Reviews of White Rocks Hotel, Lassi, Greece

The hotel as absolutly spotless...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs P Willsea

Comments:

The hotel as absolutly spotless the rooms were clean and well kept although basic and we had a bungalow with two single beds which couldnt be pushed together for life or money due to the fact they were made of concreate............



Every morning the staff were up and about cleaning the pool area and all other public areas of the hotel.It was spotless .



Breakfast .......although the food was the same every single day it was lovely with plenty of choice from fresh fruite to full cooked to cereal toast coffee juice and as much as you wanted........you helped yourself but all was fresh.



Evening meal was a nightmare..............very formal badley organised and the food was poor and often cold.............lukily you could swap this for lunch which was a self serve buffet and againe although the food was the same every day it was lovely and you could eat as much as you wanted.



Then we just went out if still hungry to a local taverner for evening meal.



The beach was gorgeous ....but be warned it is a climb and in the heat this can be tireing.





We had a lovely relaxing time..............the hotel isnt child freindly its mainly geared towards couples and honey mooners but there were some children there and they were very welcome.



Bar prices in the hotel were a bit steep so not realy a place to stay drinking into the early houres againe visit the local taverners and pubs.



We had a lovely time...........



but wont be returning due to the fact it wa just too darn hot.................

Heey how do i start it white...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs AS Embo

Comments:

Heey how do i start it white rocks was just wonderful it really was nice i went with my husband and kids ages 13 and 17 they really enjoyed it. There were many beaches to visit and a great atmosphere as you walk into your room the bed were changed regually and rooms were cleaned. The pool hardly got crowed like you probaly think it would in a fantastic place like white rocks.

I had no worrys of letting the children go and play in the pool while i was in the room they were safe and secure. When we went to skiathous we had to pay for beds we dont need to here free sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach but somedays you have to get there early.

I would recomend this to everyone with kids or without. It is such a wonderful place i have already booked next years here :-)

The hotel rooms were very basic...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs D Fairhurst

Comments:

The hotel rooms were very basic and the room we were given was about a 15 minute walk from the main reception. This included a lot of uphill walking and steps and in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees was nearly impossible. We eventually were moved to a room closer but still a bit of a walk.



There was very little storage space in the hotel and we had 2 single beds - as this was our honeymoon we were a little disappointed - the chocolates and champagne which we were told we would receive never materialised either.



In the restaurant there were only certain tables on which we could sit and not very private - again on honeymoon this is what we wanted. The food was average.



We eventually moved to a different hotel as we were so disappointed with this hotel.



On a more positive note the views were very good.

First of all it depends on what...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2007

Tour Operator:

Olympic Holidays

Submitted By:

Towelsatdawn

Comments:

First of all it depends on what you're looking for doesn't it so I'll try to give you a context.



My husband and I DO NOT like noisy bars, Ouzo, shots, karaoke bars, deafening music, and Greek dancing where they disconnect your vertebrae as they drag you unwillingly from your seat. Thankfully you won't get this in Lassi.



My husband and I like peace, tranquillity, good food, breathtaking beauty, sight-seeing, great pool and beach, walking opportunities and activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling and this is pretty much exactly what we were given during this holiday. For once, the travel brochure pictures did not exaggerate the intense beauty of the red earth, green hills, and the azure skies of this incredible island.



Before visiting the Island of Kefalonia which is steeped in ancient history I thoroughly recommend that you read Captain Corelli's Mandolin. READ IT! Don't just watch the movie - which isn't nearly as good. Then after you've read it, just for good measure take it with you and read it again as you relax by pool, (which is immaculately clean, and towels are provided).



Despite being a largely fictional, this book contains a lot of information which will help you to understand some of the more recent major events which helped to form the fabric of the island. (Italian/German occupation during WWII, Earthquake of 1953, modern culture). It will also mention a number of sites which if you enjoy sightseeing you will find yourself wanting to seek out. (Italian war memorial, Fanari road, Lighthouse of Saint Theodore etc)



First of all although the hotel was built in 1974 it has a very stylish (Groovy) 1960's look to it, especially the bar/lounge area with its minimalist decor and various objects d'art. It brings to mind one of those very modern, oh-so-trendy inner-city watering holes where beautiful people sit on enormous low sofas sipping their Martinis whilst pretending to be delightfully aloof. Luckily the people who frequent the bar at White Rocks are much friendlier, much less pretentious, if slightly less beautiful.



There is a wide range of beverages available and the barman is efficient and friendly. The service however, (assuming you can catch the waitresses' attention) is very slow indeed. Sometimes it is (marginally) quicker to sashay over to the bar yourself. As with most hotels, the drinks are a little more expensive than you might pay in normal bars but the comfort and style more than compensate for loss of those few extra cents.

The Corner Bar which is not actually attached to the corner of the main building but the corner of the complex is definitely worth a visit. All you need to do is simply relax and watch the evening sun disappear as you work your way through their extensive cocktail list.



This hotel is animal friendly in that they are happy to make provisions for stray cats. Supported by a local animal charity, there are a number of feeding stations dotted along the path from the main building to the beach. Guests are welcome and even encouraged to leave food at these nominated stations for the small number of cat families which live within the heavy vegetation. The Charity occasionally neuters some of them to ensure that numbers do not increase too much. The cats are essentially wild but many of them are as tame as domestic pets and are happy to be picked up and petted. Those that aren't will simply keep their distance from you.



This serves two purposes, it stops the cats from sneaking into the restaurants to scrounge from diners, and on the other hand their presence presumably keeps any rodents away from the hotel. It's a win-win situation. We took many trips to the supermarket only to return heavily laden with cans of food and biscuits so that our friends could enjoy breakfast and a light supper, which they greatly seemed to appreciate and expressed their gratitude through copious purring and shin rubbing.



The hotel staff also feed them scraps from the kitchen at various intervals during the day. In other parts of Greece there does appear to be a serious problem with strays. Let’s hope that other hotels will consider introducing such a positive scheme.



The hotel room is modern and spacious with a fairly well stocked minibar, daily maid service, television, laundry service etc. The balcony is small but provides a stunning view of the ocean. It's so relaxing to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the crashing waves. You may wish to purchase/take with you a kettle and a mug if you like to enjoy a cuppa in your room.



The nearest supermarket is a ten minute walk away along the road but be careful at night as there is not an official pavement and there is a blind bend in the road at one point.



Despite being booked on a half board basis, my husband and I only ate at the restaurant once. Once was enough as both food and service were appalling. We weren't angry about this as we didn't really intend dining in every night but I am pleased that we weren't previously resolved on doing so. The service was extremely slow and the menu very limited. We waited 25 minutes to be seated during which the MD, despite being suitably apologetic, barely managed to conceal his frustration as he frantically checked seating plans to see what could be done to reduce the ever-increasing queue of would-be diners.



Once seated, it took another 35 minutes before someone took our drinks order. My husband was almost on the verge of heading up to the bar to fetch our own. It then took another 10 minutes before our food order was taken. The starter arrived not long afterwards but sadly it wasn't worth the wait. The luke-warm soup was nothing more than some powdered cup-a-soup type of concoction which was fairly gritty and tasteless. When the main course eventually arrived (20 minutes later) the meat was so badly dried that I could barely cut it and the pureed potato accompaniment had developed a hard crust/skin presumably from sitting under a heat lamp in order to be kept warm.



This irked me greatly as I had assumed that in exchange for our continued patience we would be rewarded with freshly prepared food. We did not stay for dessert and instead opted to head up the bar for a ham and cheese toastie having eaten virtually nothing at dinner. On a more positive note the bread roll was nice. :) For a hotel of this size, waitress service simply doesn't work unless you have sufficient waitresses, tables, and kitchen staff to cope. Given that the food was clearly not made to order I fail to see why this cannot be replaced with a buffet style service. This would significantly reduce the number of complaints I am sure the hotel must get.



I myself, decided to give the restaurant another chance one breakfast time. There was no queue and a number of empty tables and lo and behold there was a buffet service. Hurrah! This should be easy then... so I thought... There was no indication of how tables were allocated and so I waited for quite some time for someone to attend to me. After a while I began to notice that a number of people just walked straight in and found their own table. I eventually decided to do the same. After watching how things worked I waited patiently for a waitress to offer me some tea and fruit juice but despite my attempts to make eye contact and eventually resorting to 'excuse me's I continued to be ignored.



Talk about paranoia! Just as I was about to give up the MD from the night before approached me to tell me that the terrace tables needed to be reserved. I apologised and informed him that I was unfamiliar with the process but he simply smiled curtly and led me to an indoor table.



After a few more failed attempts to get a cup of tea I got up and helped myself to the buffet. I'm probably not the ideal person to comment on the quality of the food, as I am very picky, suffice to say that I only managed cereal and a hardboiled egg. Other diners seemed to pile their plates high enough so I can only presume that the rest of the fare was good, although for myself I did not think it looked particularly appetizing. As I was about to leave I was finally offered Tea and fruit juice which out of sheer bloody-mindedness I accepted and then failed to drink. (Childish, I know). To be fair this is my only complaint about the holiday and to me it is so insignificant that it in no way detracted from a wonderful time. I just think that people need to be aware of this. The hotel far exceeded my expectations in all other respects so it is only fair that they get to have one black mark. I prefer the freedom of dining out anyway.



There are so many good restaurants available as you walk out The Butler's House being a particular favourite of ours for both lunch and dinner. The baked mushroom and cheese starter was out of this world. Feta and mozzarella in a thin creamy sauce with button mushroom and herbs. mmm.... It is easy to spot that food was made to order - Piping Hot though so be careful! They also do tremendous Pizzas in a wood burning oven (only available in the evening). You can choose to sit indoors or outdoors and you'll find it much more stylish than some of the other restaurants.



For a start you don't have those paper tablecloths so common in Greek tavernas. This was the full complement of linen napkins, cutlery, and glassware, decorated with wonderfully ornate lamps. The bathroom also is worth a look just to check out the design. Very modern and scrupulously clean. You would probably expect to pay a little more at Butler's House than you might in rival establishments. Not at all! it is very good value for money and is a welcome oasis in an otherwise barren desert of tourist fodder troughs. If you're female, under 35 and fairly presentable (and have only one head) you tend to get a lot of attention from the waiters and MD there. This will also get you a few perks like free cocktails and desserts (Yum!), Which my husband reluctantly accepted with a suspicious eye and slightly grudging sigh. This is about 15-20 minutes’ walk from the hotel.



The Chinese House is another favourite which whilst offering a full Chinese menu for both table and takeaway service, they also provide a full Greek menu. The quality of the food here was very good for breakfast, lunch and dinner as all the produce is fresh. We ate here several times and were never disappointed. The staff were so accommodating and pleasant. The decor is more in line with the usual cheap and cheerful paper napkin style taverna but don't let that put you off, the food is great. Try the Greek Breakfast!



Recommendations to visit:

The Butler's House

The Chinese House

Pso Sito on the Fanari coastal road just after the Dolphin Supermarket. Great Rocket and Balsamic dressing Salad

The Waterwheel Restaurant (also a sightseeing opportunity) coastal road to Argostoli. Very stylish but quite pricey but at least they serve Verve Cliquot (if extortionately priced).



Ones to avoid:

Mystic Gusto- Mystic DisGusting we call it. Simply dreadful food. On a par with school dinners. Our dinner was served by Greek dancers/waiters who were still heavily perspiring following a ten minute speeded up version of Zorba the Greek. Watching their beads of sweat drop into our bread basket made me lose my appetite. If you MUST go there do so before they start the dancing.



Sir Taki - Food is below average, waiters are either aggressive or indifferent, and the toilets should be declared a health hazard.



If you like scuba diving don't do this with the rep as they will sting you on price and not only that they will send you all the way to another part of the island. The journey will take a few hours and will take a big bite out of your time and your purse. Try the dive centre in Lassi called the DIVE INN which is located across the street from So Simple (a lively yet stylish bar). The diving instructor Steve is very laid back and knowledgeable and will take you to some exciting diving locations where you will see all manner of sea-life. My husband and I were among the first 10 people to dive down to a newly discovered WW2 German cargo ship wreck. It's only about 13 metres down so not too scary for new divers.



NB: This 'wreck' is not intact due to being blown to smithereens by the artillery but is very interesting to poke around nevertheless.



Steve is very passionate about what he does and really inspires you to get qualified. My husband completed his PADI Open Water Diver qualification and I intend to return to complete mine once I have done the theory and pool dives in the UK. Steve's non-pushy approach we found to be refreshing and his genuine eagerness to take us to points of interest made the experience so enjoyable. He also takes underwater pictures which he was happy to give us on disc for free. Nearly every dive centre I have ever been to have charged for pictures. We found ourselves wanting to dive almost every day of our second week and he was very generous in terms of how much he charged for additional dives.



Steve's probably too generous ever to become a millionaire but it's clear that he is more concerned with giving you value for money than charging the earth. In would prefer to give someone like this my business than someone who simply takes my money and pushes me into the nearest puddle.



The hotel's private beach is small but is great for snorkelling. Loungers are of course free to residents but I note that it seems to get pretty busy there and I personally prefer the pool. The good thing is that the pool does not open until 10 and you are not able to reserve sunbeds until the pool opens which is a bit of a foil to people like me who like to be out sitting in the sun from first light. The beach may be reached by a short steep hill leading down from the pool area upon which you'll find a charming snack bar selling drinks and a limited range of hot and cold snacks.



So despite the poor experience with the restaurant I would without a moment’s hesitation return to the White Rocks again, and again and again. Very good value indeed.

Just arrived back from a week at...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2007

Tour Operator:

Olympic Holidays

Submitted By:

Mr P Brooks

Comments:

Just arrived back from a week at White Rocks. The bad bits; do not go if you cannot have a sea view or a Bungalow, it defeats the whole charm of the location. Food is O.K. but soup for every starter gets boring. The restaurant seating arrangements seem to favour people staying for a fortnight than a week for no good reason. No evening entertainment to speak of.



The good bits: stunning location, friendly helpful staff and clean hotel.



Having said all this I would go again but would have to have a sea view.

We chose Kefalonia as the...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Select

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2007

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs L Bestford

Comments:

We chose Kefalonia as the location for our wedding and we could not have made a better choice. During our stay White Rocks provided us with first class service, friendly staff with outstanding food and stunning surrounds.



If you are visiting our recommendation for a relaxing end to your evening would be to go to White Rocks corner cocktail bar, a special mention must go to Maria and Stallios who were absolutely excellent.



We would also like to thank the waiter who oversaw table 61's meals between July 15th and 29th 2007. Also the man in the on site jewellery store who kindly provided the bride with a mirror to help her get her make up on at last min. (what a star!)



Thank you so much for making our stay amazing we will certainly return and anyone who does stay will most definitely not be disappointed.

White Rocks is a great place to...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Ms M McGoohan

Comments:

White Rocks is a great place to stay. I am not sure if it is a four star hotel.



The rooms are pretty basic; we had a sea facing bungalow which had the most amazing views over the sea. The bungalows are pretty basic inside. They have separate beds which cannot be moved together.



The rooms were cleaned every day and fresh linen and towels provided. The view more than made up for the decor so we were not too disappointed.



The hotel itself is nicely decorated. The hotel grounds are really fairly sprawling and it is quite a walk from the bungalows to the main hotel. The swimming pool is nice however there is no pool bar so it is lacking any kind of fun. It is a really peaceful place but could do with some sort of amenities at the pool side.



The hotel restaurant is not bad but not great either however the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. We changed our evening meal to lunches which is not a problem. The hotel bar is really chilled and Gerisimos and Moira are really friendly and happy to keep the bar open as long as the customers want.



Lassi - The best thing is the beach Makris Giglos (long beach) and the beach bar and restaurant is lovely to sit and have a few drinks as the sun goes in.



The restaurants in Lassi are pretty bog standard Greek Tavernas aiming at English clients but I would recommend eating and drinking in Argostoli about 5 euros in taxi.



There is more choice and better standard of food - with the exception of the big Italian restaurant in the square which serves the worse pizza in the world and prawn linguini with 3 prawns in it ha.



All in all White Rocks is good 3 stars Hotel and the staff, views and setting make it really relaxing enjoyable holiday.

As honeymooners I and my husband...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2006

Tour Operator:

Olympic Holidays

Submitted By:

Mrs M Ross

Comments:

As honeymooners I and my husband were extremely disappointed with the White Rocks Hotel.



Our "bungalow" was quite a trek from the main hotel and requiring much modernisation. The hot water system was ancient allowing only 1 of us to have a quick shower if we were lucky.



The most irritating problem of all was trying to get fed. Hotel manager seemed unaware to the daily chaos in the dining room, it was clear not enough tables were set for guests and we were either ignored or asked to return later.



Despite being half-board we mostly walked the short distance into the village and paid for our evening meals. Most mornings we decided to skip breakfast as we couldn’t face the frustration of being left hanging around. Waitresses were few and harassed, trying to do there best, and virtually no choice of menu and quality variable.



One thing we were happy with was the upkeep and cleanliness of our room.



Kefalonia is a lovely island with gorgeous beaches and sights, it is a shame this hotel is not even near a 4star as advertised.

I had seen numerous reviews...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2006

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Ms S Byrne

Comments:

I had seen numerous reviews before going to White Rocks in Lassi and must admit I was confused by the range of comments. Due to the mix of reviews I think it fair to say that I wasn't optimistic of a fantastically luxurious hotel but I was expecting a previous reviewer who walked out after 15 mins being picky and exaggerating. However, when we arrived I realised my worse fears were nothing to reality. We had booked a 'bungalow' to get the best possible room but when walking through the door we found ourselves in a space which could hardly maintain a double bed with what appeared to be almost just a walk-in shower with no bath. The room had not been cleaned - there was blood on the sheet, empty beer bottles in the bin and fresh urine in the toilet. As we stood in a state of shock a woman came in to check the minibar. We asked about the room being cleaned and she couldn't have been less helpful. The porter (if you could call him that) arrived with our cases and showed us how to switch on the hot water (through some kind of 19th century fuse box so it seemed). Anyway, in short we were in and out of the hotel in 2 hours. The manager did apologise and did all he could (offered full board) but we had seen enough. Even the view from the back 'bungalow' we were in was depressing - all we could see was the ‘bungalow’ with the leaky pipes in front.



We then went to the Mediterranean and although basic is not the word it was at least clean and spacious.



These 2 hotels would be 1 star in the States (not being an American but having stayed there before) and 2 stars in Europe.



Lassi? Well the beach and weather were lovely and that's all I could say.

My boyfriend and I who are in...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Miss K Bushnell

Comments:

My boyfriend and I who are in our twenties have just come back from a week at the White Rocks Hotel. We found it to be so relaxing, and apart from hiring a car for one day we stayed pretty much round the hotel as it has everything you need for a lazy holiday.



The location is fab, with a private pebbly beach to one side and a sandy beach the other which is used by the locals and tourists, but you are always guaranteed your own space and a sun bed. The rooms are a little dark but they are very clean and the bathroom is modern. As for the staff they are so friendly and they can't do enough for you. The food was fab, with an amazing buffet breakfast and although there was little choice at night we found it to be very tasty. They also have three bars that have amazing views.



We found Lassi didn't have lots to offer (in fact we thought Skala looked a little more lively, even though in the brochures they tend to say Lassi is) but when you stay in such a great hotel you don't need to venture out so much! If you want a very relaxing location then I'd definitely recommend the hotel and Kefalonia.

Just arrived back from a...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mrs A Farrow

Comments:

Just arrived back from a fortnight at the White Rocks. Had a really good time, weather was brilliant - not a drop of rain the whole time and we had a heat wave in the second week (36 degrees). Hotel is very good. Food was excellent at dinner - 4 course waiter service. Breakfasts OK but fried eggs always hard, unless you got down to breakfast at 7.00am! No sausages, only frankfurters. You could swap dinner for lunch so that enabled you to eat out in the evening. Lunches were plentiful but they had to heat everything in the microwave - not freshly cooked. Also, if you decided to eat there anyway without having swapped for the evening dinner, then it was expensive (about 27 Euros).



The staff were all lovely, friendly and helpful. The hotel is set on the side of the cliffs so obviously there are loads of steps and hills up and down and in the first couple of days you feel it in your legs but eventually you get used to it and don't notice it!!! The hotel beach wasn't as shown in the brochures. In the last couple of years they had had a bad winter and the storms had washed all the rocks on to the beach and the water also had not receded so therefore a lot of the sandy beach had been lost to the sea. We went swimming there the first day but had to negotiate the big rocks on the way in and out of the water, so we never went back on the hotel beach again after that.



There are 2 nearby beaches (Platis Gialos and Makris Gialos). They are both lovely gently shelving sandy beaches. Platis Gialos is the nearest to the hotel but while we were there, there were no sun beds and umbrellas out until the last week in May (and don't forget we had a heat wave!). We used Makris Gialos beach the next one round to Platis Gialos, again a gently shelving sandy beach but they had the beds and umbrellas up. This one is a longer beach and there is a beach taverna right on the beach, but at the far end of the beach is a lovely taverna set up in the cliffs where we went for lunch and this was always reasonably priced. Well recommended.



At the White Rocks we were originally put in a room facing inland, this meant we were literally facing the cliff and the road was up above us - hence the room was very dark and the lights needed to be on constantly. We asked to be moved, paid extra for a bungalow and spent 13 nights in a lovely bungalow with a patio and lawn outside overlooking the sea. Definitely book a bungalow if you can afford it, they are much prettier than the hotel building. The beds in the bungalows though are set on concrete bases, are single, not parallel to each other and obviously cannot be pushed together! Having all the other things going for the bungalow though definitely compensates for not sleeping together!



White Rocks is at the far end of Lassi so after dinner you can go for nice long walks through to the other end and back and walk off those 4 courses!

I visited hotel White Rocks in...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss A L

Comments:

I visited hotel White Rocks in May. We went for 1 week from 12th May. On the day we arrived it was pouring of rain, but for the rest of the holiday the weather was lovely. We went with my friend, her husband and there 3 children. The staff at the hotel were friendly and loved the children.



The food here is of a really high standard. There is a cocktail bar in the complex, but this was quite empty when we were there. There are a few bars up the road from the hotel, but some nights we went into the capital Argostolli.



The Thompson rep said it is quite an easy walk, but with a double buggy this was not the case. In truth it would probably take you about and hour to get there, its far easier to get a cab which is about 5 euro each way. The other thing I would say is that the rep also told us that there is turtles at the harbour of Argostoli, and so we all got up really early one morning and got a cab there.



We couldn't seem to see any and got speaking to some locals who said it is very rare to see turtles and that some of the fisherman hadn't seen them in years!! Just a note as I’m not sure the rep really knew what she was talking about. Hotel White Rocks is definitely a lovely place to visit, and I would recommend it to everyone.