"Ithaca is a dream, Vathi is gorgeous, and the Perantzada is the jewel in the crown. The town itself was rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake, but the architecture gives no hint of this: neo-classically-inspired houses smartly dressed in summer colours horseshoe around a shimmering Mediterranean harbour, giving the impression that you’ve washed up on the set of a Merchant Ivory film. Pavements buzz with life, bars fill, locals and tourists dine at waterside restaurants. This 19th-century, Schiller-designed house sits on the quiet side of the bay. Its formal exterior belies the crispest of contemporary interiors, the stuff of glossy magazines. Bold bedrooms - most with sea views - come in filmscreen white, with funky fabrics in bubblegum pink, electric green, vivid yellow (don’t come looking for greys or browns). Chandeliered lounges, rug-strewn terraces and the small infinity pool offer gorgeous views, with the mountain and town reflected in clear blue water. Fine bathrooms, a small bar and staff that care: a great little place. Highs We love the beautiful town of Vathi – a friendly, unspoilt place hidden in a deep, sheltered inlet You'll never tire of the views across the bay to the mountains rising behind The bedrooms are very groovy: certainly a cut above most Greek hotels This is a bustling harbour, offering boat trips to beaches along the coast Lows No airport on Ithaca, so you are reliant on the sporadic ferry services which often stop by mid-afternoon Prices are getting steep, especially given that service can be a little thin on the ground No restaurant in the hotel, but it's only a short walk" - Tom Bell