Corfu Imperial, Grecotel Beach Luxe Resort

Corfu Imperial has the sort of site that cannot be built again: the whole of the Kommeno peninsula, a wooded finger of land reaching into the Ionian a short drive north of Corfu Town. Around thirty acres of olive groves, cypress avenues and subtropical gardens surround the buildings, and four sandy beaches on the peninsula belong to the resort rather than the public.

Accommodation is spread widely, from garden-side rooms up through bungalows to waterfront villas with private pools and direct sea access, which means the experience varies considerably by category. The villas at the tip of the peninsula are the reason to come; the standard rooms are comfortable but ordinary by comparison. The resort has been steadily refurbished over the past few seasons.

Dining runs to several restaurants covering French fine dining, Italian, Mediterranean seafront cooking and a large buffet, and there is a substantial spa, tennis, water sports and a well-run children's programme. It is squarely a family resort at heart, with the space and staffing to also work for couples who want the grounds and the sea rather than the pool scene.