Some lodge names fade into the background, well mannered placeholders in a sea of beige branding. Elisso, nonetheless, lingers. The phrase means “whirl” in Greek — a truth that might really feel contrived if it weren’t so completely apt. The lodge leans into the metaphor with panache: the swirling winds of Vasiliki Bay lure windsurfers from throughout Europe, whereas the ambiance of the lodge itself swirls with power, heat and a way of movement. After every week of bobbing between Ionian islands with Sail Ionian’s casual flotilla, the grounding luxurious of Elisso was greater than a lodge keep. It was a delicate re-entry, a delicate touchdown with model.
The welcome
We arrived salty-haired and semi-tanned, with baggage in tow, straight from every week on the water. We knew we had been far too early for check-in, the Basic Supervisor Harris was on reception to welcome us regardless. Our baggage had been kindly saved while we took a brief stroll to a beachside taverna simply across the nook, returning in a few hours when our rooms had been prepared.
The room
Our ground-floor double suite was, in a phrase, was bathed in daylight and with a palette of fresh, impartial tones that contrasted with the blues of the pool and sky outdoors. The patio ignored the pool, however with enough privateness that it was a really enjoyable outside house to take pleasure in.
Our sons had been posted upstairs in a regular twin room with its personal balcony. Each rooms provided ample house, had been air-conditioned and outfitted with high-quality furnishings and linen.
The lavatory
lodge toilet walks a tightrope between design and practicality. Elisso pulls it off with crisp lighting, fashionable glass basins, ample counter house and a shower with bathe over it. Complimentary toiletries from Anyah – an eco-friendly Italian model that focuses on sustainability and delicate formulations – are additionally equipped.
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The amenities
On the coronary heart of the lodge lies the outside pool: giant, clear, and surrounded by loungers that at all times appeared to have loads of availability regardless of us visiting throughout the Summer season season.
A number of steps away is the spa, the place remedies vary from deep tissue physique massages with gua sha to enjoyable facials, and there’s a small however well-equipped health centre in the event you’ve someway not already expended all of your power swimming or windsurfing.
Breakfast is a Mediterranean-inspired buffet set-up with Greek yoghurt thick sufficient to face a spoon in, native honey, just-baked pastries, seasonal fruits and quite a lot of cooked choices.
The terrace transforms within the afternoons right into a snack bar and loungey outside bar house — a intelligent and informal transition that lets the lodge stretch into the night with out making an attempt too laborious.
The placement
Elisso Resort enjoys a quietly good location — simply 100 metres from the golden sands of Paralia Vasiliki, and a straightforward 10-minute amble to the village correct. This a part of Lefkada could be much less polished than the Instagram hotspots of Santorini or Mykonos, however all the higher for it.
The island itself has a lot to supply guests – Porto Katsiki and Egremni seashores are only a brief drive away, and the shoreline’s dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters present the right picture-postcard bundle. For many who enterprise inland, the areas mountains are residence to some extra rugged facets of Lefkada, together with numerous hikes and waterfalls. For many visitors, although, the actual attraction is true there on the lodge doorstep – the wind, the bay, and the gradual drift between swimming, sunbathing and souvlaki.
Different good touches
From the second we arrived — early, sea-worn, and barely dishevelled — we had been met not with raised eyebrows however open arms. In the event you discover slightly, you’ll discover hidden locations to chill out and unwind while a each day maid service means the whole lot is stored spotless, with out it ever being intrusive, with complimentary bottled water commonly replenished. These are maybe simply small touches, however made us really feel that the employees had been attentive and the whole lot quietly ran like clockwork.
The associated fee
In peak season, rooms begin a really affordable €250 per evening. Low season charges can dip to as little as €90, making it a beautiful shoulder-season getaway. Becoming a member of the Elisso Rewards Membership earns you a further 10% off on direct bookings.
The very best bit
Location-wise, Elisso hits one thing of a candy spot. The lodge is extraordinarily quiet but shut sufficient to the seashore which you could wander down barefoot. Even when the village bars are buzzing with windsurfing power or the tavernas are energetic, you’ll be able to be part of the motion — or retreat from it — at will. This seamless entry to energetic and quieter facets of Vasiliki is exactly what makes the Elisso Resort the essence of an ideal vacation.
The ultimate verdict
The Elisso Resort is just not flashy, nor overly-fussy, however as an alternative a sound luxurious lodge providing with a way of belonging. It’s a lodge the place you’ll be remembered and welcomed — with out intrusion or extra, however with care and thoughtfulness.
After every week of casual crusing, the place logistics are free and the horizon is the whole lot, Elisso supplied us with a stupendous counterbalance — it’s a lodge that attracts you in gently, leaving you with a delicate swirl of fond reminiscences. It’s the type of place you come to. In particular person, or in reverie. Or, in the event you’re like me, in writing — making an attempt to carry on just a bit longer.
Disclosure: This publish is sponsored by Elisso Resort. Our journey was sponsored by AEGEAN Airways.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxurious Journey Weblog and has labored within the journey trade for greater than 30 years. He’s Winner of the Improvements in Journey ‘Finest Journey Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. Along with different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of many world’s finest journey blogs” and “finest for luxurious” by The Telegraph.
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