Olive Garden

Stayed in the Olive Garden for 1 week July 06 Holiday magical 2 Bedroom appt excellent. Pool great very friendly staff Wither family Bangor 06

My girlfriend and I took a last minute deal to the Olive Garden, having read all the reviews on trip adviser. We hoped that the reviews did the place justice, but in reality words cannot adequately describe the view that awaits you at the Olive Garden. We were lucky enough to get one of the apartments that over looks Lassi and the bay, and I never got tired of watching the sun go down every night giving spectacular sunsets... in fact my camera seems only to have taken such shots! Nic is a great host and I would reccomend his BBQ night... you will not go hungry! Lassi offers everything you'd need for a relaxing holiday, and if you wanted something more lively, the Capital Argostoli is not far. I have never before wanted to return to a holiday hotel before, but as soon as we got home I looked on the web and will hope to return next year.... Line up the Greek breakfast Nik!!!!

My boyfriend and I took a last minute holiday to Kefalonia, not expecting much for the price we paid - just a week in the sun. We found the apartments were fine for what we paid: simple, clean and typically greek I suppose (putting loo paper in the bin and using a shower without a curtain always take a bit of getting used to). There are two great things about the apartments though. The first is that the views are gorgeous. Most have sea views and it's a great place to watch the sunset - if you were in a hotel you'd pay a premium for such a view. The second is the people - Nik, who is mentioned in most of the reviews, is always very chatty and welcoming - you'll even learn a few words of greek, if like me you went knowing (shamefully) nothing! In high season (I think ours in mid/late Sept was one of the last) Nik organises a BBQ once a week, which is worth going to as you get chatting to other guests and the steaks you get are the biggest I've ever seen! There's all sorts of meat, but very little for the veggie's among you. There's a quiz after which is good fun. Lassi is a great base if you plan to see a bit of the island. We hired the cheapest car available through our rep and it served us well - you don't need to get a jeep if you're on a bit of a budget as they're about 100 euro's more and all the roads you go on have tarmac on them - you do need to be very careful and concentrate on the roads though, as some have sheer drops! As most of the reviews say, go to Assos and Fiscardo which are both pretty villages, Myrtos beach is also gorgeous, but be careful if you swim as the tide is quite strong. A quieter beach with perfectly calm and clear sea is Katelios in the south, near Skala. We also visited the Messelani Lake and Drogonati Caves which were good. Lassi by night is fairly low key so probably more suitable for couples or those wanting a relaxing holiday. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from - and we never had a bad meal. We sometiems went for a 'tapas' style meal with a few starters and a greek salad which is nice as you get to try different things - we loved a starter called saganaki and tsatsiki is always nice as a dip for your bread. Sto Psito (ask a local or your rep where it is as it's further out) and Nefeli's were good. We often went for dinner in Lassi then walked back to the bar at the apartment for drinks, as it was sometimes more lively than Lassi - plus Nik makes some lethal coctails - the sweet dream in particular did not seem so sweet the next day!! All in all a great Island and great place to stay - made even better by the friendly people at Olive Gardens and throughout Kefalonia.

just back from 2 wks in Olive Gdns - had a wonderful time. We had a 2 bed apt for 5 of us (2 adults 3 kids). The apt was fabulous, views fantastic. We travel round the greek islands every summer, but these were the largest and cleanest apts we've seen. Nikos at the pool bar/restaurant is the hardest working man I've met in a long time! He is an excellent host and his cooking is wonderful(and very reasonably priced)The craic at the pool is great and Lassi and Argostoli are 5 mins away. I loved the restaurants in Argostoli and the cafe atmosphere. Kephalonia is a beautiful island - very lush and green for Greece and it's well worth hiring a car as there's plenty to see - I loved Fiskardo, a lovely port with fab restaurants and a lovely harbour. It is extremely hot (it's Greece!) but there is always a cool(ish) breeze and we didn't need the air conditioning - bring the factor 50!

My wife and I have just returned from a wonderful 7 night stay at the Olive Garden Apartments in Lassi, Kefalonia. We were there from 25th June to 2nd July. We booked the Olive Garden through Eclipse Holidays (First Choice) over the internet based on favourable reviews we had seen on another review website. We were not disappointed. The transfer to Lassi is approx. 10 mins from the airport. This may lead you to believe that the resort suffers from aircraft noise, but as Kefalonia does not have frequent flights and does not currently allow night landings and take-offs, this is not a problem. The transfer coach drops you off at a bottom of the hill on Lassi’s main road, and a minibus takes you up the hill to the Olive Garden Apmts. This is quite handy as the minibus driver will allow you to nip into the supermarket and buy a couple of bottles of water, if you ask him. The hill is quite steep and takes about 10 mins to walk up at a good pace, but you can get a taxi to take you up for 5 euros. The upside of the hill is that the Olive Garden enjoys a stunning view of the resort of Lassi and the sea (see pictures). The accommodation is quite basic (as is the nature of accommodation in Greece and the Greek Islands), but is very clean and tidy. We had a one-bedroomed apartment which was on the ground floor, with a two-bedroomed apartment above. This meant we had a terrace to enjoy the amazing view. The apartment slept three comfortably with a double bed, wardrobe and drawers in the bedroom (which had patio doors to the terrace) and a single bed in the living area. The living area also encompassed the modest kitchen with breakfast bar, fridge and small combination oven, grill and hob. The bathroom was wet room style with shower. A fan was provided and air conditioning could be purchased locally for 8 euros per night. The maid service was six times a week. The pool is large and we had no problems with lack of sun loungers. The pool bar has a great friendly atmosphere and the American/Greek who runs it, Nik (who seems to work all days and all hours), is always available with tips on what to see on the island and where to eat. The pool bar opens at 10am and closes when the last person drops (early hours of the morning). It serves really nice food all day too. Lassi is an excellent base for seeing the island. It has a main road which has a couple of supermarkets (Vagelati seems to be the cheapest), some bars and restaurants. Night-life is low-key and relaxed, but Argostoli (the capital) is only a 25 minute walk away (or 5 euro taxi ride) for more bars and restaurants. Argostoli also has some a small shopping centre with boutiques and fruit markets, etc. Restaurants that we would recommend are Phaedra and Nefeli’s in Lassi and Captain’s Table in Argostoli. We wanted to see the island and hired a jeep for 4 days for 200 euros, through First Choice’s approved agent. Please note that these were still low season prices and I expect they will have increased in July. You could hire an air-con car from 100 euros upwards. Be aware that Kefalonia is quite mountainous, and although the roads are well maintained and have barriers, there can be steep drops to the side of the road. Bit hairy if, like me, you do not like heights, but you get used to it! We spent one day going up the east coast to Myrtos Beach, Assos and Fiskardo. Myrtos is a gorgeous shingle beach with crystal clear waters surrounded by cliffs. Assos is a pretty little village in a cove which is ideal to stop for lunch. Fiskardo is the only village not to be destroyed by the 1953 earthquake and is a small fishing port. It has a small beach and plenty of charm. Our second journey took us to Sami on the west coast of the island. This is where the bulk of Captain Correlli’s Mandolin was filmed. It has a nice beach called Antisammos and ancient ruins from the previous city. On the way to Sami are the Drogarati caves and Lake Melissani (an underground lake tour by boat) which are both interesting and cheap experiences. None of these journeys are far distance wise, and you can stop off and visit hidden coves and beaches for a quick dip. The only disappointment we had with Olive Garden was that the towels were only changed once during the week. The only other disappointment was with the First Choice rep within the accommodation. There was no refreshment, not even water, at the welcome meeting and he only seemed interested in selling the First Choice trips. He didn’t seem interested in any questions asked of him about the island and we felt that everything was too much trouble for him. Overall, Kefalonia is a beautiful, green island with some wonderful sights and scenery. The locals are pleasant and warm to holidaymakers. Lassi is an excellent resort with a sandy beach and plenty of restaurants to enjoy Greek and international cuisine. Olive Garden is a friendly, informal accommodation and a great place to get back to after a day of sunbathing or sightseeing. Enjoy!

Stayed at the Olive Gardens June 06 This really is a great place to switch off and enjoya break in good accom on a beautiful Greek Island. The rooms are modern and very clean with fantastic views over Lassi and the bay beyond with some great sunsets. Although up a steep hill the 5 euro taxi ride is worth it also Argostoli is the same fare over the hill for some night life in the 'capital'. A good pool with subeds and parasols accompany a bar which serves good snacks and is run by Newyork/Greek Nic who speaks good English serves great drinks with style and organises a weekly barbeque which most guests join . Kef is beautiful island and carhire is well worth the money to see around at your own pace and also to find some great secluded beaches (Myrtos especially).Lots af little villages to visit -must see are Fiskardo , Efimia and Samos. Lassi is a quiet resort but has every thing you need with a good selection of restaurants I recommend Monte Negro and Pheadra both on the main strip.

Returned yesterday from a week staying at the Olive Garden Studios, which was allocated to us on arrival. I am the most fussy traveller you could ever meet, but this time, I did not want to come home! Yes the apartments are at the top of a steep hill, ok going down, tough going up, but a taxi only costs 5 euros - and believe me this is a small price to pay for the absolutely stunning view you will get at the apartments! We had a 2 bedroomed apartment, which was typically greek! Minimal furniture, but very clean. The pool and pool bar were excellent, Nic the bar owner was superb fun and we didnt have to put towels out to secure sunbeds at any point in the day. The majority of ground floor apartments overlooked the sea, and all had a patio that accessed the grassy area in the front. We had 2 mornings which were overcast but this soon burnt off and became blazing hot days! We are booking to go back next year and cant wait. I would recommed anyone staying at these apartments to consider hiring a car to both shop (there are no supermarkets close to the apartments) but also to sight see around the island to enjoy its breathtaking beauty.

We stayed at these apartments in May 2005. This was our first holiday to Kefalonia and we booked these apartments as a last minute cheapish deal. Upon arrival we were delighted when we checked into our apartment in which we would be spending the forthcoming week. The apartment consisted of a 2 storey, 2 bedroom building. Downstairs was a kitchen and living area together with a full length balcony Upstairs consisted of the bathroom, two bedrooms again with a full length balcony leading out from both bedrooms. A beautiful spiral staircase linked the two floors. The aparment was clean and was well fitted out. The view from the balcony on both floors was breathtaking, panoramic sea views across the whole of Lassi and the bay. The pool/terrace area shared this same view and was a great place to relax and enjoy the charms of Kefalonia. The pool was a good size and was always clean and well maintained. The bar/restaurant served some lovely bar food and refreshing drinks. The staff were very friendly and eager to please. There was an American/Greek guy workin in the kicthen who seemed very nice and a Greek girl working behind the bar, both made our stay a much more enjoyable one. They were always willing to share tips and recommendations regarding travel around the island and where to be sure to eat/ see and where best to avoid. The bar wasn't open too late, until about 7 pm, due to being out of season I believe. The owner named Bill could often be seen walking around carrying out gardening and maintenance work. The apartments were situated at the top of quite a steep hill. This was quite tiring however the views from the top made up for the hard work. Halfway down was a Greek Othordox church built into the cliff edge, this was quite amazing and in the summer months the priest would sleep in the cave to keep cool if I remember correctly. In Lassi there are a number of nice restaurants which cater for tourists and also serve some lovely Kefalonian and Greek dishes. Our favourite restaurant which had received some good reorts was Sto Psito which is just outside the town. This is quite difficult to locate and would recommend a taxi or local to direct in order to find this restaurant. We could not fault any of the restauarnts along the main high street. A friendly restaurant was Taverna Sirtaki where the owner was more than willing to show us around the grounds of the restaurant and family home and give us an insight into family history/events and life in Kefalonia. There were a fair number of bars which were open until quite late and were pretty lively. One night we headed out to Argostoli to eat, the town seemed to mainly consist of locals and we were not particularly impressed with the food/service we received. We wanted to get out and see the island so we hired a Jeep for 3 days from a rental shop down towards the end of the high street, Liberatos Car Rental who were very helpful. Some of the roads are very dangerous, windy and steep and full concentration is needed at all times. Some of the journeys can be quite tiring due to the winding and steep roads. Myrtos Bay (featured in Capt Corelli's Mandolin) was amazing, views from the top were incredible and the beach was stunning. Assos and Assos Town were beautiful and a very relaxing place to have lunch. Fiskardo at the north of the island was a very pretty old fishing village. Skala in the south of the island was quite touristy and not much going on however there was a lovely beach lined with fur trees. Sami to the east of the island was beautiful, there is quite a mountainous car journey from Lassi to reach this town. This was where much of the filming for the movie was down. We visited a beautiful cave called Mellisani with an amazing story behind it which is well signposted, located just outside the town. All in all a wonderful holiday, made more memorable by the friendly local people and the beautiful Kefalonian scenery. Would love to visit again soon and would make a special effort to return to these apartments. We visited in May which we found quite fortunate as the weather was still warm, we had heard during the peak season the resort was extremely busy and we felt if the resort was any busier this may have impacted how relaxing we found the trip to be. One word of warning, try to avoid the ginger Geordie bike rental salesman along the main high street in Lassi. Meet him and you will understand what we are talking about!!

we have just returned from a two week holiday in the olive gardens studios kefalonia. we were very disapointed. The studios were very basic, consisting of 3 mismatched single beds, the tiniest showeroom I've ever seen, and a kitchenette which was basic with a none working fridge. We didnt get a view, as the studios are on the ground floor, and as soon as we opened the door cats appeared and went on the beds etc. One wardrobe, no drawers, therefore lived out of a suitcase. Added to this the complex was at the top of a steep hill, and so taxis/cars were needed. Unforunately we had storms and rain and there was nowhere to sit in the studio, only beds. Pool area was acceptable as was the bar and staff. It was the accomodation which was the downfall, we would not reccomend it!

My partner and I love Kefalonia, the first year we went and stayed at the mediterranee. We went back and decided to go self catering. The Olive Gardens are situated up a steep hill that is great going down but not so good going up! The Studio apartments we stayed in were suitable for 3, there are smaller studios for 2 but this was perfect as there was no noise from either side as it was in a detached vila, with people staying above us in the larger apartments. The pool and view are fantastic, the bar was great, Bill the owner was serving and he made the holiday, altough I dont know if you'll see much of him if you go now. The Island is amazing, the safest place on earth, with a near on zero crime rate. We watched in amazement as people left their keys in their cars and motorbikes, we aksed Bill about this and he said 'Well who's going to take it? More to the point where are they going to go?' Kefalonia is a small island with a community atmosphere where ever you go. It's well worth car hire although a bit scary up in the hills, the views are breathtaking, check out the lakes, the main square in Argostoli, Mytos beach and everything else you can cram in. As for bars and eating out, its not cheap, similar prices to home, check out phadera at the end of the strip in Lassi - fantastic and the so simple bar, again on the main strip. It looks a bit naff but sit at the bar and you will be well taken care of.