At Bella Vista Hotel & Studios in Benitses, Corfu, hospitality has always been something personal. We are a family run hotel where guests are welcomed with warmth, care and genuine human connection, not simply checked in and checked out. Our aim is to offer a comfortable and friendly stay near the sea, shaped by the relaxed character of Benitses and by a team that truly enjoys looking after people.
A family run hotel in Benitses, Corfu
Bella Vista began as a family project with roots going back to around 1975, when John and Frida Poulis spent time at their summer beach house in Benitses and saw the village gradually filling with visitors from around the world. As tourism in Corfu started growing, they recognised the opportunity to create something of their own and transformed the property into a hotel, with construction completed in the early 1980s. From the beginning, Bella Vista was shaped not as an anonymous hotel business, but as a place built through family effort, continuity and connection with the local life of Benitses.
How Bella Vista evolved
In 2003, Bella Vista entered a new phase when Anthea, the youngest daughter of John and Frida, returned to Corfu and began managing the hotel. After years of academic study and professional experience in hospitality abroad, she brought renewed energy, higher standards and a clearer vision for the future of the property. Extensive renovations and room upgrades helped transform Bella Vista into what guests experience today, while keeping the personal and family led spirit that has always defined it.
The people who welcome you
Our team includes family members, trusted collaborators and young international interns who bring energy, language skills and fresh perspectives to everyday hotel life. From the moment guests arrive, we want them to feel comfortable, informed and genuinely welcome. Whether they need local tips, practical support, help planning their stay or simply a friendly face after a long journey, we try to make hospitality feel human, attentive and natural. Good service is often made of small details, and at Bella Vista those details matter.
Our values
Bella Vista is guided by values that remain simple but important: ethical hospitality, personal care, respect for the local community and a strong belief in more meaningful tourism. We want guests to enjoy Corfu not only as visitors, but with a deeper understanding of the place, its people and its atmosphere. At the same time, we believe that a hotel should operate responsibly toward its surroundings, balancing guest comfort with sensitivity toward local life in Benitses.
Daily care, housekeeping and breakfast
For us, hospitality is not only an idea but something expressed through everyday consistency. A clean, tidy and well cared for hotel is one of our daily priorities, and housekeeping plays a central role in that experience. Breakfast is another important part of Bella Vista’s identity, with homemade traditional Greek flavours, authentic recipes and attention to freshness helping guests begin the day in a way that feels both local and personal. Many guests remember a stay not only because of the room, but because of the care they feel in these everyday moments.
A hotel with character
Bella Vista is also shaped by colour, creativity and personality. Around the breakfast area and rooms, guests notice murals and artistic details created over the years with the contribution of guest artists and art students. These elements help give the hotel a more vivid and individual atmosphere, adding warmth and expression to the guest experience. Together with the family spirit of the hotel, they help create a place that feels welcoming, distinctive and full of character.
Bella Vista today
Today, more than twenty years after its turning point, Bella Vista is still personally managed with care, presence and continuity. Over the years, thousands of guests have passed through its doors, each bringing a story, a memory or a shared moment. What began as a family business has grown into something deeper: a place where hospitality, work, memory and human connection continue to meet. For travellers looking for a family run hotel in Benitses, Corfu, Bella Vista offers not only a practical place to stay, but also a more personal way to experience the island.
