Achtis Hotel

We are Greek-American and very familiar with the village of Afitos, having visited the area for nearly 2 decades. The Achtis Hotel is a lovely property, but it is a walk/drive to the village square and to the beach. My main reason for writing is to warn families with small children about this hotel. Our children were 2 and 4 when we stayed at the hotel. The breakfast/dining area is adjacent to the pool and it was a constant worry with little children that a few steps away from the table they could be standing right at the pool's edge. In addition to this, both the hotel rooms and the courtyard surrounding the pool area were a polished stone, making it hazardous for little children, especially when wet. One afternoon during our stay, the owner/manager was hosing down the courtyard when our 2 year old son slipped and fell, hitting his head on the pavement. Although we were right there to pick him up and he was clearly crying and in pain because of this incident, the owner continued with her hosing chore, entirely ignoring us. I guess her attitude was "Oh well; not my problem." The breakfast, although decent, lacked variety for our 5 day stay there. The rooms were the largest of any hotel we have every visited in Greece. No complaints there.

We (a couple, mid 20's) stayed at the Achtis hotel from 1->8 October 2007. When we arrived the coach pulled up outside a dodgy looking hotel, and we weren't impressed. Thankfully the Achtis is on the other side of the road, tucked away, so don't panic when you first pull up. The hotel itself is very relaxed, only 30-odd rooms, and when we stayed it was half empty. The staff are very friendly and welcoming - just what you need when you've been up all night. The room we had was a lot bigger than we expected, with a proper double bed (which was HUGE) no single beds pushed together here. The room was cleaned daily. The pool was a good size, but very cold when were there. I imagine it would be warmer in summer though. There was a large choice at breakfast, from cereals and fruits, to breads and cooked bacon & eggs. The lunch available from the pool bar was very tasty also. In the evenings we went into Afitos itself, a few minutes walk, with many restaurants and a few bars. The town was quite quiet as we were there right at the end of the season. I imagine in summer it's busier. However there are no clubs, so if you're looking for somewhere lively, you will probably not like it here. The beach is a bit of a walk from the hotel, only about 5 mins or so, but there are some steep steps on the way, so not suitable for the elderly, or infirm. All in all, we had a lovely relaxing week, which was just what we were after. If you're after a peaceful hotel, a good choice of restaurants, and a few beers afterwards then I recommend the Achtis. If you want something a bit more lively, then the whole town is probably not for you.

We stayed at the Achtis Hotel at the end of September 2007 and it exceeded all of our expectations. Although the entrance is via the back of the hotel and from a main road the first impression isn't 'wow' but once you get into the hotel its like a different place. The central pool area is stylishly furnished with sun loungers and sofas with scatter cushions and attention to detail is evident. Our room (we booked a suite for not much extra) was huge and had a double balcony. The bed was also huge and really comfy and again, really beutifully furnished with a feature stone wall and an ornate head board. I also loved the fact that the rooms were seemingly sound proof even though the hotel was almost full. The breakfast area is lovely - situated by the pool and was quite adequate. One thing that really stood out for us was that everyone seemed to love the place. There were no sad faces or unhappy customers and it was very welcoming with guests chatting to one another and making friends. They held a BBQ while we were there and it was very good value and the food was great. Small candles are put out on tables at night time and the pool area is lit to make it feel very romantic - a great place for couples. The town/village of Afitos is gorgeous and very rustic and unspoilt. There are plenty of good restaurants and some lovely little bars - again very stylish and chic. The beach is a bit of a trek but there are bars etc down there to relax in. The nearby town of Kalithea is about a 25 minute walk away and is a bit more lively but not as pretty as Afitos. Points worth knowing: there is no cash point in Afitos and the nearest place is Kalithea so get your Euros before you go (unlike us!) but there are a couple of exchange beaureus in Afitos. Also, there are a few dogs in nearby properties that sometimes like to bark at 3am! Along with a cockeral who thinks daybreak is also 3am! Its minor but perhaps shutting the patio door and putting the aircon on might be a good idea! Other than that, highly recommend the place and the owners and staff are really lovely.

My partner and I spent a week at this hotel in September and it was truly lovely. Afitos is a small village, very pretty and not over run with noisy bars and clubs. ( you can tell we're middle aged!) Magda and Achilles and all the staff at the hotel were fantastic, very friendly and gave the hotel a very personal touch, nothing was too much trouble. We had a junior suite which was huge, an enormous and very comfy bed and a lovely jacuzzi bath to relax in. The pool was a really good size and we found there were plenty of sunloungers and no one put there towels down first! Fantastic relaxing music by the pool too! Very green around the pool area and everything was so clean. The pool bar was great, fantastic food, in fact better than most of the restaurants we visited. If your'e looking for a chilled out place to go this is it!

Stayed at the Achtis Hotel in June 2007, An absolute superb hotel, high standards of accommodation, punching well above it's official rating. Bedrooms are modern and well furnished, pool area is better that what you would expect at any 5* star hotel. Hotel owners make you feel very welcome indeed. Overall, can't fault the hotel at all. We would certainly return in the future.

We have just returned from a week at the Achtis Hotel in Afitos, Greece. What a wonderful hotel this is. We arrived late on a Monday night (2am) because of delays with our flights out and Christina the girl who met us could not have been nicer. When we got up for breakfast the next day Christina was there to greet us again with a cheery smile, even after such a late night. The hotel is very tastefully decorated and scrupulously clean. There was never any need to rush and get a sunlounder by the pool as there were plenty of both chairs and sunlounders around the pool. The pool bar is lovely and you can get simple snacks and meals here throughout the day. They also serve breakfast here which is buffet style with something to suit everyone. We went on a trip to Mount Athos one day and had to leave at 8am but they provided breakfast early for us with not a murmur of complaint. It was a short work to the village, although it is a steep hill coming back up it is not far and not a problem for anyone of normal fitness. The village is lovely with plenty of restaurants to choose from. They had a barbeque at the hotel one night and this was lovely and the best meal we had all week so don't miss it.

All in all this was an excellent hotel. The service, cleanliness, rooms, pool, breakfast were all great and we would recommend this place to anyone. The owners were very friendly and exceptionally welcoming. Rooms were better than any place in the Med we have had before and the bathrooms were excellent. You could tell that a lot of time, effort and money had been spent to make this a good hotel. All that said, when you pull up outside you might get a shock as it backs onto a main road – but you are okay as all of the rooms have a pool view (good thinking Magda and Achilles). You cannot hear the road at all and you actually forget that it is there but there is the “oh my God” moment when you pull up so be warned. Another point to note is that whilst the village is 5mins walk away it is uphill all the way back up so take some trainers with you. What we did not realise is that the beach was 700m away but that involved a 15min walk and 172 stairs down. Once you are down there it is beautiful but you will not be nipping back up for a snack or the loo! It is a long way and an arduous journey – so the elderly, people with kids and those who cannot manage a good hike (and I mean good) then be aware you will get very very sweaty. Also bring some sturdy shoes for the water as you will have to go out via a small reef (sharp on the feet) to get to the sand – we saw a few bad cuts when people tripped. Village - the village is excellent. Good food, entertainment and a genuinely nice place to be. The police regulate the shops/restaurants so there is no chance of getting ripped off. All very friendly and good value. Tip – don’t consider going out to eat before 9.30pm as it’s only then it gets going. A good thing for us (maybe bad for you) there are no clubs, loud bars or happy hours so you can have a nice quite drink overlooking the sea without people shouting and being sick on the street. You get a very traditional Greek night out so if you want the “buzz” and “booze” this is not your place. Airport – awful queuing system! You have to queue to get a boarding pass then for your bags to be dropped off. It was pandemonium. This means that there is no time to spare when you get through so no shopping or time to wait. Be there early and don’t panic as you will get through eventually!

Booked with Airtours online. We had a fantastic week and perhaps I shouldn't say this and keep the place to ourselves!! The star system is a joke. This accomodation is really good and the pool is lovely. It's nice to have grass surrounding it too. Book a suite the little cost is worth it. The owners greet you and even wave you off at the end. They really couldn't do enough for us. Afitos itself is just down the hill at the back of hotel (5 min walk). If you want a beach holiday though, it's a very steep walk as Afitos is on a cliff top. Good food can be had almost anywhere but the tavernas offer the best value and the pancake/ice cream shop is worth a visit. If you want 'night life' then get a cab into Kalithea. But if you want it laid back stay in Afitos. Enjoy! We will be back.

We have just come back from our honeymoon which was our second stay at the Achtis. We knew from the first visit that it would be perfect, and it was. The grounds are beautiful with a large swimming pool and gardens. There is a well stocked pool bar that do very nice meals, and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The rooms are all spotlessly clean and serviced daily, have a balcony overlooking the pool, blackout shutters so you can sleep in, and a major essential for the hot weather - a full size fridge to keep all your drinks cool. They also supply you with a range of glasses, mugs and a kettle (but no teas and coffee so you need to bring your own) Breakfast is exceptional by Greek standards, with lots of choice. The owners, Magda and Achilles are the perfect hosts and cannot do enough to make your stay wonderful. Afitos town is no more than a 5 minute stroll away where there are many bars and restaurants. If you are thinking about going, we would recommend that you definitely do!

I've been to Halkidiki several times, and this is the best hotel I've found there. Very friendly and helpful staff, they gave me driving directions over the phone that were right on track and provided information for the surrounding area while we were there. . Rooms and grounds are beautiful. Very classy appearance for really reasonable rates. Good location in the gorgeous village of Afitos. I would happily return to this hotel, unlike several others I've stayed at in this area. I was very glad to find this hotel to take my parents to during their vacation in Europe.