Harilaos Beach

The host was friendly, and the location was nice. Our room was okay, nothing special, but the balcony had a lovely sea view. Some neighbors seemed annoyed when we played cards at 4 pm.

The price was reasonable, and the beds were big and clean. There was a small kitchen with a refrigerator and hot plate, plus air conditioning. The bathroom was tiny, and the beach was about a five-minute walk away. Free Wi-Fi hotspots were available, though the internet kept having problems. Either the DSL router wasn’t working properly or the provider was having issues.

A stylish place.

The rooms were surprisingly clean, but the rest of the place felt neglected. The whole area has a dated, Gierek-Gomulka atmosphere. The resort may have been a gem fifty years ago, judging by the old sculptures of a dog and swan, a large closed dining room and the garden, now absurdly run down with a paint bucket, old slippers and wilted flowers in chipped pots. There are wires strung above the entrance. The air conditioning is in just one room, leaving the kitchen, bathroom and other room of the apartment-carriage hot. From the terrace you get a partial view of Mount Olympus and a somewhat distant sea view, but mostly you see the wires and another old resort. The nearby beach is very narrow and rocky. If you’re coming for Mount Olympus, stay in atmospheric Litochoro. For beaches, head to Chalkidiki instead.