We stayed at this accommodation from 30 July - 13 August on a package holiday with Thomas Cook. We travel to Greece most years; sometimes twice a year and have been travelling for the past 25 years in a range of accommodation.
The accommodation is divided over 2 blocks. One block (Block 1) is above a reception and restaurant area adjacent to the swimming pool. A road divides the two blocks and the second block is directly opposite the first block across the road. Two brothers manage a block each, with Block One's proprietor (Nikos) on site permanently and Block Two's proprietor (Peter) visiting for just one hour each day between 6 -7 pm.
We were allocated a one bedroomed aparment in Block 2 - Room 325. The apartment was spacious with a spacious bedroom off and a small, sub standard bathroom. Kitchen area had very basic units, in need of modernisation. However, the worst aspect of our room was the bathroom, which was awful. The bathroom had a leaking tap which splashed and dribbled and a leak further down, where water splashed onto the floor. The toilet also had a leak which didn't come apparent until during our first full day (we arrived at 10 pm). The bathroom has a permanent odour of urine, of varying strength during the day. At the end of the day, after the maid had cleaned, it was mild. After using the toilet and until the next day, the odour was strong. On closer inspection the floor appeared moist around the base of the toilet. The whole bathroom needs to be condemned. The door dark brown in colour had a bleached, scruffy look at the bottom and needed to be scrubbed down or replaced.
In contrast, the toilet and shower area for use by the pool were absolutely immaculate. Brand spanking new, sparkling clean and a real contrast to the accommodation we had been allocated. I didn't look at this area until the day I came home. If I had known what they were like, I would have showered in there every day!
The pool area too was very clean, with nice, comfortable beds. It's a little on the small side and felt quite claustrophobic when all of the beds were fully occupied. There is very little shade around by the pool, one half of the pool had shade until around midday from the building overhang, and then that was it. The parasols were on the thin side, and didn't provide total shade like the dense fabric ones do.
Block 1 rooms seemed to be newer and of a better standard to Block 2 and Thomas Cook should not be selling rooms in the different blocks for the same price. The TO should make it very apparent that the rooms on the other side of the road are NOT of the same quality and standard, and their prices should reflect this.
We didn't receive the traditional Greek welcome that we have experienced and come to expect in our many years of Greek holidays. We arrived at the accommodation at 10 pm and were the only family to arrive at this time. We were directed by the transfer rep to go up the steps (to Block One) which we started to do. A woman came rushing out (the wife of Nikos we think), "You're not in here, go over there." Arms flapping, aggressive tone, no smile of welcome. About a minute later Nikos came out with a conciliatory smiling face, apologising as it was BBQ night. He showed us to our room in Block 2 and advised that if we needed anything his brother would be around between 6-7pm the next day. We couldn't have air conditioning until the next day, however, he said he would try and contact him now for us, as he could see we weren't very happy at the prospect of having to wait almost 24 hours for it. As expected his brother was busy and he would try and be around in the day, the next day. Luck was on our side and we finally organised the air conditioning and safe at around midday, after a sweaty, sleepless night.
The apartment was located to the left of the main entrance area and we experienced noise late at night from holidaymakers waiting for their transfer coach who were waiting in the main entrance area, combined then with the noise of the transfer coach pulling up and waiting directly outside our bedroom window with its engine running. Why the transfer coaches don't wait further up the road away from the rooms at this time of night I don't know! And why holidaymakers can't be more respectful of their noise, I don't know either.
At night time, the restaurant was very quiet, if not deserted most nights. I am sure this is in part to the inhospitable attitude of the wife. She never greeted, never smiled and even when serving lunchtime food to customers, didn't interact. I have never come across this type of behaviour before. Needless to say we didn't eat or drink here as the welcome at other establishments was much friendlier.
Now the positives - location - a short walk along a path takes you into the heart of the village and the beach area and harbour.
A lovely beach with lots of space and nice beds and substantial umbrellas.
All of the food in Mastichari is wonderful and we didn't have a bad meal anywhere. We like to eat traditional Greek and we experienced some of the best Greek food ever. Our top 3 tavernas were Mavros (on the beach), Hamama Restaurant (in the back street near the harbour) and Nostos (at the harbour).
Our overall favourite taverna was at Liminias beach at the Liminias Fish Taverna where we had a lunch to die for!
One of our best days was catching the 8 am ferry to Kalymnos, then taxi to Myrties and over to Telendos where we had another fantastic lunch at Babis taverna in the back street. A great day, and well worth doing.
The beaches on the south were fantastic; you can visit a different beach each day. The busiest was Paradise beach, a bit wedged in, but a great atmosphere nevertheless. None of the beaches were packed, seemed quiet for the time of year, with more Italian and German tourists than English at the places we visited.
Overall we did have a fantastic holiday, and we will probably visit Mastichari again in the future. We love the fact that it is a working Greek harbour and we experienced some true Greek hospitality. Thank you for the cake and dessert sampling at the Mavros taverna. Thank you to the lovely 2 Greek ladies who offered us freshly picked figs that they had picked. They were divine.
Room Tip: Insist on a room in Block One
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
