If you’re dreaming of a Greek holiday that combines beautiful scenery, exceptional food and flexibility, the Mar-Bella Collection brings together four quite different hotels. Spread across Corfu and the Ionian mainland, MarBella, Nido, Avali and Elix offer something refreshing: the feeling of multiple holidays in one.
You are not limited to a single experience. Instead, you can move between properties, or try different restaurants. They are not copies of each other, and that is very much the point. Each one leans in a slightly different direction, whether that is towards families, couples, something more contemporary, or a more removed setting.
MarBella is usually where people start and is the most established. It is the largest of the four and the easiest to settle into, particularly if you like having everything close to hand. The layout is spacious, the beach is right there and there is enough going on that you do not feel the need to leave unless you want to.
Food is an important part of the experience here, and not just in the usual resort sense. The dine-around programme runs across the collection, so staying here still gives you access to restaurants in the other hotels and vice versa (age restrictions apply), which keeps things from becoming repetitive over the course of a week. It is the sort of detail that only really stands out after a few days, when you realise you are not circling the same options. Evenings bring a bit more energy here too, whether that’s open-air cinema nights, beach parties, or just the sense that things are still happening after the sun goes down.
“Each member of the Collection is distinctly individual, but the family sits at the heart of everything we do.”
Spiros Salvanos - Sales Manager, Mar-Bella Collection
Just along the coast, Nido is the adults-only option, and it is noticeably calmer from the moment you arrive. It does not feel cut off, but it is clearly designed for people who want a bit more space and less background noise.
The suites support that with many offering private pools or terraces that are easy to spend long stretches of time in. Instead of moving around constantly, you can settle into your own corner and let the days unfold from there.
That said, it is easy enough to head out to one of the other hotels for dinner or a change of scene, and then come back to something that feels much quieter. That contrast is what makes it work particularly well for couples. The hotel is led by Amaryllis Pouliezou, who has been with the group for more than two decades, and that continuity shows in how the place is run.
Avali sits somewhere in between, but with a more modern feel overall. The design is lighter, the spaces are more open and there is a focus on areas where people naturally gather, particularly around the pool and bar.
It mainly attracts couples and small groups who want something that feels easygoing rather than structured. Meals are more relaxed, and evenings often centre around drinks and conversation rather than anything planned. It is the sort of place where you might intend to go out, then decide to stay where you are.
There is still access to everything else in the collection, which means you can dip into a busier setting when you feel like it, but Avali itself keeps things simple.
Elix is the outlier, in the best way. It is not in Corfu, but across on the mainland, and the change in setting is obvious straight away. The landscape opens out, with the hotel built into the hillside and views stretching across the Ionian.
The beach is reached by a short cable car ride, which sounds like a novelty but quickly becomes part of the routine. Most days here are fairly unhurried. People tend to spend longer in one place, whether that is by the pool, down at the beach, or simply taking in the view.
It works well on its own, but it is often paired with a stay in Corfu. The shift between the two locations gives you something quite different without needing to travel far, especially with the catamaran transfer that links them.
“It’s designed to be used across more than one place.”
Spiros Salvanos - Sales Manager, Mar-Bella Collection
One of the more useful aspects of the Mar-Bella Collection is how straightforward it is to move around, particularly between the Corfu hotels. A shuttle bus runs between them, so going elsewhere for dinner or an evening out does not require much planning.
The dine-around setup ties into this. With multiple à la carte restaurants and buffet options spread across the properties, you are not limited to what is on your doorstep. It keeps things varied without needing to leave the wider resort area.
For those splitting their stay between Corfu and Elix, the transfer is arranged for you, including the boat crossing, which makes the whole process feel far simpler than organising it independently.
Ask your travel agent about a Lusso stay with Mar-Bella Collection and they can organise it through us, helping you make the most of how the Mar-Bella Collection works as a whole.