Athinoula Hotel

I came back from Greece a few days ago after staying in this hotel for a week. The hotel was amazing. The house keeping was brilliant, the staff were friendly and helpful. The receptionist was NOT miserable, he just doesnt understand a great deal of English.
Due to a member of my family being in a wheelchair, we got an extra room at no extra price, which was great because yhere was more space for the wheelchair and equipment.
The swimming pool was clean, and occasionally the owners children was allowed to swim in the pool. This does not cause any problem as they understood english and gave guests someone to play with in the pool.
The breakfast might have only been tea/coffee/orange juice and a basket of bread with jam and butter, but that breakfast is standard continental, and is a great breakfast for filling up if you go on a day trip.
I highly reccomend that if you do visit Kefalos, to hire a car, as the village is up a hill, and all though there is a bus service, the busses are irregular and few.
Kefalos is a quiet, relaxing resort, which is therefore not suitable for party animals, though there is two night clubs and a few cotail bars along the beach front. I reccomend 'The Great Aussie BBQ' and 'Rainbows' for evening meals. 'Popeyes' was also a great place to havea drink whilst listening to some music of all genres.
The locals are very kind and extremely helpful, and shop keepers dont hassle you, but allow you to look around.
Great days out are to visit Kos town, and also take a boat ride to Turkey - Bodrum for the day.
Overall, i really enjoyed my stay here in Kefalos, & I enjoyed being at the hotel. I would reccomend this hotel to everyone, though wheelchair users must be warned, the ramps are steep, and not everything is suitable, but even so, this is still a lovely place to stay and visit whether you are able bodied or not.
I cant wait til next year when i come again !!!

1 reader found this review helpful

I can't believe the review I've just read from this year. We stayed there in 2008 and found the family who run the complex suberb the woman who took your order for breakfast spoke better english than most tourist. It was very clean and friendly. In my opinion most of the bad reviews are written by people who basically should'nt go to greece.

Basically a ten night stay here was 10 nights too long. Kefalos is beautiful, but if you do NOT want a freezing cold swimming pool, their greek children using the pool and shouting from one end to the other, playing football on the dust, the family watching greek films in day time blaring out whilst your sun bathing, no atmosphere and basically rude grunting people then please take note and dont bother.
Also do not go to the nearest supemarket which is called Tsoukalis, they pluck figuers out the air and rip you off. if you have a car there is a lidl nerby and also a supermarket near he airport 15mins away.

We have only just back from Kos 2 days ago and had a lovely holiday. We thought Kefalos was brilliant, enought bars and resturants, we went to a different one every night.
every night. We did find the resort quite expensive, especially the Supermarket that you need to avoid...a complete rip off, try to go to a supermarket out of town if you get a car.
Okay now for the Hotel!!
When we arrived, we were shown to our room, which was small and below ground level with a sharing patio area! The hotel is family run and we would have the children playing outside our room, kicking dust everywhere!
The pool area had no character and the staff are too busy watching their TV so loud and watching their children, you barely get a hello from them and you feel bad asking for anything.
We then had to have the air conditioning on that cost 5 euros per night! When we asked reception to put this on, he came to our room, moaning and shaking his head and then didnt speak to us for the next 8 days, we would just get a nasty look!
We then were asked if we wanted our room for longer as we had to check out at 12pm, they wanted another 25 euros! We couldnt believe they wanted to charge us this, seeing as the hotel was empty! Basically it was money. money, money!
The good thing about the resort is that there are other pools you can use that are alot nicer and more welcoming.
If you can, avoid this appartments!!

I dont want to say anything bad about this place because I think it provided the service expected very well and was well cleaned. Kos has a raw feel to it if you are used to villas/apartments etc in the Med/US. I suppose thats its appeal its like a third world country/authentic. I have only rated this a 5 because this barely 1 star accommodation was very noisy at night/mornings and very small/basic. Like living in a shoe box with dogs barking, cocks crowing and maids dragging furniture around very early in the morning. We stayed B&A. (Breakfast and Attitude) which consists of 4 slices of bread and a dirty look. We did pay for a real breakfast one day but almost died of old age waiting. Never tried the pool area which looked OK because the wind blew a lot of dust down that side of the hotel. The owner was quite good considering other reviews but did not rate the girls at all. Felt like they where hunting for tips. I think Thomas Cook have got some neck arranging trips like this. I would rate the package at £200 max (We paid £350 each) Their holidays are ideal for midgets with kids as the 29" seat pitch for 4 hours and 4mx4mx2m rooms are no good at all for a strapping 6 footer built like a brick outhouse. Staying here wont kill you and you should make your own opinion because they have nut cases coming back year after year. I just hated it from the first minute, and spent the next day looking for better accommodation, we found that this was one of the better ones in Kefalos. You wont find any comforts in Kefalos be warned!

1 reader found this review helpful

Hi, As a single dad traveling with my 10 year old daughter i was a little nervous about going abroad as all single parents would be. I did not know what to expect??
All my fears and reservations soon disappered though. From the moment we stepped out of the airport(@03:30 local time) we were welcomed by a first choice rep who dirrected us straight to our coach, she later joined us on the coach & made sure everyone reached there hotel.
On arrival at the hotel we were meet by Anthoula herself(by this time it was 04:30 local time) and very quickly sorted out with a room key, The room itself was great, 2 beds, 2 bedside cabinets, wardrobes, kettle & cups, fridge, mirror and dressing table. Bathroom with shower & curtain(which i am told is very rare?) toilet sink. ALL spotlessly clean.
The following morning we were meet by our rep(Jimmy) for our welcome meeting and he as with the rep at the airport was great. Jimmy called in to the hotel everyday and was great especially with the kids.
The Anthoula Hotel is set on a hillside,BUT DONT let that put you off because the walk down to the beach front is easy done (10 mins) and the walk back is not as bad as it looks.. But if you dont want to walk Anthoula runs a FREE MINI BUS to and from the hotel/beach, check the reception for the times. The hotel has a good size pool, snack bar, drinks bar which was open when we got back on the mini bus @ 10.30 a few evenings so you could still have a drink and chat with the other guests at the hotel.
Plenty to do in the resort itself.. if you want you can just lay on the beach all day(5 euro for a sunbed) or take a ride on the watersports, plenty of places to eat & drink all along the sea front. Take 1 of the many day trips they have on offer the sunshine cruise is great, the water park is a bit of a let down but we still had a great day.
Everyone we meet was very friendly the family who run the hotel were great and all the bar and resturant people were very friendly too..
I felt very relaxed and at comfortable walking around with my daughter even when it was late at night.
Already thinking about going back next year..

We were recomended this resort and hotel by the tour operator, however when we arrived we were put into a room which didnt have its own private balcony just a roof top terrace with 2 satalite dishes and a couple of arials which i felt was not a safe area for my five year old daughter. When we asked the rep to ask if we could move the owner refused outright without even checking.B&B was what we booked. However bread and butter is not breakfast and to my amazment they were reluctant to give you that.
The resort was like a ghost town everything miles apart so take some trainers, nothing for kids and the beeches are shocking to say the least. Food was below par however the Rainbow and rock gardens were or favourites.
Also be ware of the mosquitoes as the are visious to say the least.
We also had a car for a week as the resort of kefalos was some what rundown and explored some more of the island and were diapointed.
Wont be returning to kos.

not much i can say that has not already been said, beautiful place, hotel was great, the family that ran it, where so friendly and helpful it made things more relaxing for me my wife and daughter, out and about in the village was so relaxing it was unreal, no hustle and bustle of people sticking menus our time shares in your face, so if your looking for a holiday to relax take in the scenery and catch the sun then this is for you, cant wait to go back, a must to eat out is rainbows the waiter is off his head, but in a nice way, makes you feel welcome, aussie's bar just a two min walk real nice also, lovely Greek lady their who will tell you all the stories.marriers about a 10 min walk also a must. you must try the Greek food is a must. also walk along the beach lots to take in

2 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from 2 weeks at The Athinouls Hotel. Arrived @ midnight to be met by the friendly Ellie and her not so friendly but maybe thats cos of his lack of english, Dad.
Rooms are spotless, not big but you only shower, dress and sleep there dont you? Rooms cleaned daily (except Sunday), sheets changed at least 3 times a week and towels more we think!
Breakfast is coffee bread and jam! Great actually but a menu is available if you want more but you have to pay.
Safe deposit expensive - 15 euros a week - however there was a theft from the a room whilst we were there.
Pool superb - enough loungers but we were there in a very quiet time.
The resort was very quiet - too quiet for the locals who need it to be busier but we loved it. Lots of tavernas and bars - Favouites? well they were all our faves but Marias, Rainbow, Ausiee BBQ, Rock Garden, sebastians are all excellent!
Beach a dissapointment - opposite the rock garden it needs a good sort out - too much rubble! Get some sea shoes as there are stones for about 20 ft in the water before sand- 4-5 euros a pair from all the supermarkets
Having said that it did not spoil our lazy days by the sea.
Loungers and parasol needed cos altho it gets windy the sun still burns you! 5 euros a day for them.
Dont book with tour reps for trips TC a real rip off- go and find deals for days out etc.
Sunset in Kia a MUST!
Check out the OPA OPA bar next to the Rock garden - great bar and great music for us oldies! ( 53 ish!)
Overall a great place - the cleanest hotel or apartment we have ever been in Greek Isles- not that we have ever had a dirty one!
Enjoy!!

1 reader found this review helpful

this was my first time on the island at it was great, would go back again and again. went with my parents, im only 17 but loved this holiday.
the night life was good there is plenty of nice bars and clubs within walking distance for the hotel but at the hotel it was nice and quite. the staff and family at the hotel were fun and friendly. food was good a variety of british and greek food every where go.
have a great time if you go
Catherine x