Cosme, A Luxury Collection Resort, Paros

Evenings by the Half Moon pool were magical. Watching the sun set in front of us with signature cocktails in hand made the atmosphere unforgettable. The food at Parostia Restaurant was outstanding, too. This beachfront resort near Naoussa has wonderful service, food, experiences, and vibes. The architecture keeps to the island’s traditional style, while the interior design is top-notch. Everyone was sweet, welcoming, eager to help, and truly professional.

The rooms were the one letdown. We expected suites, but they weren’t really any larger than standard hotel rooms. Otherwise, the location is excellent, the pool is terrific, and the beach is right in front of it. There’s an excellent restaurant, breakfast is included in the package and very good, and the pool and beach service was great. The staff are terrific.

We chose Cosme Hotel for our honeymoon, but it didn’t live up to what we expected from its Luxury Collection status. We paid over $1,000 a night for a honeymoon room that directly faced the restaurant. The clatter of silverware and guests talking woke us early every morning, which was a major disappointment for a stay meant to be relaxing and romantic at that price. The staff were genuinely kind and courteous, but the property as a whole didn’t feel like a true luxury hotel. To us, it was more like a boutique hotel with three-star amenities and service. We heard similar concerns from other guests, so our experience didn’t seem isolated. Restaurant prices were like those at a Michelin-starred place: expect €31 for bite-sized starters and €198 for a pasta. The pool and beach were empty, and guests weren’t using the amenities because snacks and drinks were so expensive. It’s about a 15-minute walk to Naoussa, where most of the island’s dining and nightlife is. Cosme doesn’t provide the complimentary shuttle that other luxury hotels on Paros do. Transport is limited and costly. Standard Uber fares are €40 to Naoussa and to the ferry port, which is about 22 minutes away. Unless the hotel makes significant improvements, I wouldn’t be surprised if it loses that classification in the near future.

The staff at Cosme Resort were a real highlight: attentive, personable, positive, and genuinely willing to help with many of our needs. The property was clean and well kept, and we liked the beautiful pool and bar area and the small family beach right in front. The food was delicious, though dining was expensive. Breakfast tasted good, but sometimes seemed understaffed. The location was excellent, a pleasant 12-minute walk to Naoussa’s restaurants and shops. The room assignment was disappointing. As a Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite member for 30 years, I emailed the hotel days before arrival to ask for a nice room and repeated the request at check-in. We were still given a room at the back of the resort, facing a plain courtyard beside the breakfast room. Every morning at 6 AM, loud banging against the walls as staff set up breakfast woke us. I paid with points, so perhaps that affected the assignment, but it was still disappointing given my loyalty status. Apart from the noise and room placement, it’s a good quality property with warm, attentive staff. Better thought given to room assignments, especially for long-time loyalty members, would have made this an exceptional stay.