Immersed to my waist in the private plunge pool on the terrace of my suite at MarBella Corfu, with my chin resting in my folded arms as I lean on the side, I’m looking across lushly planted gardens – a mass of vivid and spiky greens with bright pops of fuchsia and purple – to a vast ruffled sea of deep, shifting blues. In the near distance, densely forested mountains jut up and above the resort’s roofline; out on the horizon, these are less obviously verdant, swathed, as they are, in a haze of mist. The sun is casting a warm spell on my back and it honestly seems that the most stressful thing that could ever happen in my life is that the line of nearby ants may, at some stage, bother my arms with their tickly little marching legs.

But of course, that’s not the case: as blissfully anxiety-free as you might feel on vacation, the fact is that holidays come to an end and that our ordinary, everyday existence, with all of its attendant stresses, recommences. While many of us have mechanisms in place to help us manage these inevitable elements of our lives, these may not always be healthy (alcohol, or zoning out in front of the television, for example) nor sustainable (an exercise class that’s at a tricky time, or a good friend who’s got a similarly busy schedule). No wonder so many travellers are opting for ‘wellness’ and ‘retreat’ based vacations: these days our expectations of a holiday increasingly turn on the idea that we should not only enjoy it, but that we should somehow return from it as a better person.

Well-being is carefully woven into MarBella’s offering, not only by way of its spacious and considerately thought-out grounds, and the subtle separation between family and adult areas, but also in its commitment to the environment and implementation of energy saving projects, plus, of course, its fitness facilities, where guests can work out independently on weight and cardio equipment, or participate in a variety of classes, including aerial yoga. There’s also a spa, where treatments aimed at soothing your body and, by extension, your mind, range from massage and facials to body sculpting and reshaping, all using natural Greek APIVITA products and Environ treatments. As of this year, a brand new component of MarBella’s attention to your health is the opportunity to enter into a five-day programme with holistic psychotherapist Dirk Stikker, during which guests will benefit from one-to-one therapeutic sessions complemented by a tailor-made spa and nutrition programme – all aimed at giving individuals the techniques needed to manage their stress in a meaningful and sustainable way, long after the holiday is over. At the end of the course – dubbed Mastermind2.0 – clients are given a personalised “road map” to assist them with continuing with the progress they’ve made; aftercare, by way of phone and email contact, is also offered to help you keep up the good work in a supportive but non-dependent way.

Of course, participants in this programme of wellness are by no means locked away inside wrestling with demons and chanting yogically – it’s conducted in a wonderfully unobtrusive and relaxed manner which still leaves guests plenty of time to chill out by one of the pools or on the hotel’s Blue Flag beach, or to venture further afield to explore this most northerly of Greek islands. MarBella offers a range of day trips for those who want the guesswork taken out of their peregrinations, with arranged group hikes, bird watching, boating and diving, as well as visits to fishing villages and other activities available. There’s also a regular shuttle service to Corfu’s Old Town, where a shabby charm pervades the narrow laneways and broad squares, and shops offer attractive souvenirs, including bright ceramics and objects lovingly crafted from olive wood. Peeling paint and coloured wooden shutters, interspersed with tumbling jasmine and bougainvillaea, characterise the faded elegance of the buildings; below these, table settings spill out of the cafes and onto the marble paved streets as customers enjoy indulgently long meals.

That said, it’s easy to while away your mealtimes within the MarBella itself, where there are no fewer than six restaurants at which to take the edge off your holiday appetite. Be sure to include an evening at the delightful Platea Greek restaurant in your stay: here, typical Corfiot food, in which the Venetian influences on the island’s early history are apparent, is paired with locally produced beers for an unforgettably delicious and unique dining experience. Head to the hotel’s Belvedere Terrace beforehand for a sundowner with expansive views of the sea and distant mountains – the signature cocktail, the Marbellous, is a heady concoction guaranteed to start your night with an enjoyable kick.

Classic Collection Holidays ( 0800 047 1064; classic-collection.co.uk) offers 5 nights at Marbella Corfu from £1059 per person. Price based on 2 adults sharing a superior sea view room on an all-inclusive basis and includes return flights from London Gatwick (other UK departure airports available) and private transfers. Departs late September.

The MASTERMIND2.0 programme is a personalised programme. Prices for the 5-day programme start from £3,950, which does not include accommodation. For inquiries and bookings please contact Dirk Stikker: +306907652477/ [email protected] or for further information visit www.addictions-mastermind.com 

MarBella Corfu offers rooms from €114 per double room per night on a half board basis