Zing & Zest

It might be alphabetically last when it comes to Greece's islands, but Zakynthos normally sits close to the top of must-visit destinations in the Ionian Sea. Much of that is down to the beautiful beaches and mountainous landscape, but homes like this offer a pretty good reason to pay a visit, too.

Built from the local honey-coloured stone, the villa is well and truly geared towards relaxation. Out in the garden, you can pass many a happy hour splashing about in the swimming pool, soaking up the sunshine on one of the loungers or enjoying barbecued dinner on the covered terrace.

There's a lot to like about the interior, too. The predominantly bright white colour palette is instantly soothing and we like the way that rustic touches – like the exposed stone walls and wooden ceiling beams – have been incorporated into the otherwise contemporary design.

When the sun makes one of its all too-regular appearances in these parts, the golden sands of Alykes beach lie all of 400 metres from the home and there's a decent array of bars and restaurants in the surrounding area to keep you fed and refreshed, as well.

Home truths:
*The home is spread over two floors with no elevator or bedrooms on the ground level
*There's space to park on the premises
*Your host can provide a cot for free upon request
*The swimming pool is only available for use between 1st April and 30th October
*Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace