore to make the most of your summer holidays to Corfu.

CORFU HIGHLIGHTS
Aqualand: No trip to Corfu would be complete without a visit say many visitors. It's the second largest waterpark in Europe with plenty of slides, rides and activities for adults and children and reasonably priced. Some of the rides are a bit dodgy, though and you can end up with burns, and grazes.
Walking trail: Corfu's long-distance footpath is said to meet all the expectations of the first hikers from the UK. Around 220 km long it round the length of Corfu island from the southerly white cliffs of Arkoudillas to Cape Agia Ekaterini in the north. Paths have been cleared and way-marked with yellow signs. There are 11 daily walks and terrain varies, from rough tracks to cobbled mule paths, minor roads and beaches. The best months to follow the trail are from February to June and from September to November.

FLYING TO CORFU GREECE
Corfu has an international airport about 3km south of Corfu town. It's notorious for long delays and poor facilities (see LOW LIGHTS above). It is clean and modern but only has basic facilities. There is a single terminal building for both international and domestic flights. As well as the many package charter flights there are three flights daily to Athens and to Thessaloniki on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Olympic Airlines and Aegean Airlines are the main carriers. AirSea Lines now runs a scheduled seaplane service to Paxos and Ioannina. For information call the airport on (26630) 30180.

FERRIES TO CORFU GREECE
A ferry connection from Igoumenitsa runs every day, 6 am to 10 pm. There are two types of ferries : the open ferry is cheaper but takes 1 hour and 45 minutes while the larger ferry takes 1 hour. From the port of Igoumenitsa you can also sail to the southern part of Corfu at Lefkimi.
Daily ferry departures are also available from Patras. Every Friday a ferry links Corfu to the Sagiada, on the mainland 40-45 minutes and, four times a week, a ferry goes to Paxi, via Igoumenitsa. Corfu is also on the ferry route between Italy - Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Trieste and Venice. For the Corfu port authority telephone (26630) 32655.


Corfu resorts:
Paleokastritsa, Messonghi, Moraitika, Agios Gordis, Benitses, Kassiopi, Gouvia, Ipsos, Dassia, Kavos

CORFU HOLIDAY REPORTS
Corfu was bliss! - Karen and James. Date of travel: Jun 2006
Sidari - Mandi. Date of travel: Aug 2005