Aparthotel 3 Stars Kos

We didn't think the price matched the overall value, and the breakfast was horrible, so avoid it. The Superior Studio was clean and OK, though a couple of towels smelled funny, and there was little to no soundproofing. The pool and garden were nice, and the pool bar played good music until around midnight. It's about 20 minutes from Kos center, with bikes available for getting there faster. The nearby beach is small and really only good for snorkeling.

Our favorite beaches were Lambi on the north side of Kos town, Tingaki along the north coast with its long stretch of sand, and Kardamena in the south. Kardamena was stunning on our last day. We hired cars for much of the trip to reach the sandy beaches, mostly beyond town along the north coast. Once we learned the area, we found a large free car park near town, which saved our legs and spared us the cyclists. Kos town and the harbor were lively, with plenty of history, shops, and restaurants for all ages. You can take a day trip to nearby Bodrum in Turkey, but we didn't. The hotel is made up of several blocks, and we stayed in a one-bedroom apartment on the first floor of a newer one. Check-in was easy, and reception were helpful throughout, including with arranging car hire. The apartment had a kitchen with two single beds and a separate bedroom with a double bed. Both rooms had air conditioning. It was spacious, comfortable, cleaned daily, and the kitchen utensils and cups were spotless. Thanks to our cleaner Anna and her always-smiling, friendly colleagues. We mostly ate out, though there was a well-stocked BamBam supermarket across the road for self-catering. The pool was a fairly large rectangle, but it could get crowded. Most guests were Dutch, and there was never an early dash for sunbeds. Trees on the lawn also gave welcome shade. The pool bar served excellent food in generous portions at good value. Service could slow down when there was a queue, but it wasn't a big deal on holiday. The staff were friendly and obliging, especially Dmitry, who had a warm, engaging manner. Drinks included the usual hot, cold, and alcoholic options. Alcohol was quite expensive outside Wednesday happy hour, with cocktails at 8-10 euros and a large beer at 5 euros. Kos town is about a mile away, around a 25-minute walk with kids. Watch for the many cyclists, since pedestrians share much of the footpath. This was our first visit to Kos, and although we don't usually return to places, the island has enough to make us want to come back.

The hotel was lovely, the rooms were clean, tidy, and up to date, and the staff were friendly. Getting to Kos Town was easy on foot, and there’s also a bike lane all the way into the center if you want to hire a bike. Breakfast was the one drawback. Compared with other hotels I've stayed at, there wasn't much choice, and it got boring after a couple of days. The spread stayed the same every day: bread and rolls to toast, eggs listed as hard or soft boiled but not really, sliced ham and cheese, Greek yogurt, tinned peaches, watermelon, and three cereals.

We came away really happy, though sad to leave. We had five nights at Alexandra beach, and the photos don't do it justice. The whole hotel and our room were spotless, which matters a lot to me. The only room gripe was that the sheets sometimes had a strange smell, but it was never a major issue. We were seven 18-year-olds looking for somewhere relaxing where we could still have a bit of fun, and it gave us a good balance. The beach is right on the doorstep, while Kos town center is about a 20-minute walk, with restaurants, bar street, activities, and sightseeing. There was more to explore than we had time for. We also went to the Sunday ammo’s beach party and enjoyed it. The hotel and pool felt nicely balanced during the day, with music and a relaxed vibe and enough sunbeds for everyone. The poolside snack bar had good food at very reasonable prices. Staff were friendly and polite. The woman at reception, whose name I didn't get, wore glasses and had blonde-brown hair, and was very lovely. I'd recommend Alexandra beach. It isn't a five-star hotel, but it's a very good three- or four-star place, and the older negative reviews shouldn't put you off. We were pleasantly surprised.