Amalia Apartments

Koukounaries is gem of Skiathos. Beaches very good, especially Little and Big Bananna, although not easy to reach. Food choice is very good with many good and cheap restuarants. Skiathos town lively but not to much. Good bars and a few bars/clubs. Islanders very friendly, but it is Greece and would you expect any thing else. Some very good food to be found in some of the small back streets and not overly priced.
We return either May or September most years. Transfer times excllent, longest time 25 mins. Good local bus service runs from 0700 to 2400hrs 3 euros.

We've been to Amalia Studios twice, once in 2005 and once in 2006, we have several other regular holidays in Greece that we like to go on and I can safely say that this is another place that we'll keep going back to, when we get the chance!
Adonis and Manolis are the brothers who do most of the running of the apartments along with their partners. They are spotlessly clean and the pool and poolside bar area are also well maintained, the plumbing and electrics aren't up to much but then they never are in Greece, they work most of the time though!
Adonis and Manolis seem to work 26 hours a day during the summer between the apartments and the village butchers (which they also run) but they always manage to keep a smile on their faces.
The resort is fantastic and I liked Psarapoulos Restaurant particularly, it has great food, excellent staff, and fantastic views. I've already booked our holiday for July / August but maybe if I can get some time off work in September.

We have just returned from Amalia apartments. Overall the apartments are adequate. But if you don't drink and don't hang around bars then give this place a miss. Music played loud all day and well into the night (you cant hide behind the windows it still penetrates!). Dog barks occasionally and a cockerel crows from 4am until about 8am (just as you start to sleep when the music ends).
This is not for anyone with walking difficulties and even though the restaurants are close by the return journey in the dark is hazardous due to unmade track and ink black darkness. The apartments need a face lift, but that's the down side - the upside is that this resort is really beautiful, the food is good and everything is reasonable.
Transport by bus excellent (every 20 mins). We went in the middle of September it rained just once, but boy it rained!! Do take a plastic mac in case! Don't do boat trips through the reps its too packed on board and expensive. Just turn up at the port and choose the smaller less busier boats (they do the same but much cheaper and more comfortable).
The only beach worth visiting is Lalaria the rest aren't as good as your own. Near by Banana is okay but its a trip wasted unless you are naturist. If you need cash you have to go into town. Air conditioning at the apartments is about 50 euros a week! They also have safes in the room.
Next door is another hotel. The pool is good and better then your own and the food delicious! They are so friendly. If need to save money on food and drinks on the beach just go in the supermarkets and make everything up before you start out. There are dolphins around but best fun is to take bread with you and scuba dive by the shore, the fish are like pigeons they amass around you from nowhere some of the fish can be up to a foot and a half!
You wont be disappointed with Koukounaris but you maybe with these apartments.

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from the Amalia Apartments where we spent 2 brilliant weeks. The accommodation suited us just fine. The children really enjoyed sleeping on the mezzanine and it was luxury to have air conditioning! Television was available but we managed without it.
George and Otis couldn't have been more helpful and we spent many a pleasant evening around the bar area. The children were kept entertained by making new friends as the Amalia seems a perfect complex for families.
Bella the dog is gorgeous and no trouble at all. She occasionally barks at the birds who she thinks are going to steal her bones!
Quiz night should not be missed but be prepared to get wet!
All in all it is one of the best holidays we have had and we shall definitely be returning next year.

Just returned from a fabulous stay at the Amalia Apartments, Koukounaries.
We are a well traveled family group of 9 - ages from 2 years to 65 years! Resort and Accommodation suited us all. The Amalia apartments are well appointed in beautiful gardens. We were welcomed by George - who can't do enough to make your stay comfortable and fun.
The pool is the best we have been to in Greece, Apartments are very well equipped (ours all had kettles and sandwich toasters - pretty amazing for Greek apartments!)- if anything is missing just ask and it will be there within minutes. The bar was just right for us - music everyday and a quiz or two - but in no way did this interfere with our sleep! Luckily George has air conditioning and sturdy shutters on his rooms, so if you don’t want to join in its no problem!
We will definitely be returning ASAP and we all recommend the Amalia unreservedly.
You will need a torch for night time returns - but relax and enjoy the beautiful walk through the pine forest (it is also nice and flat).
Please read the reviews from Tour Operators - they were all very accurate and honest. Many of the personal reviews I read seemed to be quite biased.
Koukounaries beach (10 - 15 min walk) was also much better than most of the reviews I have read suggested. The sand is very clean (thanks to the constant attention of the bed attendants), sea is crystal clear and slopes gently - perfect for old/young/and non-swimmers. Yes, it is a busy beach, but it’s so large and the beds are well spaced out you don't notice it at all.
Lots of other beaches are easily accessible from the Amalia, food in Koukounaries is good - George will happily keep you up to date on the best places to dine. Our favorite was Illias Orchard (also known as the "Runway"), we went there 11 nights out of 14 - every dish was delicious!

The apartment was spotless and we had a great location. We hired a scooter and able to see the whole island.
George who owns the apartments is extremely helpful and nothing is too much trouble.
Bella the complex dog is great. She is friendly and being 15 years old only comes round in the evening when it is cool.
The best beach we found was Mantaki beach which was quiet and sandy. It is about 20 mins walk from the apartments.
We visited Skiathos dog sanctuary twice and took the same 2 dogs out which made a change and made us get up in the morning. All in all an excellent relaxing holiday.

Me and my family (there is usually about 12 of us, sometimes more) have been going to Skiathos for 7 years now, we absolutely love it :D
I love staying with George he is a great guy he always looks after you on your visit, the beer is the cheapest on the whole island.
The complaint about the music is unfounded it gets turned down at 9pm and earlier when flights have came in so all new arrivals get a good nights rest.
Greek night is fabulous George and his family prepare Greek meatballs and Greek wine free, there is lots of dancing and smashing plates it’s so much fun. The closest beach is about ten minuets walk away.
The pool is great too a bit cold but that’s a good thing when you have been baking in the sun all day, also most of the time its empty so you can get a good swim in before all the children get back from the beach. It’s also cleaned everyday.
The older apartments in front of the bar do need some basic repair work but they are perfectly clean and cozy to stay in.
The newer apartments are cozy and clean too. George now has TV in rooms to which you can pay to view at the bar, also air conditioning.

The hotel was spotless & the staff were friendly & polite specially George, there was no food at the bar but there was a very good take-away menu with more than 45 things to choose from which was very handy when we were spending the day by the pool.
Our favorite restaurant was "the village" and "ouzeri ilias" at every meal we had there, there was a wide variety of choices, some of it was cooked in front of you. And the worst restaurants were "Myrtia" (next door -very unfriendly personnel there) and Stamelos taverna.
Our room was just like the picture in the brochure, the air con is a God send as it was hot, the maid Romina was a star n did an excellent job and if you give her 20euros she'll baby sit at your room from 20:00 till 24:00 we couldn't fault her. The prices of the drinks in the George's bar are " the Best prices in the island!" as George say bar and is true we've checked and he's is about 35% cheaper than all the other bars in the resort and about 65% cheaper than Skiathos town ! -We are not joking.
The best were Koukounaries, Banana and Ilias beach. If you go to Skiathos town for dinner don't miss Karnagio best food in town and go to The "no name fast food" and ask for "a Gyros with everything" - trust me on that is fantastic!
We are going back next year and know we will not be disappointed with the hotel, George, food, beaches or the people.

Excellent place great beaches, very friendly people definitely would like to go back. Very clean studios lively pool area great quiz nights and karaoke I would recommend it for single parents like my self. My boy was all day by the pool table and I was at a sun bed reading my book and watch him at the same time want more can you want?
Don't miss the trip around the island for Koukounaries port - you can see the 68 beaches of the island in a day with only 18 euros!
You must ask George for a Screaming Orgasm- it's a drink!!!
Restaurants golden beach and the big bad wolf I thought they were the best ones.

Been this rural heaven for the last 6 years apartments are basic but hey this is Greece ! Amongst the pine trees beach is 15 mins walk steep hill or across the field access at bus stop. bus to town every 20 mins.
Go the airport watch planes land above your head. George at apartments is a friend to all cheap drinks and conversations take a bbq bag and have a bbq! Walk to second store it's cheaper and friendlier than 1st. Eat at Willys or village don’t eat at wooden shack! Going back in September cant wait older kids may be bored here my kids are 18, 15 & 7, they love it its safe and I don’t feel the need to have to lock my door at night peace.