Calimera Ermones Beach

My Fiancée and I went to Ermones Beach in mid October for a week. We both read all the other comments below before we left. Here is our opinion.....
We landed in Corfu at 04:50
We did not get transfers included in our package so had to get a taxi from the airport which cost 25 euros. Another couple who arrived at the same time were charged 30!
Arriving at the hotel we were approached by a non English speaking man who pointed to our suit cases saying "NO"?
We gathered that he meant for us to leave our cases there and check in. We checked in and were shown our way to the cable car (lift). He told us to press button two and get in then to go look for our rooms (still minus our luggage).
We found our room and opened the door! WOW! The smell of damp nearly knocked us off our feet. The room was basic and the view was wonderful but knew we couldn’t stay in there because of the smell. We sat there for a few minutes and soon started coughing. We both went back to reception to demand another room! We found our new room and entered, no smell, (well almost), nice view, still very basic. That was when we looked out of our balcony only to see our cases sitting outside our first room. The porter helped carry them to our new room. The next morning in daylight our view was even better! Am telling you all of the above to save you wondering what the hell is going on when you arrive.
I agree that this place is not a 4* all over but would say that apart from a non heated outside pool that it is. The rooms are more 2* but are fine as a base. The entertainment as far as i am concerned is absolute C**P! The day staff are used in shows such as grease and abba or cats and starlight express miming to the songs. The band that was there seemed to be all playing different songs. The best bit of entertainment was when a holiday maker took over the mike and sang some songs. Yes.. Actual singing!
The bar staff were so miserable and slow that it seemed like i would never get my fill of "all inclusive". The all inclusive bar list was not worth having if you like your spirits but the beer was not bad. The Children that were there seemed to be having fun. The pool area was very clean but as most have said, there were hundreds of wasps around. The beach was covered in sea weed and was fairly dirty and in need of some tlc but we were there late in the season. There seemed to be a lack of adult entertainment around the outside pool (I enjoy a game of water polo).
I appreciate that the entertainment staff do work hard there but the management could do better. The food was always plenty and fresh but I always felt in a hurry to get in & out of the restaurant for some reason. There were two German kids there who used the cable car as a toy and seemed to enjoy waiting for you to get within 20 yards then pressing the button to go up, leaving you to wait 10 mins for it to come back! It didn’t help when 200 Swedish golfers turned up half way through our holiday which seemed to turn all the existing holidaymakers into 2nd class! To sum it up.... Too many wasps, too basic accommodation, pool too cold in October, bar staff too slow and miserable, good food, good weather, great views, beach not worth bothering with, hire a car to see the island! Visit Paleokastritsa & Kassiopi. Mark.
Definitely not a hotel for disabled people, I felt cut off from the outside world. Would have all been bearable if the entertainment was any good... They thought they were good but they really weren’t. I even booed at one point... But hey we only paid £165 each so who cares! We did meet a lady that had paid over £400 each... Then I would have been complaining! The view from the nice clean pool was fab though almost worth the wasps! Amy.

We’d agree with the last couple of people that reviewed the hotel. This is not a 4* but a good 3* with the facilities of a 4/5* - indoor pool, Jacuzzi, massage, reflexologist, reiki expert, sauna etc etc.
The bedrooms are all in bungalows and are basic but ve5ry clean and the maids work really hard going up and down that hill.
Our view was obstructed by a tree but we still had some evenings on the balcony just listening to the waves and the crickets.
The pool was really big and with stunning views of the coast and the sea.
The food was more than good and we were particularly impressed with the choice on offer every day.
The entertainment team always worked really hard and the shows they put on are not bad considering. Last year we were in Rhodes and the entertainment was exceptionally bad.
On second day we were given a map of the island and the town and representative told us areas to go for shopping and drinks etc. Also hired moped for 1 day and car for 2 days.
We had a really good week. The world might still be a bit too big to come back to the same place again, but we wouldn’t dismiss it if we had the chance.
P.S. The answers to the quiz that the rep gives are: 1) For Your Eyes Only, and 2) Prince Phillip.

This hotel is not 4 star, might be 2 star. The beach area was filthy I didn’t look as if had been cleaned this year. The food was passable but the bar staff couldn’t have gone any slower. the whole experience was very disappointing and I would never recommend this hotel to anyone. The entire hotel needs massive re-furbishment before it could even be classed as a 3 star.

Not really the standard of a 4* as advertised - more a 3* - accommodation kept clean but about due for refurbishment - spacious bathroom and nice size balcony -
Facilities such as pools and tennis courts fantastic - however all animation team (for sports and activities) were German or Dutch so English was a second language which was difficult at times - this hotel is used by alot of French, German and Italian guests - English is the minority.
Be prepared for a wait to use cable car at nights and lunch times as very busy and as set on steep hill is needed if you have small kids - disabilities.
Food excellent - plenty of choice
Be ware! This place is over run with wasps - hundreds of them due to grape trees being planted their - from July to September it is bad - there all over the pool area - the bar is self service for soft drinks but there are so many wasps flying around it is hard to get close - not one for anyone with a phobia!!!!!!
Hotel beach - ok - stones not all sand so bit hash on you feet when in and out of the sea.

Well I’ve finally gotten round to adding my review!! We were a party of 14 adults and kids (Aged 3,6,7, 12,13,15 and 17) Hung about a lot at the airport on arrival, couldn’t find a Sunstar rep until somebody guided us to the Lord travel desk where we met the famous George!
We had our own mini bus to the hotel which was nice so straight there with no stop offs. Bit of a shock when we arrived, lots of very steep roads and the bungalows are staggered down the side of the mountain. Our rooms were about half way down (267) and the rest of the party were along the same footpath. We tried the steps and the cable car but most of the time walked up the roadway as it wasn’t as taxing on the calf muscles!
The beach was not for kids and we found it a bit grotty but a few of the adults, including me, used to go down there to catch the rays till about 4 o/clock then head up to the top to meet the others and cool off in the pool, which I found to be a bit noisy to spend all day around. The kids all loved the pool though and the adults seemed to have a good time up there too.
My one big gripe would be the condition of the sunbeds both around the pool and on the beach. A lot of the ones around the pool (They were the white plastic type similar to the ones that you buy in Homebase) were cracked and had broken bars and some had the backrests missing. The ones on the beach were mostly the goldfish colour aluminium with blue or green nylon covers and most of them had seen better days.
The food was fine. What people must remember is that the staff are working on a very low budget and feeding 100s of people a day, at the same time trying to vary the menu on a daily basis.
What you also have to remember is that because the hotel is providing 3 meals a day, those chefs and cooks are constantly cooking and preparing food from 7 o/clock in the morning until about 9 o/clock at night! I used to work in a school kitchen and believe me it is bloody hard work catering for 80-100 people just providing lunch!
I take my hat off to them, the food was brilliant and there was a lot of choice and some of the dishes were lovely ( My favourite was the chicken in Caribbean sauce, or something like that, it was awesome and I went back for seconds!!) There was a different theme in the restaurant most nights, which again took time to arrange, there was even a jelly waterfall in there one night!! Always pasta and rice available and Bolognese, different potato dishes and some nicely prepared desserts (My favourite was the baklava - the flaky pastries soaked in syrup- mmm!!) Always jelly and ice cream too.
The rooms were very basic. In ours there was me and my hubby and my 2 kids (13 & 17!!) who had to sleep in the bunk beds!! Just one fairly large room with all 4 beds in the same room. A large entrance lobby, which housed all the wardrobes and storage space and a fridge, and a large bathroom.
The bathroom floor used to get soaked every time we used the shower as the curtain was not long enough and didn’t stretch the whole length of the bath and could have done with a new shower head as it used to spray everywhere except downwards!!
The bathroom was also a bit grotty and reckon it was time for a refurb. The balcony was nice and big and the view from ours was awesome, I am going to try to add some pictures later. The air con was the best I have ever come across, we used to leave ours on constantly and it was always ice cold, a couple of times we woke up in the night shivering!! Also, because of the way the buildings were facing they stayed quite cool as the sun never actually shone down into them at all.
George, the hotel rep was a lovely man. The bar staff were ok once they got to know you, the restaurant staff were indifferent! Reception ladies were very helpful and spoke very good English (As did George). Any thing else you need to know just ask and I will try to help.
All in all we had a great week, 2 weeks would have been too much as there is not enough around the hotel to do, the resort of Ermones consists of about 4 hotels, a bar, a restaurant and a small shop at the bottom of the hill and a car and bike hire.
Apparently there are 30% English people on average in the hotel the rest is made up of Germans, Italians some French I think and a few others.
All in all we had a good time, but I don’t think I would return to Ermones. The world is too big a place!! (Although I’ve been to Fuerteventura 3 times, make of that what you will!!)
Pictures to follow.................

Having read some of the reviews of this hotel, I feel obligated to submit my thoughts of our time there.
Me and my partner Gemma got a great deal to come here in May 05, we read reviews and were aware of some pitfalls this hotel brings, but accepting this we went away for a quiet week break.
The pitfalls: The hotel is set out on a hillside and the rooms are scattered over the hill, there is a lot of steep walking involved in this holiday as the dining area and pool etc are at the top. So be prepared for this.
On the plus side you will have very toned calves by end of hol.
The hotel is not an English only hotel, in the time we were there, I would say 40% German 25% British 25% French and 10% being rest, due to this the entertainment is structured around the 3 languages so it does take time, and each nations idea of humour, entertainment etc is different. There can be a language barrier problem.
The hotel is very isolated with only couple of other bars and hotel nearby, however as you are staying A/I the whole point is to use the hotel facilities as much as poss.
On the plus side. The grounds and views are beautiful, the view from the top near the pool is excellent.
The rooms are spacious and are well kept by cleaners, with every room having A/C and a fridge which is handy.
There are lot of facilities at the hotel with a large outdoor pool and nice indoor pool, with sauna and Jacuzzi, there are tennis and volleyball courts , a kids area , 5 a side pitch and a basic gym.
The hotel also has a private beach and bar area, with a cable car running down to the beach.
The food is nice, they put a lot of effort into the variety and they have chefs preparing fresh food out for all to see. Again they try to do food for all three nations.
The entertainment is competent but is time consuming as they try to translate in 3 languages.
All in all we had a great time, we knew what the limitations were with the hotel complex and accepted it, and were impressed with what the hotel had to offer.
I would recommend it to people who are looking for a week away to chill out and relax. It is not for families with young children and elderly due to the walking involved.

We knew from the hotel website that the hotel was built on a steep hill overlooking the sea and this is what appealed to us because we thought we would get good views. We had been to Corfu before (Paleokastritsa) and so we knew the area the hotel was in although not the hotel itself.
When we arrived at the airport we were met by our hotel rep, George who was charming and very helpful even though it was around 3am.
At the hotel checking into our rooms was slow but OK. The hotel was steeper than we thought but the views when we eventually woke up were much better than we imagined.
First thing we did was try the cable car mentioned on the Internet!
The pool is big and spacious with lots of sunloungers everywhere. Although we don’t have children ourselves we noticed that there was a children’s clubhouse and activities were taking place throughout the day but most importantly away from the grown ups!!!
The nicest thing about this hotel however, has to be the food. When we booked all inclusive we expected to be fed cantina style food but we were very pleasantly surprised at the quantity, quality and variety of the food on offer at meal times. Definitely a 10/10 for the chef.
The rooms are in bungalows which means more privacy and although they weren’t luxurious they had air-conditioning and a fridge which we needed and pleased to have.
The staff at the hotel were always saying hello to us and typically Greek and friendly. The Rep seemed to always be at the hotel talking to everyone and it made a nice change not to be pushed to buy any trips although we did book with him for a couple of boat trips which were excellent.
All in all a fantastic holiday and would consider going back.

I am amazed as to why anyone goes there. When I got there I sat and cried. It was nowhere near 4 star in fact I wouldn't even give it a 2 star.
the beach was awful, they say it was pebbled, it was muck although the view wasn’t bad, but nothing compared to the views from other resorts on the island. I went on a tour of the island and all the other resorts and there were some beautiful places. I would have to say Ermones was without doubt and I’m not a fussy person the worst.
The apartments were so disappointing. They weren't clean and they were smelly. The air conditioning was awful at first we thought it was broke, we complained several times, apparently it was working!! It was warmer inside than out.
The cable car was so slow, if u were in a hurry to go somewhere u would have to walk the steps and by that time you were wrecked, but if u waited on the cable car u would wait 15 minutes then it might b full so u would have to wait another 15.
The food wasn't bad. it was eatable.
The pool area and the main hotel was up to its 4 star rating but u would have to be up at 7 to get a sunbed.
The wasps were in 100's. it was awful.
All in all it was my worst holiday ever. I honestly did cry and I’m 32. It’s to remote. its not very clean. I would not recommend it to anyone. Honestly.

Just returned from one week’s holiday at Ermones Beach Hotel. We booked from an advert in a national newspaper 3 weeks before we went so didn’t have much information about the hotel except what we found on the hotel’s website.
Ermones is approximately 20 mins by taxi from Corfu Airport and is situated on the west coast of the island. The hotel is perched on the top of a very steep hill with all the bungalows descending down the hill towards the beach. The bungalows and beach can be accessed by a cable car but quite often it is quicker to walk the hill as the cable car can only hold a maximum of 18 people. This is definitely not a holiday for people with mobility problems. The hotel itself is nice, with a large outdoor pool and smaller indoor pool, you can dine either in the Dining Room or outside and the food is definitely 4 star with a lot of choice and good service. The hotel is German so guests are predominantly German with German being the language spoken before being translated into English. Lots of activities at the hotel during the day with the usual shows in the evening performed by the ActivClub staff. The bungalows are more 3 star than 4 but as a base they are fine. The beach is mostly pebbles but the sea gets deep very quick i.e. 3ft dropping to 8ft.
The hotel has a beach bar and a small dining area, which serves a buffet salad at lunchtimes plus beer and wine, not a great choice but better than hiking back to the hotel!
There are lots of things you can book from the hotel - my husband booked a round of golf at the nearby Corfu Golf Club and the hotel’s bus transported him there, I also had a fantastic 40 min massage at the hotel and at only 32 euros, was excellent value.
There is a bus service, which runs from the Hotel to Corfu Town from 10 am, we used this service to get to Aqualand - only 2.70 euros for the 3 of us! We also visited Glyfada Beach, which was fantastic with a few tavernas, sun beds and all the usual Watersports. For a week’s holiday this resort was absolutely fine with plenty to do, good food and beautiful scenery.