Hotel Kordistos

We visited the Kordistos family run hotel for the first time in June/July of '07 following a recommendation from a work colleague that had been visiting the same hotel for a many number of years when i questioned as to the reason why he and his good lady returned year after year he simply stated the facts, which were:
the Kordistos family are warm and welcoming and make every effort to ensure that your stay at their home and on the beautiful island of Kos is one to remember, they certainly did that, he stated that the hotel was spotlessly clean, it was, he stated that the hotel was on the beach TRUE that the pool and surrounding area was well maintained, again true, he said the overiding factor was that Effi and Vasili and Joanna always have a smile and a kind word to greet the guests with again undinably true.
He also mentioned that the Greeks in and around the town were very polite and always welcoming and again this turned out to be TRUE.
We the Wiggins family have booked our flights leaving blighty in July 2009 for two weeks at the Kordistos hotel and i am sure we will find that same warm and friendly welcome on our arrival.

We have recently returned from the Kordistos Hotel after spending 2 weeks there.
The holiday was the best we have experienced yet, the family who run the hotel were so friendly and we soon became good friends with all of them. We also became very good friends with the chef too whom my husband had 'cooking' lessons with :P
The pool area was always clean and tidy, regularly cleaned every night/evening. The views of the beach were breathtaking, however the beach was slightly shingly. Sea water was so clear and we always managed to get a sunbed both on the beach and by the pool. For high season, this is good.
We could not really fault anything about the hotel. We had 2 rooms (one for myself and husband, one for children), we had a seaview and the children had a 'road view'. However; the children did not complain about road noise on any occasion, our view of the sea was breathtaking! We also had a fridge, air conditioning and a safe. We were slightly disappointed that we had to pay extra for the fridge as we were told by the agency (first choice) that it was included! However this had no impact on our holiday and we still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We ate almost every night in the hotels own restaurant, we were very impressed with the food. The breakfast was continental as stated in all brochures etc. It consisted of a fresh roll or baguette with fresh slices of ham and cheese, butter, jam and marmalade was also provided along with tea cofee and fruit juice. We also had a slice of cake each for breakfast (included) which was delicious and homemade by the hotel. If more food is required, they will cook a full-english for 5euros and bacon,egg and beans for around 2-3 euros. We tryed Hubs out over the road one night (for an evening meal) and i can say we were not at all impressed! It seemed as if all the waitor wanted was our money!!
We will DEFINATELY return to the hotel next year! The place is so safe, calm, relaxing and friendly! 10 OUT OF 10! Not to mention, the weather is amazing!
Whilst in Kos, we booked two trips through Askiplios Tours, located to the harbour of Kefalos. Their service is amazing, 10 out of 10 for both service and price! We booked to go to Turkey on a boat for the day and the volcanic island Nissyros! Both amazing trips!
We also hired out 2 quad bikes and a car through Manolis Car Hire on the main road. The prices are cheap, including insurance! Fantastic service. However do not book through Trust Tours! They are appaling, people who we became friends with on the holiday claimed their car vehicle broke down in the middle of a road, they called up Trust, and were stuck there for 5 Hours!!!!! We also spoke to another couple who were left stranded at the port as the coach had 'forgotton' to pick them up!
Overall we had a lovely holiday, enjoyed it! and will be returning july 09!

Returned from the hotel Kordistos on the 8th June and i would like to say that my husband and myself thoroughly enjoed our selves. Okay the breakfast was a fresh roll with butter and jam but there were provisions for a cooked breakfast or slices of cheese or ham. The rooms wre spotless (we had a side sea view) and we had plenty of hot water. We walked on the beach every day and really enjoyed it. We spoke to the family and made the effort to be friendly and they were really nice. At the end of the day you get what you pay for and this was only a 2star hotel but you make the best of things because you are on holidays. I would definately go back there and am planning to do so this year.

1 reader found this review helpful

The pool was really only good thing about this hotel, the rooms are less than basic we had a pool room and heard that the rooms first floor or above are ok, there was damp on the walls and the toilet wasnt working properly and we never once had hot water from the shower. The breakfast was awful so much so that we ate across the road n the Riverside cafe which was fab, the hotel tried to get us to have everything which they charge extra for, the firdge, air conditioning and safety deposit box. be warned that the safety deposit boxes are in reception but not behind the counter they are located in a public area so everyone can see you use them as they are stacked on top of each other like an old filing cabinet, so we took the chance and locked everything up in our suitcases knowing that the greeks are lovely friendly people that are not into stealing from each other. we did have a problem with the smoke alarm suddenly going off for no reason at 4am one morning and the reception isnt manned, we were running around all the neighbouring apartments had been woken and still nobody from the hotel came, it was another holiday maker that managed to switch it off. the location isnt too bad for this hotel with a bus stop just down the road and bars and tervanas around, it is right on the beach although the beach isnt as sandy as it looks, dont be fooled you cant walk on it bare foot, so good job we had a pool but you can use any pool in any bar along the strip all they ask is you buy a drink, i wouldnt stay at this hotel again its too basic but ok for a cheap holiday.

The pool was really only good thing about this hotel, the rooms are less than basic we had a pool room and heard that the rooms first floor or above are ok, there was damp on the walls and the toilet wasnt working properly and we never once had hot water from the shower. The breakfast was awful so much so that we ate across the road n the Riverside cafe which was fab, the hotel tried to get us to have everything which they charge extra for, the firdge, air conditioning and safety deposit box. be warned that the safety deposit boxes are in reception but not behind the counter they are located in a public area so everyone can see you use them as they are stacked on top of each other like an old filing cabinet, so we took the chance and locked everything up in our suitcases knowing that the greeks are lovely friendly people that are not into stealing from each other. the location isnt too bad for this hotel with a bus stop just down the road and bars and tervanas around, it is right on the beach although the beach isnt as sandy as it looks, dont be fooled you cant walk on it bare foot, so good job we had a pool but you can use any pool in any bar along the strip all they ask is you buy a drink, i wouldnt stay at this hotel again its too basic but ok for a cheap holiday.

We had a holiday at the Kordistos Hotel two years ago and had a fabulous time and we could not understand why other reports had been so poor.
However our experience this time was quite the reverse. We were allocated a small dinghy room which was not properly cleaned and suffered from noise.
The breakfast was abysmal and staff did not respond well when we asked to move rooms, shrugging their shoulders and saying what can we do, which was no way to treat a repeat client.
We fully endorse now other reports comments that say how much you enjoy your holiday at the Kordistos Hotel depends entirely on the room you are allocated. Some are first class many are really inferior.
Needless to say we will not be returning for a third time. The beach could do with a clean up as well. Once plus point was the food at the Argo Taverna.

We returned this morning from a lovely holiday in Kefalos, staying at Kordistos Hotel.
Having read some of the previous less positive reviews, we were a tad concerned at what we would find, but thankfully it was all we hoped for - a traditional Greek family run hotel, pleasant rooms, and beautiful swimming pool - and straight onto the beach.
The staff were very helpful and friendly; they loved it when we tried to speak Greek, and worked hard at making our stay enjoyable. We will be going back.

1 reader found this review helpful

I have read other comments with interest (and sometimes surprise!). This is the first time I have felt moved to comment on pages such as these.
During my service with the Royal Navy I have been fortunate to have travelled twice around the world, staying in various types of accommodation ranging from abysmal, flea ridden hovels to five star sheer luxuries.

My experiences have taught me one salient fact - You get what you pay for. If you are very lucky, you get more than you paid for.
I first visited Kefalos in 2005 following a spur of the moment visit to a travel agent with a request to 'find me somewhere warm and quiet for a week, I don't care where'. That 'somewhere' turned out to be the 2* Kordistos Hotel in Kefalos, on the island of Kos.

Travelling alone, I spent a week in this place where it seemed that the locals were mostly very friendly - to the point of inviting me into their homes on more than one occasion! (If you attempt to speak Greek most will happily spend all day trying to help you to pronounce the words correctly), and I made many friends among people who were only strangers when I arrived there.
I visited a couple of main towns on the island and a few of the neighbouring islands. Suffice to say that I was so impressed I immediately booked a second trip to the same place for two weeks the following year. I have never before (except for Rio!) been so determined to return to a place.
On my return (to the Hotel Kordistos, even the same room!) I was greeted as an old friend by Efe and Vasillis (please excuse my spelling!) and their staff, and immediately made to feel at home. I spent another enjoyable, faultless two weeks here and I recommend it to all who read this and note my comments.
As mentioned by others, the pool is relatively small (2*, remember)- but it is clean, only 40m from the sea, does the job very well and there are plenty of sun beds. The breakfast is a basic continental style (as clearly stated in the brochures) - but can be readily supplemented (as I do) on request.
For example, I often ordered a full English breakfast and was charged the princely sum of 2 Euros. Very well cooked, hardly breaking the bank and giving me an excellent start to my day following my customary morning swim in the Pool. The rooms are basic but comfortable (again, remember 2*) the view from the hotel across the bay is beautiful and nothing short of breathtaking - must be seen!

Locally, car and scooter and buggy hire is easily available and very reasonable. Trust Rental is good, but I personally recommend Katerina's - good service, very friendly and honest. There are many things to see and places to visit on this island and other adjacent islands, so a vehicle of any sort makes it all so much more accessible. The bars, restaurants and cafes are cheap and most very good.
Some have commented that they feel that the locals only seem concerned about making money. Well, I suppose that if I had only six months of the year to make my money, I would probably be a little concerned in that area too. It is their living after all, not a hobby and you will note that most work between 12 and 18 hour days during the tourist season. Hardly easy pickings.
The point I am making here I think, is that if you want 3, 4 or 5* hotel service, then simply don't book a 2* hotel for a holiday. Consider also that this is a very small island. Not mainland Greece, but a relatively remote island which, despite its small size, manages to cater for people from many countries and all walks of life - and does it very well too.
Personally, I would rather stay at this very friendly, family run Kordistos Hotel, which I found to have character and soul and was full of friendly people (from other countries, too), than at many of the luxurious but bland and soulless five star hotels I have experienced in the past. Perhaps it is simply my approach to others that make it good for me?
If you go simply expecting the 2* service you booked and paid for, then this hotel - and other 2* hotels and apartments in Kefalos - has the character and staff to make you feel like you are receiving service far above that standard. In my humble opinion it is well worth a visit (or two or three!).
I will be returning again just as soon as I can in 2007 and I can't wait! Hello to all the friends I made during my stay. I hope to see you all again sometime soon. In the meantime I wish you all a good life. Have a ball!

1 reader found this review helpful

How much you enjoy your holiday is an absolute lottery depending on which room you are given at the Kordistos hotel. 30% of the rooms are excellent, 30% of the rooms are average and 40% of the rooms (either for position or size) are unacceptable. We are sure this the reason for the range of markings from other reviewers.
We were given a room overlooking the main road which was a nightmare, traffic noise during the night and the dustcart collecting rubbish below our window at dawn each morning. We came back very tired through lack of sleep. Our experience was the owners were full of smiles but they were not prepared to take any action when we and other guests complained specially if you were English. The Dutch guests always were given priority treatment. We would like to endorse 2 points from a number of reviewers.
Firstly the breakfast was less than starvation rations, you would not need to go to weight watchers after 2 weeks here. Secondly we objected to the very high cost of the safe deposit box which was actually a small tray that held very little and you had to be careful if case any documents, money, passports etc slipped down the back. The resort of Kefalos was a real chill out place and the beach was decent if you went down to the area by the Club Med.
Very good taverns here and our top four were Aphrodite, Harrys, Captain Johns and Argo. Top tips if you do book the Kordistos Hotel ask for a first floor room not facing the road and book your excursions through a local operator and not Airtours as you will save mega bucks. Good resort but poor accommodation.

1 reader found this review helpful

A holiday is meant to be a memorable occasion. Most of our memories at the Kordistos Hotel were bad ones.
Our room on the positive side was a fair size as was the balcony, but there the compliments end. The bathroom had hardly any light, the toilet was more or less in the shower and our room had no drawers in at all. Also no television which is most unusual nowadays even in basic accommodation. A large number of the rooms in the hotel were sub standard for one reason or another. We asked to be moved to a room on the first floor overlooking the beach but were told in no uncertain terms none were available.
The breakfast was by far and away the worst ever and the hovering sparrows would have difficulties in serving on our portions. The restaurant was nicely located away from the hotel in a beach side location. The swimming pool was only an eighth of the size it looked in the brochure. We found the staff very pleasant but as soon as you complained their attitude changed. We know some reviewers have given The kordistos Hotel high marks and we were pleased to hear they enjoyed the accommodation.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but our experience was bad. Perhaps they were lucky and were allocated one of the superior and larges rooms overlooking the beach. The main saving grace is we enjoyed the resort of Kefalos which is best suited to couples wanting a peaceful holiday without loads of noisy bars but with an excellent selection of tavernas: We thought Scala, Kampos and Captain Johns were the best.
The only bad meal we had was at Scorpios. It was great to walk down to the harbour in the mornings and watch the fishermen bring in their catch. The only reason we have given this holiday any marks is because of the resort and not the hotel.