Samaina Inn

The staff were superb, though it looked like they were working very long shifts. We saw the lifeguard in the dining hall before her shift and making food deliveries after dinner, while the cleaner was still mopping at 11 pm. The hotel gives everyone a map with walking routes, historic sites and local bars. There’s Pilates and yoga each day, plus live music on three evenings. For a walk with great views, follow the signs to the Holy Trinity church, but avoid the heat: it’s another 20-30 minutes uphill on steep steps, depending on your fitness. It’s about an hour from the airport. A taxi costs around 60 euros, or 75 if booked through the hotel. The hotel is a little outside the way at first, but head left towards the port for some good bars and tavernas. The town centre is about 2 kms away on foot. It feels like a working town rather than a tourist centre, with businesses, a few bakeries and coffee shops. The mountain setting is very scenic. The area was hit by a tsunami about five years ago, and outside the hotel some buildings still look damaged, derelict or up for sale. There are large rocks along the shore now that weren’t there before. The beach opposite has decent sunbeds, and a waiter can take orders for paid drinks and snacks. A red flag means you shouldn’t swim. The shore slopes gently and has some stones at the edge, so beach shoes might help. You have to walk a long way before the water reaches waist height, which makes it suitable for kids, though in May it was freezing. Around the pool there are palm trees, pleasant gardens, lots of large umbrellas and plenty of cushioned sunbeds. The water is very cold, and a robot cleans it at night. There’s a small children’s pool and a lifeguard is there most of the day. Pool towels are available from 10-30 to 5-30 with a card, and you can swap them as needed. On the terrace, most of the metal wicker chairs have cushions and some shade. The pool bar is included, but the bar near reception isn’t. Cocktails are usually made with syrup and are okay; you can also ask for regular spirits, though I think they’re generic rather than branded. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the all-inclusive plan were pretty fabulous. Breakfast had yogurt, pancakes, breads, honey, croissants, cereal, granola, jams, cheese, meat, four kinds of eggs, Greek sausage and bacon, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, fruit, tea, coffee and syrup fruit juice. Lunch included sweet and savoury pastries, all sorts of desserts, chips, potatoes, ten cold salads, rice, vegetables, soup, cheese breads, and cooked chicken, fish or pork. Dinner had similar choices, usually more Greek dishes and sweet desserts, including moussaka, Pastifico, Gigantes and dolmades, as well as ice cream, wine, beer, pasta and ragu sauce. My room had two large single beds, a wardrobe, two bedside cabinets, a large unit with drawers and open shelves, and a sofa that I think was the spare bed. There were four soft pillows and another in the wardrobe. The mattress was firm. There was a fridge and safe, but the phone didn’t work. The balcony had a table, three chairs and a drying rack. Our balcony door needed a wiggle to close. The TV had 52 channels, but only one in English; a couple had subtitles. The bathroom was decent, with plenty of hot water and good pressure, a hair dryer and toiletries. The shower was over a very narrow bath, which made standing a bit difficult. The bath mat was in the wardrobe. Toilet tissue goes in the bin here. The hotel looks like it’s had a major refurbishment recently, and everything was pristine, which impressed me after seeing reviews saying it had been here for ages. The air conditioning was the real drawback: common areas were fine, but in our room it mostly just blew air, and outside was generally cooler. The clientele were mainly over 60 during the last week of May, with a mix of nationalities. There wasn’t much for kids over four besides the pool or beach. The room was set up well, and we had a great stay, but some things are worth knowing. There’s a supermarket just a few steps away, and the hotel’s beach is across the road. Town and the port are easy to reach on foot, though the walk to Holy Trinity is steep. The grounds and pool were pleasant, with lots of sunbeds, though the water was very cold.

We left with lovely memories and would happily return. The hotel made us feel at home, thanks to a team that was friendly, welcoming and professional at every turn. The food was amazing, there was a great selection of drinks, and our room was comfortable and spotless. Its location also made it easy to explore the area. A big thank you to everyone for such a special stay. We’d gladly come back.

Karlovasi has a charm that a typical tourist town doesn’t, and there’s a supermarket only a few steps from the hotel. The beach is just across the road, with sunbeds you can use for free. We also loved the delicious food, including plenty of healthy and vegetarian choices. The staff were exceptionally kind and friendly. It’s an amazing place, and I’d definitely recommend staying here. I’d love to return.

It was a charming touch to be given a lovely gift and thank-you note when we left. The hotel is in a quiet area near the beach, and it was clean and well kept. We were greeted with drinks and dinner when we arrived, which was a pleasant surprise, and there was also a bottle of wine waiting in our room. The staff were very friendly.