Fedra Pension Reviews

Sandy beaches in Greece are scarcer than dobby horse droppings, but Golden Beach really lives up its name. There is a long, wide and gently shelving beach of white sand, perfect for sunbathing and swimming.There was a bit of a jellyfish invasion when we were there, but no-one was stung, and the sea was alive with fish of all sizes.

The Fedra sits right on the beach, and we found the rooms spotlessly clean and well equipped. Unusually for Greece, there was a double bed, and although we were there on a bed and breakfast basis, there was a fridge in the room.
Continental breakfasts tend not to be much more than a bread roll and a dab of jam, washed down by coffee, but in the first five days, the Fedra came up with ham, cheese and boiled egg on one day, scrambled egg the next, full English the next, yoghurt and honey the next - and then cheese, ham and egg every day for the rest of the holiday! There was toast, jam and honey too but it was a little repetitive!
Evening meals were very good at the Fedra, although the portions were a little niggardly, and the staff were helpful and obliging.

We had a minor problem with a non-flushing toilet, which I reported at breakfast - and it was fixed by the time we returned to the room to pick up the towels for the beach.

The main fault with the Fedra was the lack of anywhere just to sit and relax. There was no residents' lounge of any type, and sitting at one of the outside tables produced Elena the waitress with a menu and a tray of bread. One felt obliged to buy a drink ot a snack, whether one wanted one or not.

We tried most of the tavernas in Golden Beach for meals, our favourite being Sotiris, which was the most traditionally Greek of the lot, with a welcoming tot of ouzo, and a free pudding everytime we went.
There were some fine meals at the Vigli, up short but steep hill, but it was worth it for the fabulous views across the bay of sunsets and moonrises.

Even the appearance of an unexpected guest at one meal - a rat the size of a cat scuttling along the back wall - didn't stop us going back for more. The lamb was delicious, as was the liver and bacon!
Our favourite haunt however was Dave and Diane's Garden Bar, just down from the Vigli. The spirit measures were huge - and cheap- the music good, and there were lots of free extras like peanuts and free drinks. They even staged a quiz, and deserve to do well in their venture.
Shop around for car hire; Europcar quoted 90 euros for three days at the welcome meeting, but in Golden Beach, Hermes quoted 60 euros for four days, and a half hour stroll along the beach at Skala Potomia, it was 37 euros for three days.

A day would probably be enough to see most of the island, as there is only one decent road which follows the coast around.

There are some pretty villages inland, but you really need a four wheel drive to get to some of them; if you manage the hair-raising, snake infested dustbowl of a track to Kastro, treat yourself to home made yogurt and feta made on site by the owner Kostas - it's delicious!
The village of Panagia was well worth a visit, and it is also accessible by the excellent local bus, which runs regularly, and is very cheap. Buy your tickets at the supermarket.
When it comes phoning home, don't buy Thomson's phone card for 15 euros - go to any supermarket, and buy one for four euros. We rang home four times with our four euro card, and there was still cash on it at the end.

This was a wonderful holiday, complemented by the mini-cruise on the ferry to and from the mainland, accompanied by a spectacular fly-past by the local storks and seagulls.