Most people have never heard of Meganissi. That’s by design.
It’s a tiny Ionian island off the west coast of Greece with no resort hotels, no package tourists, and crystal-clear bays that look like a screensaver. The fishing village of Spartochori sits above the water. Sailboats pass below. No one is fighting for a sun lounger.
Villa Lina sits directly above Spartochori. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an infinity pool facing the sea, and a terrace that gets the sunset every night. The Thinking Traveller books it from $4,048 for the whole week. Six people splitting that comes to $96 per person per night.
For context: a mid-range hotel room in Santorini runs $300+ a night per couple. Villa Lina gives you a private property, a pool, and more space than any hotel room, at a fraction of that cost.
THE STAY
Villa Lina, Spartochori, Meganissi. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 6 guests max. Infinity pool with panoramic sea views. 5-minute walk to Spartochori village. Full kitchen, outdoor dining, private terrace. Self-catering with local tavernas within walking distance. Boats available to rent from the village.
Price: from $4,048/week for up to 6 guests (~$96/person/night when split evenly). Book through The Thinking Traveller.
THE FLIGHT
New York to Preveza/Aktion (PVK), the nearest airport to Meganissi, runs from $360 one-way in September. From there, a 45-minute drive and a short ferry gets you to the island. Search on Skyscanner and set a price alert for September departures.
THINGS TO DO
Rent a boat from the village and spend a day hopping between Meganissi’s hidden coves. A guided Kalamos and Kastos day trip runs $53/person. Lefkada, 20 minutes by ferry plus a short drive, has a full 4×4 island tour for $206 per group. Most people end up doing very little and not minding at all.
FOOD
Spartochori has tavernas within a 5-minute walk from the villa. Vathi, a 7-minute drive, has waterfront seafood restaurants. Self-catering is easy with local markets stocking fresh produce and local wine. Budget $25-30/person per day for food and drink outside the villa.
THE NUMBERS (7 nights, 6 people)
Villa Lina, 7 nights: $4,048. Flights, 6x NYC-PVK round trip at ~$720/person: $4,320. Transfers and ferry: ~$300. Activities, 6 people x 3 days at avg $80: $1,440. Food, 7 days at ~$25/person/day: $1,050. Shopping and misc: $300.
Total: ~$11,458 for 6 people. Per person: ~$1,910. Per person per day: ~$273.