Evia Hotel & Suites

What really made Evia Hotel & Suites special for us was the kindness of everyone running it, from the manager to housekeeping. They made us feel genuinely welcome. The site is beautiful, with views all around, and combines modern architecture with olive trees, stone walls and thoughtfully designed spaces. Our room was impressively spacious, and the pool was fantastic. The bar had all the basics, including spirits, beer, club sandwiches, toasties and snacks, at very reasonable prices. With a baby, we found it convenient to spend the whole day there. People mention breakfast. It may seem modest if you’re used to Le Meurice in Paris, a Kempinski or the Four Seasons. For the rest of us, especially if Marmari is where you’re headed, this is easily the best place to stay.

The staff are always willing to help, and breakfast is fresh with more than enough to choose from. I’d give the rooms four stars, though the cleaning could be better. It’s hard to say much about the location because you need a car to get around, and in that respect the location is much the same as anywhere else. I’d like the pool to stay open for one more hour!

We found this bright, modern hotel comfortable, in a modest port town, but nobody asked us how the stay was. If they had, we’d have mentioned that breakfast needs a cook and the orange juice was awful. Some things need repair too, including tatty, stained sunbeds and a broken pool ladder. Our friends had the two-bedroom suite. It looked spacious and might be a better choice if they add a kettle, microwave and some cooking utensils. Maybe it’s still a work in progress, or they’re short staffed?

The hotel has potential to be amazing, but at the moment it feels more like three stars. There was no minibar in the room, though we appreciated that the fridge worked well. We had windy days, and it got so loud that we put a blanket by the door to sleep without feeling like something might get ripped out of place. Dinner wasn’t available, and breakfast was okay with a sufficient range of options. The pool isn’t heated, so swimming after sunset wasn’t possible. WiFi didn’t work on the second floor once we went past the elevators; we reported it at reception, but it wasn’t fixed. It’s a nice enough hotel, but it isn’t being looked after properly.