Alice and Nadia in Corfu

Alice says, “We put ourselves in the shoes of new solo travellers, because a lot of our tour planning and conversations with our customers is based around someone taking their first vacation with us.

We have arrived !

Ah… the blue sky and the sun of Corfu. At the airport we immediately spotted a Solos sign and Haris (the hotel owner’s son Kiki) took our cases and put us on a lovely transfer to the Aronda Hotel in Dassia Beach which was a took about 20 minutes. Dassia is a peaceful location by the sea and only a five minute walk to the beach from the hotel. After dropping off our bags, we went for a walk and had the first of many caramel iced coffees! In addition to a cafe, supermarket, pharmacy and ATM, there are plenty of restaurants and bars by the sea near the hotel. A bus stop right outside the property will take you directly to Corfu Town and Gouvia Village.

The charming Aronda and Kiki

The one thing our guests talk about a lot is Kiki and her wonderful home cooking. I couldn’t wait to try it myself! Kiki and her family look after you every step of the way and nothing was too much for them – she makes the holiday with her warm hospitality. The first night we all had delicious moussaka and the next night we enjoyed a fantastic BBQ at Aronda. It was a relaxed and convivial evening where everyone got to know each other.

A fully stocked bar allowed us to have drinks throughout the day, and they even went so far as to fix us lunch so we didn’t have to leave the pool.

Some people were nervous at first, but by the end of the trip everyone relaxed. Aronda House is for Solos guests only and we have seen with our own eyes how friendships are formed and how easy it is to maintain them throughout a holiday.

Our guide, Monica

Monica organized everything, kept the days running smoothly, and made sure there was always a plan for dinner in case anyone needed company. During the week we had a few emergency dentist appointments and Monica drove the guests where they needed to go and made sure they didn’t miss anything. She went out of her way to make sure we had a great time – showing us the best places to go and showing us around the area.

Exploring…so much to see

Mid week we took the bus to Gouvia for a traditional Greek meal. The food was spectacular especially the Kleftiko lamb which is slow cooked lamb, potatoes and vegetables cooked in a paper bag to retain all the juices. The restaurant also offers amazing entertainment and Greek dancing to get you into the holiday spirit. One of our favorite evenings was in Corfu Town, where we watched the sun set over the ancient fortress from a rooftop terrace with a cold Mythos beer before joining Monica and enjoying a delicious Greek wine. After a mooch around the old town, we finished with traditional gyros for only $3 before taking a cab back to Aronda.

On our penultimate evening, we explored the picturesque village of Paleokastritsa. The city is dominated by a 19^ecentury monastery and there are several beaches to explore. The views from the monastery were spectacular. Guests gathered at the beach for cocktails overlooking the sea and we then headed to a restaurant in the cliffs with postcard-perfect views – the short climb was well worth it!

We sail

On the boat trip to Corfu on our last day, we met Solos tennis coach Mark. The boat stopped at a beautiful beach for snorkeling and a delicious barbecue was served on the beach. While relaxing in the sun, we all talked about our reasons for traveling solo and it was so inspiring to hear each person talk about what this vacation really meant to them.

The boat continued to the fishing village of Kassiopi where we ate an ice cream with a view of the port. We then went back on board for a last swimming stop in superb caves. We jumped off the side of the boat into the warm sea and many guests took the opportunity to swim in the luminous blue hues of the caves. Suffice to say that our week of vacation was a great success!

Do you like the sound of this holiday? We still have places left for our Solo trips to Corfu this summer. Visit www.solosholidays.co.uk or speak to one of our friendly team today – or ask Nadia, who can give you her first-hand advice.

0208 951 2900