Two Stars - Because of the food
First and foremost, a huge shoutout to the staff—especially Manos, Dayanna, Adam Mikolis, and Dimitris. The majority of the team was incredibly polite, friendly, and helpful, which we really appreciated throughout our stay. Our Stay We visited in early September for our annual family holiday (four adults and a two-year-old). The timing was ideal—while there were children around, they were mostly younger, and the atmosphere remained peaceful. Our stay started with a small hiccup. Upon arrival, our room had what appeared to be ants. The porter immediately called housekeeping, who arrived within five minutes, checked the cupboard, sprayed bug spray, and cleaned up in record time. However, the issue persisted because the insects were actually termites coming from the cupboard joints and between pieces of wood. Manos at reception sincerely apologized and swiftly arranged for a new room. Later during our stay, we received an upgrade as a further apology, which was a lovely gesture. Our new room even allowed us to see the stars on a clear night—a highlight! The Biggest Letdown – The Food Unfortunately, the biggest disappointment of our stay was the food. While the quality was decent, the variety—especially for those with dietary requirements—was severely lacking. If you’re considering meal options, I would strongly recommend going all-inclusive over half-board or breakfast-only, as additional food purchases can quickly add up. Here’s a cost breakdown from our group: • Half-board (pool view): £1,600 + €222.50 in extra charges • Breakfast-only (garden view): £1,050 + €340.35 in extra charges Despite understanding the cost of living and the added expenses of importing food to an island, the selection for dietary restrictions was poor. Dietary Restrictions – A Nightmare A major issue was the allergen labeling—or lack thereof. While some buffet items were labeled, others had no allergen information at all. On multiple occasions, staff assured us that certain foods were vegan, only for our family member (who cannot have dairy or eggs) to fall ill afterward. Some key issues: • The plain spaghetti wasn’t labeled for gluten, and the tomato sauce had no ingredient list. • Margarine was incorrectly labeled as vegan when it contained dairy. • The baklava, made with margarine, was not vegan—leaving fruit as the only dessert option. • Breakfast included alternative milks, but cereals were limited, mostly containing honey. There was no dairy-free butter alternative, just jam. • One night, we had to ask staff to bring out the vegan cheese from breakfast so our family member could make a simple cheese sandwich—for a €40 buffet price! • The pizza restaurant refused to use the vegan cheese from breakfast for a custom pizza, leaving our only option as pizza dough with tomato sauce. Even worse, this still made our family member sick, suggesting there was hidden dairy in the dough. • At the Beach Shack, we ordered a chicken salad without chicken and were told the price would be adjusted—it wasn’t. We paid €17 for a basic salad. • The ice cream shop (“The Crush”) offered a vegan milkshake but didn’t label it as oat-based, which made our family member sick. By the end of the trip, they were just looking forward to going home. Ironically, in the hotel lobby, we found a book about vegan and vegetarian hotels—if only this one lived up to that standard! Other Aspects of the Hotel • Drinks: The cocktails and mocktails were very good! • Facilities: The gym is small but well-equipped for a simple workout. The yoga, Pilates, and stretching sessions were fantastic on weekends—it would have been great if they were available during the week too. • Activities: They offer a variety of experiences, such as olive oil tasting and bread baking, which you can request. • Kids’ Activities: The hotel caters to younger children (under 6). There was a movie night, but parents weren’t allowed to stay, which can be tricky for those with kids under 5. The kids’ area is located at the hotel entrance, which felt a bit far from the main amenities. • Parking & Car Rentals: Available, making longer day trips easy. The Grounds & Ambience The hotel grounds are beautiful, well-maintained, and clean. Our two-year-old loved exploring the gardens and spotting geckos. There were plenty of sun loungers available, both by the pool and on the beach. One small suggestion: it would be nice if they had a shared toy basket for children, like other hotels we’ve stayed at. The reception shop didn’t stock toys, which could be improved. That said, the shop had water, snacks, and tasteful souvenirs, though on the pricier side. Final Verdict If food isn’t a priority for you—or if you don’t have dietary restrictions—this hotel could be a fantastic choice, especially in September when it’s quieter. The staff, facilities, and atmosphere are great, but for anyone with dietary needs, I cannot recommend it. Would I return? Not unless the food situation improves for those with dietary requirements.
