GIC The Villa Collection adds six new, characterful properties to its 2015 portfolio

Greece villa specialist GIC The Villa Collection has launched its 2015 brochure, featuring a tempting selection of over 100 handpicked villas – most with a private pool – in authentic areas of many Greek islands and on the mainland, too.

Six carefully-selected properties have been added to this year’s portfolio – all located in heavenly spots on the islands of Skopelos, Lefkas and Kefalonia – ranging from a cosy cottage for two on the outskirts of Skopelos Town, to a house party-sized villa on the north-eastern tip of Kefalonia.

Since its launch in 1969, GIC The Villa Collection has remained committed to its mission of offering the ultimate range of ideally located, charming and stylish villas in areas of Greece untouched by mass tourism. There’s excellent choice, including secluded countryside retreats, sophisticated townhouses with shops, bars and tavernas on the doorstep, beachfront boltholes and dreamy, romantic hideaways. A team of experts visits a vast range of properties, with only the best making it into the portfolio. Each is chosen so as to give guests an authentic experience of Greece’s glorious landscapes, delicious cuisine and captivating culture.

Multi-centre holidays are easily organised, allowing clients to visit two islands on one trip, or two different resorts on one island. For a dose of culture, a stay in Athens can also be added to the beginning or end of a villa holiday.

For soon-to-be-weds, GIC’s in-house wedding planners can tailor-make a perfectly romantic ceremony for a range of scales and budgets. Choose from a guitar-serenaded celebration at Corfu’s atmospheric town hall, a beach wedding on the chalky sands of Kefalonia, an intimate exchange of vows on the terrace of a private villa, or many more unforgettable ideas.

New properties for 2015:

Villa Juno, Skopelos, sleeps two. This is a charming and stylish little property – set in a private walled courtyard on the fringes of Skopelos Town – perfect for a Greek island getaway à deux. There is no need for a car, as the chic restaurants, bars, boutiques and bustling waterfront of Skopelos Town are an easy ten-minute walk away. Despite this, the villa still retains a delightful sense of seclusion. A week’s stay costs from £725 pp (two sharing) including flights (Gatwick) and transfers.*

Villas Joanna and Lena, Skopelos, each sleeps eight. These two neighbouring villas are part of GIC’s premier range: a selection of properties hand-picked for their stylish interiors and high standards of comfort. They are located 500m from the pretty harbour of stylish Skopelos Town, reached by wandering through a maze of charming cobbled streets. Both villas have large, private pools in oleander-scented gardens, and spacious, tastefully-decorated interiors. The villas’ proximity to one another means they can easily be combined to accommodate large parties of up to 16. A week’s stay costs from £681 pp (eight sharing) including flights (Gatwick) and transfers.*

Villa Phedera, Lefkas, sleeps five. Located in an elevated position on the northernmost tip of Lefkas, Villa Phedera offers peace, privacy and spectacular views over the Ionian Sea and across to the mainland. There’s a sun-drenched terrace – perfect for sundowner cocktails and al fresco dinners – plus a large private pool. Inside, the rooms are bright and spacious, with lots of natural light. A gorgeous beach is a short drive away. A week’s stay costs from £645 pp (five sharing) including flights (Gatwick) and car hire.*

Villa Noctiluca, Kefalonia, sleeps six. Beach-lovers need look no further than this spacious villa, which has direct access to the powder-soft sandy beach of Makris Yalos, and is mere steps from the glittering waters of the Ionian Sea. There’s a shaded terrace at the front, simply made for a lazy breakfast followed by a morning dip. It’s also possible to moor a boat on the beach below, allowing guests to explore the coastline’s tiny beaches and hidden coves. A week’s stay costs from £593 pp (six sharing) including flights (Gatwick) and transfers.*

Villa Alexander, Kefalonia, sleeps eight. A generously-sized waterfront property – and part of GIC’s premier range – Villa Alexander enjoys a prime location in the village of Fiscardo, with its rows of pretty pastel houses, lively tavernas and harbour full of bobbing boats. Pine-fringed and utterly gorgeous Foki Bay is a ten-minute walk away, and guests can stroll up into the surrounding hills for a taste of total serenity. The villa is large and airy, with panoramic sea views from its balconies. A week’s stay costs from £665 pp (six sharing) including flights (Gatwick) and transfers.*

*Prices include a complimentary welcome pack, plus maid service and linen change twice weekly. GIC can arrange car hire (already included with many properties) as well as extra activities and ideas to make a trip even more memorable. Add a touch of luxury with a personal chef, gourmet picnic or beauty treatments, or simply make life easier by booking a restaurant or childcare in advance.

To obtain a copy of the new 2015 brochure or to speak to an expert, call GIC The Villa Collection on 020 8232 9780 or visit www.gicthevillacollection.com.

Ends / 22 December 2014

Notes to Editors: With 46 years’ experience, GIC The Villa Collection (formerly known as Greek Islands Club) offers comfortable villa escapes, most with private pool, on the Greek islands of Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Lefkas, Meganissi, Ithaca, Kefalonia, Alonissos, Skopelos, Skiathos and Crete, as well as to Stoupa on mainland Greece and Pomos in Cyprus.

GIC The Villa Collection is a member of the Sunvil family (www.sunvil.co.uk) and is a keen proponent of sustainable travel.

Press: For further information, to request high-res photography or to interview Chris Wright, the Managing Director of GIC The Villa Collection, please contact Sarah Belcher or Matilda Long at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440, s.belcher@travelpr.co.uk / m.long@travelpr.co.uk.