Saoulas Studios

There are plenty of groceries and restaurants close by, and the bar and pool area are lovely, with food and drinks at good prices. We liked the pool, too. The rooms are clean and practical, with a little equipment for cooking. We only used the fridge and freezer, though, and ate at the bar or one of the local places, which have a good range. Air con costs an extra €7 per night, and I’d recommend paying for it since it’s still 30degrees at night. A car would also help, as even the walk down to Lourdas beach is steep in the heat. It’s a good choice for couples and families.

The pool was clean and had plenty of sunbeds, and the sea view from there and the restaurant is beautiful. We had a spacious room with a small kitchen, fridge-freezer, stove, sink, dishes and utensils. The shower took some figuring out because it sprayed everywhere, but the pool bathroom had a better one and was kept very clean. Our room was spotless as well. There were quite a few ants around, including some in my friend’s room, and the pool bar played the same playlist of about 10 songs on repeat. I must have heard “Cool Kids” by Echosmith at least 40 times. Eleni, whose name I’m not sure I’ve spelled right, and the rest of the staff were welcoming. We paid a small island tax on arrival, I think around €10.50 for the week, and air conditioning was €7 a day. There’s no card machine, so bring cash. Eleni was happy to make food for us when we got in after 11pm. The hotel restaurant was lovely, especially the omelettes, though service could be slow with Eleni cooking and only one or two servers. It didn’t get too busy. A lovely cleaning lady looked after the pool bathroom. There are three supermarkets along the street, including one right next door. They had what we needed for breakfast and lunch, plus suncream, though it was a little pricey, and souvenirs. La Mer down the road has great views and is a good bar and restaurant. Chefalonia is good too, and I’d recommend their pasta. We managed without a car, but renting one would be a good idea. Lourdas Beach is about a 30-minute walk downhill, then 30 minutes or more back up, so avoid doing that in the midday heat. There are a few cafes and shops on the route where you can stop, including Cafe Platanos, which has a lovely owner and a great view. Kanali Beach takes about the same time to reach, but the path is uneven and less accessible. We saw goats on the way. The beach is a little nicer than Lourdas and more private, but there’s no shade, so bring a parasol if you go in the middle of the day. For a change of scene, we visited the pools at other hotels, which are open to the public. Antonia Apartments down the road had a good bar and a big pool. Lovides Village is a little further away, with a nice large pool and another good bar. Argostoli is about a 25-minute drive. A taxi with KefaloniaTaxis247 cost us €40; we needed a 7-seater, so a 5-seater might cost less. There’s also a bus from just up the road around 8:45am that returns at 1:45pm. In town, there’s a good shopping street for souvenirs and you can see turtles by the harbour. We had a great boat day with Dreamy Cruises, with lovely staff, good food and unlimited wine. Saoulas Studios was a very good base for our week. We were sorry to leave, and I’d happily recommend it.

The rooms are basic, as you’d expect for the price, and the place was clean and tidy. It’s quiet for food, with an empty bar in the evening, which suited us when we wanted some peace. The pool is lovely and the views are great. Service was okay, just okay. Air con is extra, and I was disappointed it cost €10 per night. There are good local restaurants, but you’re a bit isolated, so I’d advise renting a car. The walk to the beach is a trek. I didn’t mind, but my wife and kids weren’t pleased with the steep hill, about 2 1/2k.

We were staying at the Agathagelos studios up the road, so we didn’t stay in the rooms here. We came for a full English breakfast at the Saoulas studios pool bar. It was very good and there was lots to choose from. The people were really nice, and they even put up banners and balloons for my son’s 21st Birthday.