Evangelistria Apartments

The Evangelistria Apartments must rate as one of the best places we've stayed in - clean, spacious, a few folk decorations, ample utensils and views from the back over olive groves and across to imposing Mt Kerkis. Rhania, Dimitris and the family (+ various relatives) are very friendly, generous and helpful. The apartments are a short walk past olive groves, vines, figs etc to the beach and main road so there is little or no traffic noise. The children loved the clean pool and the lack of a poolside snack bar had the welcome effect of saving us a lot of money! We simply bought supplies of water/Mythos/lunch/ice cream from the local supermarket. Air conditioning was available at 6 Euros a night.
Kambos/Votsalakia is basically a long strip of restaurants, shops, homes and car hire places either side of the main road which runs parallel to the sand and shingle beach. No architectural marvel but familiar to anyone who has been to Greece on holiday before. Most people thought that the beach was one of the best on the island. The water was clean and clear and umbrellas/sunbeds were available for around 5-6 Euros. We tried to be clever by buying an umbrella but found it no match for the Meltemi wind that stays for most of August!
There are certainly enough tavernas for a 2 week stay and Vrosi (try the prawns!), Angelos, Chesters (Greek buffet for 10 Euros on Mondays), The Muses, Leonidas (popular with Greeks) and Blue Bucket (very busy most nights) are worth a visit.
There is little (if anything) in the way of a local bus service but there are at least 5 car hire places - inevitably, within a 100 yards of each other - and it's wise to shop around for prices as there were considerable variations. We hired a car - Chevrolet Matiz - from Avis for 3 days for 115 Euros. We were warned to check insurance cover carefully. Its well worth hiring a car as Samos is easily navigable, there's little traffic and the island is outstandingly beautiful with superb views and thick pine forest. There is a taxi service for which we were quoted c5 Euros for single trips to Psilli Amos Beach and the fishing village of Ormos (more tavernas - go on Saturday when the Greeks eat out en masse!).
There is a boat trip available - 'The Captains BBQ' - to the island of Samiopoula from Votsalakia. 36 Euros for adults but well worth it, especially if you like diving from the boat and dancing the Syrtaki, Zorba-style, on the beach!

Upon arrival we where met by the owners with a cool drink, straight away we felt at ease and like one of their family. The apartment was simply and practically furnished, with everything you will need.
The location is very quite and peaceful. Up a side road off the main road of votslakia, just a 5 minute walk. It is surrounded by olive groves with a small church behind it. The backdrop is the mountains. Very tranquil. Rania the owner is a wonderful lady who was always making sure you where having a lovely holiday, I have never felt so relaxed anywhere I have been before, it just felt like home.
The beach is only a 5 minute walk, it is a lovely beach, very clean and not busy at all, it made a change not to have to fight for a place to sunbathe in fact at the part of the beach opposite to where we where staying you hardly saw anyone.
The beach bars where great, especially Maria's, she was lovely, the food and the wine where great. There where lots of places to eat, especially The Blue Bucket, exceptional food and a fantastic welcome.
What was lovely you didn't get pestered to go into any of the tavernas, all of the tavernas where so friendly.
Samos is a beautiful island still very unspoiled, and very Greek. Hire a car for 3 days and see the rest of the island, its well worth it, the people are so lovely. We went over to Turkey and visited Ephasis, really loved it well worth the long day.
We will definitely be returning.

The Evagelistria apartments are very clean, well equipped, and run by a very friendly family. Any questions were answered/dealt with immediately and we were made to feel very welcome.
The room sizes were plenty big enough for our family of 4 and the very helpful maid kept the place spotless and visited the room 6 days a week.
The rooms were fully equipped with a hairdryer, iron & ironing board, towels, kettle, toaster and lots of cooking utensils. We also had air conditioning which was an extra 6 Euros a day but well worth it due to the heat.
The pool was cleaned every day, the shallow end is 1.5m deep, but there is also a smaller baby pool. Despite having no poolside bar we got to know the other guests, which was partly due to the friendly owner Rania who made us all feel like part of the family.
Votsalakia is a long strip of supermarkets, tavernas, an excellent bakery, and car hire places. There is one unreliable taxi rank and an even more unreliable bus service so hiring a car for a few days is a good idea.
The beach is a mix of sand and pebble and there is a small shelf a few feet in the water. Psilli Amos beach is fantastic and well worth the visit but get there before 10am for a sunbed.
Eating out I would definitely recommend Chester’s, Akrogliali, and The Blue Bucket.
All in all a great place for a family beach based holiday.

Agree that family are very friendly but the accommodation is beginning to show its age.
Our shower room was the smallest we have ever had in 20 years of Greek holidays, water was very hit and miss as was the pressure.
Comments about Chester’s surprised us as we found the service, food, and prices excellent. I made a bad choice of meal one night and as I had hardly touched it they took the price off the bill.
Votsalakia itself is a soulless strip development entirely lacking in character, even the beach is a little non-descript.
Further afield the hill villages are more like Greece and would recommend anybody with a car to pop up to Kallithea to the taverna of the same name to see the sunset. Food in the taverna was surprisingly good, very reasonable and the young couple who run it were very friendly, as were the locals who had a quiet chuckle when I couldn't extricate my car from a tight spot and they all came to offer their advice.

Had a wonderfully relaxing holiday at the Evagelistria apartments (no "N" in the Greek) in Kampos. Apartments were clean, well run and Rania and family made you very welcome. Unfortunately there is no pool bar and therefore it makes it more difficult to mix with others and find out where the best tavernas, beaches etc are.
Apartments are very close to the beach which is fairly quiet towards the end of the season. Lots of good tavernas but would recommend "The Blue Bucket", Rinas and Angelos (especially the Dolmades made from zucchini flowers rather than vine leaves). Those nearer Votsalakia are not so good.
Would recommend hiring a jeep or car to explore the island which has spectacular scenery. A drive to "The End of the World" taverna is interesting and a walk up the waterfalls at Potami is an experience but recommend wearing shoes that you don't mind getting wet as you have to wade through water up the river bed.
Overall-good accommodation and a "Greek" resort compared to those that are now much too commercialised.

1 reader found this review helpful

The Evangelistria Apartments were good value for money. Basic and simply furnished but well run. The self catering equipment was just enough but not generous.
Kambos is a lovely tranquil resort best suited to couples wanting a quiet holiday. There are several nice walks and it is well worth taking a stroll (about 40 minutes) to the fishing village at Ormos.
You are spoilt for choice when deciding where to eat but our nominations for our favourites go to The Muses, Nick the Greeks fish taverna and Nostros. We though Chesters was overrated. The beach is uncrowded and OK but nothing special.