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Sunvil offers a 14-night holiday combining seven nights’ B&B at the Mandraki Village Hotel on Skiathos, and seven nights’ self-catering at the Konstantina Boutique Studios on Alonissos,


from £1,683 per person. The price includes flights from Gatwick on June 14, and shared transfers, based on two sharing. sunvil.co.uk


GIC The Villa Collection has seven nights’ self-catering at the Thalassa Vista Villa on Skopelos from £956 per person. The price is based on six sharing, and includes flights


from Gatwick and shared transfers. gicthevilla collection.com


60travelweekly.co.uk3 January 2019 Alonissos


street is also pedestrianised, with many shops staying open late. A regular bus service links the town to the beach resorts, and taxis are plentiful. If you’re seeking some respite, it can be found within the walls of Evangelistria Monastery. It sits atop a shady hill, has planters brimming with hydrangeas and a chapel chock- full of Greek iconowgraphy. Stay: Skiathos has a faster pace of life and is more developed than its neighbours. Larger, upscale properties offer all the resort-style trimmings. We stayed at the beachfront Skiathos Princess, where each of the 131 rooms has a balcony or garden area andthere’s a pool, playground, kids’ club, spa, live-music nights and sumptuous buffet breakfast. “It’s not typically Greek, but for those who want luxury, it’s perfect,” says Leslie Clements, senior travel consultant for Emsworth Travel. In contrast, the low-key, 40-room Mandraki Village Boutique Hotel is set in manicured gardens. “It’s stylish and in a great location,” says Jean


A thicket of pine trees lies at the heart of the island and a bounty of beaches have barely been touched by tourism


Heymann, senior sales consultant at Reigate Travel. A short walk through a nature reserve takes guests to lively Koukounaries beach, which offers water sports galore. There are also a handful of smart restaurants and shops a short stroll away.


◗ ALONISSOS Sell: A two-hour ferry ride from Skiathos, Alonissos is the least populous and sleepiest of the trio. There’s a feeling that time has stood still, tradition is king and there’s simply no reason to hurry. For those seeking to shake off the stresses and strains of


modernity, this is the place. A thicket of pine trees lies at the heart of the island, a marine sanctuary edges its shores and a bounty of beaches have barely been touched by tourism. See: A hire car is the best way to get around, although there are always taxis on hand. Alternatively, you could rent a motor boat from the jetty in Patitiri harbour, then set sail to claim one of the hidden coves that can be reached only from the sea. Hiking trails also abound, including a steep 45-minute stomp from Patitiri to Alonissos Old Town on an ancient mule track. Cobbled streets, castle ruins and a labyrinth of architectural gems draped with vines await, many housing gift shops and tavernas. Stay: Our room for the night was at the Atrium Hotel, a short drive uphill from Patitiri. This white-washed and stone-clad 30-room property was a universal hit with the group, boasting a swanky pool terrace, spacious rooms and panoramic views from the indoor- outdoor breakfast area. “I love the


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