Astir Beach Hotel

Before coming to this hotel, I had read all the reviews and was prepared for the worst. When we got there we were pleasantly surprised, as the rooms were clean and the staff appeared friendly upon our first meeting.When it came to breakfast on the first day, we were pleased with the wide selection of food available and the presentation of the dinner hall.Later, at dinner we also thought the food was better than had been anticipated, however, after a few days of the same food that had quite obviously been reheated but with different toppings to attempt to disguise that fact, we started to tire of the same each day. The food was edible, despite many reviews to the contrary. Many of the staff were friendly and took the time to help if you needed anything. The miserable barman mentioned in every review was quite rude at times, as he served paying customers first, even when all-inclusive guests such as my group,were made to wait.We also found it frustrating that only one drink was allowed per person at a time, that glasses had to be taken back before being given another drink and that the bar closed at 11pm for all inclusive guests, but the barman would stop serving even before this time. We found that the entertainment team really tried to include people, however guests often didn't want to participate, although we had fun on nights such as the dance, games and quiz nights because we joined in. As a group of young girls we found it reassuring when the team offered to take us into town. Overall, the hotel was better than we expected, especially for the price and we would like to visit again, so we would recommend this hotel, especially to younger people. Hopefully see you ,Astir Beach, next year!

The Astir Beach has not taken on board any of the comments made by last years reviewers. The bar man in the evening, Nicos, is still rude. The food is still boring. The sun loungers are still scarce. The hotel is still run like a military camp and as an all inclusive guest you are made to feel unwelcome. The hotel is clean and well presented but no way does it qualify as a four star. Added to this the chidrens entertainer would not run a childrens club because 'there were not enough children' and said if we wanted we could pay her to babysit. The daytime activities very rarely happened and we sat bored while the entertainment team seemed to be having a marvelous holiday. There was no childrens activities at night and the evening 'entertainment' when it happened was very poor. The time of this changed from 9.30 to 10p.m. presumably so even less people would attend. Time and again we turned up for scheduled activities and there was no sign of the entertainment team. Ian the only male team member seemed anxious to get things going but was continually thwarted by his manager Maggie who did not seem to have a clue what she was doing. The pool was nice but there is no paddling pool, the 'childrens' pool is too deep for toddlers. The pools are accessed via marble steps and there are a lot of steps in the hotel and this is a problem with an active toddler although there are ramps for pushchairs or wheelchairs. If my husband and I had gone on our own the resort and even the hotel would have been acceptable for the price, but it was not suitable for our grandaughter and I would not recommend it for people with young children. A really annoying thing was that the outside bar near the pool never opened while we were there and this meant dressing and going to the bar inside every time you wanted a drink. Also it is not included in the inclusive holiday which is ridiculous. The snacks were really appalling a few dried up sandwiches every day and no ice cream for the children. We have had many all inclusive holidays both to the Carribean and Mediteranean and this was without doubt the worst. Our advise "astir clear from this one.............We certainly will not go again! Anne and Chris Taylor

We returned 28th October after a two week stay. Hotel is nice, staff are good but must be stressed by owner who gave them a real dressing down every day, with regards to drinks and how much we should be having. One bar lady(staff) argued back in our favour, which was awful to witness and made for a very bad atmosphere. We really felt for the staff. The hotel promised evening entertainment for the children but we saw a magician on our first Tuesday and then nothing at all. Kids were entertained by other hotel residents and parents who played cards and the few games available. All in all a very boring evening for the kids. The snack bar, which should have issued snacks to all inclusive wasn't available to us from day one, and we were served sandwiches in bar area which the children wouldn't touch, and even I wasn't sure what was on some of them, needless to say we had to go in for lunch. Evening meals were obviously left overs from lunch dressed differently, I don't mind using up, but this was a daily occurence as were the uneaten sandwiches from snack, re served the next day! I saw the pool area cleaned once in two weeks, which needed more due to a local kitten with the runs! In our second week, sunbeds were being shipped out due to end of season and we were still being asked to pay 6 euros for sunbeds left on beach which the hotel owned. The snack bar was completely closed down and chairs, tables were being put away. They even took down the hotel sign which was on the roof! We felt like they didn't want us there any more and just wanted to pack up and go. I wouldn't recommend this hotel at the end of season, may be different earlier on. We will not be going back there, to anyone else, try the Imperial Belvedere in Hersonisos which goes all out to please.

Having just returned from The Astir Beach, I think I can honestly say it represented good value. The hotel itself was spotless, with clean towels everyday and rooms cleaned every morning, our impression of the foyer and bar was also good. The restaurant was immaculate, and the food I found to be more than acceptable, with a good variety of salads, fish every day and at least two meat dishes, not to mention a choice of two pasta dishes per day. The pool was a real bonus, but the sunbed situation was less than satisfactory, 30 more sunbeds on the ample grassed area would solve this situation, and relieve some of the Anglo /German sunbed race, which although amusing, was unneccassary!! The staff we found rather stand-offish at first, but then began to understand the reasons why, when we witnessed first hand the oppressive regime under which they were employed!! the manager publicly tearing a strip off them is not a great man management style I felt. We then began to get to know them, Mario the Barman in particular, and understood his frustrations at being ordered to "serve smaller measures, work slower, and spend more time wasting time" all of which upset his proffessional integrity, this coupled with some peoples inability to understand that they were not to take drinks for half board guests made his job difficult, however he worked hard and became more friendly as the time went on, in the end I take my hat off to him and all the staff there!! We can also say that with a little bit of tweaking this Hotel could be really good, and we would certaianly go back there again as when viewed in context with Greece as a whole it was a quality holiday for myself my wife and our elderly in-laws!! Thumbs up also to the activity staff who worked ceaselessly to keep us all amused with masses of activities in the day, and some slightly strange evening Entertainment, but wholly enjoyable non-the-less! Bob and Debbie Mckay .

Both myself and my friend have just returned from a weeks all inclusive stay at the Astir Beach in Gouves. We booked through Hellenic who were very good, as we made a few last minute changes without problem. We flew with Viking who admittedly werent First Class airlines, but were on time each way and very friendly. The transfer went without hitch and we arrived. Unfortunately there was a slight lack of sun loungers by the pool but we soon managed to get the towels down :-) The pool was lovely and clean, with a good kids pool. The rooms were fairly basic but always kept immaculate by the daily maid service. Showers were very good. Always hot water whatever time of day. It was a shame the poolside bar wasnt open til 6pm and also you had to pay for the drinks there which as an all inclusive holidaymaker wasnt made clear from the start. The entertainment was good, Steffen, the animation guy tried very hard to keep people busy etc during the day and while we were there, all nationalities played a lot of volleyball. Food was ok, bar staff ok but I think a lot of pressure from the owner dampened the atmosphere a bit. Overall a good holiday, and I have to say that we made the best of all things we could. Hope you have a good hol and get your towels down!! :)

Having just returned from Crete 2 hours ago, we couldn't wait to write a review to warn other travellers thinking of booking into Astir Beach. Gouves is a lovely place with just enough to do if you like it quiet and plenty of bars to liven up your hols if you want to. The beach in Gouves is excellent especially up the top end near to Astir Beach but thats as good as it gets really. The hotel looks the part and is very clean (the maid did a good job), but our holiday was only a good one because we made it good. The hotel took no part in it. Firstly, the room we were given was tiny but as we didn't intend to spend that much time there we decided it would do. The food was not nice, it was always very decoratively arranged but it was either inedible or the food we could eat became very repetative and boring. All meals were recycled to one of the next days meals for example sprouts leftover from the evening meal were made into sprout salad!! However, you would never go hungry as there was plenty of choice and always fresh fruit to follow. (but it was always melon and grapes) We managed to eat breakfast and lunch there so as to try to make as much use as possible of the All Inclusive but decided that after four nights of eating our evening meal there that we preferred to pay and eat out. The town has plenty of Restaurants to choose from. The most disappointing thing about the hotel though was the service. Not through any fault of the employees but due to the 'regime' set apparantly by the owner who patrolled making sure that they did as he said. When we arrived we were given a list of what drinks we could have as part of the All Inclusive (Beer, Wine, Vodka, Brandy, Ouzo and Bacardi) but were limited to two glasses per person at a time. This changed about half way into our stay and we were only allowed to get one drink per person so I couldn't even get one for my partner!! He had to get his own. I asked to speak with the manager and he was never available to speak with clients and managed to speak with his son, he said that he would try to be more flexible in a few days. The ban was lifted two days before our departure. There was only ever one person serving at the All Inclusive bar and he/ she had to prepare snacks at snack time collect glasses and serve. Often if you didn't retain your glasses you would be refused a drink as there were no glasses behind the bar. The bar staff were appologitic but nevertheless stressed, miserable and grouchy with clients. I witnessed on two occasions the owner dressing down two members of staff in public. The holiday was made fun also by the entertainment staff (Settemari) who really tried hard to entertain guests and get them involved. They were very nice people who worked really hard, long hours. All in all though we had a good time because we got out and about, feeding and entertaining ourselves elssewhere. the general feeling by most of the people we spoke to was that the hotel made the guests feel that uncomfortable and tried to prevent them as much as they could from making full use of the All Inclusive deal that they have paid for.

we stayed in this hotel in august and we will never come her again the all inclusive was rubbish and you have to pay for most things. this hotel is absolute rubbish, please brits dont come to this hotel.

We have just arrived back from Astir Beach. We found the hotel clean most of the staff helpful. As english people we were not in a minority. The food was fine I think Engilsh people go abroad and expect English food. Why? Plenty of salads there were chips if you wanted them nearly every day. The entertainment was not very good I must admit. The Bar man in the evening at the all inclusive bar was very rude but you needed to stand up to him. We did and I even complained to reception about him after that he was ok. The choice at this bar was not very good but we have not been all inclusive in Greece before and have been spoilt by other countries so not sure if this is normal in Greece. Sunbed situation is not good not enough of them You needed to have got one by about 7.45. The sunbeds are 6 euros for 2 sunbeds and shade, some people refused to pay as owned by hotel and got away with it. However the good points outwieghed the bad in the hotel. It is a quite resort the hotel clean the kids who were there had fun we did also. Had a very nice relaxing holiday. Not as bad as others made out. I speak as I find. By the way Viking airlines are ok very comfotable leather seats but no in flight entertainment

We have just come back from 2 weeks at the Astir Beach and can honestly say we would never go back. Although we were half board we ate in the restaurant only twice as the food can only be described as appalling. British guests were in a very small minority and like us most ate out of the hotel. The majority of guests were all inclusive and I believe this was the reason for the low quality food and drinks in the hotel. The staff were extremely ignorant and completely unhelpful and could only speak English when it suited them. The hotel had 170 rooms each sleeping between 2 and 4 people but only aproximately 60 sunbeds around the pool. These were "reserved" by 6am with towels in a stampede of Germans and Italians. Therefore we would have to go to the beach and pay 12 euros a day for sunbeds which we found out belonged to the hotel. We stayed in a family room which was the length of 4 single beds next to each other which of course gave the family no privacy. When we complained we were told this was a full size family room. Entertainment was rubbish staged daily by French or Italians and as per usual nothing for us Brits. The hotel is classed as 4star and in my opinion this is a gross overstatement.

The annoying thing about the Astir Beach is that with a few fairly simple tweaks this could be so much better. We booked with Hellenic Voyages for a week here, a group of 7 including 2 teenage girls and two young boys of 3. The first night was a bad start - the hotel/ tour operator had 'miscalculated' and the hotel was full so we had to stay at the Marine Beach next door. We were then continually getting woken to leave the hotel to go to the Astir after only 3 hours sleep! One thing I noticed is how many things were broken or useless. The pool table didn't work nor the table football and the mini golf was not useable. The children's play area was poor. I was surprised to find no aircon at all inside the hotel except the bedrooms - not even a single fan to cool you down. We were lucky there was a breeze that week or it would have been unbearably hot. Another bizarre thing was that the poolside bar was CLOSED ALL DAY!!! and opened at 6pm???? Also it was not for A/I guests, only half board. The pool itself was pleasant enough but a bit small and a very major lack of sunloungers and shade. This was not entirely the fault of the hotel as some guests would hog a lounger for the whole day but only use it for 10% of that time. I know its a cliche but the old towel on the lounger at 6am tradition is alive and well at the Astir Beach. One major factor we all noticed was the attitude of some staff members. A fellow guest spoke Greek and told us how rude they were. One of our party would not use the A/I bar when a particular guy was serving there. He got extremely stroppy when ordering more than 1 drink - perhaps he expected our 3 year olds to order by themselves??? On day 2 I informed the senior waiter we would like to eat together during the week and would they mind forming another table of 7 for us, but this was apparently too difficult so we had to try to use one of the two larger tables when available. It just seemed any slight deviation from the norm was too much trouble. On a more positive note........the area is attractive with plenty of pleasant shops, tavernas etc. and the hotel is very close to the beach and within easy reach of some really attractive beach with very clear water. The entertainment staff were great - they put everything into the evening shows and looking after children during the day. The food was quite variable but really not that bad, there was a fairly good choice and breakfasts were nice, not that we were up for many....... The rooms and hotel in general were kept clean and tidy and the balcony was pleasant with a good view. The beds seemed very close to the ground and the shower area was a bit small. I think a lot depends on which block you get put in. We were in the main hotel building but on our last day we used a room in a new block which was much nicer. I have to say the staff did accomodate out request to have the use of a room on the departure day as our flight was 04:40 because of having the children, for which we were grateful but we expected a bit of understanding after they messed up our first night.