There are many reasons why Corfu attracts up to 2m visitors each year: gorgeous summers, lush green landscapes that drink from winter rains, and menus that meld centuries of influence from Venice, Britain and France. But our visit to the adults-only Atlantica Nissaki Beach hotel gave us one reason that’s kept us going back for a decade: the luxury of a swim-up pool.
Poolside
We booked to stay for a week in a balcony room, which had a beautiful view onto the Ionian Sea. But after enjoying our first cocktail on the gorgeous rooftop bar on the first evening, we took a peek down onto a set of rooms which seemed to be connected to a shared pool. Hooked. A modest upgrade fee later and we were being helped to move our luggage into one of those rooms.
Each swim-up room, located on the bottom floor of the hotel, has its own private terrace with two loungers and access to long, shared pool. The joy of stepping onto this terrace first thing each morning (and no race to snag a lounger at the main pool!) just adds so much relaxation to your holiday – as well as access throughout the day to a calm pool, whether you want to get some lengths in or just cool off and enjoy the incredible view over to Albania in the distance.
keeping up
Atlantica have continued to modernise and expand their offer to visitors. In recent years, a stylish new area of the hotel means a larger number of swim-up rooms available as well as some rooms with small private pools. We treated ourselves to one of these visits on our most-recent visit. These rooms are true escapism and we can’t recommend them highly enough.
They’ve also expanded on their dining options too. From grab-and-go items at the poolside, a modern main dining room, an al fresco terrace and refined à la carte options. There’s always a great range of options for vegetarians, too, which we appreciated.
Venturing Out
On days when you’re feeling energetic, the hotel is a great base for exploring, too. Agni Beach is a fun 30-minute walk away, with great views over the sea (but wear shoes with a grip until you pop your flip flops back on at the beach). There are some nice tavernas here for seafood or cocktails, and you can hire a small boat if you’d like some time on the water. Or Corfu Town is about 40 minutes away by taxi: explore this UNESCO World Heritage site, including two Venetian fortresses, by foot, or take a day trip from there by boat to Sarande in Albania for a flavour of a different culture.
Don’t spend too long away from the hotel, though: that swim-up pool is already calling your name… Ready to take a dip?
The Atlantica Nissaki Beach is a TUI BLUE resort with all inclusive holidays available from multiple UK airports.