Thomais Boutique Hotel

I’m posting this new review after the hotel responded to my 2024 review only a week ago, a year and a half later. I’m baffled by the positive reviews from recent guests. The management reply on Tripadvisor is available to read and seems to say my comments were based on assumptions. These are the things I experienced. The hotel is on an extremely busy, dusty road, and the traffic noise disturbed our sleep. The outdoor tables are separated from it by only one partly glass wall, and it was incredibly noisy when lorries went by. There’s no proper swimming pool, just what I’d call a plunge pool, and you have to book a slot. It’s also only separated from the road by a partly glass wall. There were no reclining sunbeds. The buses were unreliable, walking to the resorts felt dangerous in places, and without a car the location was difficult. Taxis were expensive too. The information on Thomais’s website didn’t match what we found. Reception, lobby, cafe-bar and breakfast area were all in one open-plan room. I think the “garden” meant seating at the front beside the noisy road, as that’s all we saw. The “Aqua Gym” was a very small pool, one bike and one treadmill with what looked like rust, all next to the main road. I couldn’t find the spa, unless they meant jets in the pool. Across the road, about 200 to 300m away, the “beach bar” was a mobile van like a fairground burger van serving drinks, with cheap-looking sunbeds without cushions for an extra charge. The “small shop” was shelves of oil, and the “small library” was a shelf of secondhand books. No welcome drink was offered. The business centre was a laptop loan and printer behind reception, with no separate area. Breakfast was adequate. We had a lifestyle room, Hers Paradise, with no bathrobes and no Nespresso machine or coffee in the room. I don’t know what the listed cosmetic amenities were. The balcony had mountains to the right, but also looked over scorched grass and was overlooked by a dwelling on the left. Traffic noise was so bad we couldn’t leave the door open. The bathroom had only a shower and was very small. Its taps were at hip height, so I kept bumping into them, and I’m 5’1. There was a mirror above the bed, too. I couldn’t work out where the Vivarium Wine Restaurant was supposed to be, next to the lobby. We ate out every night. If they meant the “garden” seating, the road noise would spoil a meal. If it was the same tables used for breakfast, snacks and drinks, those faced the wall by the busy road in the same room where people sat on sofas, read or watched TV. The outdoor website gallery showed a restaurant we never found. I also found the management unfriendly, especially after they learned I’d complained to the tour operator. The manager was waiting for me when I returned that evening. I said I was tired and would speak in the morning because I didn’t want a confrontation. Here’s my original review from 2024: the hotel said it was responsible only for information on its own website, although I assume customers also rely on tour operators and booking sites when choosing a holiday. I’m leaving this review so others can make an informed choice.

Our booked room wasn’t available, so they gave us a free upgrade to a suite with a lovely terrace. It was a pleasant stay at Thomais Boutique Hotel. The rooms are modern, fully equipped and spotless, and breakfast had a generous spread of fresh products and different delicacies each day. The staff were very kind.

We didn’t have a car, but the walk to Nikiana was pleasant, following a path along the beach. The local bus to Nydri and Lefkada stops right outside the hotel, which is near the loveliest little beach around. Our room was spacious and comfortable, breakfast generous with lots of variety, and the owners were incredibly friendly and helpful. We had a fantastic stay and highly recommend it.

I was there on a business trip in the middle of winter, and the stay made it a much more pleasant trip than I expected. The accommodation was comfortable and stylish, and the cleanliness really stood out. Recent renovations gave it a modern feel. Homemade breakfast had a lovely range of choices and was a warm, comforting start to the day. The restaurant was a nice surprise too, with delicious food and a convenient option for dining.