Giakalis Hotel

This holiday was booked under very misleading information. As we were informed that the hotel was 4star inclusive this was far from reality.
The food on choice was of very poor standard, plus there was no kiddies menu available.
No evening entertainment was ever available during our entire stay. Snacks which are usually on offer under all inclusive had to be paid for separate and the only drinks which were free were wine beer and ouzo ,all other drinks had to be paid for.
Overall the standard of the hotel was very poor, no air conditioning in the rooms or in the lounge.

Booked from teletext as a 4* all inclusive hence we were disappointed to find that the hotel was graded 'B' and therefore could not be given above a 3* rating.
Also disappointed with the very limited variety of drinks on offer and the quality of food set before us. No entertainment included.
Having said all that, we had a massive room, the hotel and grounds were well maintained and very clean - apart from the dysfunctional fountain near the bar which appeared to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes!
Another big positive were the staff who, despite having to endure a stream of complaints, remained cheerful and loyal to the management, who have obviously made an error of judgement in signing up to the holiday companies to do 'all inclusive' at a ridiculous price.
All in all then, the holiday was excellent value, the weather was marvellous, the beach (10 mins walk) was fabulous and the whole island had a friendly and hospitable feel.
Our gripe is with the holiday companies who misrepresent what's on offer - many guests arrived expecting air-conditioning - there is none apart from a pleasant breeze - baby sitting service - there is none.
The hotel is quite 'rural' and you will need to use the local buses or taxis to seek your entertainment.

My friend and I had a really good time, the setting was nice, and the gardens were kept very well. The pool was very nice and was kept clean every day.
We were disappointed when we arrived as it was rated on teletext as a 4 star accommodation, which it definitely was not, the rooms were basic but comfortable.
The food was edible but not very much choice; the breakfasts were almost the same every day, about every third day you would get a fried breakfast. The juice was same every day.
As for the drinks, you were limited to soft drinks, beer, wine, and ouzo, which you make the best of but they are not everybody’s choice.
When we arrived we had missed lunch, we had, had a long day and were peckish, but had to pay for our sandwich, which normally on an all inclusive deal there would be a snack bar which is open all the time.
The staff on the whole were very friendly, but they seem to be getting so many moans
from other holidaymakers about the hotel that they were probably very fed up.
There was no sea view from our room which was stated on our booking form.
There was not much to do in the evenings, there was about a twenty minute walk to the nearest taverna.
But all that aside we did have a really nice holiday and went on a few trips which we were picked up from the hotel. Also bus is about a twenty minute walk away, but quite a good service.

Our holiday in the Giakalis hotel was a comfortable and well efficient holiday from the beginning to the end. The staff were always very polite and friendly and made us feel welcome, the hotel is in a tranquil location in Marmari and is a short 5-10 min stroll to the beach and only a short taxi journey to the busy Kos town, where the nightlife is fantastic.
The hotel grounds are set in beautiful gardens which are well kept. The views from the rooms overlooked the gardens and provided a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.
The pool facilities were impeccable and catered for all age groups with various available activities.
There are also many optional excursions during the day including a day trip to Turkey. Which personally we wouldn't recommend. Whereas the Greek based trips are very pleasant.
We would recommend this hotel for a relaxing day life and many options for the night.

We went for a week at the hotel Giakalis., Kos, Greece. All inclusive. We returned on Sunday morning. Wish we had not been. Pitch black on arrival, lights in or around the hotel were off completely. Not even a torch to guide us to our room. We found our own way and had to fiddle with the key in the lock to get into our room. Ground floor on the front of the hotel, alongside the loud busy road, we realise3d when we woke and went onto our balcony. We went for breakfast! Which was supposed to be all inclusive buffet style, there was the following to choose: - peaches, tea and coffee (make sure you take your own) it was yuk... bread and butter, white Greek yoghurt, cornflakes supplied through a knob turning machine, fresh milk because the cows were pegged down by rope in the field next to the hotel, oh and best of all, FLY infested restaurant area, well actually Fly infested in and around the hotel... FLIES all over the buffet style food. Lunch: - more FLIES Dinner: - more FLIES Actually, pork heavily spiced, mashed potatoes, heavily spiced, salad which caused tummy upset... was not even fit enough to be a health farm!!! Peaches, bread and butter, pasta and rice, well I’m afraid that's it, because the same Yuk food was served daily. There is 1 pool, a shop a few yards down the road from the hotel, the bed linen in the rooms is not changed, and the sheets are just folded daily! The towels are not changed, there just folded daily as well... we were bitten so many times without realising it. Our hospital back home have treated us with antibiotics. Make sure you take antiseptic cream or dettol to bathe in your hotel room. Ok we are a couple in our 40's. We chose to have a relaxed laid back holiday, all inclusive we thought! Anyway, obviously we went out to eat after seeing the continuous Yuk food on offer. We went for a 15min walk to the beach, lovely and clean, 3 euro get's you a sunbed and umbrella for the day on the wonderful beach which is just a few feet from you, opposite the beach is a wonderful restaurant, for example steak and chips and a drink each cost 20 euro. Lovely clear sea... make sure you take sun cream as the lovely breeze can still give you sunburn which you won't realise even when you’re out and about... and each time you come out of the pool or sea. Bus fare to Marmari or Kos town was 1.60 euro each way, were you can purchase some lovely gifts, pubs restaurants as well to relax. The Greek people are so very friendly. Smoking of cigarettes are not allowed when you get to Birmingham airport, I expect all airports are the same, so make sure you get your last fag break before you go in the airport. Also cigarettes cannot be purchased at the duty free to take to Kos, they will be confiscated so make sure you get your cigarettes before hand and put them in your suitcase, cigarettes are 30 euro in Kos for a sleeve, expensive, and cigarettes are just as expensive at the return at the airport. Cigarettes are not sold on the plane to Kos either or on your return. So prepare to have to gasp for a fag break if you’re not prepared when you get to Kos. Cigarettes of your own and a lighter can be put into your hand luggage and I doubt if you will get the chance for a fag break until you reach your hotel. A pint of lager in Kos is 2-3 euro. We went on a fishing trip for the day, 25 euro each which included bbq as well, the whole trip was wonderful. Which included coach transfer to and from the hotel. We went to the thermal springs, which is a 40 degree c, hot large pool type thing next to the sea, 8 euro each, which included coach return to the hotel as well. Named sunglasses out and about can be purchased for as little as 3-8 euro, Leather named purse 5-12 euro, leather named handbag 5-15 euro. Or how about a canvass painting 10-20 euro depending on the size of the painting you fall in love with... Clothing appears to be expensive in Kos. But there are plenty of lovely gift ideas for you to browse through whilst you’re in Kos town or marmaris as a few are mentioned/suggested above. Word of warning please take note.... we noticed plenty of head stones along the roads to Kos and marmari and out and about, even near the hotel, were deaths had occurred, rusty scooters etc, lay besides the head stones where obviously marking the accident spot where they had occurred.... god bless.... you be careful and please advise your loved one's also. Drivers and cyclists drive on the right. The hiring of scooters/ cars/ etc are too easily available, the kids only have to be 16 to hire a scooter or a buggy... the roads are narrow and continuously very busy, even for pedestrians. Please advise your loved ones to avoid hiring and use the bus instead, which run to and from Kos or marmaris hourly at 1.60 euro each way! Cheap enough to be safe... and always walk away from the road close to the edge single file when you are out and about... there are plenty of cafes/ restaurants to stop at whilst walking to have a cool drink whilst you’re out and about. Avoid the hotel Giakalis... Anyway you have a lovely holiday, best wishes and take care.

After reading what I must call, quite pitiful reviews from Giakalis Hotel in Marmari, I thought I should post something on here to set the record straight.
I for one never usually do things like this, but I consider it very unfair that this hotel has had very bad reviews in the past, and it does not do the hotel the justice it deserves.
My partner and myself are very picky eaters, and after reading reviews on the Internet about the hotel, I was quite anxious to say the least about my forthcoming holiday here, especially as we were All Inclusive. Having booked it as a late deal with an extremely impressive price, I was quite looking forward to it and tried to put it to the back of my mind.
However, having arrived at the hotel at 7.30pm and going for dinner soon after, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and quantity of the food. Both my partner and myself had lots on our plates and went back for more. The waiters also couldn’t do enough for you and were so friendly and polite.
Children and vegetarians were also catered for, with plenty of food to go round. This excellent standard carried on the whole week we ate there, three times a day, minus us deciding to eat out at an Indian Restaurant on our final night, simply because of the amount of superb looking restaurants around us.
For Breakfast there would be a vast amount of cereals on display, along with salads, breads, and also a cooked breakfast with fried/poached eggs, beans, hash browns, pancakes, sausages, and bacon.
For Lunch there would be hot specials like pastas, chips, Turkish pizzas, different things everyday but all were extremely yummy. Along with this, there were breads, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and little cakes for dessert.
For the whole week we both ate there, we never saw the same dish on the menu twice, so I cannot understand these people who complained the food there was repetitive. As I stated before, I am quite a picky eater, and I’m not one for trying new and foreign foods, but the way the food was displayed looked very appetising and my plate was always filled. Definitely 10 out of 10 as far as the food is concerned.
Our room was lovely; having asked for a double when I booked, we were given a twin but went back down to reception and asked for a double and they were extremely polite and apologetic about the mistake and immediately changed our room.
The air conditioning was superb and was just the thing that I needed, we even woke up in the night a couple of times, and needed to turn it down, as it was that cold. Just keep the patio doors closed as opening them makes the air con turn off. The room was so clean, the maids came everyday and gave us clean towels.
Everywhere was immaculate; this applies to the whole hotel also. I don’t think I can fault the entire resort, even the reception staff, and the bellboy, who unfortunately had been called ‘rude’ in past reviews. We both considered them to be polite and did their job to a high standard.
I cannot understand why anyone would not enjoy their visit to this hotel, as it boats something to please everyone. The pool and pool bar were lovely; they could have done with a few more sun loungers though.
Overall, my partner and myself would both give this hotel 11 out of 10 if we could. We enjoyed it tremendously and may very well visit here again next year for two weeks instead of just the one.

Overall the holiday was disappointing for a number of reasons.
The main one is that the websites are miss-leading about the hotel. Where it says that all local spirits are included in the All Inclusive price, this is not correct. In fact the only drinks that are included are beer, wine, orangeade, lemonade, coke, ouzo and sometimes tea and coffee.
The other reasons are that the food is always the same and made a number of people in the hotel ill, also the hotel is in the middle of nowhere and with nothing to do in the evening it can get quite boring at times.
A rep from a nearby company called python tours comes to give some general info and to offer trips that is not helpful at all and will not help with hotel issues.
She even managed to get one of the trips we booked on messed up by either losing the ticket of writing it on the wrong form that meant we did not get picked up for it.
I would recommend not going to this hotel unless you want to do nothing but sunbath and eat the same food day in day out.

The best of the best holidays of my life! They were all wonderful, the atmosphere, the giakalis family, the sun everything! I think that you should go there to relax and have a week away from "stress and the city" if you know what I mean.
But if your an alcoholic don't bother cause if you want to drink spirits such as vodka(Russian), gin(English), rum(Caribbean) and whiskey(Scottish) you'll have to be charged because they are not a Greek product!

We had a good week at this resort. It should have been all inclusive, but this is quite misleading, it is in fact full board, with some drinks thrown in.
The food is rather bland and repetitive. The owner never smiles and it is not friendly and it’s certainly not run within a family atmosphere.
You get the impression that he is counting every thing you put on you plate.
They also seem to change the rules from day to day - one day tea and coffee had to be paid for outside meal times.
At meal times, they do not seem to be aware that dishes must be replenished eg kept running out of butter or you needed to constantly ask for something.
The hotel is situated on the very outskirts of Marmari, the walk to the beach is a 20 minute stroll. There are no sea views and this was misleading although you get good pool views.
There is not much to do in the evenings.