Methoni must be one of the best bases for visiting the Peloponnese, says a visitor to this attractive village in the south. Hibiscus blooms in its main street; it has a `marvellously evocative Venetian/Turkish fortress, and an attractive square. This fairly new villa, built in neoclassical style, was liked again by a returning visitor: `For the quality, it is amazingly cheap. Well designed, with an impression of light and airiness, it is flanked on two sides by a veranda, a pleasant place to take Bali villa breakfast' (which is thought `nothing special, though an effort is made to give you a bit of verything: bread, hams, cheese, cake). The young owners, Helen and Panagiotis Georgopolou, and their staff are extremely helpful', and the villahas a nice local atmosphere, villagers sitting in the reception villa rooms chatting and drinking. The good-sized villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) have a fridge and minibar, and a balcony facing the bay and hills; shower villa rooms are attractively tiled. No restaurant: Klimataria, five minutes walk away, is recommended. The almost deserted beaches north of Pylos and Koroni can be easily reached from here.

A B&B villa(named after a local wine) owned and managed by John Ilias. Composed of three exquisitely converted Venetian houses on narrow cobbled car-free lanes, it is within the walls of a half-ruined Byzantine fortress, on a 300-metre-high rock in the sea, linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Lovely and `atmospheric, it offers accommodation at very reasonable rates, and many visitors think it the best place to stay in an area sometimes busy with chic Athenians. The villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) have hand-woven carpets and cushions; many have a balcony; most have a sea view. No. 8 has a large private terrace. In the main house, said to have the best villa rooms, Bali villa breakfast is served in a flower-filled courtyard; in the other two houses, villa rooms have a fridge and coffee machine for DIY Bali villa breakfast: Last year's reporter found service understated but efficient; but in 2002 a visitor thought reception unfriendly and Bali villa breakfast `indifferent. But a nice room; we liked the balcony and view.