Giakalis Hotel

When arriving at this hotel we were greeted by a gentleman that never explained anything to us, he just grunted at us gave us our key then pointed at the apartment which we had to find ourselves in complete darkness.
When we got into our apartment it was fine, good size, basic but clean, just abit dated!
We couldn’t really see the surroundings of the hotel as it was in complete darkness, so when we woke up in the morning our first impressions where that it looked nice, the gardens where well looked after. The gardener was there all day, every day looking after the gardens.
The hotel reception and dining room was also very clean and well presented apart from the size of the dining room.
We were all inclusive so we got up to go for the breakfast on the first morning, we were not impressed the food wasn’t covered up, there were flies every and the selected was very minimal, so needless to say we never ate much of the breakfast, so we tried to lunch then the dinner and the same problem.
The food also didn’t taste fresh most of it was clearly re- heated maybe from the day before! After trying it for the first day we didn’t eat there again so a complete waste of money paying all inclusive. The snack that you had to pay for at the snack bar however where very nice.
At the bar all you got for your all inclusive was coke, Fanta, sprite, beer, wine or ouzo. The variety was poor if you wanted any other drink you had to pay 3 Euros for it. All the drinks were clearly watered down even the wine was topped up with lemonade as well as the beer, the beer was 2% and you would have had to have drunk it for two weeks straight to get drunk from it. I have to say though the bar staff are very friendly.
The pool area didn’t have enough loungers for even half of the people staying there, most of them were lying on the grass until the gardener started shouting at them and moved them on! The pool did not look clean for a couple of days there were people constantly taken water samples away to test it as it was constantly a funny green colour which we were told was peoples sun cream.
There were a lot of angry people that were constantly complaining about the service, children only got an ice cream at 4pm and 1 per child.
The hotel was located in the middle of nowhere, we were woken up into the morning with a cokadoo or by mooing cows. You were a ten minute walk from a beach and about an hour’s walk to any town, there was only two shops nearby that sold very little. We had to hire a beach buggy just to get us away from the hotel and into the nearest town for some descent food.
In the buggy we could get there within 10 mins which was actually fun. It was 18 Euros in a taxi to Kardamena which has some lovely restaurants, which I would recommend.
There was no entertainment at all in the hotel and no pubs around to escape so a couple of nights the holiday makers tried to play games and entertain themselves, which was a good laugh.
Also if you have booked up to this hotel because it is in the middle of nowhere it is infested with mosquitoes so make sure you have repellent with you. I have to say the Greek ones are the best! Some people where covered in them.
This was definitely not a four star and definitely not all inclusive. Good Luck.

The hotel was lovely, rooms were quite basic, but the pool and surrounding area were lovely.
My friends and I all found the food very enjoyable, the main reason people were complaining was because the food wasn't "English" enough, e.g. there wasn't chips and burgers every day, but the fact is you are in Greece! We found every meal lovely.
All the staff were very friendly, especially the two bar staff.
The lack of selection of free drink was disappointing but the wine was very drinkable!
The beach is a 5min walk away and Tigaki, for nightlife was only 8euros in a taxi away.
We had a fab time and would defo go back!

OMG!!! How can people say them things, I’m 17 and I had an amazing time!!
We got there at twenty past four in the morning and the owners son and the night porter was so friendly. And my holiday I can honestly say was the best I’ve had!!!
The owner does smile, well he did at me n once we got over the language barrier we had fun. The bar staff and the owners son really do make your holiday I mean I only went out twice in two weeks because I had so much fun at the hotel. The pool and gardens are amazing.
I'm very picky about my food so when I read the reviews I was a little worried but I eat every time and I loved it.
The rooms were wicked and yes fair enough there was no entertainment but you make your own and also they had a disco while I was there and also I went karaoke (yes very drunk moment!).
About the towels my room was cleaned everyday and my towels and bed linen was changed everyday and embarrassing to admit but I’m very messy and there were normally clothed left on the floor but the maid always folded my clothes up and put them on my bed!
Well all that’s left to say is that I want to thank Hotel Giakalis for making my holiday the best and I have already made enquiries for me and 10 friends to return next year.

Giakalis Hotel - or Camp Colditz as the locals called it was anything but a 4* All Inclusive - it was the holiday from hell - it was :-
Totally misrepresented
Totally miss-sold
Food was disgusting, limited choice, covered in flies
All inclusive did not include spirits other than Ouzo
Soft drinks did not include squash, only fizzy drinks
Ice creams - ha ha - what ice creams - once scoop per day, in a bowl, no cone - and then only if you were under 11years old
Pool was green and area around the pool unsafe as concrete lifted when you used the steps to get out
No air conditioning - no breeze either
No entertainment
However on the plus side -
There was no need for alarm clocks as the cockerels wake you up at 4.30am - that is if you get to sleep in the first place with the heat and the mosquitoes. If the cockerels don't wake you the cows will!
The weather was nice - though as previously mentioned there were no-where near enough sunbeds enforcing a strict regime to reserve one in the early hours!
Overall the holiday could have been awful if it wasn't for the camaraderie of the other guests as everybody else we spoke to felt exactly the same, and we were united in our horror of the place!
Apart from the obvious, we had booked transfers to the hotel. which we did not get, we had booked two separate rooms, one with a double bed, which we did not get, there were no fans available (to hire).
If you go to this Hotel, be prepared to spend lots of extra money on eating out, hire a car or bike to see the island, but take lots of insect repellent.

My husband and myself have just returned from a 2-week holiday. The holiday we booked was for a 4 star All Inclusive at the Giakalis Apartments in Marmari, Kos.
We travelled from Birmingham on 28th July 2007 arriving in resort at 5am on the Sunday morning. Having checked in at reception, we were directed to our room, which we had to find using a lighter, as the lighting within the apartment block was very limited.
Breakfast, the most important meal of the day was our first taste of food at the hotel. This consisted of hard-boiled eggs, which we had for 10 days, the other 3 days we had eggs and bacon if we were lucky enough to get some before it ran out!
Lunchtime wasn’t much better. After the first day, we found alternate places to eat out for lunch. For evening meal there was a choice of either pork, pork or on the odd occasion, chicken.
The restaurant within the hotel wasn’t an enjoyable place to eat with the amount of flies. This is to be expected in hot countries abroad but there were no control measures in place to reduce this. The only time the air conditioning was put on in the restaurant was when the owner came in to have his evening meal!
From the descriptions we read about the hotel, we were led to believe that all snacks and drinks including unlimited beer, wine, gin, vodka, whisky, brandy as well as non-alcoholic drinks were all inclusive. In fact, this was not the case. The only drinks that were available all-inclusive was ouzo, beer, wine and soft drinks, Snacks and other drinks had to be paid for.
The descriptions also stated that all rooms were air-conditioned. This wasn’t true. As you can probably appreciate, the temperatures are very high during the months of July and August and this left me and my husband feeling very uncomfortable during the night when we were supposed to enjoying a good nights rest.
Although we were all inclusive, we did take money with us to enjoy the sights of Greece. We were fortunate but for some unfortunate families who didn’t take money, they had to suffer this hotel, atmosphere and food for 2 weeks as all-inclusive usually means not having to pay for anything within the complex.
This hotel was not all-inclusive and we feel we were sold this holiday under false pretences as this was not a 3/4 star rating as described, we feel maybe a 1/2 star would be a more reasonable rating.
We look forward to the same two weeks every year to enjoy a holiday, which we work hard to pay for. This is the first time we have ever arrived home feeling very disappointed and glad to be back.

Well, where do I start? After reading the other reviews (apart from the person who gave the Giakalis 10 out of 10 and must seriously need their head testing), I would say the other reviews sum this place up in a nutshell.
I booked this holiday as a last minute due to our Great British weather and I wished I had not bothered. The place is a nightmare and after our first visit to the restaurant for breakfast we decided to leave the flies to eat in peace. We could not eat in there as the food was un-hygienic and disgusting. This worked out very expensive has we had to taxi it to the nearest town, we could only afford one meal a day.
My child was poorly after the first day; we had no air con and therefore struggled to get his temperature down. We had to choose between a doctor and our meals as we had no credit cards and a limited amount of cash due to being all- inclusive.
The staff, however, did try there best and I do not blame them as the problem lies in this country where these so called reputable travel companies are seriously miss selling this holiday. The main culprit appears to be ‘you travel’.
We did have sunshine and in the end after numerous phone calls back home to the travel company we just had to try and get on with it.
We did have the support of other holiday makers as everybody felt the same. I felt sorry for the children as Myself and partner decided to use it as an intense diet and the opportunity to lose weight.
But children enjoy their ice creams and sticking a variety of foods on their plates including yummy deserts and they could not do this. In fact because we had to pay for taxis and a meal everyday there was no spare money for treats or trips out.
My advice to you is, don't go and if you have booked demand to be moved to a different hotel before you leave England.

May I firstly say I have read every report on this hotel on this site and many more besides and I cannot believe how anyone can rate this place, especially the gent who rated 10/10 he is obviously the owner of the place because I have just returned from this place after spending 2wks there and having honestly the worst time of my life.
I am not going to list all the problems I’ve had as I don’t want to waste another 2wks of my life but I was totally miss-lead and miss-sold this holiday as an all-inclusive holiday.

The hotel grounds and reception are reasonably well kept and some of the staff were very nice but I’m afraid that’s where it ends, as so many people have said the food was atrocious and I am a Billy-goat who can normally eat anything but I struggled to cope with the same junk every day like boiled eggs melon (red) complete with their own fly squadron.
I was lead to believe it had a games room for the kids (4 euros for an hour of pool was more like it) tennis court 4 euros which I mistook for an ancient Greek ruin. Kid’s playground unlit at night and dangerous, crazy golf which is almost derelict a dartboard with one dart which they found on my second week.
A TV that only the manager had control over. No entertainment whatsoever most of the guests were playing cards although we all went out a lot in the pitch black in search of life as we were in the middle of what seemed to be a farm. No air-con unless you wanted pay for upgrade and even then you paid 7 euros per day for a/c fans were 2 euros a day.

Going back to the food if you have children forget it or take plenty of extra money, I witnessed a big grown man in tears because his children had not eaten an he was at his wits end, so he then had to buy pizza and chips there for about 8euros.
Anyone at the hotel at this time will know what I say is true as this seemed to be the main topic every day, I also know that several weeks previous it was actually worse and because people before us had complained to the management it got slightly better the managers son even hired a disco/bingo person for one evening just to cheer people up or to stop a riot in my opinion.
I know this sounds unbelievable and unfair but the people who were out there with us on these 2 weeks (and they’ll know who they are will I believe be adding to my comments very soon indeed my honest advice would be stay away until something is done.
This is not a 3* hotel more of a 2* b&b only then would it be value for money

On first impressions (which for us was 5.30am) the place looks great...the pool was nice, the apartments basic but fine...it wasn't till we got to the bar and realised how little you get for all inclusive.
I’ve been on all inclusive before and it was great....food and snacks all day, all local brands of drinks including spirits and entertainment!! Giakalis should be called all EXclusive. If you like watered down beer, wine then you'll love this place. The food is rubbish. If you like variations of pork then you'll not starve. Beware you will get chips every second day at lunch but be warned this is the only time there'll be a queue at the dining room. Snacks between meals have to be paid for and entertainment.... what entertainment??
You have to get taxis or the local bus to go near any civilisation and the bus stop is a good 15 mins walk from the apartments.
On the plus side the bus is cheap and I would recommend going into Kos town. My tip would be take lots of extra money because you'll need it to keep your kids fed.
Anna the barmaid was excellent...she has her work cut out though as she was often the only person serving drink and making snacks at the same time. The owner and the chef were miserable...but if you don't mind travelling about it's fine.
Beware of the Brits who have turned into Germans though....the towels go down as soon as the bar shuts at 1am!!

Beware if the above travel company offers you a 4 star all inclusive hotel namely Giakalis Marmari, do not book and go.
This hotel is not 4 star all inclusive as the above company has miss sold the holiday on a number of occasions.
We have just returned from the holiday from hell, where the swimming pool turned green, the only desert available in this 1 star basic apartment hotel was the occasional jelly or fly infested water melon.
The food was of a poor quality plain, unappetising, fly infested and the smell from the toilets just off the dining room coupled with the flies on the food rendered most food inedible.
If you want a drink don’t bother asking for drinking water they tell you to drink the tap water, as they won’t supply bottled water. With one bar staff who has to cook snacks which you also have to pay for, cleaning the dining room and running the bar you have to wait on average ten minutes to get a drink. This leads to queue upon queue.
In this 4 star all inclusive hotel that does not provide drinking water you will be able to have lager, ouzo, wine, or few fizzy drinks if you are prepared to wait.
The owners are unfriendly to the guests and if you encounter a problem don’t bank on qwerty travel sorting it out! In short just don’t go if you want a relaxing stress free holiday with nice food and a clean environment.
This is not a 4 star all inclusive!

Like the other chap who said he had to write a review after reading all the bad ones I agree that whilst the tour operator might well have mislead buyers with the all inclusive option and the air-con, overall this hotel offers value for money and we had a fantastic time.
I do not agree with the comments regarding the food at all. As never having Greek food before we absolutely loved trying it and the only thing that put us off our dinner was the incessant, extremely rude and disrespectful people complaining in the dining room, it made us ashamed to be English.
Yes I can see why people may not have liked the look of it as its a bit different to your usual ready meals or fish fingers, beans and chips but they could at least try something different rather than walking in the dining room and shouting 'Oi mate where's the chips' to the poor chef and walking out again without even trying any of it. And there are plenty of different options, including vegetarian, and we didn’t have any problems with flies or illnesses at all.
Not even a single mozzie bite between us. We did go to this hotel early in the season and we found it quiet but had air-con (although was disappointed we had to pay), sea views and a big room.
The hotel was very clean and the only reason the restaurant toilet smelled was because people ignored the fact that you cant put toilet paper in the toilet, which was very annoying. We had our linen and towels changing every 3 days, which was fine.
We didn’t ever have a problem getting a sun bed even in the afternoons or with the colour of the pool or cows mooing at night! We found all the staff friendly and accommodating, including the owners who said 'calemera' every time we saw them. I think if you embrace the culture here and be realistic about the accommodation for the price you will have a fantastic time.
We had a bbq one night and karaoke twice in the two weeks we were there. We didn’t want to eat out as we liked the food so much but did at lunchtimes when out and about and we wondered what we had missed out on.
If you think the nearest taverna is 20 minutes away then you obviously didn’t explore the immediate area as Mythos restaurant and bar was about a 2min walk away! Both neighbouring resorts are maybe a little too far to keep walking to if you are old or with children but we hired bikes and buggies and got plenty of taxis and buses cheap and easily enough.
The bus-stop is literally 5mins away. Marmari beach is the best on the whole island as we visited them all and is not far at all, 15mins to Marmari, but walk along the beach and its lovely anyway. Carvaria beach is 2 mins up the road and is just as nice and extremely quiet. Just watch out for the nudist beach on the way to Tigaki!