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Post by katet on May 27, 2023 16:11:21 GMT
Friday was dog shelter day. We’d booked a taxi there and planned to either walk back into Troulos or call another, depending on how hot it was. We walked three puppy brothers - Tom, Dick & Harry! They were so cute … but we successfully managed to avoid adopting any of them 🐶🐶🐶. We walked down to Megali Aselinos beach via a pretty forest track, which Robert thought would be perfect for doing on a mountain bike! 🫣 It was steep but ok. Got to the beach to find it still closed, so not the planned lunch stop. We rang for a taxi, which involved a half hour wait so walked back towards Troulos to meet her. On the way we came across a lady goatherd, her beautiful dog and some very glossy-looking goats. We arrived back in town absolutely starving after all the walking, so had a quick refuel stop at No Name and then an ice cream cone from Alaska🍦 😍
In the evening it was a visit to Koziakis street barbecue as we were rapidly running out of nights and kept promising Vasilias and his dad that we’d call in. I had lamb, Martha the gyros pork and Rob chose steak. Martha and I found our meat a little too salty - never known this before. Perhaps they’re trying out a new marinade 🤔. It was still really tasty, but we both left some.
We finished the evening in Totem and Gerani. Totem was packed, but we squeezed into the corner by the band. They were ok - but not as good as last year’s. I had my customary nightcap of hot chocolate with brandy at Gerani, Martha had peach iced tea and Robert had a pina colada, which tasted very good.
We got back to the Alkyon at about midnight and all slept like logs 😴😴😴
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Post by katet on May 27, 2023 16:14:13 GMT
Oh, and finally met Yorkshiremouth at breakfast today! We must have just missed him and the family at Koziakis last night - we did eat late.
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Post by katet on May 31, 2023 22:12:08 GMT
Am home now … mundane events like a delayed flight and trying to knock some semblance of order into my suddenly-overgrown garden took priority.
Back to Saturday, a walk after breakfast round to the tennis club (a very short walk, I must add) and a lovely welcome from lovely Yannis. Again, it was very quiet and we settled ourselves down in our favourite spot under an olive tree. Unfortunately it was also the favourite spot for several mosquitoes and they certainly made a meal of it. I think I have about 20 bites on my arms! To be fair, though, I’d got very blasé and hadn’t put any spray on at all; am still itchy now. We spent the day reading and chatting with a break for two of the delicious pizzas for lunch. The afternoon became very hot and a few more families arrived. It was still quieter than I’d expected for a Saturday. I wonder if the €5 per bed charge is the reason behind it? I would imagine that would put the local young people off going.
There was definitely an Italian food theme going on, as in the evening we ate at Pasta Pazza on the new port - spaghetti pomodoro for Martha, Rob chose tagliatelle with mushrooms & beef and I had tortellini with spinach & cheese. We had a beer, coke and rosé and a complimentary ouzo shot to finish and then Martha and Robert went back to the hotel and I went to do a spot of present shopping in town. When I got back to the Alkyon it was still quite early, so we had a few games of UNO before tuning in - Martha won.
Sunday morning consisted of a walk round town, ending up at the Bourtzi for lunch … a club sandwich, cheeseburger and orange cake (for me as I wasn’t very hungry!) Robert and I stopped at Meltemi cafe on the way back for a coffee/fruit tea and we played cards (I won!) then back to the hotel to pack. I met up with Yorkshiremouth and his lovely family for a drink in the hotel bar late afternoon, before they went off to Phedrocks to watch Leeds United get relegated 🫣.
In the evening we had booked a table at Paraxenos for our final meal: Martha and I shared battered courgettes with a dill cream dip, Rob had prawn saganaki. Martha chose vine leaves and tzatziki with pitta as her main, I had a delicious but huge kleftico and Robert chicken souvlaki. We had shots of the chocolate liqueur with the bill, which came to just over ninety euros. The service and food is so good there - it’s still #1 for our family. Afterwards, we managed a couple of excellent cocktails at Spira, behind the main church, then on to Gerani for our habitual nightcap of hot chocolate/brandy and cuddles with the now-huge ginger cat Oraious 😻.
Monday morning dawned grey and rainy - I’d been woken up at around 6 am by rumbling thunder and then heavy rain. We weren’t too concerned about the weather, as we had good flight times home (we thought!). Had breakfast, finished packing and checked out at 11 am. A taxi to the airport (10 euros) to find HA! a five and a half hour delay just to serve me right about booking such good flights 😵💫. We checked my case in (the kids had carry on only) and then caught the airport bus back to the terminus and went to Fresh for bonus and very long lunch in glorious sunshine! Finally arrived home at 11.15, so a bit irritated with Jet2 so have put a claim in to see where that gets me. It was their fault, by all accounts.
I’ll add a bit more about the hotel and anything else that occurs to me later on, but that’s all for now 😁
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Jun 1, 2023 6:43:09 GMT
I’m looking forward to your views on the Alkyon.
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Post by katet on Jun 2, 2023 15:09:42 GMT
I was hoping against hope that I would like the Alkyon as I’d booked it three times over this year and next but had recently read some less than favourable Facebook comments. Fortunately for me I loved it! I’ve not found anywhere yet that’s 100% perfect, but the Alkyon is pretty close in my opinion.
LOCATION: exceptional and possibly one of the biggest attractions for this hotel. The area is flat and easy for walking, unlike many other areas in town. The new port, with its many eateries and kiosks, is close to, plus the bus terminus. Car parking is also easy, with some spaces outside but the huge free municipal car park just down the lane at the side of the hotel. It’s only a short walk from there to the tennis club with its large pool and excellent food, or a stroll down to Milos (the windmill) or the end of the runway for some jet blasting. For plane spotters though - just look out of your hotel window! There are lots of lovely restaurants very close to hand, too. We didn’t try the hotel restaurant, Karnayo, but I heard very good reports.
ROOM: mine was excellent, as I’d booked us adjacent front sea view rooms. We were on the ground floor, which bothered me a little until I realised that it was perfect for a family to have these adjacent rooms as we could easily sit outside and chat (or play cards) without a balcony barrier. The hotel is approx 8-10 ft above the road level, so the lawned area outside the rooms isn’t really overlooked. The rooms aren’t huge but they are modern and airy with very comfy twin beds pushed together, a seating area, fridge, safe, hairdryer, towelling robes, loads of hanging and cupboard space and a good, very modern bathroom with a walk in shower. I had no problem with the screen as mine was floor to ceiling and more than half way across. My only complaint was the water pressure in the shower, which sometimes slowed to a dribble. I only remembered to tell the reception ladies about it on the last day, but they said they would get it fixed. I didn’t use my air con, but the ‘children’ did and said it was good. The only minus point was the smell coming from the bathroom floor drain. It disappeared after the cleaner’s morning visit, so I guess she’d put something down, but came back during the day and then slowly got stronger overnight. The kids’ room was the same - I guess it’s a Skiathos thing as I’ve noticed it in other hotels. Were your rooms ok smell-wise Dave and Steve?
FACILITIES: there is a good bar area inside and out and also a couple of lounges. There is also a central garden with a barbecue area. The swimming pool and surroundings are fairly small and I imagine that you have to get up quite early to nab your beds. We didn’t bother and had a beach day and two at the tennis club. The staff are delightful - fairly young and extremely helpful and polite. We especially liked Elsa at the bar (who made excellent coffees) and Sajid who was a very interesting and educated young man. The three receptionists were charming - always so cheerful and wanting to help. I did notice one of them taking an iron & ironing board to someone’s room, so the Facebook criticism is unfounded.
FOOD: we only had the hotel breakfasts, but they were perfectly adequate with lots of choice - cooked or continental. There was always a bit of a scrum around the (very slow) toaster so you had to time it carefully. The coffee wasn’t very palatable (according to my son) but I was very happy with the selection of tea on offer. The outdoor breakfast terrace over the water is absolutely stunning and I took too many photos from up there! There is room service availability 24 hrs, but we didn’t use it. The bar was open from 9am until 12.30 am and prices are very reasonable for an hotel!
So, as you can see, I was very pleased with the hotel … though we did pay quite a lot for those rooms. I’m sure the side sea view rooms are equally as nice. I’d booked the flights separately, some time before booking the rooms, but have done a package for September when it’s just me.
That’s about it for Part One … back again in 10 days!
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Jun 3, 2023 7:08:01 GMT
I think I could have written that myself.
Except to say we had no bathroom smell issue.
Are people really complaining? That’s astonishing.
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 341
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 3, 2023 12:23:56 GMT
As usual Kate, a lovely read. Looking forward to Part 2
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Post by katet on Jun 4, 2023 6:26:34 GMT
Thanks Yorkshiremouth and Amy 😊
Yes - complaints about asking for an iron and being told there wasn’t one - probably a miscommunication 🤷🏼♀️. Also that there are no kettles in the rooms! (A very British thing) I would probably have used one occasionally if it was provided, but if I was that desperate for a cuppa in my room I’d take my little travel kettle.
I’m really looking forward to going back in September now - although next up there’s the Akti & Water 🎉🎉🎉
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Post by katet on Jun 4, 2023 6:35:03 GMT
UPDATE ON DELAY:
I’m now totally unbothered by the five and a half hour delay as Jet2 have responded within 2 days to let me know that I will be refunded £350 per passenger within 7 days! Wow, am so impressed by them 😍
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Post by kevb on Jun 5, 2023 8:55:32 GMT
Great stuff Kate,look forward to reading part 2 in due course. Re Koziakis it took me years to finally eat there in 2021 and I found it pretty miserable tbh, just generic gyros type food but not as enjoyable as others I've had eg No name and under the pines. Couldn't see what folks raved about and won't be going back any time soon.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Jun 5, 2023 12:36:34 GMT
Great stuff Kate,look forward to reading part 2 in due course. Re Koziakis it took me years to finally eat there in 2021 and I found it pretty miserable tbh, just generic gyros type food but not as enjoyable as others I've had eg No name and under the pines. Couldn't see what folks raved about and won't be going back any time soon. This year Koziakis bettered Under the Pine Tree by quite some distance, for us.
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Post by kevb on Jun 5, 2023 14:45:48 GMT
Glad you had a good meal there. I vaguely recall some issues with the party, some people turning up late and worse for drink so it was an odd atmosphere anyway, nothing taverna could do about that, but the food wasn't up to much. Cheap fatty meat and uninspiring extras it just wasn't worth the asking price. If they have upped their game a bit then that's great.
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Post by balddave on Jun 5, 2023 15:22:09 GMT
Our go to grill place is Chicken George’s, remember 20+ years ago when the sons now running it were just babies. A typical family run business, simple but well cooked food, certainly value for money
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Post by katet on Jun 6, 2023 7:21:15 GMT
I agree, Kev. My son wanted to go, but I haven’t enjoyed it for at least the last three times I’ve eaten there. If you’re not a big meat eater, then it’s not that great. I do love the Koziakis family, though, but can’t see me eating there again any time soon.
I’ve not liked Under the Pines for the last few years, YM. I think it’s living on its past reputation, when it was really excellent. I’ve found the food uninspiring and the staff even more so. It used to be a really happy place to visit, too.
Dave - is Chicken George’s the same as Grill House George?
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Post by balddave on Jun 6, 2023 7:28:11 GMT
Yes Kate , up the slope
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