Iolida Corfu Resort by Smile Hotels

The views from the terrace were great, and the hotel is close to restaurants and the beach, around a 20-minute drive from the city. Sadly, that was about all I liked. I don’t understand the 4-star rating or the 4.3 review score. The stay fell well short of what I expected for both comfort and service. Getting around was hard because there are so many stairs. The room had no shampoo, slippers, or even a soap dish. Doors slammed, sound insulation was poor, and reception couldn’t provide earplugs when I asked. The lock on our door often failed and took several tries to secure. Staff once left the terrace doors open, so our valuables were exposed. Wi-Fi was fine for basic browsing but unreliable on video calls. The food was poor: rice was undercooked, pancakes were dry, and some cucumbers seemed spoiled. I mostly stuck to feta and fries. Reception staff were especially rude, unhelpful, and inflexible, and made little effort to meet guests’ needs. They could be very authoritative, and the information they gave was sometimes misleading or inconsistent. One receptionist would often say the opposite of another. There weren’t any snacks at the snack bar, and no one mentioned that there was another bar by the pool that had them. It was another example of poor communication and a lack of initiative.

The location was the one good part. We could walk to the beach, and there was a supermarket and restaurants nearby. But the staff were mostly rude and gave us false information about the services. The food was bad too. The pasta was badly overcooked, the rice seemed plastic-like, and even the pancakes were no good. French fries were the only food that was consistently good. 😄 The hotel didn’t seem to be cleaned properly, so we had to check plates and glasses before using them. The bar was worse. It looked like nobody collected glasses or wiped tables all night and until the middle of the next day. In the morning, there were glasses and drink spills everywhere. The parking area is tiny, with lots of signs telling you not to park in certain spots. We had a rental car for several days and would get back from exploring the island a little after 18:00, only to find the lot already full. We then had to search for street parking.

The pools were nice and the water was clean, though with so many families and all-inclusive guests it got that familiar sheen from sunscreen. The food was much the same each day, but decent for the price, with a good selection of salads and desserts. Gluten-free choices were limited. Drinks were standard, mostly beer, wine, and simple cocktails. We did our own thing, so I can’t comment on the entertainment. We’d read the reviews and arrived without expectations, then ended up pleasantly surprised. We were given the wrong room at first, but reception helped us move to a nicer one on the other side of the hotel. The place was clean and pleasant, and staff were friendly and helpful. Common courtesy went a long way, and they returned it. There’s a small beach about a 200 m walk downhill, and the 7 bus to the old town stops just outside the driveway. For the price, I’d recommend it.

All the staff gave us a really warm welcome. The room and bathroom were clean and comfortable, with a good shower. It was spacious, as was the balcony, though there could’ve been more storage for clothes. The restaurant had plenty of space, and breakfast offered the usual varied selection. We ate lunch and dinner out, so can’t comment on those. The main pool was big and clean, and there was another quieter one across the driveway. A really nice hotel, definitely recommended.