Korakia Pensione

We loved having coffee in the Kalymnos Room’s courtyard in the morning, listening to the birds. It’s enclosed, beautiful, and one of the most private spots on the property, with Bougainvillea growing right beside it. The room is rustic and has a past-times, faraway feel, but still has the usual amenities. It isn’t a polished hotel room, which is part of its character. The door can’t open all the way because of how the stones are laid, though that was my main complaint about the room. The location worked really well: an easy walk to the main strip, but quiet enough to feel tucked away. The place has a bit of magic that photos and videos don’t quite convey. Breakfast was much more substantial than I expected. We had eggs, bacon, and toast one morning, then banana pancakes with fresh fruit the next, and both were really good. I’d plan to eat here rather than elsewhere. The pools were nicely heated, and the fires at night made everything cozy. I did wish there were a hot tub. Service was excellent, and getting the bikes was easy. A couple things could have been handled better. The movie on our first night was odd, and there weren’t blankets or a comfortable place to settle in. The films were old, I think Casablanca was playing the second night, but there was no note saying what was on, and no fire pit or blankets to keep warm. Episodes of "I Love Lucy" might work, or even a little card listing the movies. I’m not very cultured when it comes to films, but when we checked, nobody else was watching. On our second day, a clothing line photo shoot took over the pool area on our side of the property, with around 20 people gathered there. We’d planned to spend the day at a hot springs resort anyway, so it didn’t disrupt our plans, but staying at Korakia that day would’ve been really disappointing. Guests weren’t warned or invited to use the other side, perhaps with a drink on the house. I understand the property needs to make money and it’s a cool place for model photos, but it felt pretty lame to have that happen without a heads-up when guests are paying for quiet and relaxation. I’d recommend Korakia, and especially this room if you value privacy.

Quiet, quaint place, and the staff were friendly and paid close attention to us. I stayed three nights and will definitely return. We usually come to the area twice a year. We saw a Bighorn Sheep on our morning hike, and I included a picture.

The worst part of the stay was the neighbors. They blasted techno from 8pm until 8am, and it was still going when we left. They also loudly carried on with their “adult time” for hours, screaming so the whole villa could hear. I came down with a virus on Sunday, and after not sleeping that night, I got up, sat on the patio and cried for a few minutes before packing and leaving. I texted the front desk around 11pm while it was happening and got no response. This is advertised as a quiet wellness retreat, but those neighbors clearly didn’t act like that applied to them. We were in the Delphi room, which I believe is the smallest, at about $650 a night. Breakfast in the courtyard and a morning thermos of coffee were included, and access to both pools was available around the clock. The grounds were beautiful and the staff kind. But the room didn’t have much horizontal space or room for belongings, and there was no iron or ironing board. There was an instant tea kettle but no tea. For the cost of the cheapest room, I can’t justify the price.

Savannah and Britt made our stay especially lovely. The Bedouin Suite had everything we needed and then some. It was a fantastic, memorable visit. Highly recommend.