Sandy Beach

I never stayed at this hotel. I emailed to ask about room prices but got no reply. I did visit the beach and bought drinks from the hotel. Then a security guard came over, asked whether I was staying there and told me to leave. He also asked my nationality, which felt odd, so I didn’t answer. He spoke into his walkie-talkie to call the police to kick out the “pakistane,” in Greek. I found that remark racist. I told him I’d leave in five minutes. There are better places to stay, like Evita Natura. If you want to avoid an unpleasant experience, book somewhere else.

We had a wonderful holiday, with friendly, helpful staff and fantastic service throughout. The rooms were kept clean and in lovely condition, with housekeeping every day. The food was excellent, too. Everything was better than we expected, and I’d recommend it.

We had a relaxing, very enjoyable holiday and would gladly recommend Sandy Beach. For the hotel’s quality and service, it felt like very good value, and we hope to return. The staff made a strong impression: everyone we met was friendly, attentive and ready to help. In the dining room, plates were cleared quickly, and our room was kept spotless. Sandy Beach looks as though it has been completely renovated, with excellent results. The buffet was particularly good, offering lots of choice and fresh-tasting food.

The resort cats were adorable, and we appreciated being allowed to use the all-inclusive facilities after checkout. The grounds, food and beach were lovely. Meals had plenty of variety and were genuinely tasty, while the pools and gym were decent, though the gym really needs air conditioning. There are nice local places nearby, including the Tiki Bar and Marmari Go-Kart track. We didn’t feel especially welcome as a British couple. The hotel seemed geared toward German and Scandinavian guests, some staff were noticeably colder with us, and we were often served last at the bar. A travelling photo team that the hotel had welcomed pressured us to buy printed photos after saying there was no obligation. That wasn’t what we expected from a hotel of this standard. A local later told us that British holidaymakers tend to stay in Tigaki rather than Marmari because the areas cater to different nationalities, and apparently Brits aren’t always received warmly in Marmari. I hadn’t known about this divide on Kos before we travelled. If you’re German or Scandinavian, you’ll likely feel at home here.