Ilio Mare Beach Hotel

My boyfriend and I (21 and 18 years old) stayed for a week in this hotel last year. i must add that he chose it and i was concerned about where we were going to after reading the reviews. We ended up having a wonderful time, though there were good points and bad points. Firstly the good. The staff are very friendly, especially in the restaurant. My boyfriend asked for a shandy one night and of course they had no idea what it was but, after some explaining, they still got him one anyway! You must must must hire a car. Thassos is not a big island and we hired it for two days and manged to go almost everwhere. Goldern Beach is a must see, and if you want to do watersports, Albatross in Potos is really good. Because we went after the high season, the hotel was not crowded at all which was lovely. we always managed to get sunbeds around the pool. Paying for the sunbeds on the beach was a bit much we thought, as they do take up most of the beach so you kind of have to sit on them. The food was good. i've stayed in many half borad hotels and I must admit i've had better but it was nice all the same, especially breakfast. Our room was huge, and lovely and spacious. very clean. The bad points of Illio Mare is the prices for drinks etc. It was quite annoying to have to pay for drinks at dinner as they werent cheap, and in the bar they are quite expensive so in the evening we didnt even feel we could do that. and since it is very very quiet and there is no hotel entertainment, we did struggle to find things to do. There are other bad points if you want to be really picky but they arent really important. We still managed to have a fantastic time, and we are really glad we went there because it was a lovely week.

03/07/2005 I agree with some of the other reviews dissapointing, nothing there, pool was nice but not many sunbeds so if you wern't out there at the crack of dawn, no chance! so to the beach(Across the road) where you are charged for the Sunbeds and umberella's Eight Euros a day, Hmmmmmm? even had to pay for the water with our evening meal, it wasnt expensive but thats not the point after 14 days of buying at least water with your meal it adds up!.Oh and mini market my bottom!! unless you class a couple of boxes of crisps and a pack of cards a mini market! My husband and I went there for our honeymoon and although the rooms were nice 8/10( we spent alot of time in the room!!!) the hotel staff didnt make any effort to make it special no flowers in room, no basket of fruit no pool or sea view no entertainment, we were just another couple on holiday.VERY POOR

We have just returned from this hotel and cannot understand why it has 4/5*. Hardly any of the promised amenities were open or available including the a la carte restaurant, which meant we had to suffer the food in the hotel restaurant. This was disgusting food and the tea and coffee always cold, indeed the staff were perplexed when we requested hot water. No entertainment [as this is an extremely quiet area it is imperative] no games room open, no lounge, no bidets , no bathrobes, no trouser press, jacuzi not open, spa not open , need I go on. A very disapointing experience never to be repeated. On the plus side Thasos is lovely but try the town or Limenaria or Skala Marion or anywhere else but not here.

We spent two weeks at the Ilio Mare in August 2004. Our first impressions were good, our room was spacious and clean and the pool is fantastic. The location is lovely but very very quiet. The food was ok, nothing special but enough of a choice that we didn't go hungry, but all cheap stuff and CHEESE on everything, from chips to omelettes!!!! Fresh bread only every three days. There is an a la carte restaurant which was always empty, and I couldn't get a coffee after my meal, I had to go to the bar. Also at lunch time food was only available on the beach. My main gripe is that there wasn't any entertainment whatsoever, I approached the hotel owner about this as he seemed very friendly, however, he almost physically attacked us and threatened us when we dared to question why there wasn't any entertainment when it was clearly billed in the brochure (which we then showed him - he blamed Thomsons, said they'd made it up - unbelievable!!!). He then said there was aerobics by the pool every day - an out and out lie. We got friendly with some other guests who had also had a run in with him. One of their group had fallen ill and he wasn't interested, just told them to call a cab and take her to hospital, said he didn't know of a doctor and eventually they got a doctor to her via Thomson in London. All in all quite a disappointing holiday, although the island itself is beautiful. If you are quite happy to sit in a bar and watch the sunset then have an early night, then you'll like it here.

So... If you want a great holiday come here! It is perfect to get away from a grotty country like ours! I am young and I came with my parents and my mate. My parents loved the holiday! There was alot to do for them. You can hire a jeep or car out for as much days as you want (very cheap), they loved the view of the mountains and beaches. If you are parents and have teenage children.. they would love it. I went to the tavernas and had a great time. Fishing is top class, it is good if the whole family went for a day! The bar staff are friendly and they love talking to you! The hotel itself looks perfect (very posh!). Thassos Town is great, take advantage of it! (I should have) it has everything to enjoy and day or night. Also there are some nightclubs! Overall it is peaceful and enjoyable, you will love it! I am used to going to the Maldives and the Carribean...but this is just quality! Go there or you will kicking yourself! and......take sun cream, my friend got burnt so badly!

We just spent 2 weeks at the Ilio Mare (Sep 04), and I wonder if we stayed at the same hotel as the other reviewers. This is my 7th trip to Greece and I was desparately disappointed that this hotel didn't live up to my expectations. We found it noisy, music from bars from 10am to late. We thought it was expensive: 1.50 euros to sit on a sun lounger on the beach and another 1.50 euros for an umbrella (there isn't much space to move the sunloungers away from the umbrellas though). Not many people seemed to sit on the beach. There isn't much other beach to sit on, it's very scrubby. We felt that the palm trees just looked odd in Greece. Get up early if you want to reserve a sun lounger by the pool. We thought that there was a nice bar in the A La Carte Restaurant if you don't mind paying 8 euros for a cocktail or upwards of 17 euros for a bottle of Greek wine, although wine from 13 euros and up was available in the restaurant and other bars. The sunsets are OK as long as you don't mind the views of the oil rigs in the distance, beautifully illuminated at night. Reception is 24 hours, but they constantly told us to come back later. Changing sterling travellers cheques seemed to send most of the staff into a state of panic. On one day the area had no water. It's not the hotel's fault that there was no water, but the staff didn't appear offer any help to guests. However, they somehow managed to find water to sell coffee and water the trees and plants on beach. A stream of guests (me included) took the plastic bucket out of the waste paper bin and made our way to the swimming pool to enable us to flush our toilets. The main restaurant looks beautiful in pictures, but we thought the food was awful. We found the main restaurant very noisy and it reminded us of an English holiday camp - we ate out for most of the 2nd week. On the plus side the hotel is spotlessly clean and in a fairly good, quiet location. It is a 5 minute walk from some good tavernas, and a 25 minute walk from more tavernas, shops and ferry/bus connections around the island and to the mainland. The views of the mountains at the back of the hotel, across the olive groves are wonderful. We felt that the Ilio Mare was very attractive to look at: from the slightly out of place palm trees, to the modern artwork on the walls, to the beautifully decorated rooms. But in my opinion its overpriced and nowhere near a 5 star hotel (even by Greek hotel ratings). It seemed very much like a case of style over content.

Excellent "get away from it" hotel. Immaculately cleaned every day and staff are genuinely friendly. Food traditional Greek cuisine which I thought was extremely good. This hotel would most certainly suit couples and families looking for a quiet time and I will most certainly return. Would have given it five stars but in my opinion some room for improvement - coffee very overpriced and no faciities in room to make own, and also a few too many inconsiderate people leave cigarette ends on private beach which hotel really should clear up. Minor complaints however when I consider what a fantastic time we had. Finally, Thassos is a very clean, friendly and scenic Island - I would love a home there!

Myself and my husband visited Ilio Mare for the first time this year in May 2004. We had never stayed at such an attentive hotel before. The waiters in the restaurant couldn't do enough for you, it was the same in the atrium bar at night where we always liked to be around 8pm to watch the sunset behind a mountain. Its a great place to be if you really want to get away from it all and do nothing but relax either by the pool or on the beach (there is a charge for the sunbeds on the beach but not in the hotel grounds) there is a beach bar so you can have a drink while you sunbathe. The meals was ok you had the choice of a three course meal for dinner, which varied everyday. You also had a choice at breakfast. The rooms are spectacular we had a junior suite which was kept clean and tidy daily by the maid service who did an excellant job. All rooms had a balcony some had sea views. The gardens were kept immaculate by the groundsmen and the pool looked spectacular when the water was cascading and lit up at night. We hired a car and drove up into the mountains everyday.It is a magnificent place to go if you like walking too. We will certainly be returning, We never knew places like this exsisted. If anyone wants to contact me about the hotel and resort feel free.

The hotel has a fine beach side location where spectacular sunsets can be enjoyed with your evening meal. Rooms are a good size and well maintained - most have sea views and all have balconies. Staff are friendly and helpful. The restaurant provides self service meals with a wide choice - in my experience they could have been kept hotter at times though. There are several taverna's within easy walking distance. The beach is kept clean and the sea is crystal clear. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay on Thasos at the Ilio Mare

the ilio mare hotel is a first class tourist hotel. its family run with friendly staff. for those of you that want a relaxing, peaceful holiday with blue skies and clear sea this is the location for you. this will be 4th visit to the same hotel which is a first for us as we beleive that it is a big old world out there with lots to see.