Elly Beach Hotel, Liapades, Corfu
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Hotel Description:
The Hotel Elly Beach has an idyllic location in the quiet resort of Liapades, one of Corfu's oldest and prettiest villages. The hotel is set directly on the beach (shingle) and offers fantastic views across the bay and out to sea. If you are looking for relaxation and getting away from it all then this is the place for you. The hotel has 2 swimming pools and a lovely sun terrace with poolside bar. loading...
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Elly Beach Hotel Reviews
" We have recently returned from two... "
Submitted By: Mrs C Smith
We have recently returned from two weeks holiday to the Elly Beach Hotel.
Liapades fully lives up to its reputation of being the most beautiful little resort in the whole of Corfu, and the hotel is situated in the most idealistic situation.
The views are superb from all areas of the hotel, especially from the swimming pools and terraces. It was a joy to sit and eat breakfast and dinner there, and just to relax and enjoy the morning sun and sunsets. The staff were very friendly and could not do enough for us.
However the food was really bad - We were served powdered potato for dinner on two nights out of the 5 we ate there, and the only vegetables were frozen mixed veg. Dessert appeared on one evening only!
My husband would divorce me if I served him this kind of food at home. We only managed to suffer the food for five days, before we were forced to eat elsewhere for the rest of the holiday, adding extra expense to what was not, in the first instance a cheap holiday.
It would not take a great deal of effort for the owners of this hotel to serve good Greek food. We would love to go back there one day-after they've found a chef!
Liapades fully lives up to its reputation of being the most beautiful little resort in the whole of Corfu, and the hotel is situated in the most idealistic situation.
The views are superb from all areas of the hotel, especially from the swimming pools and terraces. It was a joy to sit and eat breakfast and dinner there, and just to relax and enjoy the morning sun and sunsets. The staff were very friendly and could not do enough for us.
However the food was really bad - We were served powdered potato for dinner on two nights out of the 5 we ate there, and the only vegetables were frozen mixed veg. Dessert appeared on one evening only!
My husband would divorce me if I served him this kind of food at home. We only managed to suffer the food for five days, before we were forced to eat elsewhere for the rest of the holiday, adding extra expense to what was not, in the first instance a cheap holiday.
It would not take a great deal of effort for the owners of this hotel to serve good Greek food. We would love to go back there one day-after they've found a chef!
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- Date of Holiday:May 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Lastminute
" We stayed here late in the season,... "
Submitted By: Mr G Reed
We stayed here late in the season, October.Very nice location but hotel was virtually closed around us half way through the week - swimming pools closed, rep disappeared, etc.
We made the best of it, hired a car and saw some beautiful places.
Holiday was spoiled by staff 'questioning' whether 2 drinks had been paid for (they had), a great pity to leave a bad impression over a couple of Euros.
I have no problem with cats, wasps or sewage all of which are present, but wouldn't return, holidays are too short to waste arguing with members of staff.
I thought the food was good.
We made the best of it, hired a car and saw some beautiful places.
Holiday was spoiled by staff 'questioning' whether 2 drinks had been paid for (they had), a great pity to leave a bad impression over a couple of Euros.
I have no problem with cats, wasps or sewage all of which are present, but wouldn't return, holidays are too short to waste arguing with members of staff.
I thought the food was good.
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- Date of Holiday:Oct 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Lastminute
" We booked a seven day half-board... "
Submitted By: SunLotion
We booked a seven day half-board holiday at the Elly Beach Hotel in Liapades from 29th Sept-6th Oct through LastMinute just 10 days before departure. Outward flight (First Choice)and coach transfer was uneventful and we arrived at the hotel around midnight along with several other guests. Night manager was friendly and courteous and took us to our room, right down on the beach.
Our room was spacious and clean with a fully equipped bathroom and a patio area outside with sunbeds included. We were eager to see 'the view' in the morning having read so much about it on the internet. We weren't disappointed - the scenery is absolutely stunning! The hotel is arranged in graduated blocks on the side of a rather steep hill with most rooms having a sea view.
The buffet style restaurant has seating both inside and outside on a terrace overlooking the ocean. Wasps were a problem at breakfast time (8-10am) but were not the 'aggressive' type and we didn't see anybody stung. Cereal, jam, marmalade and honey was offered everyday with very fresh bread. Cheese slices, ham, sausages and eggs were also available along with fruit juices, tea and coffee. The hotel has a rather antiquated looking but very interesting toaster that made perfect toast every time. Coffee was taken from a large 'urn' and was fine when fresh but bitter if the urn was nearly empty. Dinner (8-10pm) offered a daily starter of salad, olives, onion rings, feta etc and several choices of main course. Previous guests had complained that the food was 'bland and uninspiring' but we always found something to eat, everything was well cooked and plentiful. Fresh fruit or ice-cream was also on offer for dessert. House wine, both red & white, was available in 1/2 litre or litre jugs and was very cheap and very drinkable! The restaurant and bar is open all day for drinks and food and you could order from the additional menu in the evening too.
Pool bar was open from midday to midnight and served beverages as well as alcohol. Beach is pebbly - shoes required! - And the sea was warm and generally calm. Two pools in the hotel are very under-used - water is freezing and broken wooden slats around one of the pools may be a hazard to children. Beach is not owned by the hotel so you need to pay to use the sunbeds there. Pedalos and canoes are available for hire and water taxis can be booked for trips to adjacent bays although if sea conditions are rough, these will stop running. Our travel rep (Travel Gems) was initially very helpful and gave us lots of advice on places to visit, or avoid, and where best to book a quad bike or car but her assurances of 'ring me whatever time, I'm always here to help you' proved to be rather ambitious as several guests tried to contact her without success.
Excursions were available but rather pricey but car and bike hire was reasonable and this was a good way to see the island. We visited Paleokastritsa by walking over the cliff - around an hours climb so more good shoes required! - And found a good taverna in the bay, very friendly staff and excellent food. We took a 40 minute trip on the glass-bottom boat to feed the fishes and visit the caves but the captain kept us out for well over an hour when he spotted some tuna feeding. A visit to the monastery on the cliff above Paleo is also recommended. No entrance fee payable but it is only open at certain times. It’s a beautiful place and Italy is visible from here on a clear day. We caught a bus from Paleo to Corfu Town and went to the Hill Fortress where you can see Albania just 2km across the water. Day trip is possible to Albania - but is expensive, passports are required and only give you limited access. Lots of little shops in the 'lanes' in Corfu as well as the more 's****y' shops in the other part of town. We had about 10 drops of rain during the week although had a brilliant dry thunderstorm one night. Mosquitoes were a problem and a good repellent is a must. Local pharmacy very helpful. There are several supermarkets up the hill from Elly Beach and the Cricketers Tavern has a good seafood menu. There are quite a few cats around the hotel but all are very friendly and do not pester. Rooms were cleaned daily except on Sundays, staff all English speaking although majority of guests staying while we were there were German. No tips are expected although appreciated.
All in all, we had a great holiday. If you need English TV channels, a constant mobile phone signal, kiss-me-quick hats and burgers, this place is not for you. If you want a quiet, no-frills holiday in a slightly out-of-the-way but truly tranquil location and you are prepared to walk, drive and explore we would definitely recommend Liapades. Considering the price of our holiday - £540 for flights, transfers and 7 nights half-board - for two adults, we thought this was very good value for money.
PS - Mobile phones work OK around the upper pool area!!
Our room was spacious and clean with a fully equipped bathroom and a patio area outside with sunbeds included. We were eager to see 'the view' in the morning having read so much about it on the internet. We weren't disappointed - the scenery is absolutely stunning! The hotel is arranged in graduated blocks on the side of a rather steep hill with most rooms having a sea view.
The buffet style restaurant has seating both inside and outside on a terrace overlooking the ocean. Wasps were a problem at breakfast time (8-10am) but were not the 'aggressive' type and we didn't see anybody stung. Cereal, jam, marmalade and honey was offered everyday with very fresh bread. Cheese slices, ham, sausages and eggs were also available along with fruit juices, tea and coffee. The hotel has a rather antiquated looking but very interesting toaster that made perfect toast every time. Coffee was taken from a large 'urn' and was fine when fresh but bitter if the urn was nearly empty. Dinner (8-10pm) offered a daily starter of salad, olives, onion rings, feta etc and several choices of main course. Previous guests had complained that the food was 'bland and uninspiring' but we always found something to eat, everything was well cooked and plentiful. Fresh fruit or ice-cream was also on offer for dessert. House wine, both red & white, was available in 1/2 litre or litre jugs and was very cheap and very drinkable! The restaurant and bar is open all day for drinks and food and you could order from the additional menu in the evening too.
Pool bar was open from midday to midnight and served beverages as well as alcohol. Beach is pebbly - shoes required! - And the sea was warm and generally calm. Two pools in the hotel are very under-used - water is freezing and broken wooden slats around one of the pools may be a hazard to children. Beach is not owned by the hotel so you need to pay to use the sunbeds there. Pedalos and canoes are available for hire and water taxis can be booked for trips to adjacent bays although if sea conditions are rough, these will stop running. Our travel rep (Travel Gems) was initially very helpful and gave us lots of advice on places to visit, or avoid, and where best to book a quad bike or car but her assurances of 'ring me whatever time, I'm always here to help you' proved to be rather ambitious as several guests tried to contact her without success.
Excursions were available but rather pricey but car and bike hire was reasonable and this was a good way to see the island. We visited Paleokastritsa by walking over the cliff - around an hours climb so more good shoes required! - And found a good taverna in the bay, very friendly staff and excellent food. We took a 40 minute trip on the glass-bottom boat to feed the fishes and visit the caves but the captain kept us out for well over an hour when he spotted some tuna feeding. A visit to the monastery on the cliff above Paleo is also recommended. No entrance fee payable but it is only open at certain times. It’s a beautiful place and Italy is visible from here on a clear day. We caught a bus from Paleo to Corfu Town and went to the Hill Fortress where you can see Albania just 2km across the water. Day trip is possible to Albania - but is expensive, passports are required and only give you limited access. Lots of little shops in the 'lanes' in Corfu as well as the more 's****y' shops in the other part of town. We had about 10 drops of rain during the week although had a brilliant dry thunderstorm one night. Mosquitoes were a problem and a good repellent is a must. Local pharmacy very helpful. There are several supermarkets up the hill from Elly Beach and the Cricketers Tavern has a good seafood menu. There are quite a few cats around the hotel but all are very friendly and do not pester. Rooms were cleaned daily except on Sundays, staff all English speaking although majority of guests staying while we were there were German. No tips are expected although appreciated.
All in all, we had a great holiday. If you need English TV channels, a constant mobile phone signal, kiss-me-quick hats and burgers, this place is not for you. If you want a quiet, no-frills holiday in a slightly out-of-the-way but truly tranquil location and you are prepared to walk, drive and explore we would definitely recommend Liapades. Considering the price of our holiday - £540 for flights, transfers and 7 nights half-board - for two adults, we thought this was very good value for money.
PS - Mobile phones work OK around the upper pool area!!
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- Date of Holiday:Oct 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Lastminute
" My partner and I spent a lovely week... "
Submitted By: Mr J Braden-Astbury
My partner and I spent a lovely week at the Elly Beach Hotel at the start of August. We too read bad reviews on this website after booking the trip and were worried that we had made a mistake. Having both travelled very widely to some first class destinations, we began to think, why did we choose this location?
BUT we had a fantastic time in this idyllic spot. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful. The food was basic as some people have said here. But we have to remember that you get what you pay for and the holiday was not expensive. We ate out at least half of the time and our 2 recommendations would be the Cricketer up the hill from Elly Beach Hotel and definitely the Apollon Restaurant above Paleokatritsa. You need a car to get to the latter but the amazing view is worth the trip and the food and service were great.
On the room front - we had to move out of the old part of the hotel as the room was pokey and a bit stuffy, but we ended up with a studio type room, which was clean and had a nice view from the balcony. So no complaints there.
We hired a car for 3 days and drove around the whole island and to be honest Liapades was the most beautiful place we came across. Most of the island seemed to be like Blackpool in the sun and we would definitely not bother with the car next time. Why bother when you can have all the peace and quiet of Elly Beach?
Sunsets at the beach bar with a cocktail were great! There was even a thunderstorm one night which was dramatic to watch with a beer.
Hiring a motorboat for the day was also a really good idea, as we got to go to some of the really deserted little beaches, which aren't accessible by road. Just like a desert island without Sue Lawley!
We didn't have any bother with wasps, cats, sewage, or grumpy taxi drivers and all in all we can't complain. On the contrary....we had a great holiday. In summary we think some people are more than a little 'precious' after booking a budget holiday and getting the kind of facilities and location that is Elly Beach. Go and see it for yourself...its got fantastic views, great local restaurants, a quiet beach and a really chilled out atmosphere...BUT beware the 'Greek Night' on Wednesdays...its frankly rubbish and extremely touristy...escape that night and you'll be fine.
BUT we had a fantastic time in this idyllic spot. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful. The food was basic as some people have said here. But we have to remember that you get what you pay for and the holiday was not expensive. We ate out at least half of the time and our 2 recommendations would be the Cricketer up the hill from Elly Beach Hotel and definitely the Apollon Restaurant above Paleokatritsa. You need a car to get to the latter but the amazing view is worth the trip and the food and service were great.
On the room front - we had to move out of the old part of the hotel as the room was pokey and a bit stuffy, but we ended up with a studio type room, which was clean and had a nice view from the balcony. So no complaints there.
We hired a car for 3 days and drove around the whole island and to be honest Liapades was the most beautiful place we came across. Most of the island seemed to be like Blackpool in the sun and we would definitely not bother with the car next time. Why bother when you can have all the peace and quiet of Elly Beach?
Sunsets at the beach bar with a cocktail were great! There was even a thunderstorm one night which was dramatic to watch with a beer.
Hiring a motorboat for the day was also a really good idea, as we got to go to some of the really deserted little beaches, which aren't accessible by road. Just like a desert island without Sue Lawley!
We didn't have any bother with wasps, cats, sewage, or grumpy taxi drivers and all in all we can't complain. On the contrary....we had a great holiday. In summary we think some people are more than a little 'precious' after booking a budget holiday and getting the kind of facilities and location that is Elly Beach. Go and see it for yourself...its got fantastic views, great local restaurants, a quiet beach and a really chilled out atmosphere...BUT beware the 'Greek Night' on Wednesdays...its frankly rubbish and extremely touristy...escape that night and you'll be fine.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel Gems
" We recently returned from a 7 night... "
Submitted By: Miss J Richardson
We recently returned from a 7 night break staying at the Elly Beach Hotel in Liapades and would highly recommend it. We booked it through Lastminute/Travel Gems.
The hotel’s location couldn’t have been more perfect. Our room (spacious and clean) was set just behind the bar area at the front of the hotel, literally a stones throw from the sea. We had expected to be disturbed by music from the bar during the late evening, but were pleasantly surprised by the peace and quiet once our door was closed.
Liapades is very quiet and relaxing yet there is enough to keep yourself amused if you enjoy water sports as the bay has plenty of motor boats and canoes available for hire. The water is also extremely clear and warm so it is a fantastic area for snorkelling.
However, having read the previous reviews we do sympathise with some of the general complaints, especially regarding the food which was very basic and pretty uninspiring (although it was always fully cooked and there was plenty of it). Yet considering the cheap price of the holiday it was no hardship to order off the menu or eat elsewhere in the evenings (which we did more often than not). We can strongly recommend a visit to The Cricketer which is just up the hill from Elly beach and serves excellent, typically Greek food.
Although there are no cash points nearby, the hotel does accept Visa cards for amounts over 10 euros. We did notice a few cats around the hotel but they didn’t really make their presence felt and certainly weren’t a problem. A good mosquito repellent is essential. Another thing that I think it’s worth bearing in mind is that the road up into the village is very steep, I imagine anyone with even moderate walking difficulties would find it a struggle.
Unless you’re content to stay by the pool/on the beach you definitely need your own transport to make the most of your stay. We hired a scooter, although we did need to be very vigilant at times! Having said that the island was easy to get around and a trip to Corfu town was only about 35mins drive.
Finally, if you do only one thing during your stay in Corfu you really must go to the Golden Fox, a cliff side restaurant in the little village of Lakones. To get there you need to take the hill road that turns off to the right just before you head into the main resort of Paleokastritsa. The food was lovely and the staff friendly, but most importantly it has the most incredible view over the bays of Paleokastritsa and right out to sea. Our travel guide said that it must have one of the best views in all of Greece and we absolutely agree, possibly the most stunning view we had ever seen!
The hotel’s location couldn’t have been more perfect. Our room (spacious and clean) was set just behind the bar area at the front of the hotel, literally a stones throw from the sea. We had expected to be disturbed by music from the bar during the late evening, but were pleasantly surprised by the peace and quiet once our door was closed.
Liapades is very quiet and relaxing yet there is enough to keep yourself amused if you enjoy water sports as the bay has plenty of motor boats and canoes available for hire. The water is also extremely clear and warm so it is a fantastic area for snorkelling.
However, having read the previous reviews we do sympathise with some of the general complaints, especially regarding the food which was very basic and pretty uninspiring (although it was always fully cooked and there was plenty of it). Yet considering the cheap price of the holiday it was no hardship to order off the menu or eat elsewhere in the evenings (which we did more often than not). We can strongly recommend a visit to The Cricketer which is just up the hill from Elly beach and serves excellent, typically Greek food.
Although there are no cash points nearby, the hotel does accept Visa cards for amounts over 10 euros. We did notice a few cats around the hotel but they didn’t really make their presence felt and certainly weren’t a problem. A good mosquito repellent is essential. Another thing that I think it’s worth bearing in mind is that the road up into the village is very steep, I imagine anyone with even moderate walking difficulties would find it a struggle.
Unless you’re content to stay by the pool/on the beach you definitely need your own transport to make the most of your stay. We hired a scooter, although we did need to be very vigilant at times! Having said that the island was easy to get around and a trip to Corfu town was only about 35mins drive.
Finally, if you do only one thing during your stay in Corfu you really must go to the Golden Fox, a cliff side restaurant in the little village of Lakones. To get there you need to take the hill road that turns off to the right just before you head into the main resort of Paleokastritsa. The food was lovely and the staff friendly, but most importantly it has the most incredible view over the bays of Paleokastritsa and right out to sea. Our travel guide said that it must have one of the best views in all of Greece and we absolutely agree, possibly the most stunning view we had ever seen!
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Lastminute
" We're just back from a week at the... "
Submitted By: Mrs K Simmons
We're just back from a week at the Elly Beach Hotel and have had a lovely holiday. We booked through lastminute.com although the vendor turned out to be Travel Gems and we're very unimpressed with the way the package was put together and with the rep who could have been more helpful.
However, the hotel itself is in a fantastic location, right next to the beach in Elly Bay. The restaurant and bar directly overlook the beach and it is truly lovely sipping cocktails and watching the sun set in the evening. We found the hotel staff to be friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The location is fantastic and if you want a relaxing holiday in a beautiful place then this is it. If you want non-stop action, music, partying etc you should probably look elsewhere!
The hotel has three sorts of apartment/room. There are rooms in the hotel itself, these are the oldest and least good (a lovely couple we met had one of these). There are apartments right next to the hotel, we stayed in one of these. The rooms are very spacious with a nice balcony and a direct view over the beach from most. Ours (20) had an incredibly smelly bathroom ("the swamp") but the one my daughters stayed in (15) didn't have that problem at all. For the price the rooms were fine, we paid 5 euros a day for air conditioning and it made a big difference to room comfort levels, Corfu is pretty hot in July. The newest rooms are a little way up the hill. They're slightly smaller than the main apartments (we stayed in one of these on our last night as we had to check out at midday but our flight wasn't until 7am the next day, as I said Travel Gem packages seem quite poor). These newest apartments are nice but don't have quite the same lovely views as the apartment we had.
We found the food very good. It's plain food of the sort we'd have at home. Breakfast is basic: cereals, toast/bread and tinned fruit. Dinner is unlimited salad and bread with two main courses to choose (or you can have both!), things like meatballs and pasta, moussaka, chicken and rice etc. Dessert was usually ice cream or fruit. Really lovely, healthy food and plenty of it. Obviously if you want fancy food, then this isn't it but it suited us perfectly and we loved it.
Other reviewers have mentioned the wasps, there were a few but they're very small and non-aggressive and didn't cause us any problems. There are a few feral cats around, very cute and you can ignore them if you don't like cats. We did get a few mozzy bites, it's Greece in the summer, we expected to.
The one thing that did catch us out is that there is no cash point at all in Liapades. Paleokastritsa (the next village) has one but it's a bit of a hike in the heat, or 10 euros per person on the boat taxi. Obviously not a problem if you hire a car, but we didn't. So take plenty of cash with you, no one takes plastic! Also, if you have the same problem with return flights as we had (Travel Gems seem to specialise in these) it isn't always possible to get a room in the hotel for the last night, we were quite lucky there.
Overall our holiday was really lovely and excellent value for money. Elly Beach Hotel suited us fine and I would be happy to return for another holiday there any time (although not with Travel Gems).
However, the hotel itself is in a fantastic location, right next to the beach in Elly Bay. The restaurant and bar directly overlook the beach and it is truly lovely sipping cocktails and watching the sun set in the evening. We found the hotel staff to be friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The location is fantastic and if you want a relaxing holiday in a beautiful place then this is it. If you want non-stop action, music, partying etc you should probably look elsewhere!
The hotel has three sorts of apartment/room. There are rooms in the hotel itself, these are the oldest and least good (a lovely couple we met had one of these). There are apartments right next to the hotel, we stayed in one of these. The rooms are very spacious with a nice balcony and a direct view over the beach from most. Ours (20) had an incredibly smelly bathroom ("the swamp") but the one my daughters stayed in (15) didn't have that problem at all. For the price the rooms were fine, we paid 5 euros a day for air conditioning and it made a big difference to room comfort levels, Corfu is pretty hot in July. The newest rooms are a little way up the hill. They're slightly smaller than the main apartments (we stayed in one of these on our last night as we had to check out at midday but our flight wasn't until 7am the next day, as I said Travel Gem packages seem quite poor). These newest apartments are nice but don't have quite the same lovely views as the apartment we had.
We found the food very good. It's plain food of the sort we'd have at home. Breakfast is basic: cereals, toast/bread and tinned fruit. Dinner is unlimited salad and bread with two main courses to choose (or you can have both!), things like meatballs and pasta, moussaka, chicken and rice etc. Dessert was usually ice cream or fruit. Really lovely, healthy food and plenty of it. Obviously if you want fancy food, then this isn't it but it suited us perfectly and we loved it.
Other reviewers have mentioned the wasps, there were a few but they're very small and non-aggressive and didn't cause us any problems. There are a few feral cats around, very cute and you can ignore them if you don't like cats. We did get a few mozzy bites, it's Greece in the summer, we expected to.
The one thing that did catch us out is that there is no cash point at all in Liapades. Paleokastritsa (the next village) has one but it's a bit of a hike in the heat, or 10 euros per person on the boat taxi. Obviously not a problem if you hire a car, but we didn't. So take plenty of cash with you, no one takes plastic! Also, if you have the same problem with return flights as we had (Travel Gems seem to specialise in these) it isn't always possible to get a room in the hotel for the last night, we were quite lucky there.
Overall our holiday was really lovely and excellent value for money. Elly Beach Hotel suited us fine and I would be happy to return for another holiday there any time (although not with Travel Gems).
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel Gems
" We have just returned from Elly Beach... "
Submitted By: Mrs M Layton
We have just returned from Elly Beach and are longing to go back. Our hotel room was just above reception with a view to die for. We fell asleep to the sound of the waves on the beach. Music usually stopped about midnight. The hotel is made up of low rise apartments built into the hill - could be a problem for young families or difficulty in walking, but I am sure reception would take into account any difficulties you may have.
I agree the place was a bit tired looking, but feel different parts are slowly but surely been renovated. We agree regarding the room next to pool should be avoided at all costs (saying that a couple when met up with actually slept through an amazing thunderstorm! when they stayed there) as music from bar could drive you insane, but same bar sitting there in the early evening (nice wicker and soft chairs) taking in the view was quite stunning.
This resort is all about relaxing and chilling, the breakfast food was varied, cereal, fruit juices, eggs, meat, toast etc. along with any amount of tea and coffee. Evening meal was ok-ish, sometimes tasted actually better than it looked but again ordering off the menu was varied and only a few extra euros - can recommend the spag with seafood sauce. Beach could have been maintained to a higher standard, tired shower facility and little changing huts along with ice cream shop, all said still very quaint. We will return.
Water taxi's add to the chill out factor, we swan across the bay (climbed about 200 steps )to little bar set high on cliff, lunch, lovely pool and comfy chairs, down steps, whistled across bay and water taxi picked us up again! Lets not forget the cost of this holiday, great value and our hair-raising taxi drive from airport only added to the ambiance of the whole feel of " this is Greece", not perfect but so full of character!
I agree the place was a bit tired looking, but feel different parts are slowly but surely been renovated. We agree regarding the room next to pool should be avoided at all costs (saying that a couple when met up with actually slept through an amazing thunderstorm! when they stayed there) as music from bar could drive you insane, but same bar sitting there in the early evening (nice wicker and soft chairs) taking in the view was quite stunning.
This resort is all about relaxing and chilling, the breakfast food was varied, cereal, fruit juices, eggs, meat, toast etc. along with any amount of tea and coffee. Evening meal was ok-ish, sometimes tasted actually better than it looked but again ordering off the menu was varied and only a few extra euros - can recommend the spag with seafood sauce. Beach could have been maintained to a higher standard, tired shower facility and little changing huts along with ice cream shop, all said still very quaint. We will return.
Water taxi's add to the chill out factor, we swan across the bay (climbed about 200 steps )to little bar set high on cliff, lunch, lovely pool and comfy chairs, down steps, whistled across bay and water taxi picked us up again! Lets not forget the cost of this holiday, great value and our hair-raising taxi drive from airport only added to the ambiance of the whole feel of " this is Greece", not perfect but so full of character!
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" My wife and I have just returned from... "
Submitted By: holiday critic
My wife and I have just returned from staying at the Elly Beach Hotel, Liapades, Corfu. After we had booked the we decided to have a look at the area on the web and came across Holiday Watchdog. We read the reviews with sinking hearts but decided to go out there with a positive mindset!
We arrived at Corfu Airport to meet our transport (£40 extra). we were met by a Czech lady whose words were "you have two cases, I have only a very small car!" she wasn't kidding, it was a beat up old red fiat Uno. My wife ended up having a to hold a case next to her on the back seat, her hand luggage sat on her knee. I sat in the front with seat forward to give my wife some legroom and a backpack on my knees. It was a baking hot day, the car had no A/C and only the two front windows opened! Things could only get better, couldn't they?
At the Hotel we were shown to Room 103 on the lower level adjacent to the pool bar (5 metres to the right). The view of the sea and bay was splendid.
When the cleaner had finished we entered the room, to say it smelled bad is putting it mildly. The bathroom, the rear wall of the bedroom adjacent to the headboard all had mould growing on them, the walls were actually wet to the touch. The bed, the sofa, the wardrobe and the curtains were all damp to the touch. We complained to reception and were shown another room which was again totally unacceptable, eventually we were shown to the "bungalows". These were much better although they were up a partially made broken concrete road laid onto a 45 degree hill (I kid not!) and about a ten minute walk from the "restaurant".
The bungalow seemed to be fine until our neighbours for the week arrived. They were lovely people however whenever they used the bathroom for whatever purpose it soon became apparent that a cost saving measure had been employed and the dividing wall between bathrooms had been finished a few brick courses short of the ceiling! You could hear (and smell) everything they said or did! This was confirmed with other occupants of the bungalows as being the same in all of them.
The food (and I use the word loosely) in the evening was absolutely appalling! There is no other way to describe it. As one German lady said "It is hard to tell what one mush is from the other mush!" It was cold and of very poor quality, the dessert on the first evening comprised a Jelly! As my wife said "I haven't had Jelly on its own since I was at School!" We tried one more evening from the Al a'carte menu the Mousaka my wife ordered had obviously been microwaved as it was hot around the perimeter of the dish but stone cold in the middle - That was the last straw subsequently we ate out at a wonderful little taverna opposite the black and yellow taxi boat in the village. I really cannot recommend this taverna enough, excellent food and at a very good price.
The beach itself was filthy with litter (old tins, drinking straws etc) the water looked inviting but I could not work out where the smell of drains was coming from! I wandered over to the left of the beach where the boat hire jetty is and, looking over at the rocks on the left side of the bay, i could see the clear water was somewhat "coloured". I walked along what appears to be a newly built sandstone type wall to where it ended behind the rocks; I discovered the source of the smell and the water colouration.
There was a large diameter pipe pouring effluent of some description openly into the sea albeit hidden behind a large rock. The smell was dreadful. There was God knows what (Although I have a pretty good idea!) pouring into the sea 3 metres from the shoreline and only 25 metres from where families with little children were playing in the water, people snorkeling all blissfully unaware. The literature claims the bay to be one of the cleanest; I think not! We changed the name from Elly Beach to "Smelly Beach".
All of these facts have been reported to the reps in resort and they came up and sampled the food - they said they found it acceptable! I make no comment on that!
My wife and I have stayed at various places around the World and at many other of the Greek Islands. Elly Beach was by far the worst hotel we have ever stayed at, not surprisingly we will not be returning.
The Hotel needs to review its catering and invest in properly heated serving areas, invest a lot of money on repairing and renewing the buildings, the top pool and its surrounds (broken tiles and rotten wood are hardly conducive to a safe environment for anybody let alone children).
The local "council" or authority or even the hotels themselves need to get together and get the beach cleaned up, bins would be a great help to this end and would encourage holidaymakers to dispose of their waste more wisely.
A great concern to me is the effluent pipe emptying into the bathing area I would advise anyone with children to stay out of the water - this needs urgent attention!
The hotel falls well short of its acclaimed three star standard its only saving grace is its wonderful staff, the chap on reception really could not have been more helpful; to the all the hotel staff – Thank you.
Most of the above comments have been recorded in the Hotel guestbook by previous clients - such a useful tool, shame the hotel management don't choose to act on the remarks and also such a same that "in country" representatives of the travel company don't read them; they are there to look after our concerns hopefully the Lady to whom I refer now realizes that I will not make any statement that I cannot fully evidence. Elly Beach Hotel - avoid it!
We arrived at Corfu Airport to meet our transport (£40 extra). we were met by a Czech lady whose words were "you have two cases, I have only a very small car!" she wasn't kidding, it was a beat up old red fiat Uno. My wife ended up having a to hold a case next to her on the back seat, her hand luggage sat on her knee. I sat in the front with seat forward to give my wife some legroom and a backpack on my knees. It was a baking hot day, the car had no A/C and only the two front windows opened! Things could only get better, couldn't they?
At the Hotel we were shown to Room 103 on the lower level adjacent to the pool bar (5 metres to the right). The view of the sea and bay was splendid.
When the cleaner had finished we entered the room, to say it smelled bad is putting it mildly. The bathroom, the rear wall of the bedroom adjacent to the headboard all had mould growing on them, the walls were actually wet to the touch. The bed, the sofa, the wardrobe and the curtains were all damp to the touch. We complained to reception and were shown another room which was again totally unacceptable, eventually we were shown to the "bungalows". These were much better although they were up a partially made broken concrete road laid onto a 45 degree hill (I kid not!) and about a ten minute walk from the "restaurant".
The bungalow seemed to be fine until our neighbours for the week arrived. They were lovely people however whenever they used the bathroom for whatever purpose it soon became apparent that a cost saving measure had been employed and the dividing wall between bathrooms had been finished a few brick courses short of the ceiling! You could hear (and smell) everything they said or did! This was confirmed with other occupants of the bungalows as being the same in all of them.
The food (and I use the word loosely) in the evening was absolutely appalling! There is no other way to describe it. As one German lady said "It is hard to tell what one mush is from the other mush!" It was cold and of very poor quality, the dessert on the first evening comprised a Jelly! As my wife said "I haven't had Jelly on its own since I was at School!" We tried one more evening from the Al a'carte menu the Mousaka my wife ordered had obviously been microwaved as it was hot around the perimeter of the dish but stone cold in the middle - That was the last straw subsequently we ate out at a wonderful little taverna opposite the black and yellow taxi boat in the village. I really cannot recommend this taverna enough, excellent food and at a very good price.
The beach itself was filthy with litter (old tins, drinking straws etc) the water looked inviting but I could not work out where the smell of drains was coming from! I wandered over to the left of the beach where the boat hire jetty is and, looking over at the rocks on the left side of the bay, i could see the clear water was somewhat "coloured". I walked along what appears to be a newly built sandstone type wall to where it ended behind the rocks; I discovered the source of the smell and the water colouration.
There was a large diameter pipe pouring effluent of some description openly into the sea albeit hidden behind a large rock. The smell was dreadful. There was God knows what (Although I have a pretty good idea!) pouring into the sea 3 metres from the shoreline and only 25 metres from where families with little children were playing in the water, people snorkeling all blissfully unaware. The literature claims the bay to be one of the cleanest; I think not! We changed the name from Elly Beach to "Smelly Beach".
All of these facts have been reported to the reps in resort and they came up and sampled the food - they said they found it acceptable! I make no comment on that!
My wife and I have stayed at various places around the World and at many other of the Greek Islands. Elly Beach was by far the worst hotel we have ever stayed at, not surprisingly we will not be returning.
The Hotel needs to review its catering and invest in properly heated serving areas, invest a lot of money on repairing and renewing the buildings, the top pool and its surrounds (broken tiles and rotten wood are hardly conducive to a safe environment for anybody let alone children).
The local "council" or authority or even the hotels themselves need to get together and get the beach cleaned up, bins would be a great help to this end and would encourage holidaymakers to dispose of their waste more wisely.
A great concern to me is the effluent pipe emptying into the bathing area I would advise anyone with children to stay out of the water - this needs urgent attention!
The hotel falls well short of its acclaimed three star standard its only saving grace is its wonderful staff, the chap on reception really could not have been more helpful; to the all the hotel staff – Thank you.
Most of the above comments have been recorded in the Hotel guestbook by previous clients - such a useful tool, shame the hotel management don't choose to act on the remarks and also such a same that "in country" representatives of the travel company don't read them; they are there to look after our concerns hopefully the Lady to whom I refer now realizes that I will not make any statement that I cannot fully evidence. Elly Beach Hotel - avoid it!
-
- Date of Holiday:Jun 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel Gems
" If you are thinking about going to... "
Submitted By: Miss A Wall-Budden
If you are thinking about going to the Elly Beach Hotel then ignore some of the other posts about it being terrible - I loved it and came back thoroughly relaxed!!!
To address some of the complaints I have read;
1) Yes, wasps are a problem there but a problem easily remedied....we found that putting an open jam sachet a few tables away meant that you had a hassle-free meal. The hotel staff had also placed wasps traps discreetly around the hotel.
2) Cats - yes there were cats, but they were the cutest, prettiest little animals and their presence was not at all unwelcome! There were only 3 adult cats there and 3 kittens.
3) Food - we had no problem with the food served - don't expect to have 5* food if you are paying for a 3* star hotel, and the food from the a la carte menu was lovely and very reasonable.
They were the only negatives I could possibly address - I couldn't find any others.
The Elly Beach Hotel has the most amazing location, it is absolutely stunning. You eat your evening meals on verandas overlooking the bay with waves gently lapping in and distant music from the quiet bar below (if you are looking for a clubbing/ bar holiday go elsewhere).
The beach is 10 seconds from your room, the pools are gorgeous and the rooms are clean and comfortable (air conditioning highly recommended). Definitely take a trip to Corfu town - great in the day for shopping and lovely in the evening for meals and drinks.
Oh and don't forget to go to the water park - it's awesome!
Have a great stay, I certainly did.
To address some of the complaints I have read;
1) Yes, wasps are a problem there but a problem easily remedied....we found that putting an open jam sachet a few tables away meant that you had a hassle-free meal. The hotel staff had also placed wasps traps discreetly around the hotel.
2) Cats - yes there were cats, but they were the cutest, prettiest little animals and their presence was not at all unwelcome! There were only 3 adult cats there and 3 kittens.
3) Food - we had no problem with the food served - don't expect to have 5* food if you are paying for a 3* star hotel, and the food from the a la carte menu was lovely and very reasonable.
They were the only negatives I could possibly address - I couldn't find any others.
The Elly Beach Hotel has the most amazing location, it is absolutely stunning. You eat your evening meals on verandas overlooking the bay with waves gently lapping in and distant music from the quiet bar below (if you are looking for a clubbing/ bar holiday go elsewhere).
The beach is 10 seconds from your room, the pools are gorgeous and the rooms are clean and comfortable (air conditioning highly recommended). Definitely take a trip to Corfu town - great in the day for shopping and lovely in the evening for meals and drinks.
Oh and don't forget to go to the water park - it's awesome!
Have a great stay, I certainly did.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:First Choice
" We knew it was beautiful when we... "
Submitted By: Ms c Chapple
We knew it was beautiful when we arrived, but we couldn’t really appreciate it because it was dark. When we opened the curtains the next morning, we couldn’t believe the view. It was incredible.
The hotel is placed right on the beach in the middle of a spectacular bay. Our room was huge by modern standards and had a large balcony overlooking the fabulous bay. We too went to sleep to the sound of the lapping waves.
The whole hotel complex is spread out, so not one of those anonymous high rise blocks. It's simple, no frills accommodation - but with everything you need really. The joy of the simpler hotel is lower prices (food, drinks etc) and less people. Nearby Paleokastritsa was equally beautiful but their beaches were really crowded even in September.
The food was fine. On one evening we didn’t fancy the half-board buffet so bought off the menu - but at a fiver a head that was no great hardship.
We didn’t take a car as we don’t drive, but that looked a lovely option. Again, no real hardship - you can get taxis to most places and it's not hard to get a bus back from Corfu Town, if you don’t mind a downhill stroll through olive groves and villages for 30 minutes at the end of it (heaven).
We had an amazing week. It's not for room-service addicts - but if you're happy in your own company, like a relaxed atmosphere in a spectacular setting, it's a little bit of heaven I'd say. <br>
The hotel is placed right on the beach in the middle of a spectacular bay. Our room was huge by modern standards and had a large balcony overlooking the fabulous bay. We too went to sleep to the sound of the lapping waves.
The whole hotel complex is spread out, so not one of those anonymous high rise blocks. It's simple, no frills accommodation - but with everything you need really. The joy of the simpler hotel is lower prices (food, drinks etc) and less people. Nearby Paleokastritsa was equally beautiful but their beaches were really crowded even in September.
The food was fine. On one evening we didn’t fancy the half-board buffet so bought off the menu - but at a fiver a head that was no great hardship.
We didn’t take a car as we don’t drive, but that looked a lovely option. Again, no real hardship - you can get taxis to most places and it's not hard to get a bus back from Corfu Town, if you don’t mind a downhill stroll through olive groves and villages for 30 minutes at the end of it (heaven).
We had an amazing week. It's not for room-service addicts - but if you're happy in your own company, like a relaxed atmosphere in a spectacular setting, it's a little bit of heaven I'd say. <br>
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel Gems
" Like Mr Pearse we were arrived... "
Submitted By: Elorac
Like Mr Pearse we were arrived nervously at this hotel having read other people’s comments about this hotel from 2004 and like him we were expecting the worst. What we found was an idyllic setting and a lovely hotel. Our room overlooked the bay and all we could hear during the night was the sea lapping onto the beach. We ate on the terrace in the evening watching the sun set over the mountains. It was peaceful and very romantic.
Anyone wanting Blackpool in the sun will be disappointed.
We also agree that you get what you pay for and for under £250 half board we feel we got a real bargain. This hotel is gorgeous. The food was excellent - the staff told us that they have a new chef and a new menu. The staff were very helpful and nothing was a problem for them. We didn’t really meet the owner so can’t comment on him.
There were 2 regular cats who visited the terrace! We didn’t see any wasps but apparently there are a few in the hotter months.
We will definitely go back one day.
Anyone wanting Blackpool in the sun will be disappointed.
We also agree that you get what you pay for and for under £250 half board we feel we got a real bargain. This hotel is gorgeous. The food was excellent - the staff told us that they have a new chef and a new menu. The staff were very helpful and nothing was a problem for them. We didn’t really meet the owner so can’t comment on him.
There were 2 regular cats who visited the terrace! We didn’t see any wasps but apparently there are a few in the hotter months.
We will definitely go back one day.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Lastminute
" The dreadful comments about this... "
Submitted By: Mr D. W. Pearse
The dreadful comments about this hotel on this site nearly put us off going. Thank god we didn’t listen to these wingers.
Briefly:
<br>
I) Hotel setting absolutely stunning -if you want to wear kiss me quick hats and drink Fosters Lager till you fall over this is not the place for you.
<br>
ii) For value for money, this was absolutely excellent. (For those who pay £300 for a week in the Greek Isles and expect absolute luxury - get real!!)
<br>
iii) The staff are absolutely wonderful (except the owner who has clearly had a charisma by pass)
<br>
iv) The food pretty good by Greek standards, - a good choice for evening meals and a good breakfast (Buy your own British Jam at the local supermarket)
<br>
v) The swimming pool and gardens and terrace are truly delightful.
<br>
vi) The sight of the sun setting over the sea and private bay to the front is stunning, - got to be one of the prettiest bays in all Corfu.
<br>
vii) Yes there were some cats, but these were not intrusive and didn’t bother you if you didn’t want to be bothered. (There weren’t any mice or rats either!!) I know which I prefer to see)
<br>
viii) As for complaints about wasps!! - well really you might as well complain that there were flies and mosquitoes!! - This is a Greek island, not Brighton.
<br>
ix) The rooms were large with large balconies with wonderful sea views. Maybe they are looking a little tired in some respects, however as somebody who has visited Greek Islands many times before, the room was more than acceptable (Air conditioning is available).
<br>
x) The local area is outstanding Paliokastritsa is stunning, but visit Dukades a lovely Proper Village, have Beef in garlic sauce with some basic local red wine at "Elizabeths" - unforgettable and amazing value. (The moaning minnies would probably complain at the noise of the village childeren playing in the square!!)
<br>
xi) Go to the Elly Beach with an open mind, - its been there for some time but its clear that a lot of money has and is being spent at the present time.
<br>
xii) Excellent crowd of people all concerned at the negative comments previously expressed, but all glad the had visited Elly Beach.
<br>
xiii) Would love to go again, but after describing the Hotel Owner as a "distant" unsociable so and so, will probably not be welcome back!!<br>
Briefly:
<br>
I) Hotel setting absolutely stunning -if you want to wear kiss me quick hats and drink Fosters Lager till you fall over this is not the place for you.
<br>
ii) For value for money, this was absolutely excellent. (For those who pay £300 for a week in the Greek Isles and expect absolute luxury - get real!!)
<br>
iii) The staff are absolutely wonderful (except the owner who has clearly had a charisma by pass)
<br>
iv) The food pretty good by Greek standards, - a good choice for evening meals and a good breakfast (Buy your own British Jam at the local supermarket)
<br>
v) The swimming pool and gardens and terrace are truly delightful.
<br>
vi) The sight of the sun setting over the sea and private bay to the front is stunning, - got to be one of the prettiest bays in all Corfu.
<br>
vii) Yes there were some cats, but these were not intrusive and didn’t bother you if you didn’t want to be bothered. (There weren’t any mice or rats either!!) I know which I prefer to see)
<br>
viii) As for complaints about wasps!! - well really you might as well complain that there were flies and mosquitoes!! - This is a Greek island, not Brighton.
<br>
ix) The rooms were large with large balconies with wonderful sea views. Maybe they are looking a little tired in some respects, however as somebody who has visited Greek Islands many times before, the room was more than acceptable (Air conditioning is available).
<br>
x) The local area is outstanding Paliokastritsa is stunning, but visit Dukades a lovely Proper Village, have Beef in garlic sauce with some basic local red wine at "Elizabeths" - unforgettable and amazing value. (The moaning minnies would probably complain at the noise of the village childeren playing in the square!!)
<br>
xi) Go to the Elly Beach with an open mind, - its been there for some time but its clear that a lot of money has and is being spent at the present time.
<br>
xii) Excellent crowd of people all concerned at the negative comments previously expressed, but all glad the had visited Elly Beach.
<br>
xiii) Would love to go again, but after describing the Hotel Owner as a "distant" unsociable so and so, will probably not be welcome back!!<br>
-
- Date of Holiday:Mar 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel Gems
" We can only confirm what has been... "
Submitted By: Mrs A Bromwell
We can only confirm what has been said earlier about this hotel. There is no way it deserved 4 star rating-in fact it is more 2 star.
<br><br>
The food was dreadful-no choice at all. And the dining area always full of cats and wasps. The food was left uncovered and it was often hard to tell what we were eating.
<br><br>
The rooms were basic in the extreme and bathrooms also basic. There was no menu choice to speak of ,and although complaints were made to the rep ,and although she admitted there had been many, no offer was made of other accommodation. Every guest at the hotel complained and some had even tried to change their booking before they came, when they had read the web site.
<br><br>
The complaints made to Accommodation2u since our return have met with no success other than a condescending ‘this is what Greek hotels are like’. As seasoned travellers we know this is not true, having previously stayed twice in the area in excellent 3 star accommodation.
<br><br>
May we add that the hotel staff were lovely, but the agencies are wrong to advertise this as they do, knowing of the complaints, and we are now considering our next step.
<br><br>
The food was dreadful-no choice at all. And the dining area always full of cats and wasps. The food was left uncovered and it was often hard to tell what we were eating.
<br><br>
The rooms were basic in the extreme and bathrooms also basic. There was no menu choice to speak of ,and although complaints were made to the rep ,and although she admitted there had been many, no offer was made of other accommodation. Every guest at the hotel complained and some had even tried to change their booking before they came, when they had read the web site.
<br><br>
The complaints made to Accommodation2u since our return have met with no success other than a condescending ‘this is what Greek hotels are like’. As seasoned travellers we know this is not true, having previously stayed twice in the area in excellent 3 star accommodation.
<br><br>
May we add that the hotel staff were lovely, but the agencies are wrong to advertise this as they do, knowing of the complaints, and we are now considering our next step.
-
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2004
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Accommodation2u
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Breakfast and dinner were edible; yes maybe there could have been more traditional choices.
All in all a fab week idyllic location, Spiros fab. All staff fab. Will definitely return.