Shades of Blue

Melissa Porter relaxes in an elegant palette of colour and relaxation at the new MarBella Nido.

MarBella Nido is the latest brand new, elegant five-star, adult-only hotel to have opened its doors in the south of Corfu. Just a three-hour flight from Manchester and a 25-minute drive from Corfu airport, it proudly stands atop a raised elevation, majestically overlooking the Ionian Sea and adjacent to the infamous MarBella Corfu. This is a suite-only hotel with all of their 70 spacious offerings (min 25 sq m) including either a private pool or Jacuzzi. There are nine different room categories for guests to choose from, with each elegantly decorated room offering an espresso machine for early morning caffeine cravings, VIP treatment including a delicious local orange and gin combo welcome drink and sumptuous Gilchrist and Soames toiletries in bathrooms.

This entire site is owned by one family: Mr Vasillis Dracopoulos the grandson owns Nido and it was his grandfather who built the neighbouring family friendly MarBella Corfu hotel. Nido originally housed a mansion with a church called St John. The name came about because in years gone by it was a look-out post set up to alert the locals to pirates arriving at this part of the island and when spotted, islanders could protect their land and families. In  October 2016, the same owners bought what was formerly a 3-star hotel and renamed it Nido – or ‘nest’ in Italian. MarBella Nido is the pigeon’s nest and it’s from this warm and safe base you can enjoy your Corfu vacation.

My elegant suite overlooked the chic pool that faced the vast blue ocean. From my Jacuzzi, it felt like I was immersed in a 180-degree water wonderland. This aqua blue backdrop served as a canvas for the hotel’s elegant design palette of muted English countryside tones featuring pale blue and ochre.

Regal olive trees envelop the environment, sprinkled with plants, herbs and vegetables planted by the hotel’s large team of gardeners. Understated elegance designed to stimulate all of the senses required to inspire relaxation.

The hotel offers a personalised service and their mission is for the holiday experience to be a relaxing journey for its visitors: to provide solutions for all their clients’ needs and to alleviate any of the associated stress that comes from them excessively thinking. The hotel staff are certainly passionate and hired based on their professional personalities. Their, ‘How can I assist you?’ comes from the heart.

Once inside the Nido gates you’ll find all the facilities needed to keep you relaxed and recharged, including a well-equipped  gym, sauna and steam room. I encourage you to try one of their bliss-fuelled massages that left me feeling like I was walking on a fluffy cloud. Plus, for anyone who enjoys sand between their toes, they’ve a beach area opposite the hotel, accessible via crossing the small road.

The hotel delivers on its gastronomic promise and offers decadent breakfast and dinner buffets called St Giovanni. The food includes local and international flavours to satisfy all tastes buds. Do try their creamy omelettes, and smoothies created from local fruits, delicious. Their pool bar, Aquavit, is perfect for a midday snack and is where I ate the most delicious Greek salad and heavenly beef carpaccio.

Appagio (a place the wind doesn’t blow and you’re safe) offers Corfu cuisine with a premium twist. Two chefs with a Michelin star write the gourmet menu between Tuesday and Sunday. I recommend trying the local fish that was delivered whole and boned at my table, accompanied by the most delicious roasted juicy beets. Finally, Heritage is the main lobby bar where I sampled freshly squeezed blood red orange juice while watching dreamy jazz. The perfect ending to a perfect trip.

Sovereign Luxury Travel (01293 832 459; www.sovereign.com) has a seven night holiday to five star MarBella Nido Suite Hotel & Villas, on a B&B basis, from £1,021 per person. The holiday includes UK airport security fast passes and access to N°1 Lounges, private resort transfers and return flights from Manchester with TUI airways. Based on departures 12 October 2018.