Where to start with this superb/excellent hotel review?
We were allocated a junior suite in the main building (room 204) a corner room with a patio area facing the sea (sight of sea between apartments) and views over the pool to the right together with a small side balcony.
We arrived at 22:30 and were greeted by reception staff as we got off the minibus. The cases were taken to the room whilst the various hotel facilities, etc. were explained to us. We were then shown to our room, and all the room facilities were explained. As we had arrived late we had missed the evening dinner service, but the hotel had kindly provided a sandwich and a bowl of fruit in the room together with a welcome drink. Since we were on a half-board package, we were given a voucher for use at the a-la-carte restaurant for lunch on our last day, as we were being collected at 5pm for the return journey to the airport.
Room 204 has a huge walk-in shower, two sinks, excellent water pressure and plenty of hot water. In the room are tea and coffee making facilities, mini bar, fridge and safe with a 6 digit code. The bed originally had a topper mattress on that we found made it much too soft for a comfortable sleep, but this was removed the next day as requested which gave us a firm mattress for a good night’s sleep. As room 204 is at the end of the corridor it is very quiet with no one passing, although the maid’s storage cupboard is immediately opposite next to the lift which can cause some noise disturbance, however cleaning activity does not begin until after 8am.
You can choose to sit outside for all meals in the sunshine or inside when the evening weather was a bit cooler.
Breakfast buffet is available from 07:30 until 11:00 so there’s no rush to get up for breakfast before it closes. There is a very warm welcome by all the staff, and the choice and quality of food is superb, with at least a dozen hot dishes and a cold selection table, including traditional Greek cuisine as well as international dishes together with lots of fresh fruit choices. The fresh portions available are not large but these are regularly topped up before the plates are emptied and the display is in a very welcoming and artistic manner. Sparkling wine, tea, coffee, fresh fruit juices and water are also available for breakfast at no extra cost. Attention to detail and presentation of food is beautiful, a work of art.
Buffet dinner is also of a very high quality although the a-la-carte restaurant is available providing high quality table service of a 5 course meal. There is a limited a-la-carte set menu with 2 choices for each course included in the half-board package that changes weekly, but a full a-la-carte menu is available to choose from too at an additional cost. The a-la-carte restaurant is a jewel in the Grecotel Caramel crown, serving awesome food with excellent presentation and service.
The hotel complex is quite small with just 69 rooms including the main building and a number of separate small apartment blocks set out in a village style complex with well-lit pathways at night. All the buildings in the complex have been designed for discretion with minimal overlooking from one room to another, and well maintained gardens throughout. Most of the steps between the 3 floors do not have any hand rails, although there are a couple of lifts, if this is an issue for people with walking difficulties.
The fabulous swimming pool is 1.2m deep across the whole pool and there is a separate Jacuzzi. This area has been creatively designed with its really unusual 'lily pad' sun loungers in the water and sunken dining area. The pool is filled with sea water and lights up in different colours in the evening.
There are sufficient sun loungers with mattresses, umbrellas and a number of cabanas for shade around the pool. The complex includes access to a very clean sandy beach with comfortable sun loungers with mattresses and sunshades available at no extra cost to hotel guests. This serviced beach area also has a snack bar and 2 changing cubicles, together with outdoor showers. There are plenty of clean beach towels available as required at both the pool and at the beach whilst small bottles of water are provided once a day to guests around the pool and at the beach.
In summary an excellent 5 star small hotel complex; so peaceful and relaxing; quality good sized bedrooms; top quality furnishings and décor throughout; excellent service; very friendly and helpful staff with nothing being too much trouble. Choice and quality of food are excellent. Top rate training and ethos for all staff who are obviously proud to work at Grecotel Caramel Boutique Resort.
The only aspect that needs improving would be the towels in the bedroom as these have seen better days and were a bit thin and way past their best.