Villa Aurora, Avlaki, Kassiopi, Corfu

Villa Aurora couldn't have been more perfect for our 16, 18 & 19 year old kids and their friends post exams and gap year. This was a very special holiday for us and the villa worked perfectly for social group living with the open plan kitchen lounge, plentiful space around the pool and generous sized bedrooms. There are so many thoughtful and homely details that are just so welcoming from the stocked fridge (cold bottled water and beer particularly appreciated) and extra cushions for the sun loungers. The lavender scent is just divine in the evenings and the combination of the cultivated shrubs and olive groves allows for a lovely, gentle, not over curated outdoor space. I could write an essay on how much we loved so much of Aurora...we had 3 wonderful meals out 2 at Cavo Barbaro in Avlaki where we loved walking down and and back along the track and 1 at Tavernaki in Kassiopi where the kids continued to their big night out without problems at all returning back in a taxi at 3am. Also an excellent day out with San Stefano boats (though fuel was a bit more than expected!). Many thanks to Charles for such an easy booking process and help and advice and Natushka and her husband in Corfu as a reassuring presence on the ground if we needed them. Aurora made our kids talk and laugh together and put their phones down! And did I say about the views.....?! Stunning and the morning and evening light beautiful. The bar has been set extremely high with Aurora, we are now waiting for our kids to all get jobs and treat US to a return visit! Thank you Charles and Elspeth for sharing your gorgeous secret corner of Corfu.

An absolutely stunning villa and the location was perfect for getting away from the hustle, bustle and stress of everyday life. The villa itself is amazing and the pool area is beautiful. The rooms are spacious and air conditioning in the bedrooms was welcome. The outdoor eating area was perfect as in the shade most of the day and the insect screens made sitting and eating very comfortable. The local supermarket were great for deliveries and as it was our choice not to hire a car this proved to be invaluable. We took the decision to use local taxis as our holiday mantra was a complete getaway from everything... we certainly achieved that and recharged our batteries in this secluded and beautiful location.

We loved everything about our stay in this beautiful Villa. The Villa is supremely comfortable with everything you could possibly want for your stay. The pool is fabulous - big enough for the adults to swim and yet brilliant for the children. The views across to Albania are stunning - absolutely mesmerising. The location was ideal for us with a very well stocked supermarket a short drive away.

Villa Aurora was a home from home villa, well equipped, with drinks kindly left in the fridge. The view over Avlaki Bay and Albania was amazing. There is a protected wildlife peninsula below the villa so very few other houses are visible and it is very tranquil. There are lovely bays to swim in and plenty of walking and cycling in the area too. All in all a great place to stay on Corfu.

We have just returned from wonderful Villa Aurora after 2 weeks staying in this stunning villa with breath-taking views, super pool and so very peaceful, what more could we ask for. Our party consisted of seven with ages ranging from 10 to 70. This beautiful villa and it’s wonderful grounds meant everyone could find their own space if needed, so if two families wanted to holiday together, Villa Aurora has more than enough space. When we arrived (beginning of August) It certainly was very hot those first few days but the villa is so well positioned there is always a lovely breeze, which makes relaxing so much more comfortable, and with a fantastic sized pool it was very hard to drag ourselves away from our temporary home at the beginning of our holiday. We very soon felt relaxed and chilled, which was much needed after such a difficult year. Charles is very informative and suggested some wonderful restaurants which were not far from the villa. We travelled to them by car, but it is possible to walk to the two at Avalki. Our three favourite were the Eucalyptus, Cavo Barbaro, and Galini, where the quality of food and service were excellent, also Kerasia Taverna, but to be honest we never had a bad meal in any of them. We ate outside each time and I must say that, in these unprecedented times, all restaurants were very COVID aware and had hand sanitisers available with the waiting staff wearing masks.. We also enjoyed several cocktails at the Wave bar to finish off the evenings, what more could we ask for, each one had such wonderful views. However we had quite a few Villa Aurora BBQs, again with views to die for, wonderful kebabs, sausages and steak purchased from the local supermarket, order what you want and pick up the next day you will not be disappointed with the quality. Another added bonus and top marks to Charles is the recently added insect screens, around the dining veranda which were a real godsend and such a brilliant idea. This allowed us to eat our meals without any visits from the wasps, and yet still with that alfresco feeling. There are numerous places near to the villa where you can hire boats for the day. We hired from SQ Tiris in Agios Stefanos visiting beaches from Kassiopi round to Barbati, super swimming from the boat, fantastic scenery, we thoroughly enjoyed sunbathing on those very quiet beaches which most of the time we had to ourselves. Also a big thank you to Natushka & Yiannis who look after the villa and Natushka was there to greet us on arrival. Throughout our stay they were very informative and helpful, and a big thank you also to the cleaning staff who did such a brilliant job at keeping the villa spotless. Also the ‘Welcome pack’ was very much appreciated after such an early start from the UK. This has been our first visit to Corfu, and in these unprecedented times we probably did not venture as far as we would usually have done, however the villa is so appealing and well equipped we did not want to leave. We were recommended to try and stay somewhere towards the north end of the island, and by what we have seen, we think this was excellent advice as it is so beautiful. What a way to spend my husband’s big numbered birthday!!!!! Finally a big thank you to Charles and Elspeth for letting us stay at your beautiful Villa, and also for being so understanding from the very beginning in these difficult travelling times. We really have appreciated your kindness and professionalism especially when we had to change dates at the last minute. So to sum up we really cannot recommend this villa enough. We have stayed at numerous villas over the years and, in our opinion, this is up at the top with our other favourite. We hope to return again soon.

We ummed and ahed whether to continue with our booking to Corfu this summer of covid. So glad we did! The villa was lovely, the location incredibly peaceful and the weather beautiful. We were a family of 6 plus a friend for the youngest (aged 17). Everyone enjoyed it. The house is well appointed and large enough so we didn't feel on top of each other. There were plenty of options of where to sit to read/play games etc. The teenagers playing endless ping pong and escaped to Avlaki and Agios Stephanos, enjoying the freedom. The rest of us enjoyed relaxing by the lovely pool and deciding where next to eat. We were there for 10 nights & ate out for 8 of them and had good food 100% of the time. The other 2 nights we enjoyed the BBQ. We all managed a 10 mile walk in the mountains. Wasn’t meant to be a 10 miler but we got lost & think that the path according to the instructions no longer exists! We also rented out a big boat from Filipos & enjoyed a fabulous day at sea. The only downside were the wasps and mosquitos - take plenty of protection! Owner response - we have installed insect screens around the outdoor seating and dining areas so hopefully there will be no more un-invited guests!

Family of 6 spent a wonderful week here. Wish we were still there Lovely sea views, in a very peaceful and lovely villa. Beautiful pool and well appointed house. Air conditioning and all you would need. Owner is very welcoming and supportive, lots of helpful information. Local area is beautiful, lots of little bays and lovely tavernas. People very friendly.

After intensive researching online and endless family discussions, we decided that Villa Aurora, was perfect for our family of 7, the location, lovely spacious villa, in a beautiful setting, beach and very highly recommended tavernas nearby. So, after discussions with Charles, the owner of Villa Aurora, who answered all our questions and gave us information about the area etc, we voted unanimously in January to book a week in July. We booked our flights and we were looking forward to being able to meet up as a family. Our 6-year-old grandson loves swimming and he was so excited to at the thought having his own private swimming pool. However, it was not meant to be. As time went on the effects of the coronavirus became more obvious, even though our flights from Newcastle and Manchester were still scheduled to fly. When quarantine restrictions were introduced, we realised that with 3 key workers in the family, who would have to quarantine on return for fourteen days, we realised we would have to cancel our holiday. Throughout all this unsettling time we kept in touch with Charles and he was very understanding of out plight. When we finally made the very disappointing decision, that we could not risk travelling, and would have to cancel, he was wonderful, returning our deposit immediately, and we can only commend his professionalism and integrity. We hope that when the situation allows, we will be able to travel without the worry of quarantine, with confidence to visit Villa Aurora.

When we sadly had to cancel our holiday in July at Villa Aurora because of covid, the owner, Charles could not have been more helpful and sympathetic. He had every right to keep our deposit, but instead returned it immediately. What a contrast with certain travel companies and airlines! We hope to get to Villa Aurora some other time.

We were so disappointed not to be able to travel to Corfu and stay in this beautiful villa! We took ages to chose where we wanted to stay, the quality of the villa looked exceptional and we loved it’s gorgeous pool and proximity to the beached and we were excited to visit a Greek Island that we hadn’t been to before. Charles was so accommodating, none of us knew if we were going to be able to travel to Corfu with the uncertainty of Corvid. We kept in very close contact during the weeks and days before we were due to travel and paid nothing but the deposit. In the last few days before we were due to depart our flights were cancelled - we were devastated! I hope one day soon we will be able to re-book Aurora. Charles was brilliant; helpful, accommodating and very generously returned our deposit with no fuss, definitely an owner to be recommended! Thank you!

We have stayed at the wonderful Villa Aurora many times, and can highly recommend it. The location is perfect -very peaceful yet within easy reach of great restaurants and shops. The villa is equipped to the highest standards and beautifully maintained, with lovely gardens and a fantastic pool. Together with the amazing views - Perfect!

Villa Aurora is beautiful villa in a stunning setting not far from Avlaki Bay. We stayed as a family of five and we thought it was perfect. The villa is exceedingly well appointed, with everything you might need for a family holiday. The kitchen has everything you might need to cook up a delicious meal, and there is also barbeque by the pool side which we was fantastic for eating al fresco. There is a dishwasher and washing machine which was a definite bonus. During the day we spent a great deal of our time in the pool, or relaxing on sun loungers. We also went down into Avlaki and hired kayaks to explore the bay. We also hired a motor boat and took a trip down the coast line passed the Rothchild Estate, and saw The White House (The Durrells) from the sea. Inside, the air conditioning keeps the villa wonderfully cool over the summer months. The villa is kept clean and is beautifully maintained by the wonderful staff who will visit twice a week to service the villa. Throughout our stay, we were supplied with fresh linen and towels twice weekly.

What a wonderful property in a fabulous location - just idyllic for a great holiday. The house and grounds are a very high standard with lovely views across the water towards Albania. Pool is a perfect size for swimming those lengths to work up an appetite for a great dinner either at the house or at one of the many privately owned restaurants nearby - hard to choose which one to go to as they are all delicious. The layout of the house works well with various areas for sitting, dining, chatting with friends or finding a secluded corner to read your book. Will definitely return for another fabulous holiday - thank you

We booked the villa for a special family holiday and had a really wonderful time. The villa is beautifully laid out, extremely clean and worked really well for a family with adult 'children' as each of the rooms had its own bathroom/toilet. The location is wonderful, and we enjoyed our walk down the track to Avlaki beach. Agios Stefanos is a short car journey away so eating out in the evenings was easy although we had a couple of evenings in, making use of the barbecue. The swimming pool and table tennis meant that we had plenty to do at the villa, but we also hired a boat on two days and went snorkelling. A cleaner came in twice a week which was a real luxury, so we came back from a day out to find the place looking immaculate and beds all beautifully made. We really enjoyed Galini restaurant in Saint Stephanos and going down to the bar at Avlaki for a drink in the evenings. I would definitely recommend the villa to friends and family.

This was an attractive, spacious, comfortable and practical home in a wonderful location. We loved the views. The villa worked very well for us as grandparents, son, daughter and spouses with a toddler and 3 year old grandsons. It was safe for the children, and very well equipped for them and the adults. It was great not having to bring swimming towels in our luggage because they are provided. We had perfect weather with warm sunbathing sun every day and cooler evenings. We used the BBQ one evening and ate a main meal out on the other days. The pool is a good size, beautifully clean and looked fabulous lit up at night. We enjoyed all the beaches we went to. For the children we visited the sandy beaches of Agios Spyridon and Kalamaki which both had plenty of shallows for them to play in. We also enjoyed Avlaki, Kouloura and Karasia beaches. At Avlaki we had fun using the villa’s kayak which is housed at the sailing school. We also drove up to Old Perithia enjoying the stunning views en route. Every meal out locally was good - we most enjoyed Cavo Barbaro at Avlaki and the delightful fish taverna at Kouloura that we remembered from our previous visit to the area. For shopping - we bought bread from the Sinies traditional baker and amazing baklava from the patisserie there before it closed at the end of the season. The supermarket there was pricey so we largely used Nicos on the main road near Kassiopi which makes their own excellent tzaziki. Generally we found food to be costly compared with the UK. Hopefully we’ll be back soon for another very relaxing holiday

Villa Aurora was fantastic. Once we arrived (came up the wrong track to the house!...oops, very bumpy ride, but that was totally our fault for letting the sat nav take us that way!......) Should have kept to the brilliant directions given by Charles!..... Once we arrived and greeted by the lovely Yannis, we were all so pleased with the lovely Villa. It was so clean and welcoming, and the most amazing views across to Albania, we knew we were in for a wonderful week. The kids spent most of their time in the swimming pool, and Adults, a lot of time reading on the balcony. There is plenty of places to find a quite spot, and just relax. When the kids weren't in the pool they were in their own little cinema room, watching movies. We ate out quite a lot, and loved the 2 restaurants in Avlaki Bay, and surrounding areas. the food from the supermarkets is incredibly expensive, so definitely worth a small detour to one of the larger supermarkets before arrival...... All in all we would definitely recommend the Villa, its in such a beautiful spot, and the easy access to what we think is the most beautiful part of Corfu.

Villa Aurora ticks all the boxes... We have recently returned from 3 fantastic weeks at Villa Aurora. This is the third year running we have booked this villa despite never returning to the same property for any other holiday over the last 20+ years. Next year, due to a family commitment, we cannot return to Villa Aurora. As we sat in the property towards the end of our holiday considering options, we concluded that the reason we love this villa so much is because it ticks all the boxes on our holiday wish list. Why would you go anyway else and leave this to chance? The house is spotlessly clean, has great facilities including an excellent pool, well equipped kitchen and a high standard of furnishings throughout. The outdoor space is excellent with plenty of places in the shade or sun to relax or enjoy the truly spectacular view. Location is also high on our list of needs and in our view, you just cannot beat this area of Corfu with great beaches nearby, a huge selection of restaurants, fabulous scenery and plenty to do. This time we went on a day trip to Paxos (a ferry and a hire car rather than a tourist boat!), hired a boat for a day, used the kayak that belongs to the Villa and went to Corfu Town. All of which left us with great memories of our trip. Finally, Charles has been a pleasure to deal with over the last four years. Nothing is too much trouble and he is always available to answer any questions that we have had. If the owner cares about the quality of your holiday as much as you do then you are very likely to have a good time. We will miss Villa Aurora next year but for others considering filling our place, this property comes with our highest recommendation. Enjoy! The Jones Family P.S. Our suggestion last year for the addition of a drinks fridge was delivered this year so if you are hot and thirsty, this is also now fully covered!

Fantastic - stop hesitating and book it now! We stayed in Villa Aurora last year for the first time and booked it again for 2018 as soon as we got home. It is the perfect home from home: wonderfully equipped, lovely comfortable beds, just the right amount of space inside and outside, the aircon works perfectly, and very thorough cleaners come three times a week. And the views are incredible! If you ever want to leave the villa it is just a ten minutes into Kassiopi; Yannis' supermarket a few minutes away puts Waitrose to shame, and there are loads of good restaurants within 5-10 mins drive (our favourites are Taverna Avlaki on Avlaki beach, 10 mins walk from the villa; Petrino in Kassiopi; and Eucalyptus at San Stephano.) We hired a boat one day - from San Stephano - better apparently than Kassiopi as it can get quite choppy there in the afternoons when you're bringing the boat back - and had a fantastic lunch t Toula's in Agni. I cannot recommend Villa Aurora highly enough - honestly, save yourself another few hours of trawling the internet and just book it! The owner, Charles, is really helpful and a pleasure to deal with.

Stunning villa in amazing location We had a fantastic 3 week stay in this villa and are already planning our next visit. I cannot recommend more highly. Our grown up children joined us with our grandchildren and this house suited us all perfectly. Every home comfort is provided and cleaners come 3 times a week so its spotless. Cots and highchairs are available and there are stairgates too. Any queries were swiftly answered by the charming manager of the villa. We got into a routine of going down to Avlaki beach each morning and swimming in the crystal clear waters. Sometimes we walked down through the olive groves and other times we were very lazy and drove down! There's a great place on Avlaki bay to hire kayaks, stand up paddle boards and sailing dinghies for when we felt a bit more energetic. We'd then have coffee and ice creams at Cava Barbaro - the very lovely restaurant on the bay. Afternoons were spent around the beautiful pool - there's masses of space by the pool and plenty of shade if you want it. Evenings we sometimes ventured out to Kassiopi, San Stephanos or my particular favourite Kerasia. The latter has just one taverna and a bar - I'd swim in the sea while my husband contemplated the view over an ouzo. One highlight of our holiday was when we hired a boat from San Stephanos and motored down to Agni for lunch at Taverna Agni. Most of the time though I was content to sit and wonder at the amazing view down to Avlaki bay and across to Albania. My husband and I could sit in bed in the morning with our cup of tea and gaze across to Albania! Our children said that the villa was even better than the pictures.

We so enjoyed our stay at Aurora during a wonderfully sunny week in May, we are all talking about when to return! It was our first visit to Corfu and we loved it. The villa worked perfectly for 2 couples and 3 young children. It was really well equipped and spotlessly clean, good showers, well organised kitchen with ample crockery, fridge space, sharp knives, pots and pans etc. Very comfortable beds and effective and welcome a/c in the bedrooms. Good showers with plentiful hot water. Great covered seating area outdoors with stunning views across green hillsides, the sea and onto to the mountains of the Albanian coastline. Plenty of boat activity to watch with the thoughtfully supplied binoculars. An easy to use charcoal BBQ looked after us in the evenings. The surrounding area is charming and very picturesque, friendly and safe. Lots of fantastic beaches to explore and enjoy safe sea swimming. The villa is a very manageable drive from Corfu airport, the directions provided by Charles were spot on. We found the local supermarket a touch pricey, preferring Nikos supermarket on the road to Kassiopi and the supermarket in Kassiopi itself. We enjoyed hiring a boat from nearby Kassiopi and exploring the coastline, lazy lunches in the highly recommended taverna on Avlaki beach and an exhilarating and very twisty drive up Mt. Pandokrater for amazing views. Lots of swimming in the pristine and warm pool and relaxing poolside. In summary, the villa and location are perfect, and Charles and his team could not have been more helpful. Highly recommend.