Kontokali Bay Resort and Spa

We stayed at Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa expecting a 5-star experience based on the Jet2 description, but in reality, I would rate this as a good 4-star hotel rather than a luxury 5-star resort.

Firstly, the biggest disappointment was the location. Jet2's description of the area was, in our opinion, very misleading. We booked bed and breakfast thinking we could easily walk to local bars, restaurants and nearby towns, but this simply wasn't the case. The local towns were too far to walk comfortably, and the pavements along the roads were uneven, narrow and, at times, quite dangerous – particularly for children and elderly guests.

We were also told that Corfu Town was only a short taxi ride away. In reality, it took around 25 minutes and cost between €25-€30 each way, which quickly adds up. Walking back to the hotel after dark wasn't really an option either, as parts of the road are unlit and I didn't feel particularly safe.

The hotel itself is pleasant enough. Our room was clean and comfortable, but certainly not what I'd expect from a 5-star property. The furniture looked tired, and the balcony furniture was cheap and uncomfortable. The bathroom was particularly disappointing, very dark with poor lighting, some tiles missing, and generally lacking attention to detail. The television offered Sky News but no other English-language channels.

As we couldn't easily access restaurants outside the hotel, we ended up eating either at the hotel or at Natalie's beach restaurant nearby, which was nice enough. However, because guests have very limited alternatives, food and drinks at the hotel felt expensive. They effectively have a captive audience.

On a positive note, breakfast was excellent, with plenty of choice and something for everyone. The quality was consistently good. Service around the pool was poor at the start of our holiday but did improve as the week went on.

One slightly frustrating moment was when we mentioned to reception that we found the hotel to be very isolated and was not as described, and the staff laughed. It gave the impression that they'd heard the complaint many times before.

You really need to book a car to escape the confines of the hotel; we didn’t, but wished we had!

Overall, we still had a good holiday because we wanted a relaxing "fly and flop" break, and that's exactly what we got. However, it was a very expensive holiday and, in our view, not worthy of its advertised 5-star rating. My advice would be to do your own research rather than rely solely on the Jet2 description. If you enjoy having lots of restaurants, bars, and things to do nearby, or if you're travelling with teenagers, I'd strongly recommend looking elsewhere, as the evening entertainment and location are likely to leave you disappointed.

This our sixth holiday at the Kontokali Bay Resort and Spa. We are genuinely welcomed as friends by the staff, many of which have worked there many years. A really nice touch was the bottle of Prosecco on ice with a plate of petit fours in our room on arrival - thank you). The hotel and grounds are spotless and superbly looked after. We love the balance between the greenery and the sea, it is a very relaxing place to be. The hotel's private beach is excellent, well managed (special mention to Leonidas) and very safe for all ages. You can order food and drinks from your sun lounger via the app or by simply pressing the button on your umbrella). The Horizon Restaurant is buffet style with a superb selection of food. The quality and care of presentation is first class. The Asterias Fine Dining restaurant is on another level. The staff are simply brilliant; you will be very well looked after! The food is absolutely outstanding. We simply love the position overlooking the sea to the Albanian coast and eastwards to Corfu town and port. The sunset is magical. We really enjoyed the wine tasting evening (I learned a lot!) It was run by a young man, Paracleas. Such knowledge and an inspiration. If you want to relax further then the Spa is a real treat. Very professionally run and well worth experiencing. Overall, our holiday was faultless from the time we arrived to the time we left. It's always a pleasure to see Kostas, Lambros and Lukas. Genuine friends. Already looking forward to our next visit.
I've thought about it for a few days, but I think the most outstanding quality of the hotel and resort is in the fact that they are always looking at how to improve. This mainly comes down to good management and the professionalism of the staff, both of which have my highest admiration.

Great hotel, great facilities. Nice beach with sand lots of families with kids so if you’re looking for a romantic place, not sure this is the place overallwe had a great time.. wish they had more shuttles to old town then just one a day we spent €100 one day going back-and-forth