Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino

I spent three nights in a villa at this incredible resort, and everything felt superb. The Sunday Barbecue had great food and a really friendly atmosphere. Don't miss the sunset from the lobby bar. Can't wait to come back.

We spent most of our time by the pool because the beach and sea weren't especially beautiful, and there were hardly any people on the beach. Since the sea is the most important part of a holiday for me, I probably wouldn't return. The resort itself is gorgeous, with stylish, modern, spacious and comfortable rooms. The design is top-notch, and the landscaping, sea views and golf course give the place an elegant feel. Breakfast was outstanding, and the restaurants were good with enjoyable food. We just didn't find a single cocktail we really liked anywhere in the resort. Mornings felt surprisingly cool even at the end of July. The spa pool water was also too cold for us, especially with the wind, so it was hard to enjoy it fully. Evenings could feel a bit boring, with not much atmosphere or entertainment. There were many celebrities staying there, and it was noticeable that staff gave them a lot of attention.

My first stay at a Mandarin Oriental outside a city was at Costa Navarino, and it really delivered. The views were breathtaking, especially at sunset. Getting there from the airport and checking in were smooth, and the room upgrade was a lovely surprise. Anna at the gym and spa deserves a special mention. She was attentive every time I went, whether I was using the gym or the sauna and steam area. The facilities were fantastic. I also loved the cocktail collaboration with Line, with its creative menu, well-made drinks and great concept. Over four nights I kept returning to Oliviera and Three Admirals Lounge for dinner, and enjoyed both. Huge thanks to Katarina, Spyros, Davide, Adam, Johnny and the whole team. Their attentiveness made a real difference :)

We loved the setting and the resort itself is beautiful. Our room was very nice, and the spa facilities, massages, heat experiences and gym equipment were excellent. I also enjoyed Tiffany's yoga class, though I believe it was aimed at beginners. We had sunset cocktails at Three Admirals every night, and breakfast at Olivera was very good: the Greek specialties changed daily and were delicious, as were the coffee and made-to-order eggs and other dishes. The restaurant view was stunning. I did miss having sparkling wine at breakfast, something we've had at other resorts of this caliber in Europe, Greece and Asia, even the Conrad in Athens. At this nightly rate, that felt like a notable omission. The service didn't consistently match the price or the hotel's level. Some staff seemed unsure where to be or what was happening, and didn't know the menus at certain outlets. George and his team at Brasserie by the Bay were the exception, running things smoothly and giving us a fabulous dinner on arrival. When we asked about an upgrade at check-in, we were told we'd have to pay, which was fine, but we felt like the only guests not offered one. The hotel wasn't full during our early June visit, and since we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, we felt overlooked. An upgrade would have made the stay feel different. Service around the pool and beach was sometimes extremely slow. One day we asked for the bill three times and eventually walked to the bar to pay. We were offered complimentary water with our first round, then later charged for it without being told, ending up paying €25 for water by the pool. There were plenty of loungers each day, but the pool area had many children, and the Tranquility pool was closed for our entire stay, a big disappointment. We enjoyed using the bikes, but rode onto a road within the property where security chased us down and said we couldn't be there. There were no signs saying bikes were prohibited or that the road was off limits, and reception hadn't mentioned it. Security followed us back the way we'd come and asked for our room number. We understand this was probably about liability, but the lack of signs and explanation, plus a language barrier with the guards, left us feeling as if we were being scolded for something we thought was allowed. We also worried we'd get a charge or a note on our account. We drove from Athens, but the main highway or road to Costa Navarino was closed. The last 20-25 minutes meant taking small, winding back roads, which we didn't appreciate. At checkout I had to query a few charges because a laundry item that should have been included as a Fan of MO wasn't. These are the kinds of small things that weren't caught or handled proactively, so I can't give five stars. I'm glad we stayed, but perhaps it was early in the season, because service fell short of what we'd expect from this flag and caliber. We wouldn't go out of our way to stay again.