Golden Odyssey

Place was a dump, arrived around 11 at night to a rude receptionist. Exhausted afted travelling all day, got to a dingy dark room. Not a great start to a holiday. Got the room changed the next day to a room overlooking the main pool, still not the best but better than the initial room. Drinks served in a tiny plastic cup, food was repetitive and the restaurant couldn't cop with the amount of guests. Entertainment was a joke, hotel is stuck in the middle of nowhere. Wouldn't go back if it was free.

Location: A little isolated but Kolymbia walkable in 20 minutes if you’re fit and healthy. There are also reasonably priced electric scooter and bikes for hire everywhere! Atmosphere: Generally, a family atmosphere. Kids seemed happy with what was on offer with different pools and slides. Rooms: We were given room 145 which didn’t appear on any of the hotel direction signs. The receptionist took us there. It was a huge room, on its own, with its own staircase, above the bar. Probably 3 x the size of other rooms with walk-in wardrobe, corner bath, shower, toilet, settee, fridge, 2 TV’s and a large balcony. We were lucky. The room was clean, modern and comfortable enough but some fixtures and fittings (cupboard doors etc.) could do with hinges tightening etc. The shower could do with replacing but worked ok enough for us to use it. Food: I’m pretty funny with food because of food poisoning previously at a different Greek hotel but it was always pretty fresh, hot, with no flies buzzing around and kept well stocked up. There was a reasonable selection but it did seem a bit repetitive. We used to pool snack bar for lunch which was the same every day. Burgers, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, chips and onion rings etc. Pools: The big pool was a bit cloudy when we arrived. There was also a bit of a drain smell in one corner of the pool area. A few days in, a child soiled in the pool. It was closed immediately and announced over the loud speaker but not rooed off and no signage. As a result, some people returned from day trips and had no idea, diving into a pool with a turd floating around. The next day, the pool was re-opened and noticeably clearer. The smaller pools seemed clearer but there were no organised activities at these pools. The kids loved the water slides and they kept them entertained for large parts of the day. Staff: On arrival late the receptionist wasn’t rude, but he seemed very abrupt and matter-of -fact. Restaurant staff were always pleasant and polite. Cleaning staff work really hard and tend to do a good job. Behind the bar, Demitrius was probably star of the show. A lovely guy who remembers names, remembers families and sees that everyone is happy. Would I go back? We never go to the same place twice, but if we did, maybe. There are clearly things that could be improved in terms of modernisation, facilities and entertainment but we had a good holiday, no huge complaints, wer were comfortable, we were well looked after, well fed and well watered. You get what you pay for and Greece in general does seem to be a little behind your usual Spanish / Canaries / Balearic resorts if that is what you are used to.

We paid for all inclusive to stay here, but were shocked we went to the main bar when we arrived and was told we had to pay for our drinks after 11oclock, then was told we had to pay a further £25 euros to use the safe which was in our room. Our rooms were very clean although the cleaner still comes into your room even with a "do not disturb" notice on your door.

The first night at dinner was lovely although not a great choice, but omg it never changed, it was the same food every night after that, just wasn't much to choose from and seeing the same every night we actually ate out for something different rather than chips, salad, pizza, the only things that we're different every night was the desserts,
The all inclusive drinks we're diabolical, little plastic cups that after 2 mouthfuls we're gone, even in the evening at the main bar you got little disposable cups, cocktails not until 5, ice creams for the kids only from 2.30 to 5, There were 5 pools which all baring one was very clean, the best one was in front of the water slides which was so much fun especially for the kids, the kids spash pool was great fun for the little ones but the pool nearest the snack bar was like greeny colour, The staff were very friendly and always had a smile.