I was at Tsilivi between 1/5/3 and 15/5/3 with my partner and found the place fantastic. It was lovely and peaceful, weather was gorgeous, the Island itself was beautiful and the locals were the friendliest I've met yet.
I personally did not hear of any problems in ther area with regards to crime I think you just have to use your usual common sense that you would anywhere else.
The only thing I would mention is if you considering going as early as us in the season don't be expecting it to be busy alot of places don't start to open until the 2nd week in May but if you want a relaxing peaceful time it's perfect!

We spent a lovely 2 weeks at the Hotel Petros and it was one of the nicest Hotels I have stayed in for the price we paid for the holiday. It's a fairly new Hotel, only 2 years old so everything is still as new and lovely and clean. Rooms have fridge's and air conditioning available at an extra cost and all have a balcony. The staff are all really friendly and make sure you make friends with Stefanos as he'll make you a 'special ' cocktial
The location is a little walk away from Tsivili centre and about a mile from the beach so makes for a little bit of a walk when it's really hot but it gives you the chance to check out the restaurants for the nights meal!
With the Hotel being out of the main town it's a quiet location but beware of the cockeral accross the road which never shuts up!

If anyone is thinking of taking this trip you've got to ask yourself what your expecting. If your expecting a luxury yacht with free amenities and free drinks/food for the amount you pay you've got to be kidding. If however you looking for a nice relaxing cruise around some of the tourist sites on the Island and a stop off at the shipwreck for some swimming, this is exactly what you get. The views all round and Smuggler's Cove are amazing, one of the prettiest places I've ever seen but I ask you to please remember it is a "cove" so it wil be busy especially as it is one of the most famous parts of the Island. You spend an hour on the beach which is shingle so I would suggest some good footwear but is none the less a worthwhile trip.
I personnally really enjoyed the trip and so did my partner but it's not one for young children as it mostly is a boat trip, but I great one for people who just want to relax and enjoy themselves.

Ate here on our first night, the food was lovely and no problem with the service either and a very extensive menu with food for everyones taste. Not the cheapest place around but not expensive by any means.

We ate here twice, and it has to be good for me to return as I'm REALLY fusy!! The chap on the door is a little annoying when you pass him in the street a few times and invites you in for his specials every time but if you spare a little time he's such a nice guy, and remember, it is his job after all. There was a really good choice on the menu and it was one of the cheapest places I ate during my holiday.

I agree with Graham Cork on this one, the food was nice but ideally it was only the kind of place we visited when we missed breakfast and u just want a peice of toast or some cereal. The were rubbish compared to the warm welcomes we'd received everywhere else and seemed an effort to help you. I would give it a miss unless you have kids as I think this only really suited to a family.

I personally had the worst meal of my holiday here, however my partner loved his meal, the food is cheap and the service is excellent but not an extensive selection on the menu.

We came accross this place when we were investigating on our first night. It's such a lovely place to sit and have a bite to eat or just a drink as it's right on the beach front, service was excellent and the food was lovely.

We booked this tour through Spring Tours and I would agree that your much better off hiring a car and doing it all yourself. It's around and hour and a half on the ferry which isn't too bad as the ferry 's very large and fairly comfortable, then comes the gruelling tour of the Island, and by tour I mean you stay in a hot, sweaty, uncomfortable coach for pretty much all day.
We drove through nearly all of the places of interest on the Island, stopping for 30 mins at the caves where you had to run in and out again by the time the tour operator had collected our money to "save" time, then about another 30 mins at the lake both of which we had to pay extra for on top of the price of the tour but we weren't told about before we booked. We then went into Kefalonia town where almost everything was closed for siesta which topped off the day.
What we did see was beautiful and I don't think these tours really do the Island the justice it deserves so do make sure you go if you can and give yourself plenty of time to look around the place.

Had to book my holidays early this year due to work commitments so we were a little worried we miss out, I needn't of worried! We went from 1st May - 15th May and on the day we arrived we had the whole pool at our hotel to ourselves as there was only 2 other couples staying there with us. It was much hotter than we expected as the internet report said it was due to be 20-25 degrees but we were getting 35 nearly every day. It was really quiet the first week as a lot of the restaurants were just beginnig to open for the season but it was just what we were after. I would deffinatly recommend this time of year for anyone wantin to get away from it all.