Grecotel Kos Imperial Palace Thlasso Reviews

Wow, will certainly return here again. Good location, away from the hustle & bustle, but only a short bus ride from town. We used the bus a few times in the evenings to avoid drinking & driving but hired a car. We hired from a super little family run place on the out skirts of the town called 'Autoway car rental' the owner went out of his way to make us feel welcome & even showed us a few lovely places to eat at, as well as the cheapest place to buy fuel, he was also a lot cheaper than the hotel rent a car. Found Kos really easy to get around and found some super beaches. We did go to Turkey for the day, but spent ages in various queues so wouldn't do that again. But all in all a great holiday, topped off by having a fantastic base.

What can i say,HEAVEN ON EARTH.
Alright i admit this was our first ever 5*holiday,but i assume due to the ";world cup"; the price came to within my budget.
When booking pay the extra for a garden room (LSV),when we arrived we had a fit of giggles we could not believe how fab the room was,beautiful decor,immaculatey clean,slippers,gowns,towels,toiletries,quiet air con, and even a cd player.

The whole hotel and grounds were spotless,never had problems with sunbeds,the variety of food at breakfast and dinner was amazing,yes as previous reviews stated the drinks are pricey,but surrounded by this luxury who cares,my TAB for the whole week came to £135 (drinks,snacks,ice creams)All the staff were helpful and polite,all spoke english(minority,mostly german,french,italian,russian)nothing was to much trouble.We had planned to do tours but were so chilled by the pool we could not muster the energy,went the whole week without seeing a cloud.We did go to Kos town in the evening which was brill,but you need a full day to go round it all,also get a taxi we thought we would go rural on the bus,big mistake sweaty sardines,also the noise of constant scooters,bikes,trikes and taxi horns made us return to the tranquillity of our hotel sooner than expected.
The evening entertainment was ok,like all holidays its what you make it,after a few cocktails we all enjoy a show reguardless of the quality.This place is NOT for teenagers, but its because of the lack of action that makes the hotel relaxing.

My only minor complaint is no pool staff to stop the young ones playing games,diving or taking inflatables into the adult pool like the signs say,but being english we said nothing just tutted.

If you can afford that bit extra,enjoy relaxing in a beautiful hotel,you must experience this place,we have only been back 4 weeks and i am already getting earache to book next year (lotto prevailing)

We took our two week holiday at the beginning of the season. The hotel was quite quiet which was what we wanted and therefore I cannot comment on how busy/noisy it would be in high season. The hotel is vast and leads directly onto a pebbley beach. There are three big pools and a childrens pool - all beautifully clean. One pool has a lazy river and waterfall - and one has palm trees in middle. There are plenty sunbeds both by the pools and on the beach. Beach towels are provided in your room so you do not have to take your own to Kos. All have a comfy foam mattress on. There are two bars - one at beach and one at one of the pools. The gardens are really lovely and very well tended.

We can only speak for our accommodation - which we found to be exceptionally clean and had hairdryer, safe and fridge, television and also a CD player. Dressing gown and slippers are provided. There was an extra room with two little couches in it and a balcony. The balcony had a `pull out` washing line which was very handy. One problem we found was that we had to complain about the bed as we found it not comfortable atall but thinking back I am unsure if we have ever really found a comfortable bed in Greece and we ARE slightly older now !! In this case and also when we needed batteries for the TV remote control - staff attended to things straight away. Ther service is the best we have ever come across.

Food - what can I say - TREMENDOUS ? The choice of food both for the salad buffet and the main meal and desert was exceptional. It caters for every taste and culture. I have never seen such a choice of vegetarian food before in a hotel. A lot of thought had gone into the preparation of the vegetarian options. The salads are to die for. The wines were reasonably priced and we stuck to the `maison` white which was quite OK. The waitors are also to die for...but that is another story (hahah.) Every mealtime you are made to feel very special. Breakfast has a really good choice also and we ate each morning outside. Each morning champagne (really white sparkling wine) is served as well as smoked salmon but there are hundreds of other items to choose from.

There are waterfalls and water surrounding all public areas of the hotel. The reception lobby is beautiful and very comfortable to sit in. In May when we went there was not a vast amount of entertainment in the evening.
I would definitely recommend this hotel to couples who wish to just chill out by the pool or beach, or read a book on top looking out over the sea to Turkey. I think teenagers would be bored out of their minds and would not appreciate the beauty of the hotel. There is a bus stop outside the hotel which has frequent buses to Kos Town. The other direction leads to Thermes a beach with hot springs...and they ARE hot !!

The hotel shop has very friendly staff and stocks most items that you may run out of. There is a hairdresser and although the hairdresser did not speak English she made herself understood. The two computers in the Computer Corner kept crashing or losing the connection which was rather frustrating. However, when you complain, it is rectified straight away - only to break down again shortly afterwards.

We definitely wish to return to this hotel.

Over the past 5 Summer holidays, this is the third time that we have booked to stay at a Grecotel and we were not disappointed.

The thing you have to remember about this place is that it is one of the top hotels on Kos and you pay for that privilege.

I don't really want to start on a negative but the drinks are a little bit pricey! Frankly, I feel a bit bad mentioning it, but they are probably double (perhaps more)than that of a Bar in Kos Town.

We are not big drinkers - maybe a cocktail for the girls and a Metaxa and Coke for me before dinner, middling bottle of wine with dinner with a couple of bottles of water and then a Nightcap for everyone afterwards - Irish Coffee, Baileys and a Coke - all that lot would be about 55-60 Euro or £39-42 - if you get my drift.....

That said, if you choose to stay in a place like this then you have to expect to pay for it! Both brochure wise and when you get there.

Ok moans over. This is really good hotel in almost every respect.

In no particular order of importance here's a few insights into the hotel, what it's like and what there is to do.

The Pools are great! There a bit of sunbed reservation going on (as everywhere) but there are enough to go around. We actually spent most of our time on the beach (they shipped in goodness knows how many tons of sand from Morocco apparently) but we were 10 paces from the pool and 20 paces from the sea.
The beach had fixed parasols and lovely comfy adjustable sunbeds...

We were blessed with amazing weather during our stay - 40deg C on most days, hardly any clouds and a cooling NE breeze. It was perfect tanning conditions for those of you that like to get well bronzed!

Food was pretty good, though like all these places it got a bit repetitive after 10 days or so. The breads were all home baked and amazing...

Breakfast was pretty much the same everyday but it was all there to make your own variety - cereals, fresh milk, fruit, wide range of teas, coffee, juices, breads, conserves, bacon, sausages, omelette bar, eggs (every way), Greek fried sweet things etc... etc.... etc...

We ate outside at every meal which was very pleasant. The staff were attentive, efficient and very friendly...

We were half board so if we had lunch we took it at the poolside Taverna. Not great really - and a bit pricey depending if you had wine and beer. The food was virtually the same each time we went and the bill was about 30 - 40 Euro. Funny place really - you queued up, like in a cafeteria, but when you got to the checkout your tray(s) were whisked away by (really nice) waiting staff to the table of your choice! Don't know why but I found this a bit strange!

By the way you can swop out Dinner for Lunch at Reception. They give you a credit/head against the cost of lunch if don't have dinner. (I think it was 11.50 Euro) We did this a couple of times when we were going out for dinner.

Also, while I remember, they have an a la Carte restaurant - open in the evenings -on the same level as the main Bar Terrace. Great views and pretty good food though it was a bit too ";Nouvelle"; for my wife and daughter. They were trying to a bit clever if you know what I mean and the portions were miniscule!

But it was OK and again the credit of 11.5 Euro works for this place too.

The room was great and kept neat and tidy by the daily maid service. All the staff were very, very friendly but I think that's a Greek trait anyway! Big balcony with sea view.

Just a couple more things about the hotel... It's a little way out of town and taxis are about 7/8 Euro one way...

They do Guided early morning walks of about 45 mins from Reception at 07.30 - well worth the effort!

They are, at least when we stayed, trying to get guests interested in timeshare (RCI Scheme) which Grecotel have recently joined. They were very polite though and not pushy at all. If you go on the tour it's worth 100 Euro Hertz voucher - up to you!

Ok so outside the Hotel.... and I'll keep this brief as I've gone on far too much already...

Kos town is OK, lots of shops and quite lively - good for a few nights out.

We went to a restaurant called Petronos a couple of times - highly recommended - get a garden table at about 21.30 and eat with the Greeks. Not too pricey and excellent food.

We had a car on two separate days but really you could do the island in a day.

Kephalos is worth going to, a bit underdeveloped but a great beach with nice beachside Tavernas

The secret Forest at Plaka, near the Airport was like a magical ";Dingly Dell";! Full of Peacocks and other wildlife - worth a stop.

The Thermes (turn left out of the Hotel and keep driving) was an experience. Hot Springs (and I mean HOT) bubbling up into a little bay on the seashore

Lastly you gotta go to Turkey for the day. We went independently from Thompson as it was less than half the price... All the Passport immigration was quite smooth - but be care in your purchases as the Greek Customs on the return journey were taking their jobs very seriously!

This is the second stay for us in a Grecotel group hotel. We had a small niggle when we first arrived - although we had booked a sea view (they specify a limited sea view), the sea was a very distant band on the horizon beyond the building in front. The room was also close to a noisy road. We asked to move but couldn't be moved for couple of days.

When we moved rooms, our holiday went from strength to strength. Our Thomson Platinum rep was fab - she lives on the island with her family and was helpful beyond the call of duty. We went on a few of the tours:

The volcano adventure was amazing - the set of Moonraker - it was breathtaking (literally...due to the sulphur fumes) and well worth the long ferry journey.

Zia - a beautiful village high up with excellent views (especially at sunset) and good restaurants. Lovely atmosphere.

Greek Night - close to Zia, wine included in the price with traditional greek dancing. It was great fun but keep an eye on your teenagers if they have a taste for free booze!

The hotel is of course luxurious and the bathing facilities were excellent and very clean. The breakfast and evening buffet food was really delicious but the lunch options were extremely limited.

The entertainment provided by the hotel wasn't too bad overall but I felt that more could have been done for the teenagers. They tended to hang around the pool table most evenings - table tennis would give them a further option.

All in all a fabulous, relaxing holiday in a handy location. Hiring a car is a good idea and it won't take long to tour the island.

We're off to another Grecotel next year - we're pretty sold on their excellent standards.

This is the 4th Grecotel we have stayed in as we find the chain so good, but I had a few disappointments with this hotel.

The location is quite isolated with no tavernas or shops nearby. This didn't bother us as most of their hotels are like this and we just got the local bus in to Kos town if we wanted to look at shops, go to bars etc.

Overall the hotel is beautiful with three pools and an indoor- two of them are massive and very attractive with good kids pool adjoined. The gardens are lovely and the rooms were of a very high standard and spotlessly clean. On the last day we moved to a family room as we had a late flight. This was at the road side of the hotel and you could hear the road which is quite noisy. Also, the balcony looked out on to another block of rooms accross a bit of garden. I would not have wanted this view for a fortnight, so it is worth paying the extra for a pool or sea view.

Grecoland (kids club) was big and had a playground.

The hotel is right on the beach and there are plenty of sun beds with good watersports.

I am not in the habit of complaining about prices as I think you probably have to expect it in a posh hotel but the bar prices and pool snacks etc really were extortionate. We have noticed a massive increase in the cost of day to day stuff in Greece since the swap to the euro and it is particularly bad in the hotel. If you go out of the hotel and turn left there is a mini mart accross the road at about 100 yards which is cheaper.

The staff were mostly very friendly but there were a few exceptions which is unusual as this chain seems to pride themselves on the staff. I thought a few were a bit snooty.

The main problem was FLIES. They were everywhere and there were absolutely millions of them. The hotel appeared to be doing nothing to combat the problem. In the restaurant they were all over the food crawling in it and presumably laying eggs and spreading diseases. We had to constantly bat them off while we were eating. I have a cast iron constitution fortunately but my son caught worms. I know this is common in young kids but he has never had it before to my knowledge and i can't help thinking it was related to the flies. There was not a problem as much round the pool but they were on the balcony and kept getting in to the room. This was not a general invasion in Kos as we ate in town on a few occasions and there was no problem there. I wonder if it is to do with the proximity to a sewage farm, which other guests have mentioned on this sight. We never smelt it but I am sure this could have been to do with it.

Speaking of sewage, you can flush your loo paper in this hotel- very unusual in Greece.

I would recommend the Thomson trip to Turkey and the Hamam (Turkish baths). Pricey for a family but well worth it. You go to Bodrum which is very tacky but a laugh haggling with the street vendors. They shout things like ";cheaper then Tesco"; and you can get all the usual fake designer stuff. The hamam was great. You sit in a huge hot room on marble seats and heat up for a while and then ";slaves"; as they call them come in and slough off all your dead skin with a scratchy oven mit. They then plonk you on a hot slab and massage you to within an inch of your life! After that they wash your hair for you. Bliss. Thomson have got the timing down to an art and they ferry you to the Hamam in mini buses (it is about 20 minutes in the bus) so you have plenty of time to shop, though it would be a bit tight if you wanted to have a sit down meal as well. We ate on the run.

Also, the spa at the hotel is gorgeous. I would recommend the ancient spirit elixir which is two hours of bliss as you are massaged, scrubbed, enveloped in yoghurt and have a bath in a private garden in milk and honey.

This is a lovely hotel, ideal for families. We stayed in a garden room, worth paying a little extra for as we were next to the pool and had a sea view. Hotel rooms were closer to the main road which was not busy but might detract from your enjoyment.

The restaurant was perfect for families with huge buffets catering for every palate. Children were welcome and could pop up and down for extras whenever they wanted.
Staff were friendly and helpful.

The facilities were numerous and there was plenty for children and teenagers to do. Great kids club which our nine year old thoroughly enjoyed.
The pools were great and there was always plenty of sun beds and umbrellas available.
Pebbly beach with a sandy area for children to play in. The shipwrecked boat play area was great for little ones.
A La Carte dining was very cheap and the food was excellent.
Fridges in rooms and a cheap hotel shop selling soft and alcoholic drinks (80 cents for a bottle of coke) meant that costs were kept down.

Already looking at other Grecotels to stay in in future.
Psalidi isn't really a resort but as Kos town is only 5 mins by taxi it didn't matter.

We have just returned from a fabulous holiday, in this beautiful hotel, which truly deserves its 5 star rating.

The hotel is situated a small distance from Psalidi, which itself is not really big enough to call a resort, but which is only about 3 miles from Kos Town, the island's lively but pleasant capital.

Thr rooms are beautifully clean, and well furnished, with plenty of little extras such as bath robes and beach towels provided. You do get occasional smells from the nearby sewage works, but because this is so close you are able to flush paper away, unlike any other hotel in Greece I have ever visited.

The hotel staff are extremely courteous and friendly. The Thomson reps (Michelle and Leanne) are great and couldn't do enough to help your holiday along. We went on Thomsons well organised day trip to Bodrum in Turkey, and would really recommend a trip to the Turkish Bath (Hammam).

Also highly recommended is a visit to the hotels own spa, where Susan enjoyed a super ";Cleopatra Bath"; and the best massage she ever had!

Just a couple of minor criticisms. Although the buffet dinners were very extensive, the food never seemed quite warm enough (I know that is typically Greek), and the evening entertainment in the hotel was, on most nights, poor. In fact, although the hotel is huge and holds hundreds of people, on one evening there were only half a dozen or so in the bar! We are pretty sociable, so that was a bit of a disappointment.

So, we would definitely return, and we plan to visit other hotels in the ";Grecotel"; group!

Kos Imperial is a good hotel its clean luxurious and all staff are very helpful.
Its ideal for a relaxing sunbathing holiday although Psladi is not realy a resort its more of a overspill of Kos town, which takes one and a half hours to walk to or 10 mins on the bus.
Our rooms were beautiful with sky tv but 20 of the 22 channels provided are German channels which leaves you with 2 english news channels also the air con is fixed at 16oC.

Only a few bad things to say so here goes:-the hotel is 90%Germans which means the food is orientated around this and even the staff for the entertainment are German.
There is a sewage plant opposite the hotel which on some days i could smell while dining and the hotel is in a legal dispute over this.
The food is very repetitive and only luke warm.
The drinks in the hotel are very expensive around £3 per pint and £5 for a short and the evening entertainment is the worst ive seen in any hotel.

We did find a bar 20 minutes towards Kos town called Appollon bar and they were great people with friendly service and they sell Carling its about £1.10p for a large beer (all drinks 1/3 of the price)and the food is cheap and good quality (better than our hotels in fact)we only found this the second week of our holiday which left me with a hefty bar bill for the first week at the hotel.

Dont be fooled by the Thomson reps into booking excursions they say things like your not insured if you dont book with us but you are, they charged 140 euros for 2 adults and two kids to Turkey but days later whilst at the harbour i was angry to find i could have had the same deal for 50 euros which is a massive saving.
Overall a good holiday and lovely hotel if you learn from my mistakes youll have an even better holiday than i did.