Smaragda Apartments Reviews

ACCOMMODATION

The description in the brochure does not really do justice to the quality of this accommodation. The apartments and studios have air conditioning, are spacious, well furnished and spotlessly clean. Twice weekly cleaning ensured this standard was maintained throughout our visit. Linen also changed twice weekly - full-sized bath, hand towels and sheets - BRILLIANT WHITE! - and tea towels. Smaragda, the owner, is a wonderful lady, extremely friendly and helpful, constantly smiling and always ready to chat. Having experienced a wide range of self catering accommodation over the years on numerous Greek islands, we rate this accommodation the best yet.

RESORT

Great for a relaxing holiday. It is built along a flat, coastal road. The long beach varies from sandy at one end to pebbly at the other. The beach was never crowded despite being the height of the season when many Greek tourists arrived too. The sea shelves quite steeply in places. Plenty of umbrellas and sun beds (well spaced) - 4 or 5 euros for 2 beds plus umbrella. Other beaches visited nearby were Psilli Ammos and Limnionas to the west which, although nice beaches, were more crowded. Balos beach, to the east, was excellent, offering the normal beach facilities and also small caves for shade.

Wide range of good restaurants. Two which we particularly liked, not mentioned in other reviews, were Finikas and Maestros. Everything at Finikas is grilled - excellent chicken souvlaki amongst other things and generous portions. Maestros is next door to Smaragda. The food and service is excellent and the menu far more extensive than is apparent from the boards outside. We enjoyed all our meals here - it's well worth a visit.

PLACES TO VISIT

Wherever you travel, it will not be long before you are awed by the spectacular scenery. From certain places near Platanos, it is possible to see both the northern and southern coasts at the same time.
Ormos - a 40 minute stroll away, pretty village with small harbour and several tavernas; Kokkari (lovely harbour; Pythagorio (tunnel closed Mondays); Karlovassi and Samos Town.
The inland villages of Manolates, Vourliotes, Pagondas and Drakei. (Word of advice - park in the designated car parks on entering any village as some of the streets become so narrow they are impassable for all but the smallest cars). Saunter through the narrow streets and soak up the atmosphere in the village squares. Enjoyed fabulous meals at tavernas in each of these villages and in Ormos.
The pretty coastal villages of Ag.Paraskevi and Posidonio are well worth a visit too.

EXCURSIONS

Went on 2 of the organised tours (Manos) to the neighbouring islands of Fourni and Patmos. Prices were very reasonable. Also caught the Flying Dolphin (FD) to Ikaria from Ormos, booking through Rhenia Travel. Also possible to travel by FD from Ormos to Lipsi and Leros, and return the same day.

Enjoyed this holiday so much we plan to revisit Samos in 2008 and will definitely stay at the Smaragda Studio/Apartments.

Smaragda and her family have made us so welcome over the past five years at their spotlessly clean, well equipped appartments that they have become firm friends. We are visiting again in June 2007. Have to say that some of the best appartments we have stayed in anywhere in Greece.

Kambos has just about everything you need, except a pharmacy - just hope that you don't need one, but car hire is easy and we have visited almost everywhere on the island now - or we think we have - until we find somewhere off the beaten track.

Chester's has become a favorite eating place, mainly because of the warm welcome, but most of the tavernas are pretty good and fairly tradionally Greek.
Jo and Nick were expecting their first baby in September 2006, so hope that we shall see another addition to this lovely family.

Looking forward to returning, but keep quiet about this island, don't want it turned into another Zante, Rhodes, or Corfu!

Just reterned from a truly great time on Samos,the Smaragda Apts where very clean tidy and very freindly,the owner is a loverly lady, always smiling and always there.Kambos is just a long road with accomadation shops and resurants on one side, and beach and resturants on the other. The water was very clear and cool you need shoes to get in and out in comfort but once in it was great. There are a few nice beaches nearby silly amos and limnionos are nice while we where there all the beaches where very quiet, just how we like them. There are some great beaches and coves in the north and east of the island. some take a bit of finding but are worth the effort.

You need a car for a few days, the best place is Hermes, talk to Stephanos and he will see you right, a very freindly guy and the best deals in town.As for resturants, there are so many you will never get through them all,Chesters has the best chairs, ice buckets and very good food. The Muses nice atmosphere food and a musical cat.Nostos great pasta Blue Buckets and Leonides nice service and food.i could keep on but we never had a bad meal anyware.
Places to visit, Manolates in land from Kokari is a wonderfull place little old houses, keys left in all the doors, and stunning veiws.

Samos town worth a trip for the shops snd the cheese pies.
Pythagorio for the harbour and veiws across to Turkey.
And lots more places to go out and fined.
We had a great day out on a boat trip to Fourni the island south west of Samos a great place real back in time feeling feta pies and great cakes. dolphins on the way back and only 22 euros each.
Every one tells you dont get a bike for safety reasons, but if you are carefull its not a problem, and its a great way to get to naerby beaches Mirtos car and bike very helpfull and again a good deal.
Also not forgeting our Manos rep Michelle, very helpfull and lots of local knowledge.

One last thing dont fall foul of a fat local police man i was just going about 3 hundred metres out of town to fill the car up and forgot to do up my seat belt 83 euros fine, i wouldent have minded so much if a few of the locals werent driving past with no seatbelts lights tread on tyres using mobils, a brick under the wheel is a hand brake, so i was a bit miffed, but it dident spoil a great holiday, we will be back.

Smaragada apartments are just about the best we have stayed at in greece and this is our 11th visit to various parts of greece very very spacious and spotlessly clean, linen changed five times in two week and Smaragda the owner is brilliant and her cakes and grapes are out of this world,The cocktail bar New Centre and the waiter Paraschos was good and even had a different team shirt on every night just to get people talking.

The following food establishment were visited
Renas you look in kitchen what they are cooking excellent.Blue bucket was very good,Kostas was also very good,Abatzi Garifalia was very very good and waitress angelina ectremely curtios and helpful enjoyed free ouzo after your meal .lastly the rep for manos Michelle was very very knowlagable at welcome party and during our stay always spoke and took time out if we saw her on our nightly walks to ask how we were enjoying our holidays,The only fault was the sea shelved rather steep so if none swimmer could be a little scary the beach was pebley and coarse sand ,we looked one mile to left and only 5 or 6 couples on beach look to right on it was the same only 5 or 6 couples fantastic totally relaxing holiday