The Elephant Goupa Beach

The cove was so beautiful and quiet, and the whole place went beyond what we expected. The beach house was spotless, with housekeeping every other day, a really comfortable bed, and a roomy fridge. It also had a coffee machine, wine glasses, tumblers, beach towels, and some lovely little toiletries in the bathroom. The team were wonderful. They gave us a lift to the property when no taxi was available, then another ride during our stay when they saw us struggling with big water bottles. They also coordinated with my partner to arrange a surprise birthday cake for me. There’s a fairly steep hill, but the team can arrange taxis, or you can walk and get your steps in. We couldn’t fault the stay and will absolutely be back.

Getting in and parking were a nightmare, especially with large suitcases, and the place felt way too overrated. The shower toiletries were tiny 15 ml bottles for two people, and housekeeping didn’t replace the shampoo, body wash, or towels. We had to use damp towels again on the second day because nothing seemed to dry in the room. Bathroom floor paint had peeled off and the flakes blocked the shower drain. If you head out in the evening, bring a flashlight to find your way from the beach area up to the access road, which has a 20-degree slope. Not a good experience.

The place was a lovely choice for our week in mid to late September. I’d visited Kimolos for just one day two years ago and wanted to return for its beauty and calm. I found this on the aria hotels website after coming across it through booking. Most of the time we had the nearly private beach to ourselves. The room had a shower and toilet, a double bed, a nespresso machine, a fan, and AC. Falling asleep and waking to the sound of the waves was a dream. Goupa is the traditional part of Kimolos, and don’t miss the sunrise. Eleni at reception was kind and helpful. We often used the local taxi and can recommend it.

This really amazed me.