Post by scatts on Sept 27, 2007 13:45:45 GMT -7
We've recently returned from a two week vacation on this island. I'll write more later but for the time being there is a growing gallery of photos here - www.pbase.com/scatts/travelthassos
and a review of the hotel is below:
ALEXANDRA BEACH HOTEL & SPA, THASSOS, GREECE
We went via Itaka travel from Warsaw, Poland. Itaka did a good job of getting us there and back.
GOOD POINTS
Well situated between two (once upon a time) cute fishing villages, Potos & Pefkari, both about 10-15 minutes walk from the hotel. These make for a good breaks from the hotel for just a walk or lunch.
Room (212) was big enough for our family (2 adults and 1 four yr old), always clean and with ample storage space. This room has a good terrace with pleasant aspect onto one of the well landscaped walkways between the "blocks". Many of what we believe are "superior rooms" were in the rear (possibly newer) blocks and the views of many of those could be of the car park or main entrance road. Our neighbours moved from a "superior room" to our block because it was a better situation. At the very front, facing the sea, are some "suites" with private pools. They looked good from the outside.
Helpful reception staff, good cleaners, reasonable pool-bar staff.
Hotel is well laid out with good pool and bar areas overlooking the sea, good easy access to the beach and around the grounds.
We had absolutely no issues with sunbeds, or anything like that, but then we were there at the end of the season. I can imagine it might be more difficult mid-season. Pool was always clean and tidy.
Most likely this is the best hotel on the island.
Weather was excellent considering how late we went. Of the two weeks we only had 1.5 days of cloud or rain, the rest was blue sky and sunshine. Temperatures were lower than August (between 24-28) but that suited us. Could be slightly chilly in the evenings if there was a wind.
Journey was not as a bad as expected and in fact the ferry added to the experience. Bags were left on the coach from airport to hotel entrance.
We rented a car from SMART via the hotel reception. It worked very well, no issues, reasonable prices. about 90 Euro for three days.
NOT SO GOOD
Not a fault of the hotel but Thassos really is a small place and quite undeveloped (in a boring sort of way). If you never want to leave the hotel or local beaches that's fine but if you want to get out and do something it's a bit of a let-down. Other guests compensated by spending days taking 4x4s up the mountains to see more goats and bee-houses but we stuck to a normal car and two days was more than enough to see everything there is to see. Forget about shopping other than for tacky island gifts.
Wasps. Or bees. Whatever they were, they were a royal pain in the ---, everywhere you go and every time you eat. Very happy to leave them behind.
Hotel food and restaurant service was not, in my opinion, good enough. Perhaps I'm not used to package tour food but we ended up eating fresh fish in the villages at around 4 and pretty much ignoring the hotel food. Many other guests thought the food was fine. Depends what you're used to I suppose. Lunchtime options in the hotel were limited. The snack-bar by the pool closed after our first week and the Taverna by the beach became known for high prices and the same bad food and service as the main restaurant. Toasted sandwiches from the pool bar were okay if you like ham & cheese.
Entertainment. What entertainment? One "Greek evening" a week and that was it. Very poor effort. The lady who was there to look after children did a good job with our girl and deserves a mention. She stopped work a few days before we left. There was one other concert organised while we were there of some (presumably world famous by the amount of buggering around and speeches) Greek singers. However, this appeared to have been organised for local people, the President of Thassos and such-like, and not for hotel guests.
The local beach was not very sandy and not as clean as I'd like. Add to that the deadly black sea urchins as you wade out into the ocean (requiring you to wear hard soled shoes or risk a lot of pain) and we spent nearly all of our time by the pool. There are however many lovely coves around the island if you want to rent a car the whole holiday. The hotel does have a jetty that goes out beyond the urchins and that was useful.
I don't like all the extra charges. 1 Euro a day for a towel, 30 Euro for a key to the safe for two weeks, 5 Euro for 2 hours internet use (only one computer, must be impossible during high season).
The Spa is nice to have available but is not perhaps as good as you might be used to. It's not bad, just don't expect it to be world class.
Despite these bad points, the overall assessment is "Above average". Being late in the season had both good points and bad points. We shan't be visiting Thassos again but that's not the fault of the Alexandra Beach. However, if I were the manager, I'd fire the entire (with about 2 exceptions) restaurant and kitchen staff and organise some entertainment for the hotel guests. :-)
and a review of the hotel is below:
ALEXANDRA BEACH HOTEL & SPA, THASSOS, GREECE
We went via Itaka travel from Warsaw, Poland. Itaka did a good job of getting us there and back.
GOOD POINTS
Well situated between two (once upon a time) cute fishing villages, Potos & Pefkari, both about 10-15 minutes walk from the hotel. These make for a good breaks from the hotel for just a walk or lunch.
Room (212) was big enough for our family (2 adults and 1 four yr old), always clean and with ample storage space. This room has a good terrace with pleasant aspect onto one of the well landscaped walkways between the "blocks". Many of what we believe are "superior rooms" were in the rear (possibly newer) blocks and the views of many of those could be of the car park or main entrance road. Our neighbours moved from a "superior room" to our block because it was a better situation. At the very front, facing the sea, are some "suites" with private pools. They looked good from the outside.
Helpful reception staff, good cleaners, reasonable pool-bar staff.
Hotel is well laid out with good pool and bar areas overlooking the sea, good easy access to the beach and around the grounds.
We had absolutely no issues with sunbeds, or anything like that, but then we were there at the end of the season. I can imagine it might be more difficult mid-season. Pool was always clean and tidy.
Most likely this is the best hotel on the island.
Weather was excellent considering how late we went. Of the two weeks we only had 1.5 days of cloud or rain, the rest was blue sky and sunshine. Temperatures were lower than August (between 24-28) but that suited us. Could be slightly chilly in the evenings if there was a wind.
Journey was not as a bad as expected and in fact the ferry added to the experience. Bags were left on the coach from airport to hotel entrance.
We rented a car from SMART via the hotel reception. It worked very well, no issues, reasonable prices. about 90 Euro for three days.
NOT SO GOOD
Not a fault of the hotel but Thassos really is a small place and quite undeveloped (in a boring sort of way). If you never want to leave the hotel or local beaches that's fine but if you want to get out and do something it's a bit of a let-down. Other guests compensated by spending days taking 4x4s up the mountains to see more goats and bee-houses but we stuck to a normal car and two days was more than enough to see everything there is to see. Forget about shopping other than for tacky island gifts.
Wasps. Or bees. Whatever they were, they were a royal pain in the ---, everywhere you go and every time you eat. Very happy to leave them behind.
Hotel food and restaurant service was not, in my opinion, good enough. Perhaps I'm not used to package tour food but we ended up eating fresh fish in the villages at around 4 and pretty much ignoring the hotel food. Many other guests thought the food was fine. Depends what you're used to I suppose. Lunchtime options in the hotel were limited. The snack-bar by the pool closed after our first week and the Taverna by the beach became known for high prices and the same bad food and service as the main restaurant. Toasted sandwiches from the pool bar were okay if you like ham & cheese.
Entertainment. What entertainment? One "Greek evening" a week and that was it. Very poor effort. The lady who was there to look after children did a good job with our girl and deserves a mention. She stopped work a few days before we left. There was one other concert organised while we were there of some (presumably world famous by the amount of buggering around and speeches) Greek singers. However, this appeared to have been organised for local people, the President of Thassos and such-like, and not for hotel guests.
The local beach was not very sandy and not as clean as I'd like. Add to that the deadly black sea urchins as you wade out into the ocean (requiring you to wear hard soled shoes or risk a lot of pain) and we spent nearly all of our time by the pool. There are however many lovely coves around the island if you want to rent a car the whole holiday. The hotel does have a jetty that goes out beyond the urchins and that was useful.
I don't like all the extra charges. 1 Euro a day for a towel, 30 Euro for a key to the safe for two weeks, 5 Euro for 2 hours internet use (only one computer, must be impossible during high season).
The Spa is nice to have available but is not perhaps as good as you might be used to. It's not bad, just don't expect it to be world class.
Despite these bad points, the overall assessment is "Above average". Being late in the season had both good points and bad points. We shan't be visiting Thassos again but that's not the fault of the Alexandra Beach. However, if I were the manager, I'd fire the entire (with about 2 exceptions) restaurant and kitchen staff and organise some entertainment for the hotel guests. :-)
;D
