Bel Air, Hotel

3 readers found this review helpful

Brilliant! I have stayed at the Bel Air hotel for 4 years running and was gutted I could not go in 2007 due to having an accident. I have never looked to go anywhere else on holiday as Nidri is perfect.
I am 20 years old and first went in may 2003 with and friend and her parents, then in 2004 and 2005 with my parents and a friend. In 2006 I went with 4 friends. My parents loved the place as they felt they could let me and my friend please ourselves and we were safe, they found plenty to do and enjoyed the island and nightlife.
When I went with friends, we found the nightlife great as there were not loads of people and you were welcomed everywhere you went. The sail inn club was great.
The hotel looks the best, from what I have seen in Nidri, that’s why I haven’t looked at other accommodation. The family that run the Bel air are very friendly and helpful and you can tell they are totally committed to ensuring their guests have the best holiday possible.
The first year I went, it was ham and cheese with bread rolls and tea or coffee but the following years I have been told it was a roll with jam and tea or coffee (I haven’t made breakfast the past 3 year).
The rooms are very clean and cleaned regularly, beds are comfy, and rooms have air con, safe, and fridge. The only problem I have ever had with the rooms was one year the fridge smelled ad after investigating we found it was due to the past guest spilling what looked like milk. After telling one of the girls downstairs, they immediately went and cleaned it for us themselves.
I would recommend getting the air con even though it is about 20 Euros. Balcony is clean but if you are on the side of the hotel, you don’t get much sun.
The pool is the best in Nidri, in the sun nearly all day. Sun loungers can be difficult to get as the pool is shared by guests from another couple of hotels/apartments. Bar is reasonably priced and so is the food which you can order throughout the day.
Road traffic was not a problem for any of us and we have had rooms on all sides of the hotel. The only thing that ever woke me up was a truck selling carpets and things goes past about twice a week and they shout things but that is late morning and most people are up by then!
Scooters from the place opposite saloon bar are cheapest and best but they do ask you to leave your passport with them.
Nidri Star Boat wasn’t good. We booked it the day before and were told it would be quite quiet but when we got on it, it was packed and we only just got somewhere to sit.
Locals are very friendly and helpful. Along the harbour is the best place to eat and the place with the orange sign, (think it begins with an M) is gorgeous and the owner is very friendly and makes you feels very welcome. The Barrel (which is on the end) was not good and my friend was ill after eating there.
Overall, an amazing holiday and I have booked for June 2008. Can’t wait to go back!
The Roadhouse Rock Bar is great and Jerry who owns it is lovely! So is Dan that also works there! Vics Bar is great for parent type people, he has quizzes and things! But I heard he was selling up so it might not be there anymore!
Would not stay anywhere else except the Bel Air and the people writing bad reviews about it are out of order. If you treat people with respect you get respect.

After reading the reviews before going on holiday this year, we were a little worried. Upon arrival we found the Bel Air Hotel clean and pleasant.
The staff were helpful and any problems were soon sorted out. The bedroom was cleaned twice weekly and carpets vacuumed! (Carpets in a Greek hotel?) Bins emptied every day but we put a plastic bag in the bathroom bin each day as that was not supplied (VERY UNUSUAL) Also our curtains needed some more hooks as it hung off the rail in places! The room was basic, clean and spacious.
The hotel is in a good position very handy just at the start of the town. The traffic noise did not affect us as we did have a rear facing room overlooking the mountains. The only noise problem we had was the frogs under the bridge. They must have been the noisiest in Europe! Other than that everything was fine.
We did not bother with the breakfast as it was rather a let down Roll, Jam, Tea or coffee!
Drinks at the bar normal price, not excessive!
It seems to us that you can never please everybody all the time, but most of the adverse comments about this hotel are totally unfounded.
All in all, we rated the Bel Air good and would gladly return.

Like a lot of people, we read the reviews of the Bel Air Hotel in Nidri before going on our holiday this year and thought, "What are we letting ourselves in for?"
We are Grecofiles and have been holidaying in Greece for the last 10 years so do know a little about the country and the people.
The Hotel Bel Air proved to be everything the brochure promised; clean, friendly and the owners were very helpful, supplying what was requested almost immediately. Julie, the First Choice rep, was a sweetie.
The only disappointment was the roll, butter and jam supplied for breakfast! But there is a fridge in the room so you can always make your own if you bring a kettle.
Other than that, it's got a nice location, great pool, clean rooms and the town and beach are nearby. What more could you ask?
Our room faced the hills at the back of the hotel and we had a nice top floor room so perhaps it was quieter than at the front.
All in all - a great holiday in a nice hotel and maybe we will go back next year.

One thing I must say the Greek people are very friendly and helpful. Just come back from Bel Air and read the reviews and can't believe what some people are saying about the hotel.
I couldn't fault it, the rooms might be but it is immaculately cleaned every day with fresh sheets and towels daily. We had rooms overlooking the pool and we didn't have any problems with noise at night time.
Entertainment was fantastic and it kept my 13 year old daughter amused. We couldn't leave the hotel in the evening from Zico's Snoopy Disco on to Nemo's Bingo that is totally weird to cabaret it certainly kept us entertained.
The food was excellent with plenty of choice and the restaurant was spotless and waiters were excellent. I think people who grade this hotel a 1 or 2 star were at a different hotel to us or perhaps are used to 5 * luxury.

I would recommend going on the pirate ship but, a word of warning, book through the fellas in the hotel lobby not the holiday reps as it will save you money. Overall we had a fantastic time and can't wait to return.

1 reader found this review helpful

My wife and I stayed at the Belair for the first time last August, we went with family on their recommendation and had an outstanding holiday.
Although I managed to injure myself by falling off a moped (not advised) the family that owns and runs the hotel took it upon themselves to look after me.
They made what could have a potential disaster into one of the best holidays I have ever had. The rooms were very comfortable and clean, the service we received was second to none.
And we have already booked for this year.

I have stayed at the Bel Air Hotel 3 times and am booked to go end of June and also September 2006. The hotel is very clean a lovely place to stay the room are very good to.
The family who run the Bel Air make you feel very welcome and are a credit to tourism.
I would recommend the hotel to anyone. Well done Bel Air. Keep up the good work.

Not sure if perhaps the management has changed since these other reviews were written last year, but I can honestly say I've never experienced such terrible and rude customer service in my life!
We were traveling the island last week with a jeep, staying at different resorts, and decided to stay at the Bel Air in Nidri on our last night as it looked nice. However, the woman we spoke to treated us like utter dirt and was so incredibly rude to me that I was left utterly shocked!
Hoteliers like this don’t deserve to be in business. This hotel might look nice, but the management is terrible. Don’t stay here, it might just ruin your holiday!

Although the Bel Air is a Hotel, it also has a number of studios. We stayed in a studio with a partial view of the pool from the balcony. The studio itself is one of the largest we have stayed in on a Greek Island.
The only downside to the Bel Air is traffic as it is on the main road, but it is the only road through Nidri. The pool is really nice and one of the best in Nidri. It is near to the beach [about 3 mins walk]. The pool bar is good too. The hotel is family run and all the family are very helpful. The First Choice Rep was also exceptionally helpful. Would definitely recommend it.