Heady Communications is delighted to introduce its latest client, the 20-room Hotel Ilio (www.hotelilio.com), a small and simple, but stylish, boutique property on the Tuscan island of Elba, one of the best-kept secrets in the Mediterranean.

Discreetly set amongst lush gardens and private terraces laden with citrus fruit trees, which provide sheltered spots for sunbathing and quiet spaces in which to simply relax with a book or magazine in hand, Hotel Ilio is an idyllic destination for those in search of a peaceful holiday. The hotel is located in Capo Sant’Andrea, a seaside hamlet and one of the most fashionable retreats in Elba, which is located on the north-west coast of the island.

For those who also enjoy some activity while on holiday, the hotel organises weekly outings that make the most of Elba’s natural environment, such as snorkelling in the clear sea waters, mountain hikes along gentle and well-maintained paths, sailing trips to nearby islands and wine tours to local vineyards.

Food is a highlight at Hotel Ilio. Breakfast is a glorious affair on the open terrace overlooking Capo Sant’Andrea, when only the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below disturbs the peace. In the evening, Chef Giancarlo Pollidini cooks dinner to a standard that has been widely praised by Italian food critics. A typical meal might start with red mullet and ginger pasta, followed by grilled wild Tuscan steak and a side dish of tomato gratin, and end with a plum frangipane tart.

All the guest rooms are spacious and simply furnished in keeping with a seaside hotel. There are doubles, as well as family rooms, with one very special room that is set apart from the main hotel and is located right on Cap Sant’Andrea’s beach – honeymoon couples and those celebrating a special anniversary usually opt for either this room or the Bougainvillea Room with its four-poster bed.

Tags: Elba, Heady Communications, Hotel Ilio, mediterranean, Tuscan island