Xenios Anastasia Resort & Spa

For a five-star hotel, I expected a different experience. The website's advertising didn't match what we found, though maybe it was accurate in the past. We only learned about the 75 euro "environmental fee" when we arrived at check-in, even though I'd prepaid the whole vacation months earlier. Our room smelled of smoke. The double bed was two beds pushed together, with a big ridge between them, and there was only one usable power socket for charging and using our devices. The bathroom was in very poor condition: one night we found a cockroach, the bathtub had black mold spots, the shower tap and head looked almost broken, and the panel didn't stop water from leaking onto the floor. There were no kids' activities, despite what the website promised. The food and drinks were good, at least what I had. Staff were friendly, though the reception interaction was less pleasant. The pool was good, but the umbrellas were poorly positioned, so the shade was annoying and I had to move my seat every hour. The beach wasn't very convenient. It starts on the ground among olive trees, with shade and seats, which is quite nice, then there's an abrupt edge before the actual beach. That makes it impossible to let your kids play freely in the water because you can't see them. The beach itself is narrow and rocky, as I knew, with only a very small area free of rocks.

The beach setup was a problem for us. We expected sand, but there was none, just olive trees for shade and stairs down to the sea. I couldn't properly keep an eye on my 6-year-old in the water from there. The room also smelled of cigarettes, and one day the towels were black with something. We did get fresh towels daily otherwise. The rooms are old, and we found cockroaches, which really bothered me because I have a phobia. The services didn't match what the website promised: there was supposed to be an animator and a program for kids, but neither was available. The room was never working, and my child was bored with nothing to do besides the pool, so I had to give her my phone. Drinks at the bar were free, but I don't know what water they used, since I had to go to the toilet three times more often. You can visit the hotel, but at a different price.

The staff were so kind and helpful throughout our five-night stay. The beach wasn't ideal, though: no sand or umbrellas, just uncomfortable beds in the shade of olive trees. We only got one bottle of water in the minibar for the whole stay, so getting water meant walking to the pool bar for a glass or paying for a bottle. That doesn't feel very all-inclusive. The package also stopped at 23:00, and even a drink at 23:30 cost extra. The experience left us a bit underwhelmed.

The hotel feels a bit dated, and I wouldn't call it a 5-star place. I think it would deserve a higher score if it were listed as 4 stars. Still, we would recommend it. We stayed from 14.09 till 19.09 as a family of two adults and two small children, with HB service. The staff were friendly, the food was excellent, and our room was ok and cleaned every day. There’s a kids game room, gym, and spa, plus a nice outdoor pool with a smaller children's pool and plenty of space. The garden has olive trees, and you can use the sunbeds and umbrellas for free. The private beach is shallow and suitable for children. The mini market inside the hotel is somewhat outdated and doesn't have much to offer, so bring food and drinks with you. The nearest bakery and supermarket are 3 km away in Nea Skioni.