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Post by yorkshiremouth on May 28, 2017 10:18:57 GMT
Just a general 'over to you' request for information.
A bit of background - we've previously stopped at Achladies, and got the water taxi into town on a night around 7:00/7:30. Drink at Mythos Bar, wander round looking for somewhere to eat. Occasionally stayed in Achladies for the evening, but the options are fewer there (only a around 4 tavernas).
I hear there are more at Koukounaries, but how many more? How accessible are they from the Skiathos Palace? What's the restaurant in the Palace like? How accessible is town?
SWMBO thinks we'll spend more time in Kouk and only pop into town a couple of times. Is the what most people do?
Cheers.
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2017 13:28:41 GMT
If your kids don't have an aversion to the beach, SWMBO is most likely to be correct in guessing you'll spend most time in Koukounaries. The beach is lovely sand, the slope into the sea is gentle. As you already know, a lot of people stay there and there will be a plethora of tavernas to choose from.
I have no idea what the Skiathos Palace Hotel restaurant is like - with a name like that it's got to be decent! Access to and from town should be easy enough, with bus stop 22 right outside the door. It also seems from the satellite view that there's a track/path down to the beach also opposite the entrance.
The fast bus to town is from the farthest end of the beach and you'll deserve a medal if you can persuade the kids to walk past the glorious beach all the way to catching it.
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2017 13:36:40 GMT
Sorry "Fast Bus" above is the boat I told you about previously. Keep hold of the kids, it's a thrilling ride!
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Post by yorkshiremouth on May 28, 2017 13:41:34 GMT
Ah, Google Map, of course.
Just had a look, and I think the Palace Hotel is a little outside of the Koukounaries 'resort', most of which appears to be behind the lake - do I have that right?
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2017 13:43:43 GMT
Look at the map provided by Woody - click the link at the top of this (and every) page, a goldmine of stuff and things.
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2017 13:49:46 GMT
I am, of course, slightly lying about the map link because it's not here on my iPhone - I was on my Mac when I referred to it but now I'm on my way to finish cutting the hedge and looking out of the window I see I left the lid off the dalek yesterday.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on May 28, 2017 13:55:32 GMT
S'great. What a resource.
It does look like a bit of a trek to most of the tavernas from the hotel. Does anyone know if it's as far as it seems in real life?
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2017 15:48:13 GMT
Pure guesswork from looking at the scale on that map (because on my iPhone next to my fishes it's not the easiest to view) I'd guess that it is about 400 yards to the first one. Usain Bolt would do it in about 37 seconds so work it out by comparison with your slowest family member. :-)
Personally I'd take a packet of sandwiches to keep me going on the journey. Not true! I'd take the bus or stay in the hotel - more in keeping with my status as an Elderly!
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Post by katet on May 28, 2017 16:49:41 GMT
I think it's all a bit of a hike from the Palace - down to the beach & back up lots of steps again. There is a hotel bus to Kouk beach, but don't know times. If you haven't actually booked yet, have a look at the Mandraki Hotel & Hotel Panorama ~ both excellent & in Koukounaries.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on May 28, 2017 18:21:57 GMT
Pure guesswork from looking at the scale on that map (because on my iPhone next to my fishes it's not the easiest to view) I'd guess that it is about 400 yards to the first one. Usain Bolt would do it in about 37 seconds so work it out by comparison with your slowest family member. :-) That's around...80 minutes, then.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on May 28, 2017 18:24:21 GMT
I think it's all a bit of a hike from the Palace - down to the beach & back up lots of steps again. There is a hotel bus to Kouk beach, but don't know times. If you haven't actually booked yet, have a look at the Mandraki Hotel & Hotel Panorama ~ both excellent & in Koukounaries. Already booked, but I'm sure we'll be fine.
I've done a quick check on Google and it says around 16 minutes, though I bet that's from the bottom of the hill of the hotel.
We'll be fine. For comparison, check out Achladies beach back to Villa Anastasia. That's what we're used to, and that's a trek.
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Post by Tre on May 28, 2017 19:25:40 GMT
We stayed at Skiathos Palace 3 years ago. It is a " bit out" & admit towards the end of week 2 it did become a bind It's in a lovely elevated position, with easy access by one of the ground floor rooms, down steps, across the road to Maratha beach. (I've defo recently posted this on TA recently Lol) The Palace roof top restaurant was good for a one off. Not cheap but fabulous views. Can't even remember what the food was like! When I've more time I'll rake up my TA review & post further. The road down to Kouk is busy. However, the Palace offer a loop mini bus system throughout the day to the beach & back. From where they drop off it's a lovely walk across the the beach to the jetty for the water taxi into town Also the courtesy mini bus used to take you into town on an evening. We managed it once, but there were so many people waiting most of the time. Re Anastasia , Achladies, if you found those steps by Paradise bar an "easy" way up to the road, Skiathos Palace driveway will be a doddle! If you look on here at the section "Holiday feedback" I did a post for 2014 when staying at the Palace. Enjoy
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Post by Tre on May 29, 2017 9:24:56 GMT
Morning, just re visited my TA review from June 2014. I scored it 4 out of 5 "Could easily be fabulous" Re the restaurant, I remember now, they served our starters & before we'd picked up our cutlery they brought the main course! Lol. This was my tip about getting down to the road; "Easier route to the road is accessed by going down to the first floor & taking the path to the steps just past room 138. Easier access to Maratha Beach is not by the sign but by walking 50m or so in the direction of town & passing the "chain" barrier" The recent TA reviews are outstanding. A lot can change in 3 years. Per the map on here. it's not the distance from the Palace to the eateries in Kouk, it's the busy road with no pavements. At the end of the evening, get the bus back to 22 or maybe do a deal with a taxi, then they will take you right up the Palace Drive! A seriously good point; if you do go into town in the evening you are likely to get a seat on the bus, unlike us at bus stop 15! You will find your own way & will defintely have fun.
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Post by katet on May 29, 2017 9:47:39 GMT
I'd second Tre's advice about jumping on the bus into Koukounaries & back ~ much safer!
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Post by yorkshiremouth on May 29, 2017 10:33:32 GMT
Many thanks, everyone.
I'm really looking forward to my holiday, but just have a little bit of anxiety about the location of the Palace Hotel.
It's not as close as I'd like to Koukounaries (and the lack of a pavement doesn't impress me, given my youngest's lack of road sense), and town seems far less accessible than from Achladies. The nightly water taxi to Skiathos Town was a highlight of any day, and it looks like a non-starter as the last one leaves too early for us.
But I'm trying not to ruin the holiday by worrying about it before it's even arrived. I'm sure we'll have a smashing time.
How often and up to what time do the buses run? I think the Palace is bus stop 22, and the tavernas in Koukounaries is 24, is that right? How regular are buses between these and when's the last one?
Many thanks - invaluable information.
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