Bella Vista

I have been staying at this hotel for the past 20 years, multiple times a year. As part of that I have been a customer that did not know the family that run it, but also became a friend of the family that run it, as most repeat customers have.

For the 2024 season, and maybe more, the family who own the property have leased the business to another family. With this in mind I had no alarm bells about staying as usual.

Having the original family not there would be a massive change for me as they are a key part of my holiday, however as I previously said, I originally stayed here without knowing them and had wonderful holidays, and loved the Bella Vista. So this year I decided to have my holiday like it was my first time staying here.

I was aware and ready to get used to processes, menus, etc were likely to be different, but the key elements, the pool, the location, the relaxing holiday, the lovely rooms, the lovely grounds would all still be there for my holiday.

I'm writing this review also to address a few points raised in another review from July 24 as although we are all welcome to our own views and that is important, I think its important to keep customers updated and reassure those regular customers and new customers who have booked holidays here.

We arrived at 11pm and found our name on a notice on the gate as usual, informing us the room number, however no lights were on through the apartment areas which are filled with stairs and steps, I used my phone torch and already knew where the apartment number we needed was, so went straight there. If you were a new customer the lights being off would cause a big problem and a health and safety issue due to the steps etc. With all new businesses there will be teething problems, and I trust that these lights will be back on when it becomes dark moving forward and that the new managers simply haven't got into the swing of these lights going on.

Reception has been the Bar for the 20 years I've holidayed there. There is an old reception room downstairs, but its locked and says that reception is at the bar.

The room was one of the oldest rooms, and one I like for the rustic charm, wooden beams and stone floor. It was as always clean, a lovely view, lovely bright curtains and clean linen and towels. The linen was changed, the towels were changed regularly, the bins were emptied and the apartment was clean at all times. In the other July 24 review posted on here it refers to the room as being like a prison cell, i have stayed in all the types of rooms here, and this stay was the most basic room, which is what I requested for convenience, and there are certainly no rooms here that could be described as anything close to a prison cell. There are plenty of photos on here of the rooms and balconies, and also on the Bella Vista Website you can see all the room photos.

The aircon in every apartment is in the bedroom(as far as i recall), and is suitable for the whole apartment, we slept one person in the main bedroom and one in the other bed in the other room near the kitchen and the aircon was perfect and absolutely needed as the weather was so hot during our stay, around 37-42 degrees each day. if you shut the doors of the room the air con unit is in, then clearly the whole apartment would not cool the whole apartment.

The photo in the other July 24 review of the mould under the sink is something that is not acceptable, however I'm sure that if it was brought to the attention of the cleaners or staff, something would have been done. I would not expect the cleaners to be cleaning inside the kitchen cupboards during their general routine, so i doubt anyone knew it was there unless its been brought to their attention, in which case i would expect it to be rectified, however i would also expect this to have been checked prior to the room being prepared for the next guest, so i am surprised this was missed, this is something that should have been found by the cleaners when preparing the room. However it is not a reflection of the whole complex, its something in one room that has been missed and if cleanliness issues are found, its important management or the barman are informed so the cleaners can be spoken to.

The pool area was clean and neat sunbeds, however the pool was green and unusable as per the previous review. This was apparently due to the current temperatures and a build up of sun lotion, people are asked, and there are signs, to ask people to shower at the pool shower before using the pool. The pool was then cleaned and the photo attached is of the pool as of the 05/08/2024.

The menu has changed as have the hours, but there is still a selection of food, snacks, ice cream, drinks available.

My understanding is that of the new managers, the husband speaks English, most of the customers during our stay were German. The barman speaks multiple languages and if you needed to bring anything up, I just spoke to the barman who was brilliant and worked so hard doing so many different and extra jobs than previous years, or would have spoken to the male manager.

Learning another language and dealing with tourists from other countries is such a hard task. In my years coming here or to Crete for 32 years there have been Russian, French, Swedish, Dutch, English, German, polish etc staying as guests and in most hotels or businesses there would be someone that may speak English, French or German, but it is not expected or realistic for people to be able to speak all these languages. Of the current team, 2 cleaners, one barman, and three family/management members 2 spoke great English so i do not see communications as an issue.

The grounds were still filled with beautiful plants however the sprinklers were not on regularly, just now and then, and the plants could definitely do with more, it needs to be daily, as the plants and grounds are part of the charm and what makes the place so beautiful.

Any change in staff or management will naturally mean changes, and any new business will have teething problems.

The sun is out

The pool is clear

Food and drink is available

The view is amazing

The rooms are clean and kept clean

Teething problems will be dealt with if you bring them up and bring them to the managements or barmans attention.

I am counting down the days to the next visit in September.

The Bella Vista

9/Sept/24

Stayed at Bella Vista 2years ago.Been taken over again, the only staff from previous visit is Vangelis he works the bar. I feel so sorry for him having to deal with all the customer complaints at the moment would not suprise me if he leaves at end of season too, he's the only asset the hotel has got and trying his best to deal with it all. When the owners daughter Georgia works the bar the price of your drinks are never the same even when your order is the same, thankfully vangelis sorts it later. The pool is filthy and so murky you cant see the bottom its full of insects, and the edges have a tide mark of algae so i wouldn't risk getting in it. The snack bar isn't open,but every afternoon around 4oclock the owners sit in the snack bar area to eat their meal and have a glass of wine,something we'd loved to have done but sadly not this time, i found it quite rude of them to do it to be honest especially when the hotel advertises a snack bar open. The smell of their lunch wafting around the pool area sets stomachs a rumbling. Its 7euro in a taxi to the nearest supermarket as its in the village also the nearest restaurant and pub. We were aware of that when we booked and that was fine for us but like many here today sitting around the pool we like to have snacks at lunch time with a glass or two of ouzo. Even if you could walk the village for supplies in this heat it would wipe you out simply carrying it back. Walk the village and taxi back with the shopping so add the extra 7euros on to the bill We won't be returning i would have preferred to give a zero star but couldn't, the star I gave is for Vangelis

WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR! The new family currently in year two of running the hotel have pulled out all the stops and listened to the feedback from last year. a new range of snacks and toasties etc available all day from the bar, a new barman with so much experience, a spotless pool area, everywhere was spotlessly clean, friendly cleaners, friendly happy family, two new family members helping out. The brother Kostas and sister Sandy could not do enough for you, kind lovely helpful people that would do anything to make your stay happy.

The pool was the cleanest i have seen it in my 22 years of staying here, there was music on at the bar all day.

The rooms were spotless and all been given that extra little touch of glam like new cushions on beds etc plus great additions to the basics, such as new curtains, new shower curtains, soap in the showers, washing up liquid, sponge and tea towel provide.

it has been a beautiful week away and the family that are running it have worked SO hard to get things right and they have, its just perfect now.