NatalieDonnan

My name is Natalie Donnan and I am 20 years old from County Down, Northern Ireland and I travel to Corfu regularly with my fiance Andy. We love it in Kalami and would stay there all summer if we could afford it!
I have been coming to Corfu since I was a child with my first visit being to the Corfu Chandris Hotel in Dassia, it was lovely but a few years later we discovered Kalami and there is just no going back from there now.
I started off going to Kalami with my dad, Walter and step-mum, Anne when I was around 14, and I went back with them several times staying at the A&A Apartments and the Villa Anastastacia, until I finally got too old to rely on the parents to take me away! Last year I suggested to my boyfriend Andy that we go to Kalami for a holiday. To be honest I was worried he would not like it because it is very quiet, but he was willing to give it a go and we booked a two week break to the A&A apartments in June 2005. Andy loved the tranquility and romance of Kalami and the good craic that was to be had at night time and he loved the Corfiot people. We enjoyed every minute of our holiday and we met some lovely people who we are still in contact with (Wilf & Carolyn, Petergm and Mary, and many more) and intend to meet again when we return to Kalami (my 6th time to Corfu) staying at the Dimitris Apartments (for a wee change)from 12th - 26th June 2006.
This year will be even more special because I will be celebrating my 21st birthday and Andy and I will be celebrating getting engaged at Christmas with a romantic holiday.
Roll on 12th June 2006!
Love Natalie & Andy xox

In my opinion Kalami is the most breathtakingly beautiful, unspoilt and romantic places on Corfu.

The resort is mainly aimed at and enjoyed by couples although many families also holiday here and it is not unusual to see quite a few children and teenagers here in high season.

It is a fairly quiet resort with just enough facilities to suit your needs on a relaxing holiday. There are some beautiful villas around Kalami (and its equally beautiful surrounding areas of Kouloura and Agni) and these can be booked through various tour operators such as CV travel, Direct Greece, Thompson etc or alternatively if you wish to try the independent route you will find many villas are available for hire with Agni Travel http://www.agni.gr/travel.asp or through the tourist offices in Kalami. You will find the following apartments in Kalami Bay which can be booked through tour operators - Adonis & Asonitis (A&A) Apartments (Thomson), Dimitris & Frosso Apartments (Kosmar or independently) and Panorama Apartments (Kosmar.

I would recommend this resort to couples of all ages - although Kalami is set into a hill so can be unsuitable for the elderly, disabled or less mobile. Families may also like Kalami although children can get bored as there is little to do other than play at the pool or beach so a few daytrips or a visit to Aqualand would break up the holiday for them.

Make your next holiday Kalami!

Although Kalami is a quiet resort there are many other things to do other than lazing on the beach all day. Why not hire a boat from Harris Kalami Boats or Tassos Boats which are situated at opposite ends of the bay? We hired a boat for a day from Harris Kalami Boats last June and it cost 75 Euro plus 10 Euro waver damage (optional) plus you pay for whatever petrol you use (you go out with a full tank), and there are special rates if you plan to hire the boat for longer than a day.

You are given full instructions on how to start up, steer the boat and park it up safely. You are also given the lowdown on the laws by the Navy incase you are stopped out at sea. You are not required to hold a licence, just be half sensible and show the guys you can control the boat safely.

From Kalami you can head as far north as Kassiopi (it is recommended that you head to Kassiopi in the morning as the sea can get rough in the afternoon) and as far south as Barbati. It is a great way to see the island at your own leisure, stop off at different bays for a spot of lunch or refreshing drink and its also a great way to relax and top up your tan - just be careful - wear a high factor sunscreen!

A great way to see the beautiful North East coast of Corfu.

You can also hire pedalos and canoes from the beach at Kalami and there are a few selected watersports available such as waterskiing and ringo rides etc - a lot of fun!

If you don't fancy doing the boat thing then why not hire a car and take a day to explore the rest of the island? Car hire is available to book online through Agni Travel or you can hire from one of the 3 tourist offices in Kalami once you get there.

At the tourist offices in Kalami it is also possible to book a number of excursions - no doubt at much cheaper rates than the Rep offers. There are numerous trips which you can book through http://www.sunshineclub.gr/ or http://www.kalamicorfu.com/ at reasonable rates so why not try them out.

One excursion we took last year was the trip to Aqualand booked via Blue Bay Travel. It was great fun! If you have kids you must take them, they will love it! If the adults aren't feeling much like flying down slides etc then there are lots of sun loungers in the sunbathing area where you can relax with a book and a cool drink. Alternatively you can float along on an inflatable on the lazy river watching the kids. A real fun day!

In Kalami Bay you will find 3 traditional tavernas, Kalami Beach Taverna, Thomas' Place & The Whitehouse Taverna. Up on the main road at the top of the hill you will find Dimitris Restaurant. There are 2 bars in Kalami, the Cocktails & Dreams Bar (also serves food) at the Adonis & Asonitis Apartments and the Kalami Bar at the far end of Kalami above the supermarket.

Beautiful traditional little taverna with personal and friendly service and delicious food. Great place to eat breakfast and lunch as they do beautiful cheese & spinach pies, greek salads, omlettes etc. Plus it is right on the beach, get a table near the front and it is the perfect place to relax with a Mythos/glass of wine (if you like) and watch the world go by.
In the evenings you can enjoy a romantic and peaceful dinner at this taverna. Try to reserve a table right up at the front so you can see and listen to the waves lapping at the shore. The local wine, fish and traditional Greek dishes are excellent, I have never had a bad meal at Kalami Beach Taverna. If you have children who are not that keen on the traditional Greek food there are plenty of other options available i.e. Pizza, chips, burgers, etc etc to keep them happy.
I am very fond of Kalami Beach Taverna, great food and friendly service - 'You are welcome!'.

Thomas's Place is situated right in the middle of Kalami Bay on the beach. In the last few years the taverna has been refurbished and has lovely decor and atmosphere. The staff are welcoming and friendly and Thomas himself is a lovely man.
We have only ever eaten in Thomas' in the evening but will try it out this year for lunch. The onion rings with garlic mayo are simply devine and you cannot leave Kalami Bay without trying them - its an unwritten rule! The seafood and stifado and local wines are excellent.
Also serves burgers, chips pizzas etc for children/non-Greek food eaters.

A visit to the Whitehouse is a must on your holiday in Kalami, as it is a piece of history. This is the house where the Durrell family lived for a short while and is where Lawrence Durrell got the inspiration to write the book 'Prospero's Cell'.
The location is perfect for an evening meal, as you are around the corner at the far end of Kalami bay you get a view of Kalami bay and the hills. Try to get a table at the front - you will be right on the waters edge.
The service is excellent and the food devine. Our favourite is the meze of dolmades, cheese & spinach pies, village sausage, meatballs etc. Lovely as a starter shared between you. Main courses are pretty much similar to the other tavernas in the bay, traditional Greek cuisine, fresh seafood and the usual burgers, chips and pizzas etc. The local wine is lovely and the Swordfish is well worth a try. Great pizza too!

Perched right up on the main road above Kalami Bay this restaurant is quite a climb, but not to worry when you book your table Dimitris will organised for the Benny to pick you up in the minibus if required. He will also drop you back into the bay once you are ready.
The views from this restaurant are out of this world. You are perched so high up on a hill you have an excellent view down to Kalami Bay, Corfu Town and Albania. Try to get a table on the balcony - you can enjoy a nice open air meal and get a birdseye view of the surrounding area. The service is fantastic - Dimitris himself will be around to take your order and ensure you are enjoying your meal. On special nights or a Saturday night Dimitris and his friend get the guitar and accordian out and serenade you with traditional Greek songs - great entertainment.
The food is interesting and it is a great place to go for some variation on the traditional Greek food you have been eating all week. The food is still Greek but with a modern twist. There are also some international dishes and great seafood. While we were there last year we had the assortment of dips with pitta bread, and cold corriander chicken salad for starters and the fillet steak for main course. The fillet steak is devine, cooked perfectly to suit you and very tender.
I had a great time at Dimitris last year as it was my birthday on the evening we went, Dimitris & his friend sang happy birthday to me and I got some cake. Excellent!

Cocktails & Dreams is the most lively place you will find in Kalami. It is part of the Adonis & Asonitis Apartments and holds some type of entertainment every evening, i.e. Greek night, karoke, pub quiz etc etc. They also have a widescreen TV where they show up to the minute films around 5-6pm which is good for kids and show big football matches which the men will no doubt enjoy. There is always music playing although its kept low during the day and late at night. A DJ will be there most nights for you to request a song or two while you enjoy your drinks. Music is turned down or switched off altogether around 12am.
The bar staff are very friendly and will become your friend for your entire stay.
Snacks are available from the bar at anytime of the day or evening. There is a good selection of snacks and are very reasonably priced. They do a great omlette and special pizza!
Cocktails & Dreams seems to be the meeting place where everyone congregates after their romantic and relaxing meal, for a nightcap and a bit of fun.

The Kalami Bar is a quiet cocktail bar situated at the far end of Kalami bay above the supermarket. It is set upon a rooftop and is mainly open air with nice tables with parasols. Here you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing cocktail before heading down to Cocktails & Dreams for a livlier atmosphere. The cocktails are gorgeous and you have quite a selection to choose from. The barman is very friendly and is always pleased to see you. There is a widescreen TV which shows big football matches when they are on.
Low music is played allowing you and your companion(s) to enjoy a relaxing conversation.

For more information on the resort of Kalami, please view the Corfu Travel Guide Kalami Page.