Firstly, by way of explanation, part of this will be going on Holidays Uncovered, Watchdog etc but I thought I’d give you SS regulars a preview also I hope you take the review in the way it’s intended and that is through a fresh pair of eyes who hasn’t developed what I call “A habit becomes a truth”
I’d been keen on trying out SS for some time, it seemed like our sort of place and the positive comments on various sites also encouraged us.
San Stefanos is located in a shallow valley bordered on three sides by steep hills.The steepness of the hills means that, in summer, only the fittest can walk up them and they aren’t suitable for the less fit among us,but I imagine that for dedicated walkers the surrounding countryside in spring must be wonderful.
It has a nice broad beach with firm sand and , generally, crystal clear waters.
It has been called a quaint fishing village but that must have been a long time ago , this is a dedicated [mainly to the Brits ] holiday resort.
It’s too large to be a village and too small to be a town. It has a plentiful supply of Tavernas and about 3 Supermarkets but few other shops of any interest which can be visited to while away some time.
“What are the locals like”
They seem genuinely friendly ,especially if you make the first contact and are open. They clearly have a vested interest in doing so and can teach us a lot about customer service.
“Where did you stay”
The Rose Garden apartments, run by a lovely and hard working lady - Kiki -
They are some 400 yards from the centre and 600 from the beach and, again, if your at all struggling with fitness, could be a trek in high summer, but I could do with the workout!
The RG is a lovely design chalet building with two floors a decent pool a nice snack area and some lovely gardens both there and surrounding. They put on a dance show and grill once a week and Kiki puts on a terrific home made spread.It’s distance from the Main St means it’s quiet at night
Highly recommended
“What did you do”
We went on three excursions, these were:
>A round the Island coach trip, organised by San Stefanos Travel , lots of additional costs made it an expensive day out and also quite a long one where there was a bit of wasted time. No complaints about SST though who even picked us up and took us to Sidari
> A boat trip to Ericusa Island, not a lot there except a beautiful beach
> And a fun trip on Theo’s Boats, expensive but a great laugh
In hindsight I wished we’d gone on more, if I was new to the Island I definitely would have done so or hired a car for a few days, just to break up what, at times was , for me , a somewhat monotonous routine.
We also hired Quad Bikes to go over to Arillas which is like a miniature version of San Stef.
The main activity seems to be lying around the pool reading, watching waves at the beach and eating. If you don’t drive your pretty much stuck with it
“ What were the Tavernas like”
This depends entirely on how you view eating out and what your expectations are. Most were more than adequate and geared to British perceptions for the tourist, some were inventive and trying to get away from the accepted image - see my Taverna Review
“So who goes to San Stef”
Bearing in mind the time I went it seems to attract middle aged and older couples who are either childless or whose kids have left home or young bucket and spaders who don’t want something as brash as Sidari, it’s definitely a Brit holiday resort.I wish I’d found it when my kids were young and it perhaps wasn’t so commercialised.
“…and overall, good and not so good”
If your idea of a good holiday is mainly lying around getting progressively browner in a familiar and very friendly environment then San Stef is as good as most places I would think, but no different to other medium/small sized resorts like Arillas or Ag Georgios, it’s certainly far better than Sidari or Dassia, but not as upmarket as Kalami or Kassiopi, and I was surprised [and disappointed] by how commercialised and anglicised it was.
Someone described it as “a home from home” it certainly is with Full English breakfasts
[ whats wrong with full Greek ones ?] happy hours, bingo, tribute acts and pub singers you could see in any Brit town on a Friday night. There was no live traditional music or even live contemporary music and an almost totally supine acceptance of giving the English their idea of Greek culture and things they were comfortable with - I swear someone is going to think lifting a table by the teeth is what it’s all about.
So where does San Stef go?, on an individual one to one basis it has great things going for it and an obviously strong base of loyal customers but this onward march of Sidarising it and catering to English requirements is in my opinion just “dumbing” the place down.
“So you wouldn’t go back then?”
Im glad I went I enjoyed my holiday overall and I would like to take the RG and their commitment to customer Service with me but, no I wouldn’t go back , in my opinion there are nicer or just as nice looking places with alternative things to see and do and the Med is a big place [ I only get one shot a year after all ] and the generosity of the Greek people is not confined to San Stef. I might go back when Ive grandchildren, but doubt it.
I hope forum members will accept this in the spirit it’s given
Keith Myrna and Alex
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