We returned for 2 weeks after staying 1 week last year. Everything was perfect. Balos is so quiet & relaxed, even in high season. Princess Tia is great for chilling, quiet poolside books and the odd dip in the beautiful sea. You can also surf the web using the free wifi in the cafe beside the pool!

I cannot really add much to what has already been written about this hotel. It's clean, quiet and well managed with airy rooms with own kitchen, bathroom and balcony, a nice little pool, a bar and the beach right in front of you.

Balos is a very quiet spot on the Southern coast of Samos, so different from the more touristic places on the islands such as Pythagorion. Nevertheless, there are 4-5 restaurants in town that all seem good so in that regard you are not isolated. There is no mini-market though, but the bread man and the fruit man pass through the village in the morning (you'll hear the loudspeakers from their cars) and otherwise you can ask Tia for other items from the mini-market in nearby Koumeika (or you can walk up there yourself).

The beach is full of pretty stones but your feet tend to get a bit sore when you enter the sea. A pair of beach shoes for swimming is no bad idea.

We've
just returned from a 2 week holiday here in Balos on the island of
Samos,
we couldnt have asked for anything more... Tia the host was fantastic a
small family run hotel on the edge of the sea absoloutly the best place
we've been to.
The perfect place to totally wind down.
The hotel has 14 rooms so extremly private and quiet.
WE MET SOME REALLY GREAT PEOPLE!! but its the kind of place you dont
have to meet anyone if you don't want to.
Try Stellas a family run Cypriot restaurant absoloutly delicious... try
the stuffed corgette flowers and the beef or rabbit stifado yummy!!!!

Princess Tia Hotel in Balos is a beatuiful, relaxed and peaceful location, ideal for those who just want to get away from it all. We travelled through the tour company Cachet, who have a wonderful representative Dawn, who meets you off the plane and then comes to Tia's the following day to tell you all about the island which was very useful as this year we hired a car to explore for a few days. A real treat- Samos island has so much to offer, jaw-dropping views at every twist and turn with unspoilt smal towns and villiages. The driving is easy in Samos but better to plan your day not to be driving in the heat of the early afternoon. We had a good road map whch you can pick up for 3 Euros. Useful in identifying the type of roads by which to travel- some would only be suitable in a hire Jeep as gravel, narrow and steep. The small towns and local people and hospitality are unmissable and the scenary changes with every mile. Having siad this, my recommendation would be to only indulge in a hire car for a few days, as the haven and quiet life of Balos is why you would choose to stay at Tia's and you wont want to be away from it for too long.

The tavernas in Balos serve some of the tastiest food I have ever had, authentic greek cruisine with a good choice of meat and fish dishes, reasonably priced and all with a free sunset over the mountains.

My advice would be dont forget a good camera with a big memory card (for those endless landscapes and sunsets!), some sea shoes, a sufficent supply of reading material and bino's if you have an interest in wildlife or birds (we had several sightings of hawks and eagles when up in the moutainous parts of the island). For reference there is mobile phone reception, but that will be the last thing on your mind!

I hope to visit Princess Tia Hotel again, for all the reasons that I can relate to reading others reviews. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind. This is a retreat and as such - if you are looking for something more lively or bars then this isnt the place for you, but can be enjoyed elsewhere in 'resorts' in Samos.

A note that wont apply to most, but for those who have concerns like myself regarding access to a fridge to keep medication such as insulin in there is one in each room. You really are a long way from medical assistance of any kind so sufficent supplies are a must. However, to my fellow diabetics who may enjoy and gin and tonic just note that there is no such thing as "slimline" on this island! Also I found it was difficult to get a diet coke in a taverna, but Tia's does sell it in her bar and also it can bought in supermarkets. This is only a minor hiccup, but also to mention that both Tia and Dawn are exceptionally helpful should you need any advice about anything.