The Water

The room was spotless, and the water bottle in the fridge was a thoughtful touch. There was also a coffee station in the shared area. I stayed three nights at the beginning of August, and the accommodation was amazing. Dimitris, the manager, and the staff were helpful and available if anything came up. My single room faced the city but had a double bed, air conditioning, fridge, basic shaving kit, plenty of shower gel, slippers, hairdryer, and earplugs. A bar next door played music until around 2 or 3am, though it didn't bother me. I'd look at coming back. If noise is a concern, they also have a sister place, The Rock, further up the steps near Plakes.

The room was immaculate, tastefully furnished, and the bed and pillows were really comfortable. Our terrace looked onto the sea, with sailboats and fishing boats coming in, and we got both morning and afternoon sun. We were there before summer, so it was quiet, though the double doors and double-pane glass kept the bars from being heard. The Old Port location made it easy to go for beach swims, browse boutiques, have a seaside drink or coffee, and take evening walks. Dimitris, the manager, was warm and welcoming and gave us good restaurant suggestions. Great views and staff made the stay special. We'll definitely return!

We still haven't received the compensation offer the hotel promised, despite following up several times, and our last message went unanswered. We had asked management for suitable financial compensation because we didn't receive the stay we booked, paid for, and were looking forward to. They said they'd come back with a “tailored offer.” We reserved five nights last July, mainly because The Water is right by the sea, with its lovely view and the chance for morning swims. After the first day at the beach, the air conditioning had stopped working. Staff eventually arranged two nights at another hotel atop a steep hill, then we had to move again when new guests arrived. The second place was in the city center, and our room looked only onto an alley. In 40-degree heat, going without air conditioning that afternoon and evening, then moving late at night, was unpleasant. Not knowing where we'd stay in the following nights and changing hotels twice caused a lot of stress. Neither place gave us the seaside experience we'd chosen The Water for. We know things can go wrong, and we appreciated the staff trying to find an immediate solution. But when a hotel can't provide what was agreed, management should take responsibility for that.

We spent two weeks there and slept undisturbed, even though a nearby bar played music each night. The windows were very well soundproofed. Dimitris, the manager, made a personal difference: before we arrived he sent a detailed email with useful Skiathos tips, and he was friendly and ready with more suggestions whenever we spoke. The hotel sits by the water at the edge of the old town, in a lovely spot, and it looked almost new since it had been built or renovated only a few years ago. The balcony had a great sea view, the bed was cozy, and the air conditioner was quiet. Our room was cleaned daily, with fresh towels every other day.