Makryammos

The hotel complex is beautiful and sits by a gorgeous beach. It’s such a shame the service and food don’t match the setting. If management spent a month at a real 5-star hotel and learned how that service works, they could bring those standards to makryammos. The place could then be outstanding. The buffet is okay, but more like a basic 3-star hotel than a luxury resort. Dinner feels chaotic. There aren’t enough tables for larger groups, so it’s uncomfortable when more than 2 people want to eat together. Drinks cost extra with the evening meal, even water, and the prices are extortionate: 4 euros for a 250ml Coke or Fanta. The fridge had one litre of water when we arrived, and that wasn’t replenished. The junior restaurant staff work hard, but the managers provide no direction or leadership. Front of house staff do the basics, but nothing raises the service to the level you’d expect at 5-star prices. When we left, nobody said goodbye or wished us a safe journey. They seemed disinterested. We even had to drag our own heavy cases a long way down the steep hillside, because we were told staff didn’t start until 8am, the same time as our coach transfer. I’m still shocked. It was a poor end to our holiday. At the last 5-star hotel we visited in Turkey, the manager checked in with guests daily and kept track of everything. Nothing was too much trouble. He made a point of being there to say goodbye and thank us for staying. That’s 5-star service. The owner has a few months to fix things before next season. I hope they listen to the reviews and lift their service to the standard guests expect. Otherwise, they should manage expectations and lower the star rating and prices to match what feels to me like a 3 to 4 star hotel.

They acted like they owned the beach and wouldn’t let my girlfriend and me use its only entrance, insisting they were right. Greece has no private beaches. They threatened to call the police on us, and the security guard lied outright when he said there was another entrance 700 meters farther down the road. There isn’t. A receptionist eventually told us on the phone that we could walk to the beach. Ten minutes later, they came back to hassle us and ask us to leave, laughing in my face. A complete disgrace. Save your money and go somewhere friendlier and much nicer when visiting Thassos.

The natural setting is beautiful, but this resort feels closer to 3 stars than 5. The prices are the only thing that feels truly “luxury.” Even the beach is neglected, and it would be much more enjoyable if the sand were properly looked after and cleaned. Dining was especially disappointing. The food selection and quality felt like roadside motel fare, not a luxury resort. We often had to queue for an indoor table, since swarms of wasps made eating outside nearly impossible. Staff brushed it off as “nature” instead of taking the simple preventative steps many local tavernas use. Our suite wasn’t impressive either. The insect net had a large tear, so we couldn’t enjoy fresh air, and cleanliness left a lot to be desired. At both the bar and restaurant, waiting 30 minutes just to get a waiter’s attention was common, even with staff only a few meters away. People across the board were unfriendly and unhelpful, with no real sense of hospitality. When we asked for the manager, we were told he wouldn’t be available for four days. I’ve never come across that at a professional hotel. Management seems not to care about the guest experience, and the high prices make that lack of care even harder to accept. If you’re after real 5-star luxury, I’d strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

Both restaurants served a good range of tasty food. We waited a little at the main one, but the service there was excellent. We also really appreciated how much the hotel respects nature. The rooms were roomy and comfortable, and the staff were warm and helpful. We had a lovely stay in a beautiful hotel.