Hotel Christina

We have just come back from Christina Studios (August 2011)and i would strongly advise anybody to avoid these apartments. The staff are not friendly, everything is too much trouble and they are not interested in whether you are happy or not. We had 2 apartments for 5 of us and we had problems with a toilet not working, electricity cutting off, door locks not working to name a few. It is a shame because Tsilivi is a really nice place with a fantastic beach. Why they were so unfriendly i don't know, maybe because we are English or maybe because we did not want to go to the Greek night. Go to Tsilivi but not here!

I recently stayed at the Christina studios for 1 week and it was the worst week ever at that hotel, I would not recommend anyone to stay at that hotel.
The hotel owner is an intimidating man who likes to shout at people. The location of the hotel is not great, there were many dogs and chickens running around, which was terrible at night as all you could hear were the dogs barking. The hotel security man did not speak English or even understand English, what’s the point in having security if he doesn’t understand English.
Our hotel room was never cleaned we never got any fresh clean towels or sheets for the beds. The towels which were provide to us by the hotel were dirty and had holes in them. We weren’t provided with any toilet roll so we had to buy our own toilet roll. The pool was never cleaned the whole time we stayed there; there were dirty dishes and glasses lying on every table. I no it’s a family business the Christina but I don’t think its acceptable for children who appeared to be 8 or 9 years of ages to serve alcohol to customers and have to carry hot food to people.
we also got kicked out of our room 4 hours before we had to leave the room.
Overall I rate this hotel a 4 I would never tell anyone to stay there.

Me and my boyfriend went away here for our first holiday together. We never expected any thing like this. The rooms were dirty, got chased by a doy walking down the dark track to get back to the studios, witnessed the owner hit a young lad because he was being noisy, the security guard was walking round with a shot gun all night. We had a group of young girls run in to our room screeming because he had waved the gun at them all. You get woking up alot. We recommend that no one goes here!!!

I had a lovely time at the Christina apartments. When me and my boyfriend arrived we wondered where we were going because we had to walk down a dark gravel track at 6.00am in the morning. We were aware of this because the tour operator had already informed us that we would need a torch. The gravel track is only about a 2 minute walk then you are on a main road. The apartments were very clean and we had the sunshine on our balcony from 9.00am in the morning until at least 7.00pm in the evening. The apartments are very basic but if you are on a proper holiday, then you are only there to sleep in them. The cleaner was in the apartments at least 4 times a week and she was very friendly. Our bedding and towels were changed 3 times a week.
There are quite a few bars and tavernas nearby where we went and had our meals. We went to a greek taverna which is just up the gravel track and you turn left. It's only a few metres down the road. You can get a scrumptious full English breakfast for 3 euros 50. They also do a Sunday dinner everyday which is worth the money for 7 euros. Whatever you have to eat or drink in the taverna is very cheap. This is highly recommended. Just at the top of the gravel track and you turn right, there is another cheap greek bar where the drinks are all cheap. Further down the road is Pyrgi Place(which is where the welcome meeting is normally held), which is owned by a very friendly family who once again do excellent meals. There are is a bar called The Cockeril and they do quiz nights and play your cards right. Another pub/restaurant is Hairy Lemon which serves good food as well. On the sea front you have got a lovely shingle beach and it is normally busy. On the front there is a lovely greek taverna called Stathis. This is a must if you like Greek food. The rep who we had was also very helpful in whatever we asked.
Overall Mike and I had a good 2 week holiday at the Christina apartments and we can not complain about anything. We would go back to these apartments again in the near future.
There are no safety deposit boxes but you are able to use the safety deposit boxes just down the road at Christophers (near the Cockeril and Hairy Lemon) so there is no problem there. We would go back to these apartments again.
When i was there i never saw any rats (just like it says on someone's comments about the apartments). The only thing that we did see was the nanny goat which is in a field away from the apartments and there is also a cockeral somehwere in a field that wakes up with the sun then you don't hear it all day. Ha. Also there are wasps when you are walking anywhere unlike in England where we have flies.
I can honestly say that i do not have any complaints about the resort, apartments, our Olympic representative Neil or any of the bars.

1 reader found this review helpful

Although the complex has a very plush marble reception area, with a decent pool area with enough loungers and a snack/drinks bar, the rest of what we have to say here will give you the actual picture of how it was in September 2008.
The brochure will not tell you that the apartments are on an almost 1:1 slope. There is an old and new block (new in the brochure), but both get the considerable road noise at all hours, plus the eye popping sound of air wrenches and male shouting in Greek at most passing traffic from the family’s garage located snugly between the road below and the apartments. We’d recommend you take earplugs too as the apartments are also directly below the flight path for Zante airport, so you’ll be surrounded by noise. There are sliding double glazing doors which keep the noise out, but you will need to pay the extra 35 Euros to be given the aircon remote to do this.
Each apartment has own balcony but there is no privacy from the adjacent balconies. The beds are not very good with their ‘wafer thin’ mattresses, and are thick with dust underneath, as well as on top of the wobbly wardrobe (we knew as our suitcases and shoes were heaving with dust from these places). The lighting in the apartment is poor throughout, and there are no reading or side lights. The bathroom was like the black hole of Calcutta.

Self catering – well, there’s no toaster, just two plug in electric rings, a fridge and kettle. Just a single toilet paper roll provided as well, no more. If you do any food on your electric hobs you can’t eat it anywhere in the complex outside of your room – all food and drinks around the pool have to be bought from the bar (hardly self catering then, we thought, as the ban is total).
Greek night – sorry but very poor; small food portions, music is not live as advised (CD player) and the sporadic dancing is by Christina and a chap dressed in black – no traditional dress, smashing plates, etc, as you can find elsewhere.
I would advise anyone going on holiday to make sure you don't pay a lot for these apartments and only use them solely as a base to go elsewhere.
I’d go back to Zante, but not to Tsivili and certainly not the Christina Studio Apartments!
Other Notes for info:
Tsivili
Far more commercial than led to expect – Lots of resturants/Tarveners mostly doing English menus, Sunday roasts, and has a McDonalds. Walk the length of the village in 15 mins. Best food was from ‘The Med’ on the main street.
Flights
Beware taking any flights in the early morning – if you arrive in the morning Olympic will count this as your first night’s accommodation, even though you have not had the room or slept there. This bites twice though, as if you have an early morning flight out you will be asked to leave the room at midday the day before – we were facing 16 hours without a room and nobody there was all that bothered, Olympic Rep included.
The insult is that they will have ‘extended’ the previous occupant before you for 25 Euros to use the room before you arrive, effectively double selling the room for that period before you arrive whilst the present occupant waits for a flight out, and you’re still travelling in the UK. You will know this has happened by the still wet floors, and what your neighbours will tell you. Only do day flights!!!!!!!!
Olympic reps
The most expensive way to arrange car hire or any trips is to book through the rep. The trips you can get direct for just over half the price in Tsivili, and the car hire a lot less. The reps are on a commission and will sell you anything and everything they can, but once you’ve paid they will not follow up on anything at all.
Car Hire
One tip – the majority of the roads are narrow and bendy – don’t go for a larger car than you need to, and road tyres are a better choice than 4x4 tyres if you need to brake on a steep descent or narrow passing point (we slid 20 feet on chunky 4x4 tyres when braking and slowing coming down a steep gradient from the mountains – hot tarmac and chunky tyres not the best mix!).
Zante Airport
No tannoy announcements for boarding or delays – the check in staff shout from the desk by the door; people in the duty free shop or upstairs did not hear the call. Once through departures you can buy food and something to drink, as well as duty free shopping. If you’re after cigarettes get them on the island as they’re actually cheaper then the duty free shop. On that point everything is equal to UK prices in the duty free shop.

we had a nice holiday in dassia. the apartments were ok, however bedding wasnt changed enough, twice in two weeks and the toilets are not in good working order. the pool was very nice and clean (very deep), very quiet and always enough sunbeds. owners are friendly and often are about the complex. the complex is on a slight hill off the road, which isnt a problem however can be sometimes noisy as the main road is busy. the restaurants and beach were in good walking distance, all being very nice. dassia isnt the liveliest of places but there are a few cocktail bars. overall we had a nice holiday and explored the island. probably look at different accomodation if i was to go again.

My Partner and myself arrived at these apartments to discover we had to walk two hundred yards down the dirt track and up two flights of stairs to the studio on getting there we had no kettle the fridge did not work one of the beds was falling apart there are no saftey deposit box the bedding was only changed once during the two weeks we were there one towel no air conditioning there were rats and the so-called mountian view was a pile of rubble and behind that a sewage pump noisy italians keep you awake all night the plug sockets were off the wall unsafe wirig showing there were no lighting on the stairs or the dirt track the rep was less than helpful my tip is stay well clear of these apartments

1 reader found this review helpful

Firstly hello to christina and her family...hello mama!
you were great.
we had a fantastic holiday, it was a genuine family atmosphere, everyone talked to each other and it felt like everyone you met you had known for years.
the apartments were clean and comfortable, and roomy enough for what you needed.
the pool was great and the pool bar and food catered for all you need throughout the day.
the beach is only 15 min slow walk, plagos beach was the best, but the whole resort was well balanced for a relaxing holiday, if you want bar,bar, bar then lagana is your place, but to chill, tsilivi is hard to beat. prices are a match for home so no cheap get away, buy hey your on holiday, and the food and choice is fantastic. well worth every penny. top restarant Gorgios, unbelivable food, and watch out for the twins, all the staff there can`t do enough for you. they were fantastic.
make sure you buy or take sea shoes of some kind as a lot of the beach going into the water first 10 yds is a bit rocky but nothing major.
if you venture to tsilivi you will not be disappionted.
ENJOY!!!

3 readers found this review helpful

Having never been to 2 star accommodation before (we normally do not go less than 4 star), my wife and I were very nervous after reading some poor reviews about the Christina Studios, but this was a late deal (booked 18 hours before departure), so we thought as long as the beds are clean and there is hot water to shower, we could always stay in town or on the beach during the daytime.
We were suprised by the cleanliness of the rooms, passageways, pool area and sun deck. The furnishings were better than expected, basic but functional.
Sheets and towels changed twice a week, rooms cleaned and beds made up daily.
Food at bar was very nice, many drinks cheaper than bars in town.
Christina and the other girls that run the place are very friendly and helpful.
All the buildings have had a recent makeover, and they are just on the edge of town, so you do not get the noise from the town centre bars, or roads.
I would highly recommend.
Some people have complained of hill up to studios, but as about 50% of Tsilivi studios and apartments are up a hill, or you have steps to front entrtance, do not go to Tsilive if you are lazy or unfit.

2 readers found this review helpful

Personally I found the Christina studios a fantastic place to stay. Ok there is no pool, air conditioning or safety deposit boxes.... it doesn’t say there is in the brochure so how come so many people feel they need to moan about exactly that when they get there.
I found the rep very helpful. Cleaner is great - and the rooms as small as they are - are perfect. Tip for people going on holiday... read the brochure, then you may find out a bit about where you are going!