Elite Traveler HRS 2024

Royal In fi nityVilla

elusive king crab, typically served as a tartare (as it should be). Be sure to order the o ff -menu Omakase, a multicourse experience that includes lobster dragon rolls and Maya black cod and concludes with a showstopping slab of A4 Wagyu beef. EXPLORE I would be remiss not to mention Porto Zante’s family friendliness. The sta ff were amazing with my young daughter, who also fell in love with the resident dog, Beetov. We arrived to fi nd a handmade poster welcoming my child and a treasure trove of pool toys, teddy bears and an adorable hat. The Kids’ Club is run by two experienced child caregivers, who instantly put us at ease with an innate competence. They’re around from morning to night and can babysit out of hours at short notice. They also run day trips for older kids, giving parents a chance to better acquaint themselves with the cocktail menu. By Alex Martin Royal In fi nity Villa from $8,300 per night. Contact info@portozante.com, +30 210 821 8640, portozante.com

bag for kids), Bang & Olufsen electronics, Armani/ Casa furniture and Ralph Lauren towels. In the garden, you can enjoy dinner from one of the hotel’s two restaurants underneath a thatched hut. The room service is among the most e ffi cient I’ve experienced at any hotel, with a menu as large as the restaurant itself. The Imperial Spa Villa sits right on thecli ff ’s edge, so you enjoy stunning views of the sun setting over neighboring island Kefalonia. DINE There are two restaurants on the property: The Club House and Maya. The former o ff ers the best of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, with knockout dishes including seafood risotto and orzo with lamb koftas. The real culinary magic takes place a few steps away at Maya, where Porto Zante has hired a former Nobu chef to create perhaps one of the best Japanese restaurants in the whole of Greece — if only the Michelin inspectors could make their way through the gates, they might consider this for a star. Porto Zante pays local fi shermen way above the normal rate to secure the catch of the day, which often includes the

PORTO ZANTE VILLAS & SPA GREECE

When the driver turns o ff the road towards Porto Zante Villas & Spa, you may wonder what you’ve let yourself in for. There are no signposts for the boutique hotel, only a steep unpaved road that stops at not one but two large security gates. Once in, however, it all starts to make sense. Inside awaits a modern interpretation of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a fl owered paradise o ff ering resort-level amenities and service for just nine villas. People go to Mykonos and Santorini to be seen — this is a place to disappear. While it may take a lot of cash to get behind those double gates, this is not a place to fl ash it. It is a place to enjoy the very best that life has to o ff er while knowing that everyone around you has come for the same thing: privacy. STAY All nine villas come with a heated pool, terrace and garden. Starting with the 914-sq-ft Deluxe Spa Villa and going up to the 4,800-sq-ft Imperial Spa Villa, everyone at Porto Zante enjoys a suite-level lifestyle. There are two restaurants and a private beach to enjoy, but many guests choose to spend time in their villa, where spa treatments, world-class cocktails and 24-hour room service are a call away. Your villa choice will depend on the size of your party, but we recommend the two-bedroom Royal In fi nity Villa. This one not only has the biggest pool (645 sq ft) but also has its own private beach area, accessible by a charming stone staircase. Inside, you’ll fi nd Bulgari bathroom amenities (even a Bulgari wash

The private beach

Maya restaurant