4
« on: October 15, 2010, 10:21:09 PM »
We have literally just returned from our first stay in SS, staying at the Athina, we had a good time but the weather was bad one day the first week and 3 days the second week, and I'm talking stair rod rain!, torrential.
Our impressions were that the Athina is a well run, clean and friendly hotel, the staff are great apart from the fella who runs the pool bar, he could do with a personality transplant, nearly everbody staying there avoided the bar because of him.George and Yannis in the restaurant were great, we got along famously with them, sharing many jokes and mickey taking, he laughed at my Norfolk accent,and tried to teach us the Greek pronounciation of meals, which we dismally and deliberately failed at, altering the pronounciations around causing fits of laughter, even from George!.
Despite our earlier reservations, we were given a sea view room with balcony (305), and found it very good, OK the carpets were tired, but that's about it really, cleaning schedule was impeccable, we've never been in a cleaner hotel, sheets and towels changed regularly,rooms thoroughly cleaned daily, a requested extra pillow was brought immediately.The mattresses were a bit on the hard side, but we soon got used to them.
The meals themselves were good, not a lot of variation perhaps, don't go there and expect fine dining, but we never left the restaurant hungry, nuff said.We had all our evening meals in the hotel, but had lunch out every day to put money into the local economy.
SS was a little small for us personally , but very nice with extremely friendly people as all you regulars will know, we hired a quad bike for 1 day the first week from Spiro's at the end of the road, we went as far as Roda on that, but because my wife has a dodgy hip, we only did it the one day, after that we had a hire car from TopCars, an excellent reliable firm, highly recommended, we went all over the island from Sidari(yuck) to Kavos, (even more yuck), we liked Roda and Kassiopi, but liked SS best.
Driving was a nerve wracking experience as well, especially in the wet, Aviotes had to be treated with care and no, the new bypass is not yet completed, in fact we didn't see anyone working on it all the tme we were there.The road surfaces are appalling, even on the main roads, slowly was the order of the day.
We went on a trip with SS travel, very good, did a trio with Thomsons the second week, poorly organised and expensive,would not bother again.
We will go back there again, but not for a while, we don't like to return to the same place 2 years running, but we will return some time, and definately stay at the Athina again, probably late May or early June to avoid the worst of the rain.
Apologies for the long post, just needed to let everyone know our own personal thoughts,
Show Posts
