Golden Mare - All Inclusive

The evening shows were a lot of fun, especially Kirkmy and The Blackout Band. We had a lovely holiday at Golden Mare Hotel, with a room cleaned every day and a stunning sea view. At night, the view from the rooftop bar was even better, with the area all lit up. There was something different for dinner each evening, and we enjoyed the food. The staff were amazing, always friendly and ready to help. Thanks to the Golden Mare team for a really nice break.

Saki is a real gentleman and a brilliant host. Our waiter, who we nicknamed ‘Kingston’ because it's where we both come from, was great too. Most of the reception staff were good, although the night receptionist was rude. There are improvements to make. The food wasn't good, and it was much the same each day, never kept warm. For the ten days we were there, the room wasn't properly cleaned until we pushed for it. Housekeeping seemed to get away with a lot. On our first day, the shower leaked all over the floor, and the team did fix it, though it took a while. It wasn't the best stay or the worst. I hope to return and see the little things sorted out.

This was a very disappointing honeymoon, when we'd hoped for a special, memorable trip. The hotel seemed disorganized and overbooked from the start: some guests weren't given a room when they arrived and were sent elsewhere. The food was consistently poor. Meals were often cold, the chips undercooked, and I found hair in the food as well as insects on several occasions. The bathroom flooded constantly, and although we reported it more than once, it was never properly fixed. The showers were regularly cold. Housekeeping didn't clean to a reasonable standard, and when we asked for towels at 16:30, they still hadn't arrived by 18:30, so we had to share one. The free WiFi advertised by the hotel didn't work during our stay. The spa was one of the main reasons we booked, but it was closed, with no opening planned for another 15 days. That wasn't disclosed when we booked and felt very misleading. We raised the problems with staff and the manager several times. They promised solutions and compensation, but neither came through. The lack of follow-up and accountability was incredibly frustrating. The experience was far below expectations, and I wouldn't recommend this hotel, especially for a special occasion.

We got to keep our room for a few extra hours at checkout without charge, which was handy for our evening flight. The resort had amazing views and great service, and the stay felt like good value overall. We were on an all-inclusive package. The food was okay, with some tasty Greek specialities at dinner, while drinks were average. The water tasted salty and affected the cocktails. Our one real room issue was poor bathroom drainage, which left a damp smell that was hard to get rid of. Still, not a bad stay.