Please can I urge you to read this review, which may be long winded but it is definitely worth your time!
If you can't be bothered to read it all which is fair enough, the short version is this:
This is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. It is run by Van who is as close to a gangster money extortionist as is possible. His crack team of complete pain in the back side staff work at his side to drain the enjoyment from your experience.
You will be FLEECED at every turn and you will be on constant edge and unable to relax.
The beach is about 30/40 minutes away not 20 as advertised! In the roasting heat with constant cockney wide boys trying to sell you mopeds it feels a lot more.
The strip is also a good distance from the hotel which is a jarg.
Read on for further detail...
I went with a group of friends all lids (you may now think 'oh typical lads group probably too loud and boisterous' but we ranged from 19-29 and are a good group of respectable people.
On arrival we were greeted at our coach by a typical 18-30's sales man who proceeded to tell us how 'mental' our week was going to be over a tannoy system with a back drop of deep house. I wasn't aware how 'completely sick' it was going to be until I had the rundown from this melter. The irritating jarg lasted all the way to the hotel which was about half an hour away.
We arrived at the hotel which on the face of things appears nice and well presented however within seconds of getting off the coach our passports were taken from us and kept in the possession of the hotel. THIS IS NOT TO LOOK AFTER THEM AS OTHER REVIEWS SUGGEST!
It is for the sole reason of bending you over a barrel and spanking your exposed, sunburnt bottom with the biggest fines you've ever seen.
The hotel manger immediately goes through 'house rules' which I will list:
- If you meet a desirable member of the opposite sex on a night out and woo them through hours of sweaty dancing and pointless conversation, don't bring them back to the hotel because they can't stay.
- Don't get ANY and I mean ANY marks on the bed sheets or pillow cases. Some examples being - sun cream, make up, after sun, drinks/food etc etc.
- Don't cause any damage to the room (this granted is more than reasonable) however, my friend sat down lightly on a plastic chair to which the leg buckled and he was fined. Is this not wear and tear? Do accidents not happen? I would say so.
- No food and drink not bought at the hotel bar is allowed around the pool. This goes for bottles of water to keep you hydrated in the boiling hot sun. You can pick up an icy cold and refreshing H20 from the supermarket over the road for 40 cent but should you been seen round the pool with it, it is taken from you and poured into the bin. This may be something to do with the €1.50 bottles of water that are half the size that you can purchase behind the bar.
- No music after 11PM. I would accept this one, bit of respect for the neighbouring properties yes I'll have that. What is not acceptable is the nasty and obnoxious security guard that comes round and orders you to leave YOUR balcony that YOU have paid for!
'You all go to the bar now, no talking outside rooms' he barks with a menacing money grabbing gleam in his eye.
I wonder why they want you at the bar and not outside you room...? I'll let you work that out yourselves.
Any failure to comply with these rules will result in an EXTORTIONATE FINE.
Here are some examples of fines from my group or other groups we were talking with:
10cm in diameter Kopparberg stain on a bed sheet - €20
Sun cream on pillow case - €20
Blood on bed sheet (friend of mine cut his knee in the pool) - €50
I know what you're thinking, where are they buying their bedsheets from? Is it the finest Arabic Silk? No it's rough and uncomfortable crap.
Jumping in the pool after 8PM will result in a €50 fine.
Fines not limited to these, I recall seeing a list with one of the highest being bed slats priced at a few hundred euros.
OUR ROOM WASN'T CLEANED FOR THREE DAYS!
NO ONE CHANGED OUR BEDSHEETS THEN WE WERE FINED FOR THEM BEING DIRTY!
On our last day one of us was being fined 50€ for a very minor stain from a henna tattoo on his bed sheet.
He had no money left what so ever, none at all. When he told this to the ever helpful 18-30's rep the reply was 'well you better find it or you're not going home because you won't be getting your passport and I'll cancel your flight'.
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD YOUR PASSPORT!?
If you don't read this review and think AVOID then at least demand your passport back!
If you've already booked this hotel, save yourself the loss of any more money and find a nice piss stinking Greek alley way to sleep in with the stray dogs instead.
I'm very angry and disgruntled about all these issues. I am reasonable though so here is a list of good points.
- Pool area is social and reasonably clean.
- Bar staff can be a laugh and quite friendly when they aren't trying to fleece you out of money.
- The bar area of the hotel is good for drinks before you go out and is nice and lively.
- The food in the hotel was nice and reasonably priced. The Lasagnus was a personal fave of mine.