Romantica Hotel

We spent our evenings on the roof deck, sipping cocktails beside the plunge pool while the soft lights came on. Down in the courtyard there’s a larger pool, too. The apartments have plenty of room, comfortable beds, and private balconies with wide sea views. They’re modern and newly built, just a short walk from the center of Agia Pelagia. Breakfast is a generous buffet with sweet and savory choices, and the staff make the stay feel personal. Everything was spotless, the Wi-Fi worked reliably, and the reception team were welcoming. Romantica Apartments is a lovely place to stay on Kythira.

We had a great six-night stay in September and would happily recommend the apartments and return. The one small disappointment was breakfast, served in the older hotel building attached to the apartments. It didn’t match the style or quality of the newer rooms. The buffet by the hotel pool had limited hot dishes and cereal, tinned fruit rather than fresh, and tiny pastries. The blue trays reminded us of Butlins in the 1980s. Since breakfast was included, we ate there some mornings, but went out on others for a change. When we did eat at the hotel, we carried our blue trays to the lovely apartment courtyard. It seemed a shame that breakfast wasn’t offered in the apartments’ bar area instead. The hotel itself also looks a bit tired in places. We were glad we’d booked one of the newer apartments, each named after a place on the island. Ours was spacious, spotless, beautifully furnished, and well equipped, with a small kitchenette, fridge, excellent air conditioning, and a very comfortable bed. It was well insulated, so we couldn’t hear the neighbors. The east-facing balcony was a highlight, and we enjoyed the Aegean and Agia Pelagia views morning and evening. We didn’t use the small dipping pool, but sat on the terrace after the beach with a G&T and a cold Mamos. The apartments also have a lovely central courtyard and bar, though the bar had closed the week before we arrived in mid/late September, near the end of the season. The location worked well for walking into town and to local restaurants, and for reaching beaches and remote villages in the island’s north. Reception staff were friendly, attentive, and incredibly helpful. They can also take guests with mobility issues from reception to the apartments by golf cart.

This was my second visit to Romantica, after staying in the hotel last time. I loved the apartments: roomy, stylish, and very clean. They’re right by the beach, with a short walk of about five minutes to shops and restaurants. Each morning I went down the stairs just left of the hotel for a swim. There’s a fridge, hotplate, and basic kitchen gear if you want to cook during a longer stay. I didn’t use the hotplates, but the fridge worked well. The wardrobe had lots of hanging room and there were several drawers. Air conditioning was good, though I usually opened the windows to let in the sea breeze. Breakfast had plenty of hot and cold choices. The spread was much the same day to day, with a few small changes, but there was enough variety that I didn’t get tired of it. I usually had local rusks with salad, yogurt, honey, and peaches, while my partner went for eggs, bacon, and sweet pastries. The reception and breakfast staff were especially friendly and helpful. The two pools were lovely, and the cocktail bar looked very stylish. The water pressure sometimes varied, but it barely bothered me. I’d highly recommend the apartments and will be back. This is one of my favorite destinations anywhere.

The rooms were spacious and clean when we arrived, but breakfast wasn’t up to much. At 150€ a night, it felt expensive for what we got. The cleaning staff left the windows wide open while we were out, the A/C was very noisy, and the water never got warm. That was especially uncomfortable at night when it was chilly.