Meli is the Greek word for honey, which is an apt description for the mellow natural feel of this lovely villa both inside and out. With polished wood floors, exposed beams and a double-height living/dining space, the house is both cosy and airy, finished with a subtly French flavour and impeccable taste. The master bedroom is on the ground floor, with direct terrace access, whilst upstairs there’s a cosy twin, also with a delightful sea view from its large porthole window. The outside space feels really generous for four, with sunny and shady spots for relaxing or dining, plus plenty of room around the pool for rest and play. 

From Meli’s lofty position the craggy coastline beckons temptingly, lapped by translucent turquoise water and indented here and there by pristine pebble coves such as Climati and Kremidi, the former being just a two-minute drive or a 15-minute steep walk (longer coming back!). There are many other little swimming spots nearby, including the so-called sulphur beaches at Xigia, popular for the supposed health-giving qualities of the water, and the sandy, family-oriented Alykes around 25 minutes to the south. The larger beaches all have at least a taverna or two to provide drinks and some local dishes, and for dining out near your villa you can either head into the small harbour village of Agios Nikolaos for typical Greek cuisine, or drop into one of several much more contemporary places which nestle on the shoreline just off the coast road into the village. Villa Meli is also ideally placed to explore the most photogenic spots on Zakynthos, with the Blue Caves and Navagio beach easily reached in around half an hour by car.

Meli is one of three detached villas, each well separated from the others, with individual entrances and swimming pools offset to maximise privacy. Meli is the highest of the three, with Yasmi set below it but not obscuring the view. The Athens-based owner designed the villas for her children, and therefore included some common areas, including a large additional sun terrace and a boules alley, which all guests are welcome to use. For a larger group, Levandi, Yasmi and Meli booked together would be a fantastic combination to mark a special occasion.