Kairaba Sandy Villas

Visited Ermis restaurant as part of our accommodation in Sandy Beach Resort and the food has been absolutely fantastic. The service is excellent always making sure the guests feel good and well treated. Each meal was well prepared and delivered with a smile. Special thank you to Sofia for her kindness and friendly attitude.

Our experience at Sandy Villas owned by a company called Rizos Resorts was unfortunately far below the standard we expected from an all inclusive resort.

Although the resort is advertised as all-inclusive, several additional charges made the package feel considerably less inclusive than reasonably expected. It was also not the luxury experience you would expect from a resort with such a premium image and price point.

Guests are required to pay extra for items such as ice creams, including treats that many guests would normally expect to be included in an all-inclusive package, as well as certain branded or premium non-alcoholic drinks. (More revenue for Rizos Resorts)

One of the first things we noticed was the attitude of some of the reception staff. They did not appear particularly welcoming or happy to assist, which created a poor first impression. Reception is the first point of contact for guests, and the level of customer service we experienced was disappointing.

I also asked reception for an iron and ironing board and was told that the resort does not provide them because of health and safety concerns. I found this explanation very difficult to understand, particularly for a resort of this standard. If there are genuine safety concerns, I would have expected the hotel to offer an alternative solution, such as providing an iron under controlled conditions or offering an ironing service.

It is not simply about wanting an iron. It is about the overall attitude towards guests and the willingness to find reasonable solutions to straightforward requests.

For a resort promoted as 5-star, I would expect a much higher level of attention to guest service, professionalism and hospitality. Unfortunately, our experience did not reflect that standard Rizos Resorts / Sandy Villas

There are certainly positive aspects to the resort, including the setting and facilities, but good facilities alone do not create a 5-star experience. Customer service is equally important, and this is an area where we felt Rizos Resorts / Sandy Villas fell short.

I hope management takes this feedback seriously, particularly regarding the attitude of reception staff and the way reasonable guest requests are handled. A more welcoming approach and a genuine willingness to assist would make a significant difference to the guest experience.

We were also surprised that there was a charge bicycle hire, a €5 charge for a child to ride on the train and other activities or services incurred additional charges.

We were also charged €3 for an iced slushy and there was also a €3 - €5 charge for non alcoholic beverages.

These costs quickly add up and are particularly disappointing given the overall price of the holiday and the premium image presented by the resort.

Accommodation

The interior of the villas looked outdated and was not as well maintained as we expected. We encountered broken cupboards, televisions that were not functioning and beds that creaked whenever we moved, which disrupted our sleep and detracted from the comfort and quality of the accommodation.

I asked for the batteries to be changed on the room safe as it didn’t work on the first day and am still currently waiting.

(Not very customer focused Rizos Resorts) The remote for the air conditioning unit was missing the part that stops the batteries continuously falling out.

The dated interior and maintenance issues were especially disappointing given the resort’s premium positioning.

Come on sandy villa’s management team, where is your attention to detail.

I was particularly impressed with the housekeeping staff. They were friendly, professional, attentive and took great pride in maintaining the villa to an excellent standard. Their hard work and attention to detail.

If only the management team for Rizos Resorts / Sandy Villas had the same work ethic.

Food

The food was another significant weakness. The buffet selection was often repetitive, with similar dishes appearing across several meals, and the choice of fresh, varied or more substantial options was limited.

Some dishes were lukewarm, while others appeared overcooked or lacked flavour. We also found the presentation and overall quality below what we expected from a resort of this standard.

That was certainly not chicken I tried

Not once did I see one of their culinary specialists checking the temperature of the food as it set out on the hot plates.

Meals were frequently underwhelming and, in our view, did not reflect the images or impression conveyed on the resort’s website.

Overall, the food was not at the level of quality or sophistication we would associate with a luxury resort.

Gordon Ramsay would have had a stroke seeing this food.

Very disappointing drinks selection

One of the biggest disappointments during our stay at Rizos Resorts was the quality of the drinks.

The coffee was absolutely terrible — weak, poor quality and, quite honestly, barely drinkable. Considering this is a resort where guests expect a reasonable standard, the quality of the coffee was particularly disappointing.

The soft drinks were no better. They tasted extremely cheap and lacked the quality you would expect from a resort of this standard.

For us, the drinks really let the overall experience down. Good-quality coffee and decent soft drinks are basic expectations when staying at a resort, and unfortunately Rizos Resorts fell well short in this area. This is something management should seriously consider improving quickly.

I was disappointed with the standard of cleanliness of the cups and glasses provided at Sandy Villas Resort by Rizos Resorts.

At breakfast, lunch and dinner, we repeatedly encountered cups and glasses that had visible pre-existing marks, stains and residue, indicating that they had not been properly cleaned before being presented to guests.

For a resort marketed as a 5-star all-inclusive property, this is simply not acceptable. Clean drinking glasses and cups should be a basic hygiene standard, particularly in restaurants serving guests throughout the day.

I would expect Rizos Resorts and the management at Sandy Villas to review their cleaning, washing and quality-control procedures to ensure that all crockery and glassware is properly inspected before being returned to service.

This issue significantly affected our dining experience and should not be overlooked.

Transport and accessibility

The staff frequently drive electric carts around the resort without sufficient care or consideration for guests, particularly those with mobility issues.

The carts are also very quiet and have no audible warning sound, making them difficult to hear as they approach.

This can be unsettling and potentially hazardous for pedestrians, especially older guests, children and anyone with limited mobility or awareness.

The establishment cannot provide an iron but can allow several persons to sit in an overcrowded golf cart with luggage to drive at excessive speeds were guests frequenting.

This is a health and safety issue which needs to be addressed immediately.

We believe the resort should ensure that these vehicles are driven more cautiously and fitted with suitable audible warning systems to improve guest safety.

Facilities and convenience

This makes Sandy Villas feel less self-contained and detracts from the premium, peaceful holiday experience we believed we had booked. The quieter atmosphere advertised comes with reduced convenience and fewer on-site choices.

As a result, the resort did not provide the level of luxury, convenience or exclusivity we expected.

Final verdict

Overall, Sandy Villas did not deliver the level of service, quality, luxury or inclusivity we expected for the price.

The additional charges for items such as ice creams, selected drinks, the €5 child train charge, the €3 for an iced slushy and bicycle hire, combined with the outdated villa interiors, poorly maintained accommodation, creaking beds, repetitive food, unsafe-feeling electric carts and dependence on the main resort, made the holiday feel considerably less premium and luxurious than advertised.

I had a wonderful experience at the spa and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the resort. From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly welcoming, professional and attentive, making us feel relaxed and well looked after.

There is a fantastic range of treatments available, with something to suit different ages and preferences. The professionalism and genuine hospitality of the staff really stood out and made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

A beautiful place to relax, unwind and enjoy some well-deserved time for yourself. I have no hesitation in recommending the spa it’s just a pity it’s in this resort.

This is not a resort for couples looking for a quite relaxed holiday.

We believe the resort’s marketing creates expectations that the actual experience does not consistently meet. In our view, it was not the luxury experience you would expect from a resort of this price and standard, and unfortunately, we would not choose to return.

I’ve no doubt that their marketing team are going to come back with a response stating that the food is sourced locally, fresh every day and prepared using the finest ingredients and prepared by the top culinary specialists.

They are also potentially going to advise that the amount of visitors they have outweigh the negative comments they receive about the establishment. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

They most likely are going to advise that they have taken all the comments onboard and appreciate the feedback and will action some of them when they have their daily management meeting. Nothing is going to change.

Looking forward to your response Rizos Resorts / Sandy Villas.

Lovely greek experience, staff was great and the food very nice. Also live music was a plus :)