Stayed in this hotel for two weeks in August 2011 and cant fault the hotel at all. The family who own the hotel are on the go 24 hrs a day to ensure all guests have a pleasant stay, very friendly too. We arrived in the middle of the night and check in was quick, we were in our room within 5 mins of getting off the bus. Rooms are kept spotlessly clean, the owner and her sister do the cleaning from very early in the morning right through to late afternoon every day - clean sheets, fresh towels, floors mopped, bathrooms cleaned etc. We were in the bed and breakfast block, breakfast was a basic continental selection which suited us fine as not big eaters so early in the morning, and any mornings we were peckish later there was plenty to choose from at the pool bar for just a few euros! Pool area is great, gets the sun all day but theres shade if you need it - 2 brothers, Kostas and Minas, run the pool bar between them and for a smaller hotel we were surprised at the high quality of food and drink served from here. The guys really do put 100% effort in, food is excellent and very fresh (highly recommend the "bacon butties" at breakfast) and the area is kept spotlessly clean. Pool is a good size, you see the boys out cleaning the pool every night too. While we were there the family out on a greek barbeque on the mon evening - I believe they only do this in the busier weeks but if this is advertised while you are there do put your name down for it. Excellent value for money, authentic greek food and fresh salads, greek music and dancing, and it gives you a chance to get to know, the family who are all so hard at work every day, they really are lovley people! We didnt know what to expect from it at first as we had only been there a few days but it was great fun and a brilliant night!
The island of Kos itself is beautiful. Its about a 20 min walk in to the centre of Kos from the hotel for bars and restaurants, or you can walk 5 mins down on to the main road and get a bus which takes you in to town. Once on the main road the centre is down to the left, but if you walk 5 mins up to the right there are a few tavernas on the beach which are well worth a visit too - these specialise in fresh fish dishes but theres something for everyone menus are great! The main square is buzzing at night with street performers and music, its a great atmosphere and we enjoyed sitting down for a drink in one of the bars facing out on to the square to watch the world go by! We did the day trip to turkey which is worth the money for a visit if your keen to see Bodrum, if you've been already its probably not worth it - the bargains over there aren't what they used to be. You can hire bicycles or mopeds on site at the hotel which are very reasonably priced, we did both to explore some more of the island - plenty to see, if you aren't sure where you are going or need help with anything ask the owner here or any of the family at the hotel!
If your British and make it down past dolphin square, look out for a pub called the Sunburnt Arms on the beach front - excellent little pub! Owners are very friendly and the pub grub is excellent, very homely! My boyfriend appreciated the owners efforts to get the scottish football games on 1 of the screens for him, which were hard to come by elsewhere. And they have their own private bit of the beach where you can find a sunbathing spot rather than sit inside!
All in all would highly recommend Kos for a holiday, we barely saw a cloud the whole time we were there weather was fab, food was excellent no matter where we went and plenty of bars to suit everyone!
- Iris Hotel Psalidi
