Emerald Apartments

2 readers found this review helpful

I booked this holiday as it was a bargain. To my amazement it turned out to be the one of the best holidays we have had. Stunning location on top of the hill with breath taking views across the bay.
Yes there is a walk up the hill whish is why you get the most beutiful scenery. Not recommended for people with poor fitness.
The walk up the hill is well worth it for the views and the very friendly host that is Costas.
Apartments are very simple but immaculate.
Costas cannot do enough to help and advise and make you feel at home. The drinks kept flowing for the whole week and went out of the way to arrange a birthday cake and party for my partner. We met some lovely people and ate some amazing food.
Cant wait to go back!!

from start to finish this was a holiday from hell. first not in trianda but a small place called Kremasti. no hot water, not close to the beach, not close to any shops just a small paper shop, right on the flight path for the main airport so you think the plains are gonna land on you the noise is realy bad night and day, air conditioning cost £90 for two weeks, food was sooooo bad and very expensive. dont go there you have been warned.
scot. p.

2 readers found this review helpful

Stop moaning about the hill! My partner and I stayed here for a week and absoutely loved our stay. Yes, it's up a hill, and it is a steep hill, but it's really not that long. We used to walk up and down a couple of times a day - even in midday sun - and it really isn't a problem (unless of course your fitness level is below par). The hotel owner is wonderful and so friendly. We used to eat on our balcony where 'grandad' of the family would hand us fruits and vegetables straight from his garden - possibly the most delicious and fresh tomatoes I've ever tasted! We had many free drinks from the bar - and we rarely bought any there. The view from the swimming pool is to die for - it's gorgeous. You feel like you're floating on the sea. The restaurants on the beach below are great - we had a favourite where we ate most nights and the staff were very friendly. Most apartments have a sea view - and you've certainly got a sea view from the pool.
If you want a quiet holiday, this is the one to go for - don't expect any night life and the lack of tacky tourist attractions on the island mean the mass 'Brits' + 2 screaming kids avoid this place - heaven! A truly relaxing holiday. If you've got a normal fitness level, ignore the comments about the hill. If you're overweight or unfit then it's a good way to start getting healthier!

14 readers found this review helpful

We stayed at the Smaragdi II for two weeks in Aug 07. My partner and I had one room and his 12 year old son had a room next door.
The room had everything you needed. The shower was good, but in typical greek style there is no shower curtain so everything in the bathroom gets soaked every time the shower is used (had a couple of mishaps with the loo rolls!).
The kitchen area is tiny, but you have the basics -a fridge and kettle. We didn't use the mini 2 hotplates. We were on the bottom floor of the studios. From the entrance you have to go down a level to reach these rooms as it is built on the hill side.
I don't know whether there was more air movement on the upper floors, but we really suffered from the heat at night (no aircon and no fan in room). We ended up damping down our top sheets before retiring. The view from the terrace was lovely, right down over Golden Beach.
I must admit the hill up to the studios got to me after 2 weeks, it was a killer, but it made for a nice view and burnt some calories!
The studios are kept reasonably clean and the linen is changed regularly, certainly no problems with that.
The studios have use of the pool at the Emerald just across the road as they are owned by the same family. There are loungers and chairs and tables here, as well as the bar. Costas, one of the owners, runs the bar and his sister Villy was over from Athens for 3 weeks to help out while we were there.
Together with Sylvia, an English lady who has lived in Thassos for years, it was a really friendly place to pass the time. Costas' frappe coffees with a touch of Baileys are out of this world and I only discovered their Emerald cocktail at the end of the holiday, it was lovely.
We did find the bar hours to be a bit erratic - it was very disappointing to think after dinner that we would climb the hill and have a drink by the pool only to find they were closing or closed. There should either be a strict closing time or they should stay open as late as guests want to drink.
Upsides: The view, the bar, swimming pool, friendly staff/owners.
Downsides: The hill, the lack of fan/air con, varying bar hours.

Yes, there is a steep hill but if you're level of fitness is reasonable then it's not an issue. The Studios are indeed basic, but they are clean and comfortable.
What makes the Emerald special is the atmosphere! Costas is renowned as one of the best host's to be found anywhere. The warm atmosphere, amazing C.D collection and unrivalled variety of drinks makes the Emerald one of the most convivial spots to relax post-meal on the island.
You'll be grateful of the hill to burn off the nibbles Costas insists on refilling the bowls on the bar with!
I will be returning in 2007 with my wife & children- the youngest is only seven but we have no doubt that she will cope with the hill just fine.
If you want a plush, characterless hotel next to the beach, the up your budget accordingly and go to one.
If you want a friendly, relaxed convivial atmosphere on the cheap- with magnificent views, book the Emerald. Better still- leave it for us!

Why Costas the friendly owner cannot put on a 5 times a day mini bus service is a mystery to us. There are a few other properties with hillside locations in the resort who manage to offer this essential facility. (The majority of accommodations are on the flat area of the resort and you should bear this in mind if considering staying at Golden Beach). The Emerald Apartments are at the top of a long and steep hill and to say the climb back is onerous is an understatement.
Even to go to the nearest mini market you had to negotiate this hill. It certainly had a bearing on decreasing the enjoyment of our holiday. Our room was on the first floor and to get any advantage of the wonderful views you need a top floor room. The rooms themselves looked a little tired and were in need of upgrading to the twenty first century.
Golden Beach is a growing resort but still retains a traditional Greek atmosphere. The beach is the highlight here. We cannot recommend the Emerald Apartments for several reasons but mainly because of its position at the top if the dreaded hill.

If you want to come back from your holiday exhausted try staying at the Emerald Apartments. It is certainly located on the longest and steepest hill of any holiday accommodation we have stayed at.
To be honest it put a very dampened on our holiday. No mini bus was supplied by the apartments at any time to take you up and down the hill which you had to negotiate for everything including carrying food and water up from the nearest mini market. The rooms were average but you really need a top floor to take advantage of the wonderful scenery.
Beach life is what Golden Beach is about plus a long leisurely meal at one of the nice local tavernas.

There is no need to join a fitness club just book a holiday at the Emerald Apartments, the climb back up the long and torturous hotel is guaranteed to get you fit or kill you! We just survived but would never come back to this accommodation again because of its location.
The Krypton Factor could well do a programme here as one of its tests navigating this hill. The apartments themselves are adequate and average but try and avoid a ground floor room as views obscured by trees.
Golden Beach is a place to come and relax. Very much a beach holiday and for anyone wanting a peaceful holiday without fast food outlets and loads of music bars. You will not find either here.

Tour Operator: Managed to overbook the accommodation! Took 2 days (out of a 1 week holiday) to resolve and get to the Emerald.
Accommodation: Good, lovely pool and surrounding area/bar, room was larger than some in Greece. The hill might be a problem if you are unfit and or want to go down to the shops several times a day but if it’s a couple of times I found it no problem (at worst a taxi is apparently a couple of euros). There are 2 roads as you come out of Emerald turn left for the slightly longer but not as steep road, right is shorter/steeper.
Coastas and his family who run the Emerald are all very friendly and helpful and he will order you in take away pizza if you get too 'comfortable' at the bar to want to move! Watch his measures they are very generous and he makes a mean iced coffee with baileys cream liquor.
Golden Beach: Lovely beach, good places to eat, I ate in Sotiris most nights, superb food, service only got slow when they were totally full, but relax and look at the moon over the bay.
Beach itself suffers from wasps in September, but they go for the seaweed and not people / sticky cakes / fruit! so if you ignore them they are not a problem.
Car Hire : Lovely lady in Potos Car rental shop, good deals, good advice
Beaches further a field: Paradise is great (do not take a rental car down the track - park at top and walk) be aware standing on the beach looking to sea the part on the left (no umbrellas) is nudist area.
Overall: I shall return next year, which is unusual for me!

My fiancé & I were looking for a quiet, relaxed scenic place where we could unwind for 2 weeks. Emerald Apartments are basic but fantastic value for money especially as Costas the owner goes above and beyond anything you would expect. We had 2 stormy days early on, every other day was boiling. The sea was beautiful and clear.
Golden Beach could do with being cleaned on a daily basis to clear the cigarette butts etc that would make the beach perfect in my opinion. This holiday was perfect for us as young couple who wanted no noise, clubs, lager louts. The ferry journey over is lovely - approx. 45 mins I think I enjoyed it. Watch out for wasps and mozzies in the evening.
Roads are safe with regard to other drivers - next to none but the roads them selves have hairpin bends so watch out. All in all - fantastic!