Lydia Maris Resort and Spa - All Inclusive

I had a lovely week, and the staff were always friendly and welcoming. The food was okay, and although the temperature was questionable at times, even a fussy eater like me could find a decent choice. I was pleasantly surprised by my room and made the most of its private sun terrace and pool. The rooms are clean and comfortable. There are only two English-language TV channels, BBC News and Sky News, which got pretty boring on the bad-weather day we had. Still, you don’t come on holiday to watch TV, do you?

We spent six nights here last summer. The food and all-inclusive setup were very good, especially the pizza bar. The animators and evening shows were the best we’ve seen at any hotel we’ve visited.

The entertainment was a real highlight. Mike, Gustavo, and Evelina were superb, and we all loved them. The location was pretty good too, with a couple of good beaches within a ten-minute walk that were much less stony than I’d expected. We came back from a week here with a large family group and had a great time, though other staff were neither terrible nor especially good. A note about the rating: this is a decent three-star hotel, not a five-star one. Greece uses the star rating to calculate the extra room tax, so for a week the charge is about 105 euros instead of around 50 euros for a three-star place, on top of the holiday price. The rooms were quite good, cleaned well each day, and had a good shower. Food was okay rather than great, though there was always something to eat. The bacon and sausages were awful. Lager was awful too; the wine was okay, while local spirits weren't good, as is often the case. The pool looked oddly green for the first few days but seemed to clear, and some of its entry railings need urgent attention. They should also review the glass policy around the pool. The pool depth is regular throughout. I hope these honest comments help and don't put people off, but don't expect a five-star experience.

Our first trip to Greece was for an anniversary, and I emailed ahead to ask whether they could arrange a romantic touch in the room. They said they’d do what they could, but when we arrived it was just a standard room with nothing arranged. The catering staff were great from the start, though. We checked in late and they provided some cold food for dinner. Breakfast got repetitive, but lunch and dinner had some changes, which we liked. The cocktails on our all-inclusive package tasted more like juice than alcohol, as if watered down, and came in plastic cups rather than glasses. I returned to the UK with insect bites and emailed the hotel. They replied helpfully and said they’d look into my query. The pool was lovely but a bit cold, and the staff put on good evening entertainment. It was a lovely stay overall.