Ionian Sun Apartments and Villas

5 readers found this review helpful

just returned from a week at the ionian sun, fantastic place, appartments first class keith behind the bar great, wonderful weather we wwill be going back next year

16 readers found this review helpful

My husband and I have just returned from a 2 weeks stay at the Ionian Sun Apartments at Lourdas and we had a great time.
We stayed in a one bedroomed apartment and it was spacious and very well equiped. It had all the crockery, cutlery etc that we needed and also an iron, ironing board and hair dryer. The pool area was good with plenty of sun beds and the pool bar was good for snacks and drinks. The apartments are right opposite the beach and on 3 levels, we were on the middle level and had a fantastic sea view including Zante.
Keith who works behind the bar is very helpful about where things are, places to see etc, in fact he was more helpful than the rep at times!
Lourdas is very quiet,not much nightlife apart from tavernas but that is part of what makes it so chilled and relaxing.
To get to the village you have to tackle a hill and boy do I mean a hill! The steepest part is the first bit and this can be avoided but taking the steps from the apartments, to the left of the pool bar, this brings you to the 3rd level of the apartments and then along to opposite the Trifilli taverna. There is still a way to walk to the village but there some good places to eat there and you will have to walk it if you take an excursion as this is where the pick up point is.
I would recommed the Island tour and the trip to Ithaca which is a really beautiful island. We had a great tour guide for both trip, Hilda, who is British but lives on the island. She was very informative with tales of the history of both islands and the mythology. If you go to Ithaca take some spending money or your credit card as there is a great little place called Texnhma in Kioni which does some lovely jewellery and ornaments (www.tehnima.com). On the island tour they stop for lunch at Agia Efimia and it was a great meal.
There are some good places to eat in Lourdas. Klimatis which is at the entrance to the apartments does good food and so does Lorraines which does huge portions! Turn left when you come out of the apartments and walk along till you come to the Aridas Palace (it has a picture of Daffy Duck on the sign). The food is really good both for lunch and in the evening, the stuffed pittas for lunch are lovely. The music however is terrible but try not to let that put you off! The Seven Bar is good for lunch, evening meal and just for drinks. Andromeda does good food and so does La Mer but I have to say that our favourite place was the Olive Lounge. The food was wonderful, the staff so friendly and welcoming and the atmosphere lovely. We went there twice and I would really reccommend it.
It's really worth hiring a car to have an explore on your own and go to places you didn't on the tour or re-visit.
All in all we had a lovely 2 weeks in Kefalonia and at the Ionian Sun.

13 readers found this review helpful

We (myself, my wife, my 17 year old daughter and 14 year old son) have just returned after 2 fantastic weeks on this beautiful island.
The Ionian Sun Apartments are well situated in the resort only a few yards from the beach and on 3 levels - studios at beach level, apartments at next level (with the reception, bar and pool) and the remaining apartments on the top level (which is a steep climb up some 160 steps!!!) Our apartment was on the middle level and was really clean and well equipped. The pool area is very good as is the bar and reception (which is a nice cool retreat from the heat!!!) Residents also have use of Sky TV in the reception with a large screen over the bar. The staff are very friendly and happy to help. The only reason I didn't score this a full 10 out of 10 was that the bar stops serving food around mid afternoon and the bar is usually closed by 23:30 - this should not however detract from a great holiday!
There is a small mini-market within 50 yards and a number of small beach bars and tavernas, the best of which we found to be Klimatis which has a 'roof' of vines and grapes and serves a stunning moussaka.
The main resort of Lourdas stretches for around 1 kilometre up a steep road and for us the best eating place around is La Mer - amazing views, super food and really great service.
The beach at Lourdas is good but the water gets deep pretty quickly. However, if you take a walk to the west / right and past the 'mini harbour' at the end of the beach, you reach a stretch of the bay which becomes more and more sandy and more shallow the further west you go toward Trapezaki Beach - although we didn't venture past the nudist section of this beach(!)
Being our visit to Kefalonia, we hired a car for 4 days and managed to get to most parts of the island. Wherever you go, you are met with breathtaking views but our highlights were Sami, the Mellisani Lake, the drive from Sami to Fiskardo (amazing views to Ithika and beyond), Asos and the viewing point overlooking Myrtos Bay (looking down from around 1000 feet!!!!!)
This was a real chill-out holiday, exactly what we wanted and I can't wait to visit Kefalonia again.

7 readers found this review helpful

We have just returned from a week holiday at Ionian Sun. After spending a long time deciding where we wanted to stay at in Kefalonia, we were not disappointed with our choice! The room was clean and well-equipped with a kettle, iron and air conditioning (there was even a hair drier!). The pool was clean and had plenty of loungers around it. The beach was literally on our doorstep, also with plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas. The studios are in the best location with some of the 1 bed apartments up a steep hill. Lorraine's restaurant is a must for dinner with views across to Zante, and if you don't mind the walk up the steep hill, La Mer in Lourdas village was also fantastic.
We hired a car for the week and were glad we did, the trips organised by the tour operator were limited and expensive and Lourdas (as most of the resorts on the island) doesn't have enough to keep those who need to explore occupied! The Kefalonian landscape is breathtaking, particularly in the north; Assos is stunning as is Myrtos beach. The car ferry to Lixouri was worth doing, as was a visit to the castle.
All in all, a lovely relaxing holiday.

5 readers found this review helpful

Stunning resort, beautiful views over the sea and makes the pool feel like it’s an infinity pool.
Lovely friendly owner and his family. Clean apartments with lovely fittings.
There is a steep hill up to the resort and the mail town is a far walk although these apartments are by the sea.
I loved Ionian Sun and tried to book for the following year but had trouble because more and more people have caught on to how lovely it is!

1 reader found this review helpful

Just back from Ionian Sun in Lourdas. Fantastic Complex! Spotless clean new rooms.
Pool area is great, superb views, pool bar great for lunch time snacks. Complex also does a weekly BBQ night which is brilliant value for money.
Rooms have everything you need for self catering.
Complex is in a fantastic location on the beach and next to lots of restaurants. Try Magic Hill - Lorraine's restaurant, the staff and food are great, the views are breathtaking. Aridas palace also good food.
There is a bar called BAR 7, Located on the beach with relaxing cafe del mar music, candles and spectacular views across the sae to Zante.
All in all a superb holiday, being a travel agent manager I would strongly recommend this complex and resort for a relaxing break in the sun.
Thank you Ionian Sun for a brilliant stay.

4 readers found this review helpful

Not for young children, best kept for peace quiet, or romance. We got married there May 2006 and have been back twice already mainly due to the wonderful owners of Aridas restaurant on the beach who made our stay (and wedding) the happiest two weeks we could of wished for.
The Ionian is top quality accommodation, well thought out apartments, with stunning views from the rooms and pool.
There is quite a hard walk into the village but the apartments are on the beach and there are a few bars and two shops if you don’t feel like the walk.
And of course the wonderful Aridas restaurant on the beach where you will want to eat every night.

3 readers found this review helpful

My girlfriend and myself were there 1st week in May. Not everything was open, a couple of restaurants and bars and only one shop.
Some complained it was too quiet but for us, it was nearly perfect (couple of dodgy weather days).
The staff were very friendly and helpful, even leaving tv on at night when the bar was closed so we (well me!) could watch football.
We had a ground floor studio and had no trouble with privacy or cats or anything.
Would recommend hiring a car for couple of days as there is a lot to see and do. There's also a couple of steep hills.
Would go again but probably in August time when the sea has warmed up a bit.
Highly enjoyable week only slightly spoiled when I asked for extra legroom seats on flight back and was told it would cost £60 each. Thought that was very extortionate, especially considering most were empty on return flight and still not allowed to sit in them after take off!

4 readers found this review helpful

Absolutely Fantastic! The rooms are clean, spacious and well equipped! The beds are really comfortable and I had no problem sleeping!
The pool is clean and the bar has good opening hours with friendly staff and good food.
The shop stocks almost everything you would need. The views from our room were amazing.

2 readers found this review helpful

Fantastic!! Had an amazing week, rooms are clean, spacious and well kitted out! Cleaners came two or three times during the week. All the staff were very friendly, the bar and pool area is small but lovely and the views are amazing! The pool gets busy so get there early! The shop is handy and sells all the essentials. You are right on the beach here and there are a few good restaurants/bars along the beach. I would recommend The Magic Hill restaurant its brilliant, set up on a hill with fantastic views, good food and they also know their wine!! :-) It’s a fairly quiet resort but I would go again without a doubt.