BanSala

Rooms

The 5 cottages are nearly identical in layout, with a living area (including sofa bed, fireplace, kafeneion table and small kitchen) separated from the bedroom by a 3/4 height wall so as to maintain a sense of airiness. Off these is a shower room with spoiling towels and gels; outside is a shaded sitting area where, in truth, you’ll spend much more of your time. Most have views rolling down to the sea; one is tucked at the back, facing olive groves.

The style is more Cycladic than Peloponnesian, by which I mean white walls with a smattering of colour, bamboo-lined ceilings and flat roofs (apart from one lovely pitched-roof cottage overlooking the pool). Expect a uniform and functional design: long cream wardrobes, white-tiled floors, mosquito-netted windows in the bedroom, sliding glass doors in the living area. John's wife Maddy plans to add some softer and more homely touches over time. The kingsize bed is very comfy (A/C keeps you cool in midsummer), the shower reliable and strong - as is the WiFi signal. Sofa beds can be set up in the living rooms if you're bringing the teens (must be over 14).

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

Each cottage has a newly-refitted kitchenette with fridge, full oven with ceramic/glass cooktop range, pots and pans, kettle and toaster, chopping boards and knives, cafetiere and teapot, corkscrew and scissors, candles and more. It's certainly more than adequate for preparing breakfast or a light lunch, which you can enjoy on your patio, looking out to a blue strip of sea while the breeze rustles the palm and oleander leaves. For supplies, there are shops and supermarkets within 3km.

There's no shortage of eateries nearby, including a couple by Peroulias beach (10 mins' walk or a short drive) and a simple taverna up in the village of Vounaria (a similar distance). Handsome harbour town Koroni (10 mins' drive) has a string of fish tavernas on the waterfront: Angelianos served us a tasty seafood soup with chunks of scorpion fish, oregano-crusted toast, crunchy salad and local wine, for 10 Euros each. On our last visit, we enjoyed a delicious supper at O Nikos hidden away in Vassilitsi village: home-cooked Greek staples served indoors or on the patio.

If you're feeling lazy at breakfast, John and the team will bring a 'Breakfast Package' to your cottage - perhaps yoghurt, , muesli and seasonal fruit (apricots, peaches, kiwis, maybe strawberries). It's particularly handy on your first morning, and very fairly priced). They also serve daytime drinks - coffees of various types, freshly squeezed orange juice and an assortment of wines and cocktails.

Features include:

• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Wander down to their secluded sandy cove (5 minutes), with its safe, sun-warmed waters; or further along the coast to Peroulia beach (10-15 minutes), where a few loungers and eateries fringe the endless soft sands
  
• Explore the pretty town of Koroni (10 minutes' drive), with its close-packed, pastel-painted houses spilling down from a clifftop Venetian castle to a fishing harbour lined with bobbing boats
  
• Beyond lie the beaches of Memi and Zagas, perfect for wind- and kite-surfing
  
• Drive to the Homeric town of Pylos, set on the Navarino lagoon beneath another hulking castle; shuttle boats will take you to Golden Beach and the stunning horseshoe bay of Voidokilia, from where you can hike up to Nestor's Cave and a Mycenaean beehive tomb
  
• Stop at ancient Messene, with its stunningly preserved 2300-year-old city walls, theatre and temples; allow at least an hour
  
• Escape into the rolling olive and citrus groves on horseback (a lovely German lady has stables at Hrani) or on foot (ask about the walk to the river pools of Polilimnes)
  
• Rent a 5-metre dinghy with an outboard motor and canopy for some lazy fishing, or a day trip to stunning Sapi cove
  
• Go sailing from Ayios Andreas: the Greek skipperess and her yacht can even take you across to the Mani (middle peninsula), winds permitting
  
• Don't miss Methoni, a lovely laid-back town with 2 sandy beaches and the crowning glory of all Venetian castles

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Windsurfing

Kids

All cottages have a sofabed which can sleep a child - normally over 16s only, unless you take over the whole place. If you know of some like-minded families this could be an amazing option for a shared holiday, combining the independence of separate cottages with time together around the pool or beach by day. As there are no full-time staff on the premises, you would need to keep an eye on the children - especially near the unprotected drops by the pool and car park - and have a sensible adult-to-child ratio.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

BanSala is in the Messinia region of the southern Peloponnese, about 9km north of Koroni and 40km southwest of Kalamata. It's about 3 hours' drive from Athens, and a little less from Patras.

By Air:
Kalamata (35km) has some direct flights (mostly charters) from the UK and other European countries, as does Patras (210km). Athens (295km) has a much wider range of scheduled flights. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airports
From Kalamata airport you could get a taxi, but realistically you will want a hire car to explore the area and buy supplies etc - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com

More on getting to Greece and getting around