Hotel Eleana Reviews

We went to the Pelion The last 2 weeks in September 2005. The hotel was very well managed and spotlessly clean and is in a good position. The village of agios Ioannis has about 20 tavernas and all the ones we tried were good, our favorite was the Akth in the middle of the village.
The village is in a very remote location and you should to be mindfull that you will need to hire a car or you will be isolated as the bus service on this side of the mountain is virtually non existant.

The resorts on the Pagisitic Gulf side are better served by bus and would probably be a better choice of resort for those people not wanting to drive, however the roads are generaly good but you are seldom out of second or third gear because of the tight bends and steep gradients.
The weather at that time of year was pretty changeable we had as many cloudy and wet days as we had sunny ones.

The area is outstandingly scenic and has many traditional villages clinging to the moutainside.
There are lots of lovely places to see on the Pelion but as I have said you will need a car to do the area justice.

We landed at volos airport via skiathos a 3 hour transfer followed, it was dark so we didn't see much, the next day we awoke to one of the most picturesque resorts we've seen, the hotel eleanna is right next to a small wood about 50 metres from the sea, the hotel is fairly basic but is kept clean by the friendly and very efficient staff they couldn't do enough for us,the resort is small (15 tavernas- 4 supermarkets and 3 shops,the man and his daughter in the supermarket closest to the hotel were a pair of wingers everybody else was fine, we never had a bad meal all the time we were there,

we hired a car for 8 days driving up into the mountains was fantastic - woods streams the views are great , apple trees line the road leading to the village of Zagora ,Tsangarada (with its giant plane tree) Milopotamos beach - Portaria, Going over to the Pagasitikos gulf side of the peninsula we followed the coast road from Kala nera to Koropi onto Horto and Milina continuing to Kotes where we stoped for some lunch all very beautiful. We also visited Volos twice for a bit of shopping a nice city,(very busy) we had a great time the only down side was the return trip the plane couldn't take off from Skiathos to come to Volos due to badweather,we had an extra night in volos plus a meal (paid for by kosmar)

if you've not been to the Pelion try it! its a very beautiful part of greece.we will return .

Transfer times are rather long and you would NOT want the bus to come away from the road, the pelion area is like one big undulating go-kart track....

The Hotel is excellent, as above.

The resort is more than adequate with 3 large beaches, sunbeds available.

20ish restaurants/tavernas from typical greek to pizza/italian. For a special meal visit the Galini Hotel,(half way down resort up alley) Greek food al a carte in fantastic surroundings and not that expensive.

Although food is very resonable we did notice that booze prices have been hiked up...the best drinking place ";STAVENTOS";,
run by the man himself...easy to miss, but worth finding, (nr the cigarette booth).

All shops very freindly apart from the geezer who runs the first supermarket up from the main car park, who definately needs a happy pill....as does his daughter.

Packed out with noisy rich greeks at the weekend.

We hired a car for a week, but there arn't many tourist attractions in the pelion, and wouldn't rec hiring one for more than a few days....better be a good driver to...the roads around here are feared by the locals.

Dont bother going to volos town....theres nothing to see....unless you like shopping.....esp 4 shoes.

GREAT HOLIDAY.

Booked this as a last minute deal only 24 hrs before we left so had no idea of what to expect. Left from Bristol airport and little did we know but we had to drop off at Skiathos first before proceeding to Volos - Two shaky take offs and landings in one flight is not a good way to start your hol let me tell you!!

Volos airport is a military one so it's extremely basic and no photos are allowed to be taken.

When we arrived we had no idea how long the tranfer to our resort would be so after over 3 HOURS of mountainous roads with very scary hairpin bends we arrived at what I can only describe as a mini paradise!!!!

The hotel eleana is a family run place which is kept spotlessly clean and is in very beautiful gardens with vines, lemon, apple and orange trees. Our room was simple but equipped with a TV, fridge plenty of storage, spotless bathroom and the biggest balcony I've ever had in a holiday apartment although we were around the back of the hotel and the ones to the front with the sea view weren't half as big. Growing across the top of our balcony were huge vines and you could just reach up and pick the grapes from them or if you fancied stretch your arm across the railing into the garden and pick all the fresh fruit you wanted!!

We stayed 7 days and our bedding was changed twice during our stay and the room cleaned and fresh towels given daily.
Our holiday was bed and breakfast and although only basic the food was ideal to start your day.

The resort of Agios Ioannis is idyllic.
Right opposite the hotel is the main beach which is a mix of sand and shingle and ten minutes walk to your right is the beach of Papa Nero which is another beautiful beach although a little more sandy than the first but the waves are stronger.Also if you head down towards your left when leaving the hotel and walk down to the small port Plaka beach is again only another 10 minutes stroll away and is even more deserted than the first two but just as pretty.

The entire resort is only one main road with around 15 tavernas and a handful of shops there is no bank or ATM machine (the nearest being around 3/4 hr away by taxi), no doctors (he only visits on a weds) and no point sending postcards back home as the post is only collected once a week!!

If you want a peaceful and relaxing holiday away from all the commercial parts of europe where you can just chill and get away from it all then this is the place. The greeks keep this place a well kept secret for a reason and I don't blame them as it is just perfect!

Our 7 year old loved it just as much as we did he had the freedom that a lot of kids just don't get on holiday. He loved swimming in the sea and exploring the different beaches plus if you walk around half way down the main road you'll see a sign for a pool bar which is lovely if a little small and it was an ideal place to relax with a drink while he splashed around for a few hours and made new friends.

The Greek people are lovely and the service in the bars and restaurants is second to none we tried a few different places for food but found the main pizza and pasta restaurant (not pizza maria) had a great mix of both traditional and more english meals. Eating and drinking out is not cheap it's about the same as back home and they bring you a glass of fresh spring water with everything!!
Which reminds me, the water is fine to drink everywhere in this resort as it comes naturally from a spring in the mountains, they even bottle it and sell it worldwide it's that nice!

All in all we had a fantastic time and even the long and arduous journey through treacherous mountains would not put us off going back to Agios Ioannis.

I don't know about holidays uncovered but this was definately paradise uncovered!!!

The hotel was the cleanest we have ever stayed in.Sheets and towels changed 3 times in one week. Breakfast buffet continental but plenty of it, they kept filling it up.The food was allcovered up to keep clean. The staff were brilliant so helpful its a real family place.Almost on the beach front.

Getting to Ag Ioannis is a bit of a jaunt but well worth it.The road twists and turns as you climb up and over the mountains some might need a travel sickness pill.. or eat ginger as I did to get rid of the queasyness.Everybody else was alright.

It is a very Greek place and most foreign tourists( and not many of them) were english or swedish. Life guards were on all the beaches and very strict about dogs children and foolish pranks ( a couple of days the water was a bit rough)it made you feel safe. On leaving the town its very hilly but great views.It is a picturesque place. Most accommodation is on the level.But if youve got a hilly apartment ..trust it will be HILLY.

Lots of good places to eat and drink.There is a place at the far end of town and turn up road going out of town and along a track ..it is sign posted lovely food very different, brilliant views.

On friday night the place starts to come alive as the Greeks arrive for the weekend. By saturaday its really busy and the beaches are full with people having fun until its dark. Sunday night they start to leave and by monday morning its really quiet again.
We would all go back again