Ilio Mare Beach Hotel

What an excellent holiday I had here - one of the best. You are pleased to finally arrive there as it is the last drop off from the airport but it is well worth the wait!
Check-in was superbly dealt with, being swift and friendly. The rooms are outstanding and very clean indeed. Yes, there is of course the issue with Greek toilets but this is dealt with in a very sanitary way very regularly throughout the day.
Bathrooms are completely normal with shower above the bath. All white and tastefully decorated.
The open layout of this resort is fabulous. You open the door from your room straight onto breathtaking Greek scenery to hear the Mountain goats going about their business. Going to breakfast there are no corridors or lifts to consider, you amble past the pool area (with brilliant poolside bars) and to one of the hotel's dining areas.
This is a split-level, very modern area with a fantastic terrace overlooking the beach. The terrace is unfortunately not all that big and is often taken, but the views from the dining room are still breathtaking and also thankfully cool, a welcome place in the Greek sunshine!
The food was brilliant, with a very wide and diverse range of typical Greek fayre and other more continental foods. Tastes do tend to be more European, so don't expect egg and chips!
As a beach person I was amazed at how close the beach was, it is literally a two minute walk from the hotel. With well-placed beach bars you are near enough to get another bottle of ice-cold water (very reasonably priced) yet far enough away not to feel overlooked by people. Swimming is excellent and the sea very warm!
The beach is cleaned daily and I honestly never saw the tiniest piece of rubbish once. Brilliant. If you are a pool person the pool area is wonderful. Immaculately clean, there is plenty of space and a very relaxed atmosphere.
Shops other than the hotels are a slight issue as they are quite a walk away when you consider the heat. It would usually take about fifteen minutes but you will be surprised how even the early morning sunshine can slow you down. Roads are definitely a remote affair here with little or no pavements.
However this does not present a huge issue as I only ever saw about three mopeds! Local bars are lovely and again reasonably priced but do not offer a preferable experience to the hotel which offers much more.
At night the atmosphere is vivacious but not boisterous. There are no wandering gangs of hooligans looking for their next bar - the relaxed hotel bar is modern, has an excellent array of drinks and again is very light and airy with a wonderful terrace area overlooking the sea.
There was no entertainment when I was there but this actually provided a refreshing change. It is sometimes nice to just hear the sea, which as it is so close to the hotel, does not prove difficult!
One key feature of this hotel is how it has not been over-developed, thus you never feel cramped or struggle for space. To relax and experience a luxurious holiday this is the place. A truly wonderful holiday. You must go!