Kaissa Beach

We stayed for a week on all-inclusive just before the season. It was very quiet for the first four days, when the hotel was half full, then fairly full for the last three. There’s a lovely view from the room and from the dining area, the rooms are spacious with balconies, and the beach is close by. It’s a small hotel and apartment complex with lovely restaurant staff. When it’s quiet, you can hear the waves and crickets. Charlie, the dog who hangs around the restaurant and bar, and the hotel’s black-and-white cat are both friendly. Altogether, you get what you pay for. It could work well if you’re planning to explore the island, but less so if you want to stay at the hotel. Quite a few people moved to other local hotels after one night at Kaissa. The all-inclusive offer was very limited. The pool bar was closed, and every day we were told it would open the next day. Drinks included beer, raki, ouzo, brandy and local soft drinks, but no gin, vodka or anything similar. The package ran from 10 am to 10 pm. The bar and restaurant seem to operate separately from the hotel, and they’re also open to the public and paying non-guests. I can’t imagine how they manage during the main season, as staff were already rushing between the tables and bar under pressure from management. The food was exactly the same every day, though the hot dishes weren’t bad. The rooms are dated and maintenance seems neglected. We had to change rooms because both the sink and toilet leaked, and bathroom tiles were coming off the wall. The bathrooms are old but clean, and some rooms smell unpleasant. There are only two single beds pushed together, with no double bed option. Housekeeping was really poor. Towels were changed just once for the week, the bedding wasn’t changed at all, and the cleaners were really horrible. A local cockerel woke us just after 4 am every day. A dog in the neighborhood barked most of the day and night.

The staff are lovely and really helpful, but the food is poor in both quality and variety. For an apartment hotel that advertises all-inclusive, the selection, especially of drinks, is too limited. You get only local beer, wine, ouzo and soft drinks in the package. That’s embarrassing and frankly unacceptable. Jet2 should rethink including this place in its all-inclusive offers. It’s well below par.

We were led to expect the annex would be beside the hotel, but it was a 10-minute walk away. Our garden view looked out onto an overgrown rubbish tip with a lemon tree. The shower was broken, though it was fixed when we asked. The fridge was frozen solid and leaking water onto the floor, and the kettle was dangerous, with water pouring from the bottom. Our towels and bedclothes were changed every four days, and the rooms weren’t swept or mopped during our stay. The food selection was poor and repetitive, with watermelon as the only fruit at breakfast and dinner. One bright spot was the Irish lady and her son behind the bar, who had lots of useful information. All the staff were polite and helpful.

The setting made it easy to unwind: the apartments sit right by the sea, and the sunsets are lovely. Shops, supermarkets, bars, tavernas and nightlife are about a five-minute walk away if you fancy going out. There are cooking facilities, though I was happy with the breakfast and dinner choices and ate there instead. I liked sitting on the patio in the evening, with shrubs around it, and the pool area was a calm place to enjoy the sun. The pool was cared for daily. Everyone from housekeeping to reception was welcoming, especially Mr Serbia. Any problem was met with a relaxed “no problem.” I’ve just come back from seven peaceful, refreshing days and would definitely return for another easygoing holiday.