Euroxenia Marathon Hotel

There isn't a huge amount to do in Kolympia itself, but it's easy to get around by public transport. The evening entertainment was fun, and the woodfired pizza and gyros were a lovely addition, even though the buffet started to feel repetitive. We had a really lovely stay. The rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable, and I'd definitely suggest booking one by the smaller private pool. The staff were brilliant, especially Dennis and Astar at the bar. They were so friendly and helpful.

The room doors were a real nuisance. The bathroom door wouldn't lock, and it took a lot of effort to close the main door. We also saw cockroaches twice in the restaurant, with small flies in the food. Some pool loungers were old and had nails sticking out. Nobody fixed them during our nine days, which felt unsafe. The location of the reception staff was a bright spot. The ladies there were kind and understanding, especially the one on the day shift, who was always attentive and helpful. Bartenders worked efficiently and served quickly. The gyros, pizza and grilled meat were among the best things we ate. The food quality varied, and while some dishes were tasty, others weren't. There wasn't much choice of salad, and it got repetitive after a week. One day the wine was nice and the next it was terrible, even though I asked for the same red wine. It felt as if the hotel was trying to save money wherever it could. Evenings were difficult because the music was often too loud and heavy, like Metallica or heavy metal. I couldn't understand why management thought that suited hotel guests. Relaxing background music would have been much nicer. I raised the volume and style with them, but my comment was ignored. The animation was extremely loud too. It was fun for the first few days, then became annoying. I came to rest, not to wake up to loud sounds every morning. It caused needless stress and completely disrupted my sleep. Now I can't fall asleep before 1 a.m. There were no slippers, bathrobes or toiletries, things I expect at a 4★ hotel. In reality, this felt more like a 3★ place, and that's generous. Housekeeping was inconsistent and the towels weren't always fresh, though those things were minor compared with the loud heavy-metal evenings. Please don't stress your guests like that. The overall experience was disappointing. With more attention to guests' comfort and a few improvements, this hotel could be much better, but right now it definitely doesn't feel like a 4★ stay.

The food was above standard for this category. Breakfast had plenty of sweet and savory options, eggs in different styles, waffles and fruit. Lunch and dinner changed each day, with meat, vegetables, sides, sushi, salmon, lasagna and seafood. Desserts were great too. There was pizza and gyros by the pool every day. We spent a week at Hotel Marathon, and for the price of this kind of holiday, the hotel was good quality overall. There are two pools. I preferred the quieter second one behind the outdoor bar. There weren't many children around, which suited us. There is a small playground but no slides or water attractions, so it may not be ideal for kids. We always found a sunbed. Our standard room had a safe, balcony, TV and air conditioning, all working fine. There's also a gym, table tennis and billiards. The staff were excellent, helpful and always smiling. When our toilet leaked, they immediately moved us to a new room without any fuss. On departure day we no longer had a room, but reception gave us towels so we could shower. They really made it seem like nothing was impossible. The entertainment program was full, with something every evening. That did mean sleeping before 11 pm wasn't really possible, but it didn't bother us. Drinks were surprisingly good, especially the beer, and there were about 8 cocktails to choose from. They didn't use single-use plastic cups. The ice cream was nothing special. The area was a weaker point. There are a few bars, including Oasis, but only a few streets with much going on. For a scooter, I'd recommend Max Moto, one street from the hotel. For coffee, To Nisaki café by the sea was a good option. The sea is about a 10-minute walk away. The beach is average, neither great nor terrible, and sunbeds cost extra. Hotel Wi-Fi was basically for show and practically unusable. Coffee was very weak and cheap throughout the hotel because they used the same machines. All in all, it was very good and above standard, and we can really recommend it.

If you want to spend your time relaxing by the pool, you may enjoy this hotel. It's in Kolymbia, a somewhat remote area. The food was hit and miss, with little dessert choice. During the day you can have beer or wine, and cocktails are available from 6 till 11pm. There's a pizza bar open until dinner, then a gyros bar opens later in the evening. If you'd rather visit different places, consider staying in Rhodes town, Faliraki or even Lindos.