Escape to Paradise: Ipsos Di Mare Hotel, Corfu Island Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Ipsos Di Mare Hotel, Corfu Island Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: (Almost) Ipsos Di Mare Hotel, Corfu - My Chaotic Greek Odyssey!
Right, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to unleash on you my experience at the Ipsos Di Mare Hotel in Corfu. Forget those perfectly curated Instagram posts – this is the real deal. And I'm warning you now, I'm no travel blogger. I'm just some dude who stumbled into paradise (or, you know, tried to) and lived to tell the tale.
First Impressions (and the Dreaded Check-In):
Okay, first things first: Corfu is stunning. Like, jaw-droppingly, postcard-worthy stunning. The hotel itself? Well, let's just say it's got "character." The exterior… it's got a kind of mid-century chic thing happening, except "chic" might be stretching it a bit. Getting there was a breeze thanks to the airport transfer (thank goodness, because Greek roads are… an experience). The car park [free of charge] was a welcome surprise.
The real adventure began at check-in/out [express]. Or, rather, it should have been express. Let's just say the queue was a bit… let's channel our inner Greek. We’re not talking ancient times’ long, but close. I felt myself ageing. Eventually, a weary staff member greeted me. Thankfully, the front desk [24-hour] was there, and the concierge, bless their hearts, were trying their best. Contactless check-in/out was available, but I think they were still working it out. The elevator was… okay. Let's just say it wasn't the Ritz, but it did the job.
The Room: My Personal Sanctuary (Minus the Sanctuary Bit):
The room itself? Ah, the room. Non-smoking, air-conditioned, thankfully. The air conditioning in public area was also a godsend, because, well, Greece is hot! The desk was functional, and hey, I had Wi-Fi [free]! which was pretty important, even if the speed was a tad slower than I was hoping for. There was a laptop workspace, but I ended up mostly using my bed.
The bathrobes and slippers were a nice touch, a hint of luxury that the rest of the room almost lived up to. Now, the bathtub… it was in the right place, and the separate shower/bathtub was a bonus, even though the water pressure was more of a gentle suggestion than a full-on blast. The hair dryer did its job, though I opted to let my hair dry naturally, because, hey, Greece. There were two extra long bed with linens, which were comfortable to sleep in.
Things that Mattered (and Didn't):
- Cleanliness and Safety: Let's be real, this is what everyone cares about these days. The hotel was trying. There was a daily disinfection in common areas, and they had hand sanitizer everywhere. They even used anti-viral cleaning products, which was reassuring. The staff trained in safety protocol, also tried to work through the chaos. Rooms sanitized between stays was a good touch. The doctor/nurse on call was the cherry on top (and believe me, I needed it after that check-in).
- Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Breakfast [buffet] was… well, it's a buffet. The Asian breakfast was a nice touch, even if it was a bit… European Asian, if that makes sense. The Western breakfast was also nice, and I had the breakfast takeaway service once, which was a good option. The coffee/tea in restaurant was strong and necessary. I never went to the vegetarian restaurant. The poolside bar was my happy place.
- Things To Do / Relax: The swimming pool [outdoor] was perfect, especially the pool with view - I spent hours there. They also had a Fitness center, and a Spa/sauna, which I never really used. They have Body wrap and Massage, again, not for me.
The (Slightly Messy) Breakdown:
- Accessibility: I didn't need full accessibility, but I noticed the facilities for disabled guests were there. The elevator was crucial, and I saw the facilities for disabled guests were available, which is a big plus.
- Internet Access: Okay, the Internet access – wireless (the Wi-Fi [free] I mentioned) was a lifesaver, but the speeds felt a bit patchy, especially during peak hours. But hey, that's life, right?
- The Good, the Bad, and the "Meh":
- Good: The location. The pool. The views. The fact that I survived.
- Bad: The check-in. The slightly inconsistent Wi-Fi. The slightly overwhelming buffet.
- Meh: The room – it was functional, but not luxurious.
The Verdict (And a Few More Ramblings):
Would I go back to the Ipsos Di Mare? Probably! Honestly, despite the imperfections, I had a fantastic time. You're paying for the experience, not just a perfect hotel. Corfu is a magical island, and the Ipsos Di Mare offered a perfectly adequate – if slightly chaotic – base of operations.
Final Thoughts:
Go. Visit Corfu. Embrace the chaos. Order the ouzo. And maybe, just maybe, pack your patience. You'll need it, but it'll all be worth it in the end. And that view from the pool? Priceless.
Escape to Paradise: Lemon Tree Hotel Aligarh Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is… my itinerary. And honestly, it's probably gonna be a glorious mess. Welcome to Corfu, Greece, baby! And specifically, Ipsos Di Mare Hotel. Wish me luck. I’m going in blind, mostly.
Corfu Craze: An Unfiltered Adventure (Probably Involving Gyros)
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and the Almighty Pool (and Possibly, a Panic Attack)
- Morning (ish): Landed at Corfu Airport. Holy crap, the plane was small! I'm pretty sure I saw the pilot checking his watch five times before we even took off. Airport chaos – a joyous cluster of lost luggage, bewildered elderly couples, and me, desperately trying to find a taxi that wouldn’t charge me a fortune. Found a grumpy guy with a beat-up Mercedes. He reeked of cigarettes and muttered something about "tourist prices." I almost burst into tears.
- Afternoon: Arrived at Ipsos Di Mare, which, from the outside, looks… well, it looks like a slightly faded picture of a hotel. The lobby is blessedly air-conditioned, though. Check-in? A blur. The receptionist, a woman whose name I think was Maria (but could have been "Maria, the Destroyer of Holiday Dreams"), gave me a key with a frown. My room? Fine, I guess. A balcony overlooking… well, a mostly empty street. Sigh.
- Late Afternoon: Pool time! This is the raison d'etre of this whole trip, right? Dipped a toe. The water was… shockingly cold. Okay, maybe it’s just me. Plunged in. Bliss. For about five minutes. Then I remembered I hate chlorine and started worrying about my hair turning green. Managed to snag a sunbed. Success! I think. Now to conquer this whole not-getting-sunburnt thing. I'm already regretting forgetting the factor 50.
- Evening: Went for a walk, trying to find the center of Ipsos. Got lost almost immediately. Saw a stray dog who looked as lost and confused as I felt. Bought a gyro from a place with a name I can’t pronounce. It was… heavenly. Pure, greasy, perfect happiness. Sat by the sea and watched the sun set. Pretty sure I almost cried again. It was just… beautiful. This could be worth all the pre-trip panic. (Don't worry, the panic will return.)
Day 2: Beach Bummin', Booze, and the Brutal Truth of Sand
- Morning: Woke up with a mild sunburn (told you!) and a desperate craving for coffee. Breakfast at the hotel was… adequate. The coffee? Brutal. Managed to find a decent cafe down the road. Small victories.
- Mid-morning: Beach day! Found a spot on Ipsos Beach (which is pebbly. Very pebbly). Spent an hour trying to actually get comfortable on my sunbed. That sand? It gets everywhere. Inside my swimsuit, in my hair… I’m pretty sure I’ll be finding sand for weeks. Still, the water was crystal clear. Swam. Got stung by something. Maybe it was a jellyfish? I have no idea. Screamed a little.
- Afternoon: Beach bar time! Ordered a Mythos beer. Glorious. Met a couple from… (checks scribbled notes) …Slough? They’re obsessed with the history of Corfu. I’m more obsessed with my beer. Listened politely to their (very detailed) accounts of ancient Greek sieges. Found a new appreciation for their dry wit.
- Late Afternoon/Evening: The Sunset. Okay, this time, I am actually going to make a thing of it. Maybe find a spot with some kind of music. Oh, and, I’m going to get a real cocktail. A proper drink. No more beer, no more coffee, I am embracing whatever the night has to offer. And I am going to remember it. (Unless the cocktails are too good.) I am in Corfu. I deserve this. (I think. I hope.)
Day 3: The Boat Trip That Almost Broke Me (But Also Made Me)
- Morning: THE BOAT TRIP. Okay, this was the big one. Booked a day trip to… oh, I can't remember the names of the islands, and it's probably for the best. (I hate the whole "travel-blogger" thing where you have to name everything, anyway.) The boat? A rather charming, slightly rusty, wooden thing. The sea? Choppy. Surprisingly choppy. I do not do well on boats. At all.
- Mid-day: Seasickness. The inevitable. I thought I was prepared. I took those travel sickness pills, I ate ginger biscuits, I stared at the horizon. Nothing worked. I spent the entire first half of the trip clinging to the railing, green around the gills. I'm too embarrassed to say what I lost. Everyone saw. They all judged. I am convinced the captain was laughing.
- Afternoon: The islands! Eventually, the sea calmed down. We anchored at a beautiful cove. Crystal clear waters. Swimming. Snorkeling (which I was shockingly good at, I think). Eating lunch (a rather delicious, if slightly delayed, seafood platter). The sun. The views. Slowly, very slowly, the seasickness began to fade. I even – dare I say it – started to enjoy myself.
- Evening: Back at the hotel, exhausted but strangely exhilarated. Ate a huge plate of something vaguely Italian. The memories of the morning were quickly vanishing beneath the waves of euphoria. Swore I would never go on a boat again. But deep down… maybe I would.
Day 4: Rambles, Ruins, and Recognizing My Own Craziness
- Morning: Decided to try and rent a scooter. Apparently the whole of Corfu is on scooters. I thought it was an excellent idea.
- Mid-day: After a brief demonstration of 'how they work' I wobbled off into the sun. It was terrifying, liberating, and stupid. I almost drove straight in to a ditch. Found some ruined castle. (The name escapes me. Again.) Wandered around. It was hot. The ruins were older than the hills. I was sweaty. But I thought "I did it. I rented a scooter".
- Afternoon: Lunch at a taverna. I ordered something, I don't know what. It was good. (I think)
- Evening: Dinner! Still don't know what I ordered. I met some locals who showed me round. They gave me some information that might be wrong, but It was fun. Corfu is great.
Day 5: Departure and the Melancholy Gyro Coma
- Morning: Packing. The dreaded act of packing. The realization that I bought way too much, and now have to squeeze it into a suitcase with the grace of a dying fish.
- Afternoon: One last walk along the beach. One last, desperate, attempt at a tan. One last, glorious, gyro.
- Late afternoon: Heading to the airport. Thinking of what I can take home. It is going to be a disaster. I think I might try and start a small cafe selling gyros in London.
- Evening: On the plane, exhausted, sun-kissed, and slightly tearful. (Goodbye, Corfu!) Thinking of my next trip. What will I remember? Probably mostly the gyros. And the boat trip. And sand. So much sand.
This is it. Corfu in a nutshell. Or at least, my Corfu. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't always pretty. But it was… me. And it was brilliant. (Mostly.) Now, where's that next gyro?
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Escape to Paradise: Ipsos Di Mare Hotel, Corfu Island - Oh My God, Where DO I Start?!
So, Ipsos Di Mare... Is it *really* paradise? I mean, come on!
Okay, listen. Paradise? That's a big word. And look, I'm gonna be brutally honest. It's not *perfect* paradise. There was that one time, remember? The rogue seagull? He made off with my entire gyros. Just gone. Plucked it right off my plate while I looked away for *literally* a second. Unforgivable. And the shower pressure? Sometimes it was like a gentle drizzle, other times a full-on monsoon. But… BUT! When the sun is setting over the Ionian Sea, painting the sky in these impossible hues of orange and pink… yeah. Close enough. Definitely close enough. It's the kind of place where you forget to check your email and start believing in sunsets again. More on that in the "Annoyances" section, though. We'll get to the seagull. I promise.
What's the vibe like? Party central or chilled out chill-zone?
Ipsos is… a mix. The hotel itself? Pretty relaxed. Think families, couples, people like me who just need a break from the soul-crushing grind of… well, everything. But Ipsos *itself*, the town? It gets a little… lively. Especially at night. Think bars with pumping music, the aroma of souvlaki hanging in the air, and the occasional, slightly tipsy, karaoke rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Personally? I loved it. It's great people watching. You can be as involved as you like. Wanna dance until dawn? Go for it! Wanna sit on your balcony with a book and pretend you’re a sophisticated Mediterranean novelist? Also an option. I did both. Repeatedly. It’s Corfu, after all. Embrace the chaos. Oh, and the scooters, get away from them.
The food! Tell me about the food! Will I starve?
Starve? Absolutely not! You will, however, face the delightful dilemma of *too many* options. The hotel restaurant offered a decent buffet – loads of fresh salads, grilled meats (try the chicken souvlaki!), and enough Greek yogurt to keep you going for weeks. But go out. PLEASE. Explore. Find the little tavernas lining the beach. Order the seafood. Seriously. I had grilled octopus that practically melted in my mouth. And the Greek salads? Forget everything you think you know about Greek salad. This is the real deal. The tomatoes are bursting with flavor, the feta is crumbly and salty, and the olive oil… oh, the olive oil. I'm still dreaming about it. And the ice cream? Oh, the ice cream. You'll gain a few pounds. Embrace it. You're on holiday!
Okay, spill the tea. What are the downsides? Be real.
Right, here comes the messy part. First, the aforementioned shower. Sometimes, as I said, it was a trickle. Sometimes… there was that *one* morning when it was full-on ice water. Brrr! Also, the noise. Depending on your room and your tolerance for it, the music from the beach bars can keep you up. Bring earplugs. Trust me. And the aforementioned seagull incident. I'm still bitter. He knew what he was doing, that feathered fiend. He watched me. He planned it. He got my gyros. *Rant over*... oh, and the service can be a little... *relaxed*. Don't expect lightning-fast everything. Embrace the "island time" vibe. It's part of the charm, right? Mostly…
How's the beach? Is it clean? Sandy? Swimmable?
The beach is lovely. It’s pebbly, not powdery sand, which is something to keep in mind. If you are used to very fine sand, you'll feel a little differently. But the water is crystal clear (most of the time – watch out for the seaweed), and the swimming is fantastic. The water's calm, and the views are… well, they're postcard-worthy. There are sunbeds and umbrellas available for rent – a must, in my opinion, because that sun is fierce. The whole area is well-kept. Someone's working to be beautiful and to make the beach stay well-kept.
Is there anything to do besides, you know, lie on the beach and eat? Because I'm not *just* a sunbather.
Oh, absolutely! Corfu is bursting with things to do. Explore Corfu Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – it’s stunning, full of history, and great shops. Rent a car (or, more realistically, a scooter – just be careful!) and explore the island. Visit the Achilleion Palace (it’s beautiful, even if the history is a bit… complicated). Take a boat trip. Go hiking. There are so many possibilities. Personally? I spent most of my time eating. And swimming. And reading on the beach. But I did take a trip to Paleokastritsa. And it was gorgeous. Get yourself out there! Don't be like me... go explore things!
Anything I should pack that I might not think of?
Oh, absolutely! Beyond the usual suspects (sunscreen, swimsuit, etc.), here's my survival kit:
- Earplugs! Seriously. The music from the bars can go on into the wee hours.
- A reusable water bottle: Stay hydrated, and cut down on plastic waste.
- A good book (or three): This is relaxation time.
- A power adapter: Greek plugs are different. Get one! (D'oh, I forgot this the first time.)
- After-sun lotion: You will need it. Trust me.
- A small first-aid kit: Just in case of a minor scrape (or seagull-related trauma).
- A sense of humor: Things might not always go perfectly, but that's part of the fun!
So, would you go back? Be honest!
Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Even with the seagull incidents, the sometimes-temperamental showers, and the occasional late-night karaoke. The Ionian Sea… the food… the vibe… it all gets under your skin. It's not perfect, but it's real. And sometimes, real is exactly what you need. I left a piece of my heart there. And maybe, just maybe, a discarded gyros wrapper. Don't tell the seagulls.
What about the staff at Ipsos Di Mare? Are they friendly?
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