Potamaki Beach Hotel

We liked the restaurant staff, who were consistently friendly, and the coffee was good. I also enjoyed the buckwheat with almonds, raisins, anise and Greek yoghurt, with honey added. The traditional Greek dance show was entertaining and worth the €5 entry, which included a drink, even though it started late. The hotel feels dated and needs an upgrade. My low bed and soft mattress were uncomfortable for my back, and the shower was cramped for a six-foot man, with just a plastic curtain and no door. The toilet seat was crooked, and each of the two lifts holds only four people. Breakfast was adequate but almost identical each day; they appeared to run out of strawberries, and I was surprised to see rice pudding served in the morning. The fruit juice was bland. The pool had no attendant or lifeguard, and people ignored the posted rules. Few guests used the awkwardly placed shower before swimming. The limit of ten people at once felt excessive, especially when a large family group from Liverpool took the best loungers and made a lot of noise. They also kicked around three balls despite the rule against it. The hotel wasn't responsible for the family's late arrival, but around 12:30 a.m. their children ran along the corridor, shouting and laughing. My wife asked them to quiet down, but they carried on. When I asked them to respect other guests, one replied, “we’ve just come,” and someone used offensive language. There was no room information or reception extension listed by the phone, so we couldn't report it then. The next day, a very friendly and helpful receptionist asked me to identify them at breakfast. She said she'd speak to them quietly and told us to dial 9 if it happened again. Night reception would come up and ask them to stop, and contact local police if needed. We're happy for people to enjoy their holiday, but they should remember other guests are trying to rest. The hotel should improve its marketing and website by giving notice of busy event weeks such as the Corfu Notthern Soul Weekender, which overlapped part of our stay. Large sections of the lounge were closed to people outside the club, and the Northern Soul dancers took over the main bar outside. Another guest said they were told they couldn't dance on the floor unless they joined the club or paid €40 each. The club has used this hotel for years. The constant loud Northern Soul music inconvenienced other guests.

My parents' stay at the end of September became stressful because of how the late check-out was handled. They had paid for it, but on the day they were told to leave their room in the morning and that they might get another one later. They had a tour that day, so they had to rush their luggage from one place to another before leaving, then again when they returned. They had to argue with the manager to get a room they had already paid for. It was all very unprofessional. They were also charged more for beach loungers and umbrellas than the agency had quoted, and the nightly tax was higher than expected. They never received a receipt for anything. The rooms themselves were okay, but the location wasn't great and the place didn't offer anything special for the prices charged. I wouldn't recommend staying here if you want a calm, pleasant visit and to be treated with respect.

The room service was lovely, with fresh towels and sheets every day, and reception was nice too. The hotel is right by the beach, just across a road, though that road gets so busy that crossing can mean a long wait. Breakfast and dinner had different foods each day. The noise was a big downside, especially in the mornings, when the walls seemed paper thin. There was usually karaoke or a disco at the hotel at night, ending at midnight, and a small grocery shop right next door.

The mattress was very comfortable, but I wouldn't come back. Our room looked like it hadn't been touched since the 1980s, even though the outside of the hotel looked nice. Some rooms clearly need renovation. We had to pay for drinks with dinner, since only breakfast drinks were included, and the staff serving them made it feel as if we were being rationed. There were no towels for the pool or beach, so you need to bring your own or buy one. If you leave your luggage in the lockers after checkout, closing one costs €2 each time. It felt like there was an extra charge at every turn. There was loud noise outside around 7:30 each morning. The beach loungers also cost extra, and they were visibly dirty and not cleaned, despite the fee. The hotel expects you to pay but doesn't look after them.