The Ionian Islands lie on the western side of Greece and are greener than the Aegean: cypresses, olive groves and pine forests instead of bare rocks. That comes from the winter rains, which are significantly heavier here. In summer it still stays reliably warm and swimmable, and the water is usually calmer than in the Aegean, which is often windy.

SkyAlps flies three destinations direct: Kefalonia, the largest of the islands; Preveza as the gateway to Lefkada; and Corfu in the north. The flight time is around two hours. The decisive difference from the usual route is the absence of a change — normally you'd have to switch in Rome, Athens or Munich, which turns a two-hour trip into four to six hours plus waiting times and the risk of lost luggage.

For a couple's holiday, the islands work well because they stay small enough. There is no continuous hotel front like on the big package-holiday islands, but rather individual bays with a few houses each. Adults-only hotels tend to lie a little outside the main resorts, in olive groves or on hillsides above the sea — with generous spa areas and access to the bays. Because the islands are small, day trips to Ithaca, Meganisi or to the Greek mainland with Nikopolis are easy add-ons.