Latest Reviews for Samos

The place itself is nice but just so BORING. there was nothing to do during the day and even less to do at night. When we were waiting for our flight home, the rep was asking people wwhat they thought of the place and would they be coming back and not one person said they would,it was just TOO BORING. It would be unfair to say it was a horrid place because it was,nt it was just..

The rooms in the panorama apartments were probably one of the nicest greek ones we,ve ever stayed in, but the location was just impossible to deal with!! The place is situated at the top of a big hill,hence the apart.name.

Recently arrived back from spending a enjoyable, relaxing, and very hot two weeks at the Arion Hotel in Kokkari.

The Arion is a very well maintained family hotel, set in beautiful landscaped gardens and boasting tremendous views of Kokkari town and the bay. We booked the Arion independently on the internet through Travel Republic, who offered a very competitive rate. We had visited the Hotel's own website first and were very impressed with the description and photographs. When we arrived there we weren't disappointed - this hotel certainly lives up to its 4 Star rating. Our room was of a high standard, kept spotlessly clean and had effective air conditioning. The rest of the facilities at the Hotel were all equally good - as was the food in the form of a varied hot and cold buffet. The management and staff are very friendly and helpful and do all they can to make your stay a pleasant one.
The other guests at the hotel were nearly all families or couples. And with a good mix of nationalities, the place had a relaxed cosmopolitan feel.

The hotel runs a frequent courtesy bus service to Kokkari and the local beaches during the daytime but not in the evenings. The walk into town (and to the nearest beach) takes about 10 minutes - which we didn't find to difficult but might not suit anyone who is infirm or unfit, as it involves quite a few steps. There's always a taxi of course which I don't think costs more than a few euros.

Kokkari is a really delightful resort, full of Greek character but with plenty of restaurants and bars - a real picture postcard setting. In the evening the harbour is all lit up by the many bars and restaurants overlooking it. Having spent week one of our holiday travelling round most of the Island, in my view Kokkari is easily the most attractive resort (and that's not to detract from the other places we visited which were all nice).

Finally, having holidayed on a dozen Greek Islands over the years, I put Samos right up there amongst the best of them. It is very mountainous and surprisingly lush (baring in mind that we hardly saw a cloud in two weeks), providing a great scenic backdrop. In my view the Samos people are also the friendliest I've met in Greece. I highly recommend, Hotel Arion, Kokkari resort, and this island - especially to families and couples who want an authentic taste of Greece.

Lovely resort.Very traditionally Greek.Accomodation very clean with very helpful staff.Plenty of tavernas to suit most tastes.Recomend Anna's if you like real Greek cookery.Car hire essential to explore wonderful mountain villages and fantastic scenary.

All in all a wonderful holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stayed at this hotel for ten nights at the beginning of the high season - lovely little hotel right in the heart of a pretty resort. Rooms all have separate entrances from the outside and are clean and comfortable. There is a pleasant pool at the back of the hotel with a pool snack bar which serves drinks etc from 10am until 6pm. The owners were extremely friendly and helpful and all spoke excellent English and German (as well as their native Greek). Most people in the hotel were Germans or Dutch who had come with tour operators, but there were a few British and Americans who had either booked completely independently or through independent operators such as Greek Sun.

Our room had the optional extras of: air conditioning, safety deposit box and fridge, all of which we decided to have. When the temperature reached 40 degrees centigrade we were glad we did. Our balcony was large and overlooked the pleasant gardens. The hotel is on the beach road and so is very convenient for Kokkari beach and the shops and tavernas. We walked to Limonaki beach most days, which was very pictoresque and a little more sheltered. All of the beaches in the area have pebbles, which are lovely as long as you wear 'swim-shoes' which can be bought in resort.

We did two excursions: one to Ephesus and the other to Patmos, both of which I would highly recommend. On another day we hired a car from Rhenia Tours (a very efficient agency which has offices all over the island including at Kokkari). We went to see the amazing Efpalinos Tunnel, the Temple of Hera and then drove 'over the top' of the island, noticing where fires had damaged the beautiful green trees, then back to the north side of the island where we visited some hill villages and enjoyed the serenity of the Nightingale Valley.

We would highly recommend the resort and the hotel

We stayed at the Hotel Lambros and were delighted with the accommodation.

We asked for a high floor and got one, which pleased us as the ground floor apartments aren't particularly private as a path runs directly in front of them and the owners and other holidaymakers are constantly walking by.
The rooms themselves are large and are kept exceptionally clean by the very very hardworking maid. Clean towels and sheets every day and the rooms cleaned six days a week.
The breakfast is taken on a lovely garden terrace and is continental style, consisting of a selection of hams, cheeses, jams and honey with bread, cereal, coffee, tea and orange juice available. Sophia, the owner, also supplements this with boiled eggs one day, sausages the next etc.
The rooms all have air conditioning and a fridge - available at extra cost; there are small TVs in every room, a telephone and even a small hairdryer is provided.
Nothing is too much trouble for Sophia and her husband. They are friendly, professional, Sophia speeks fluent greek and english and makes a note of your name and remembers it for the entire
holiday.

Kokkari itself is an unspoilt GREEK village. Turn right when leaving the Hotel Lambros and walk up the small, quiet main coastal road and there are many tavernas and small cafe bars to choose from (Mythos Gardens is particularly good for their wide range of lovely food but expensive and Meltemi Taverna is good but very busy).
Walk further toward the end of the road and you come to the older part of the village, consisting of small cobbled alleyways filled with shops and greek houses. It is utterly charming. This in turn leads to the large harbour area, which at night comes to life. It is lined, from one end to the other, with restaurants and stylish cafe bars with comfortable cane chairs - all of which overlook the sea, which laps directly in front of you. A lovely setting.
When getting to the harbour area, walk over the little mini bridge, past the cafe bars to a restaurant called Kokoros. They have a big sign with a cockerel on it above your head as you get closer. The food is superb and the service excellent. Their menu is very very extensive, with generous portions, incredibly well cooked food and fast, efficient service.

Kokkari village beach is just over the narrow road from the Hotel Lambros, although we would recommend turning left when leaving the hotel and walking down the road a little (only 2 minutes) to the Shore Bar. Walk down the side of the Shore Bar and there you will find the most comfortable sunbeds in the whole of Greece AND the cheapest ! 3 euros for two sunbeds with mattresses, a large umbrella, a table, an ashtray and a large jug of iced water and two glasses which is brought out to you, without fail, by one of the Shore Bar staff as soon as they see you sit down. Fabulous. Kokkari beach consists of large flat white pebbles and a lovely crystal clear sea. It is very windy, but this was a boon to us, as we stayed there during the greek heatwave when temperatures reached 43 degrees! There are other beaches nearby which are sandier and more sheltered, but we stuck to Kokkari's mile long beach as it was so uncrowded (particularly at the Shore Bar end).

Fabulous island - a rather exciting landing at the airport, which the pilot actually warns you about and an incredibly exciting take off, when the pilot revs the engines to full as the runway is so short. Probably not so exciting if you are not keen on flying though?

Only one complaint - Thomson use Excel Airlines and they are awful. The seats have to be the most cramped we have ever been in - and we have been going to Greece with different airlines for 17 years. The service and food are fine, but the film on the way back was faulty and the screen was rolling and no-one seemed bothered to do anything. I would definitely opt for extra leg room though, if I knew I was travelling with Excel. Oh and one more thing, if you dont have much room on the plane, please have some manners and DON'T recline your seat, it really does make the journey for the passenger behind you all the more uncomfortable..... (why the hell they have reclining seats on this airline is beyond me anyway). That's the only complaint.

Hotel Lambros and Kokkari itself is fabulous. Clean, welcoming, charming, just enough to do. We would recommend it to anyone.

we have been to greece for the last 14 years,but this is the first time to samos pythagoria.the appartments were spotless and very spacious,bedlinen is changed twice a week.there is a ceiling fan in the bedroom,which is a god send.there is a toaster and electric kettle,table and chairs,and settee bed,in the large kitchen.its a 10minute walk to the harbour beach.we tried a differant taverna every night for our meals,which were all good.must point out we did not have any good ommeletts,and we tried quiet a few.

days out the island tour is not to be missed,as you see most of the island.also the boat trip with bbq is great,the captain really entertains you.and the boat trip to psili amos for a full day is brill,it as a sandy beach, 3tavernas, toilets. this trip cost 10 euros plus 5 euros if you want a sunbed of the captain.

all in all we had a good 2weeks holiday.

silvana appartments are very clean and spacious.largekitchen with table andchairs electric kettle,toaster,andsetee.large bedroom with ceiling fan, which was heaven as the weather was in its 40.the harbour is a 5 to 10 min walk away.a must is the island tour,which is a good day out.also the day boat trip with bbq si brill.another boat trip is to psilli amnos beach which is sandy and as a taverna, toilets,andchanging room,this is 10 euros or 15 with the captains sunbeds.we have been coming to the greek islands for 14 years,and we have never had a bad yet.

I am a well-seasoned Greek Traveller having visited a variety of the islands and therefore accustomed to the basics associated with such self-catering facilities, however the Anthis failed to meet even this level of basic acceptance.
The brochure describes the rooms as being ";split level"; and situated on a ";main road";, what the brochure failed to say is that not all rooms are split level and that the main road should include the word ";busy"; and that if you hire a car that no suitable parking facilities are available other than parking on the busy main road.

This aside what was noticeably our first impression was the darkness and gloom of room 11 where it was necessary to have electric lights on during the day! - due to the porch style overhang and overgrown fruit trees that invaded our balcony area.
I made immediate representation to Kosta who said he would see what could be done in terms of changing rooms the next day, we delayed unpacking everything on this premise but nothing came of this, probably as we learnt after others had made similar demands and must have shouted louder!.

So we unpacked in our electric lighting and resigned ourselves to making best use of what we had.

The second point was the general cleanliness; whilst we British put up with most things what we do like is a reasonable standard of hygiene and cleanliness and the Anthis failed miserably in this. The bathroom toilet was disgusting the porcelain being brown and stinking of urine as well as having a ";present"; floating from the previous occupier in the filthy water, thankfully a supermarket was close by where we purchased various cleaning materials. The floor under the beds had a ½ inch dust, the sink was dirty, the fridge was marked with spillages inside and overall the room and balcony was not inviting in any way. The general waste bin comprised of a typical office waste paper basket with no lid and bins were emptied only every 2 / 3 days, including the bathroom bin, there were literally hundreds of flies due to open bins and rotting Apricots that were dropping off the offending fruit trees, so to minimise this I used to parcel up the rubbish daily and take it to the nearest road side bin.
The kitchen equipment was old with bent forks, plastic dishes and plates and only one knife, we did advise them of this but there was still only 1 knife when we left, although the toilet etc was by far cleaner than when we arrived.

The frustating part is I booked back in July 2006 to stay at Angela Studios, only to be changed like many others 5 weeks before departure!
The island and people itself are lovely and not too Commercialised with more of a traditional Greek feel and if eating down in Pythagorion make sure you stop off at ELIA restaurant - superb!, Beaches, Psili Ammos is traditional sand and very shallow waters, but if you want it quiet but stony try Balos beach, all details can be found on Greeka.com.

Would we go back to Samos, yes, would we choose Anthis, the answer has to be no!

Villa Maria was clean and in a great position in the town. The bar next door is noisy as stated in the brochure - so take earplugs - we did and it was fine. The pool is well maintained and plenty of sunbeds - very quiet.We had a 2nd floor room with lovely views to front and rear. Once we got used to the idea of a wet room instead of a traditional shower we liked it a lot.

The beach is clean and quiet as is the town. So many places to eat you are spolied for choice but we really liked Blue Bucket,Sail Away, Nick the Greek and Muses. Votsalakia Tavern is worth a visit for the view alone. We got a jeep from Stephanos at Hermes car Hire and he was excellent - by far the best firm in the town - check out the insurances- he is the only one who didn't get us to take out more than we needed and his vehicles are in superb condition. It is well worth getting out and about as the island is beautiful - so many lovely little villages. We can't wait to go back again - most people we met were on their 2nd visit or more!!

The best holiday we have had for years but don't go looking for nightlife - perfect for rest and Relaxation which is exactly what we anted this year!

what can i say about Kambos,been going there for 7 years,up to 4 times a year.fantastic resort made friends out there that i class as true FRIENDS.Sid and Nick at Chesters Parascos at the New centre and many more.everytime i go there i always meet people from the uk from past holidays.that feeling may be coming to an end(i hope not)it appears that the mayor is determined to close CHESTERS and NEW CENTRE,if he succeeds it will rip the resort appart,and stop a lot of people returning,i for one will consider looking for another island,i hope the coucil will see sense and sort this mess out.
I HOPE THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF CHESTERS AND THE NEW CENTRE

all my best wishes CHRIS DALBY ROMFORD
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