And for those who fly, we will continue to offset your flights. Fly EasyJet and they will offset too. 😀

Getting internet to Villa Loukia has been a complete headache for us for 12 years.  We were beyond excited last week when at last we were given a landline.   We will now have reliable internet at Villa Loukia!  

In the photo you will also see some scaffolding - watch this space to see what improvements we have done over the winter, ready for the new season!

From the moment we walked through the door, it was obvious this was the best villa we had ever stayed at. There were so many lovely touches, the view was amazing, the pool was delightful, the beds were so comfy, in fact, it was so good we are going to try and go back next year. 

As the 2019 season draws to a close, I have once again offset all carbon used associated with the running of Villa Loukia and the carbon associated with all our guests' flights.

In 2019 we have improved the carbon footprint connected to our staff as they are now all local to Kassiopi, thus reducing their driving miles.

Also we now use an eco-laundry, as detailed in previous news.

We continue to make a good percentage of our own electricity with our solar water and our photovoltaic panels on the roof.  Overall consumption of electricity was up this year but is it hard for us to know why - everyone who stays at the villa lives differently...

The carbon connected to all the flights taken by all who visit Villa Loukia, is up for two clear reasons.  Firstly, more single week holidays were taken this year (more carbon efficient to stay longer!) and secondly,  I have adopted the recommendations of DEFRA and multiplied our aviation emissions by a Radiative Forcing Factor of 18.891 to allow for the carbon emissions from planes at high altitude, which have an increased effect on global warming.  This seemed sensible to do.

So to make Villa Loukia carbon neutral in 2019, I have offset 76.3 tonnes of carbon by investing in Gold Standard, community based, verified, carbon reduction projects in India, China and Africa.  

As last year, Nick and I take this action for the future of our gorgeous granddaughter Imogen.

Lucy 

I cannot think of enough superlatives to describe this villa! Beautiful inside and out, incredible views, spacious, extremely well equipped, comfy beds, well maintained pool and gardens, spotlessly clean, every extra you could think of, from phone charging sockets, Sky TV, table tennis to large and fluffy pool towels, lilos and outside drinks fridge! We loved the fact that it is Eco-friendly with solar panels, and separate recycling, and working towards being completely carbon neutral.

The owner Lucy is incredibly helpful, from the initial enquiry, through the whole booking process, and was always speedy in replying to any queries we had.

I would heartedly recommend this villa. We are hoping to book for next year! Many thanks x

At last we have found a really great laundry service on Corfu, run by Lorraine McKay.  To date, we have struggled to find a laundry that would bring my high quality linen back to Villa Loukia super-clean, soft and ironed!  

Lorraine has got it nailed and my sheets and towels have never looked better and with the added bonus that she runs an eco-laundry.  She only uses eco friendly powder with oxygen.  No bleach or bleaching agents.  Well water is used and all their machines are AA plus rated, so energy efficient.  And dryers are only used during poor weather and the laundry is hung outside to dry.  Very happy - Lorraine's laundry is perfect for Villa Loukia!

2019 has been our busiest season yet and Villa Loukia does not have an empty night all season.  Our great team over in Kassiopi is coping well.   Guests who plan ahead are winning too as I have taken bookings for 2020 and 2021!   It really does pay to plan ahead, especially if you have very inflexible dates.

We have just one week left of the 2019 season from Saturday 17th - Saturday 24th August.  Once it's gone it's gone!  We have, however, started taking bookings for 2020 so why not plan ahead to avoid disappointment!   It is always good to have a holiday to look forward to.  Our forward planning booking  record is currently at 21 months!

We loved everything about Villa Loukia – just for example: the cream and green external colour scheme, the comfort and spaciousness, the clear instructions, the sharp kitchen knives, the swing-seat, living in an olive grove, the ping-pong table, the bathrooms, the beautiful heated pool and the exceptional view. The kitchen is well-organised and equipped, and well lit - very easy to use. The lighting throughout the villa is good: there are good reading lamps, and movement-sensitive low-level lights to guide night-time steps! It was lovely to have emergency rations waiting for us on arrival. We admired the effort and thought which has gone into being carbon-neutral. The villa is in the north-east of Corfu, on the lower slopes of Mount Pantokrator, easily accessible from the main coast road, with excellent directions provided by the owners. Unspoilt beaches and coastal paths are within easy reach by car, as is more mountainous country. The nearby village of Kassiopi is within walking distance, has a pleasant atmosphere, a range of small supermarkets (so it's not necessary to go further to shop for food) and a pretty port area with plenty of options for eating out. Even outside high season there are activities such as scuba-diving available: our son had a great day with Dive Corfu at Acharavi, about 20 minutes' drive along the coast. We liked the undeveloped parts of the coastline best (and there is still plenty) and the quiet mountain villages. We were impressed by the villa's support team – for example, the delightful people who maintain the pool to perfection, and are evidently anxious not to be a bother. We saw and heard so much wildlife during our stay, but thankfully none in the villa itself! We were not there at a time when mosquitoes were a problem, but the mosquito nets which were in place looked very effective. The whole week was a delight.

For 2019 we have created a futuristic table tennis table in its own court, nestled into the olive grove above the pool.  Perfect way to get some exercise after a day lounging by the pool.  We think this is going to be a very popular feature.  Bats and balls are provided. 

'Kassiopi is a delightful little village with a great selection of restaurants clustered around the harbour. Villa Loukia, on the hill behind, is a great place to stay to enjoy it all. The villa has been fantastically equipped and the layout is perfect for a family or small group of friends. Many little extras set it apart.. luxury linen, towels and toiletries are provided and the air con and fitted mosquito blinds are brilliant. Lots of idyllic outside seating areas to enjoy the amazing views over the sea. The pool is a good size and fluffy pool towels are provided. You will need a car though. The owner Lucy was a pleasure to deal with and provided lots of helpful information. Would most definitely recommend.'

Happy New Year to you all.  

We are once again looking forward to a busy season at Villa Loukia.  Bookings for 2019 are coming in fast but there are a few very nice weeks left available, so do get in there quickly.

I have also just taken my first booking for 2020.  Without a doubt it is worth booking early, especially if you are wanting a particular date for that special occasion. 

Best Wishes

Lucy

Our goal is to make Villa Loukia carbon neutral and we are committed to reducing climate change.  Carbon offsetting is used to balance out our emissions by helping to pay for emission savings in other parts of the world.

We pledge to offset each year  the carbon connected to the use of Villa Loukia as a holiday rental.  This includes electricity, car usage by guests and staff, laundry and ALL guest flights.

We are really pleased that in 2018 Villa Loukia produced 80% of the electricity used (including air conditioning and pool heating) from the Photovoltaic Panel System on the roof and the Solar Water System. 

In total for 2018, we have calculated that Villa Loukia used some 38.4 tonnes of carbon.  We have rounded this up to 40 tonnes and this has been offset with a donation to carbonfootprint.com and their Community Projects Portfolio in Developing Countries.

The pledge we make is personal and on behalf of our Grandaughter, Imogen, so that she and her descendants can have a future.  It does not come at any financial cost to our guests.

We have just installed 3 bird boxes around the olive grove at Villa Loukia, in the hope that we might encourage some Scops Owls to next there on their return to the island.  The Scops Owl is the one you will hear frequently when sitting up on the terrace at Villa Loukia and it has a very distinctive whistle.   Although we have been listening to them for years, we have never actually seen one.  They are actually very small!  Fingers firmly crossed.

There are some big changes happening on Corfu regarding rubbish.  Rubbish removal has become a bit of an issue in recent times and it is fantastic that Corfu is now getting to grips with the problem and we at Villa Loukia are doing our bit to  help.   All the local bins have been removed from Kassiopi so that Kassiopi is now clean.  We have signed up to a recycling collection once per week from the villa and the new blue bin has just been installed for this purpose.  This removes all paper, cardboard, tin and hard plastic from the rubbish and also collected seperately, the glass.  The remaining dirty rubbish is removed by the cleaners every week or can be taken outside of Kassiopi to the green bins.  All good news!

We have spent 5 of the last 6 weeks in Corfu upgrading the whole of the downstairs to match the upstairs (refurbished in 2016 & 2015).  At last all is finished, although the process was incredibly hard work!   The results are fabulous and Villa Loukia is now completely re-tiled, all bedrooms and bathrooms are new and up-to-date and the kitchen has been re-modeled and now is a wonderful space to cook in, with all new appliances, lots of usable granite worktop and a 4-door American style fridge with filtered water and ice.   It really is a joy to work in so if you go on holiday and like to have time to cook - this is where to go!  Enjoy!  

Nick and I have just got back from a fabulous 3 week trip to Corfu and back - the long way down!

We rode the Harley 4164 miles through 10 countries: England, France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Greece.

We have also twice in the past done the 'short route' via Italy.

If anyone ever wants any information or advice on how to plan such an adventure (in a car works too!), then we are happy to share our experience - just message me.  

Hope you are all enjoying the 2nd Series of the Durrells on a Sunday evening.  Corfu is being shown in all its beauty.  Think it is the finale this weekend.  Nick recently caught sight of Series 3 being filmed on a beautiful day in early May.  The 'Durrell House' is at Kontokali, just north of Corfu Town.

Hi Lucy,

Just a short message to let you know we have arrived safely at Villa Loukia :-) The house was easy to find, is just beautifull and the view... it seems almost unreal. Such a magnificent place. The kids jumped right into the pool, the sun is shining so we are just going to lie back and relax ;-)

Bye for now and all the best from all of us!!

Many greetings from Corfu

May has to be one of the best months on Corfu.  It is beautifully warm but not too hot.  The grass is green rather than baked brown.  The spring flowers are in flower!  There are lambs and goats grazing through the olive groves.  And best of all the fireflies twinkle like fairies in the olive grove after dark.   I do have some availability left for May if you want a last minute break.  Message me for a good price.