Casa Afytos - Adults Only

The location suited us well, close to town but away from its noise, and the place was spotless. We were impressed overall, even though we didn't have one of the rooms with a little pool. After hearing people around the pool say those pools were freezing, comfortable for only one person, and had to be cleaned by guests, I was glad we hadn't booked one. The staff were so friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Big thanks to Iffy, Helen at breakfast, Caluda, Sofia and Louisa from the cleaning team, and Yannis at the pool. Breakfast was fresh and delicious every day, with cereal, toast, honey, jams, Nutella, fruit salad, Greek salad, cake, eggs, bacon, cocktail frankfurters, quiche, spanakopiter pie, sweet vanilla pie, sandwiches, tea, coffee, fruit teas, and juices, all nicely laid out. The small issues: there were lots of wasps around breakfast, which was unbearable for a wasp hater like me, and a light above the dressing table mirror would help with hair and makeup because it was quite dark. There could also be a few more pool sunbeds, or the three that don't recline could be replaced because they weren't very comfortable and made us sit upright. None of that was major, but it would be nice to address.

The rooms and pool were great, and we would return, though we'd keep the service issues in mind. Some things we would have liked to borrow, like a kettle or beanbags, weren't listed anywhere. We only found out later that towels for sunbathing were available, which could have saved us 40 euros on beach towels. There's a gym and massages for a fee. The snack and drink service was limited too. Most snacks we asked for weren't served because they didn't want to switch on the fryer, and drinks weren't available after 6pm, since nobody was on site then. We had to go into town for food, which isn't ideal if you want to relax by the pool. One morning at 06:30, the smoke alarm woke us abruptly. There was no fire, and we couldn't turn it off. We tried calling the office several times with no answer, and there was no emergency contact or anyone on site to help. It rang until 07:28, almost an hour, so on a cold, windy morning we had to wait outside until staff arrived. We got excuses that the emergency phone had locked itself overnight and only a weak apology. We weren't happy, though we tried not to let it spoil our holiday. At checkout, we also couldn't keep our room for our late flight, even for a fee, or pay to use another room even though one showed as available on the website. The luggage room wasn't secure, and we didn't feel safe leaving valuables there because anyone could get in. The pool area was spacious and clean with comfortable sunbeds, but people reserved them early and never used them. We ended up in a towel war at 7am each morning. I wish hotels would stop this, especially when reserved beds sit unused all day. Sunbeds in the gardens might help. As for the room, it was a great size with a comfortable bed, a small kitchen area, coffee machine, and nice bathroom with plenty of hot water. Our outdoor area had a plunge pool that was great on hot days, but no loungers or beanbags for relaxing in our own garden. We noticed at the end that maybe we could have had giant beanbags. A little net would also have helped clear bugs from the uncovered pool. Housekeeping came daily, made the bed, changed towels, and cleaned the floors, which we really appreciated. The Nespresso machine was refilled daily, and you could buy more capsules at reception. A bakery nearby had amazing pastries and sandwiches, and the nearest restaurants were about a five minute walk away, with the town center a few minutes farther. One thing to know: there's a children's play area across the road, so this might not suit you if you're trying to get away from the sound of children screaming. The stay was great in many ways, but those service problems stopped it being five stars.

There were lots of places to eat and drink just a slow five minute walk from the center. We were a group of 10 and really enjoyed our stay at CASA AFITOS. It's a small, comfortable hotel, and its layout gave us a sense of privacy. Although it was full, it stayed really quiet, with no kids around, which we liked. The pool sits in the middle of the grounds with sunbeds around it, and parking is right behind the hotel. Rooms were comfortable, with an eye-catching design, and daily service. Breakfast wasn't huge, but it had everything we needed.

I especially liked how accessible the place was for people with mobility issues, since it's laid out almost all on one level. This small apart-hotel has just 18 cabins around a pool, and it's very close to the village center and beach. The people running it were so kind and helpful.