Keep this one a secret! (Kefalonia)

Member Name: Vienna

Product:	Kefalonia
Date:	12/08/01 (507 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: scenery, cheap wine, beaches

Disadvantages: public transport, quite hilly, lack of amenities

A very last minute deal costing £209 took me to the beautiful island of Cephalonia in June 2001. It's one of the least commercialised places I've visited and has a breathtaking beauty. It's a fantastically peaceful haven for those wanting a relaxing break, kids may be hard pressed to find things to do and if you're a clubber - forget it!
The Captain Corelli bit may have worn a bit thin by now (the film hasn't actually been released on the island yet) but the harbour at Sami is beautiful, the locals are extremely friendly and the food is delicious. Everything is so cheap, especially the excellent wines from the local vineyards, that it may be difficult to liberate all those traveller's cheques. Hiring transport or going on the organised trips is a must, if you go to Cephalonia you must see as much of the island as possible, it really is spectacular. The capital Arogstoli has a bustling main square with loads of cafe-bars, good shops and a busy market at the harbour on Fridays. (Watch out for Tom Hank's yacht at the dockside). Poros and Skala are little more commercialised (?) ie. they have a few more tavernas and fantastic beaches.
The downside is that you may get accomodation situated at the end on the airport runway (like we did) with no pool and a two mile, up-hill hike to the nearest mini market, where the owner charges what he likes just because he can. Cepahlonian mosquitos are of the most persistant variety and no amount of Autan, citronella candles or plug-in's seems to deter them. Don't think you'll catch a bus at any time, from what we were told one runs in the morning and one in the afternoon, you'll stand more chance of finding a Macdonald's! All said and done, it's impossible not to love Cephalonia, leave the mobile phone at home and chill out to your heart's content.

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