Ino Village Hotel Reviews

We arrived about three in the afternoon, it looked very pretty with stunning views from the hotel terrace. Shhhhh!!!, it was very quiet, and we tiptoed round to our room so as not to disturb the few people around the pool. Still that's what you go on holiday for isn't it?

This hotel isn't for everyone. Situated up the steepest hill you could imagine. Fine, you can get a taxi back at night from the square in town (3 euros), but if you just go down to the beach (10 min walk), you have to walk back up again......nightmare, not nice at all, especially in that heat. Nice little beach, and the taverna there serves up some brilliant giant prawns. This is not a relaxing beach holiday, if that's what you want go somewhere where there are no cars and motorbikes whizzing past you.

The Ino is NOT children friendly, they threw away three blow-up lilos, and a couple of balls, simply because we'd left them around the pool in the evening. Breakfast at first looks lovely, but no changes at all in 14 nights, gets boring.

Didn't rate the food at the restaurants in Samos town, although heard good reports about 'Steps'. Didn't go there as there were too many of them.

All in all wouldn't be back to Samos in a hurry

Let's get this straight right from the off - The Ino Village is not for everyone.

It's a little way out of town (20 minutes stroll but back up (and it is UP) is a bit of a drag), it's quiet during the day and you're left to your own devices. Sound good - go there ! Sound bad - don't! It's as simple as that. We found it superb - after a very stressful year it was exactly what we needed. Our ";superior"; room with sea view, air con, fridge and safe was excellent - very clean. I would put it in the ";medium"; size - not as large as some rooms but bigger than others and it had a fair sized balcony from which you could watch the sun go down which was a bonus..

At night the place becomes quite a bit livelier - the bar staff are good fun if a little eccentric and, if there's a crowd in, it can get a bit noisy but let's face it you ARE on holiday so why not relax and enjoy things.
It seemed to attract a very cosmopolitan crowd - there was a large party of Dutch people there and some Germans - luckily there were only a few English people there (no yobs) and they were good fun.

The only thing which did detract from it's charm was the fact that there was no money changing facility which we found odd - we've been to worse places where they can change money and it seemed strange that we couldn't do this there -you can sign stuff to the room but I don't like doing this as you can easily lose track of money that way. I believe that the Iona Maris down at Gangkou beach changes money but most of the time we used one of the tour companies down in the town - except for the few occasions when their computer went down. Here's a little tip - use the first travel agent as you walk into the town - the one with the steep steps which is dead opposite the ferry port. This was open till late and always seemed to have money - not only that they did it with a smile on their face not as if they were doing you a huge favour.

Best restaurants

Samos Town is not blessed with a massive number of restaurants. We found the following to be good.
";Steps"; which was subtlety different from everywhere else - sort of East/West/Greek/Mediterranean fusion. Almost impossible to describe but we enjoyed it (and I am a very fussy eater)
";De Napoli"; which is basically a pizza restaurant but very good
";Verginia"; on Gangkou beach which served huge portions for little money - we never tried this at night but during the day it was fab
Other than that there were plenty of restaurants but they were all pretty much of a muchness. Owing to the fact that it's not particularly a holiday resort and people live and work there none of the restaurants were bad - they cannot afford to be so I think I will stick my neck out and say that I think it difficult to get a bad meal in Samos Town
We ate in the hotel a few nights and the food there was superb - the only reasons we didn't eat there more were a) after lounging around the pool all day and eating there at lunchtimes we wanted a change of scenery and b) there wasn't a huge amount on the menu (but as stated above I am fussy)

All in all Samos Town was a wonderful choice. We found that most people there had followed the same tried and trusted way through the Greek islands having been to Santorini, Rhodes, Skiathos and Kefalonia before ending up on Samos. It really has got a little bit of everything but it is it's own unique place. We hope to go back but are worried that it would not be as good the second time around.

Let's get this straight right from the off - The Ino Village is not for everyone.

It's a little way out of town (20 minutes stroll but back up (and it is UP) is a bit of a drag), it's quiet during the day and you're left to your own devices. Sound good - go there ! Sound bad - don't. It's as simple as that. We found it superb - after a very stressful year it was exactly what we needed. Our ";superior"; room with sea view, air con, fridge and safe was excellent - very clean. I would put it in the ";medium"; size - not as large as some rooms but bigger than others and it had a fair sized balcony from which you could watch the sun go down which was a bonus..
At night the place becomes quite a bit livelier - the bar staff are good fun if a little eccentric and, if there's a crowd in, it can get a bit noisy but let's face it you ARE on holiday so why not relax and enjoy things.
It seemed to attract a very cosmopolitan crowd - there was a large party of Dutch people there and some Germans - luckily there were only a few English people there (no yobs) and they were good fun.

The only thing which did detract from it's charm was the fact that there was no money changing facility which we found odd - we've been to worse places where they can change money and it seemed strange that we couldn't do this there -you can sign stuff to the room but I don't like doing this as you can easily lose track of money that way. I believe that the Iona Maris down at Gangkou beach changes money but most of the time we used one of the tour companies down in the town - except for the few occasions when their computer went down. Here's a little tip - use the first travel agent as you walk into the town - the one with the steep steps which is dead opposite the ferry port. This was open till late and always seemed to have money - not only that they did it with a smile on their face not as if they were doing you a huge favour.

Best restaurants

Samos Town is not blessed with a massive number of restaurants. We found the following to be good.
";Steps"; which was subtlety different from everywhere else - sort of East/West/Greek/Mediterranean fusion. Almost impossible to describe but we enjoyed it (and I am a very fussy eater)
";De Napoli"; which is basically a pizza restaurant but very good
";Verginia"; on Gangkou beach which served huge portions for little money - we never tried this at night but during the day it was fab
Other than that there were plenty of restaurants but they were all pretty much of a muchness. Owing to the fact that it's not particularly a holiday resort and people live and work there none of the restaurants were bad - they cannot afford to be so I think I will stick my neck out and say that I think it difficult to get a bad meal in Samos Town
We ate in the hotel a few nights and the food there was superb - the only reasons we didn't eat there more were a) after lounging around the pool all day and eating there at lunchtimes we wanted a change of scenery and b) there wasn't a huge amount on the menu (but as stated above I am fussy)

All in all Samos Town was a wonderful choice. We found that most people there had followed the same tried and trusted way through the Greek islands having been to Santorini, Rhodes, Skiathos and Kefalonia before ending up on Samos. It really has got a little bit of everything but it is it's own unique place. We hope to go back but are worried that it would not be as good the second time arou

This is a Portland small and friendly hotel and that is exactly how it is. The staff - especially those on the bar are extremely friendly and very entertaining!

Rooms are fairly basic - this is Greece- but very comfortable. Breakfast is very simple and not a lot of choice.

There is a good pool and comfy wooden sun beds with cushions.

There is a fabulous view from the breakfast terrace down to the port of Samos.

There are 64 steps and steep slopes down to the sea and the town so not suitable for the less mobile. A taxi only costs 2 euros from the town.

Many restaurants to choose from although the menus are much the same wherever. The Virgina restaurants on Gangou Beach just down from the Ino is fabulous - and superb value for money.

Samos is a beautiful unspoilt island and despite what we had been led to believe the landing was not too bad althought the runway is very, very short. The airport is one of the best we have been to in Greece - very quiet and good clean toilets.

An island which we will return to.

The Ino Village Hotel was the best, A brilliant setting, just out of the town, but still only a short walk, near the beach and looking out to mountains, couldn't have been more pleasant!
The accommodation was clean and comfortable, the swimming pool and surrounding area was chilled and played some good music on the BBQ days!

The bar (and its incredibly fun / friendly staff) and restaurant were fantastic, worth eating at least one meal there!
Samos town and harbour had many good eating establishments and some fun music bars for the evening (well actually evening in Samos starts around midnight!)

For day trips, a visit to the mountain villages, Tavernas and natural springs is a must, although try not to mistake mountain footpaths for dirt roads...some tricky reversing was required! Also the Waterfalls and at the most north westerly point are worth a trip for the climbing and swimming, but don't expect anything too impressive!

All in all a brill trip, good fun had and even some lasting friends were made.