Villa Sikinos in Ithaca Greece is according the Conde Nast Traveller: One of the "Top 30 Villa Hideaways"
The main house (sleeps 10), an elegant. colo­nial-style villa surrounded by cypress and jasmine and faces the sea, only 25 meters from the water. The house is still wonderfully furnished with family antiques, paintings and prints. Each bedroom has polished wooden floors, high ceilings, and French doors leading out onto the garden. Nights are cool and comfortable with individually controlled air-conditioning, wooden shutters and insect screens at all windows, and crisp linen on the beds.

Location: Ithaca, the island of The Odyssey, is not only an island of exceptional beauty even in a country of beautiful islands, but also boasts a long history with fascinating glimpses of the Homeric and Venetian past hidden in her mountains and valleys. Skinos is a beachfront estate with its own yacht, speedboats, jetty and private beach area. It is set in its own outstandingly beautiful bay with 400 acres of pine-scented hills, cypress, olive and vine­terraces. The private boat Allegro and a skipper who once crewed for Jacqueline Onassis are available at Skinos. The island of Skorpios, belonging to the Onassis family, is a short hop away.

Accommodation: The main house (sleeps 10), an elegant. colo­nial-style villa surrounded by cypress and jasmine and faces the sea, only 25 meters from the water. The house is still wonderfully furnished with family antiques, paintings and prints. Each bedroom has polished wooden floors, high ceilings, and French doors leading out onto the garden. Nights are cool and comfortable with individually controlled air-conditioning, wooden shutters and insect screens at all windows, and crisp linen on the beds.

The spacious and comfortable living room provides books, records, CD player, hi-fi and games. There is also a house telephone and fax. A stone terrace overlooking the sea runs the width of the house, giving flexible living space.  The Wine House is a traditional farmer's cottage, offering two rooms (a double and a triple), with a vine-trellised terrace and beautiful views of the bay. A traditional winepress is housed in the cellar. If you are there at harvest time, you can help tread the grapes! Try the Piano House (one bedroom) for a little romantic privacy - a seven-minute walk along a little path leads to a stone house with a terrace, a piano, a double bed, fabulous views and its own beach.

Dining: Dining is one of Skinos's great pleasures. Those with appetites worked up by the sea, air and sport can look forward to beautifully prepared Greek home cooking, served out­side by candlelight.

Activities & daytrips: Fabulous swimming, water-skiing, sailing, dinghies, pedaloes, canoes and windsurfing all offer endless ways to enjoy the warm, calm waters in Skinos bay. The less active are offered jumbo hammocks and swings under the shady olive trees, and deck chairs and mattresses on the sandy beach.

The estate boat Allegro is a beautiful, wooden-hulled, 12-metre, traditional Greek motor-schooner. She sails at 9 knots and has a sunbathing area. The captain prepares memorable picnics on board with freshly­caught octopus, sea-urchins and lobsters. He can also prepare the fresh est kakavia (fish soup) you will ever have.

You can use the Allegro to visit a little fishing village, to enjoy an evening cocktail or to go fishing. The pretty and unspoiled port of Vathi is 3 km away.

Best time to travel: Between May and October, but Greece can be enjoyed al! year round.

Getting there: There are direct flights to Kefallonia or with a stopover in Athens. Ferry from Araxos or Preveza on the mainland is also possible. We are more than happy to reserve the most convenient connections for you.