5-Star Hotels in Ionian Islands, Greece

A very pleasant surprise! Having had a delayed flight from Heathrow due to operational difficulties (hydraulic failure) and the 40 minute drive to the hotel, received a very welcoming greeting from Spiros (in was late evening). He allocated a room on the floor below reception. I couldn’t see much from the room as it was very dark that night, although I could hear the sea. The following morning woke up to a wonderful sunrise over the mountains on the mainland. So, that was a great start to the day ….. and then breakfast, hosted by the wonderful Katerina, who made it clear where everything was. Breakfast was plentiful and varied – I did try to stick to the healthy fruits and salads, but was also tempted by the hot offerings. It was great to be able to sit on the verandah and feel the peace. Buffet evening meal was available on the first night as there was a group of German tourists staying there (their last night) and provided a varied buffet style cuisine – very filling and most enjoyable. For the remaining nights, there were no more than 20 people staying in the hotel, so a short drive to Nidri offered plenty of variety of restaurants for everyone’s taste. All the housekeeping staff worked hard to keep the hotel clean and tidy and were friendly. The property/maintenance team kept the gardens well maintained etc. During the course of the stay, it was evident that some of the staff had been there for many years and this is a good reflection on the hotel. All the staff I came into contact with were very friendly and helpful including Vasiliki, Elefteria, Katerina, Vaso, Aphrodite and Thanos. Apologies if I have left anyone out. The view from the room was fabulous – every morning a spectacular sunrise and in the evening, the full moon (towards the end of the stay) lighting up the Ionian Sea. Walking down the 203 steps (not 1000 as had been reported!!!) to the broad walk was not a problem at all – the paths and steps are in very good condition and each flight has handrails. The wooden broad walk was equipped with sunbeds and parasols (if needed) and was an ideal place to sit/stand and relax, watching the world (mostly sailing boats and yachts) go by. There are also transparent lifts that follow the same route for those either unwilling or able to manage the steps. So, you can witness the view from the lifts whilst descending/ascending. The only downside was that the outer pool had been recently emptied in preparation for the closed season, but there were still sunbeds there if you wanted to admire the view from that level. The indoor pool was available in any case. In summary, the hotel was a good find, excellent staff, wonderful views from so many levels (bar, restaurant, room balcony, outdoor pool and broad walk) and ample, clean accommodation. It should be noted that Tripadvisor indicates that this hotel is 3-star according to the Giata rating, and my expectation was exceeded in this case. I hope to return again next year. Thank you.