Grand Tour Of The Peloponnese

This is Sunvil’s traditional hotel, where we all like to stay when we are in Athens. It’s very much a Sunvil Hotel, low key, very conveniently located in a quiet, upmarket residential area below the Acropolis (289 metres) and a short stroll to the Acropolis museum (85 metres) and Plaka. Syntagma square, the city centre and the shopping district is a 15 minute walk. Much of the area that covers the archaeological sites is pedestrian and this is 100 metres from the hotel as is the metro station.

The staff are helpful and the majority have been there for many years. The hotel has a roof garden, restaurant and bar with probably the best views of the Parthenon and the Acropolis museum. The reception area, lounge area, the atrium restaurant and bar have a homely and relaxed feel.

A welcoming, central Athens hotel and a very good base from which to explore the city.

Accommodation

• 90 air-conditioned rooms including single, standard and superior rooms and junior suites
• All rooms have a bathroom with a walk-in shower, hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, safe deposit box, minibar, TV, telephone and complimentary WiFi internet connection
• Standard rooms have a king size bed or twin beds and an internal courtyard view or a balcony with view to the city
• Standard rooms can accommodate an extra bed for a child
• Some standard rooms interconnect
• Superior rooms have a king size bed or twin beds and view towards the Acropolis
• Junior suites have a king size bed or twin beds and a designated sitting area with sofa bed (suitable for two children)

Amenities/Leisure

• Buffet breakfast
• Restaurant
• Rooftop restaurant with Acropolis view
• Roof Garden Wellness Centre offering massage treatments and yoga sessions on midweek summer evenings
• Bar
• Rooftop bar
• 2 outdoor Jacuzzis
• Parking nearby (payable locally)

The family run Europa Hotel, another hotel we have used on our fly-drives for many years, stands at the top of Drouvas Hill above the ancient site of Olympia, 1km from the centre.  This is a roomy, modern hotel which has always been well maintained and with mature and extensive gardens, ideal for relaxing after visiting the site and museums.  Views from the hotel are of the Alfeios River Valley.

A very comfortable base with a good traditional Greek Tavern in the gardens.

Accommodation

• The hotel has 80 rooms including singles, doubles with twin or double bed, triple, family (for up to 4 persons) and suites.

This family-run hotel is at the small seaside resort of Gialova, 6 kms north of the historic town of Pylos and only a kilometre from the edge of a nature reserve known for its birdlife. It enjoys a quiet location just across a cul-de-sac from the long sandy beach here. Flowers, trees and shrubs add colour and meals can be taken in the shade. (The eagle eyed may be lucky enough to spot the rare African chameleon in its only known habitat in Greece).

The hotel has some 20 Superior room (c. 22 sq m) of a 4 star standard and served by a lift.

Rooms are twin or double bedded (king size with luxury bedding), and possess a spacious walk-in rainwater shower, and a sea facing balcony (note: sea views may be through the trees to the front of the hotel). Room facilities include AC, WiFi, hairdryer, mini-fridge a room safe, insect screened windows/balcony doors and tea-making equipment. There are also 2-room Family Suites for 4 (front double bedroom, smaller rear twin bedroom, both with AC) and top floor Loft Rooms, which do not have a balcony but two large angled skylight windows with fine views over Navarino Bay.

The ground floor houses an excellent restaurant which extends out into the shade of the mature shrubs and trees to the front.

In the extensive gardens behind, shared with the apartments, is a huge 250 sq m freshwater swimming pool (depth 1.85m, no shallow end) - pool towels are available from reception. Sun beds on the beach are free for guests.

The nature reserve, noted for its bird life, is very close by and easily accessed by foot or rented bicycle.

Although there are buses to Pylos, most guests are quite happy to stay put! Gialova has a very wide choice of tavernas as well as a handful of cafes and a mini-market and miles of sandy beach starts outside the hotel, culminating in famous Voidokilia some 4 kms to the north. Zoe Hotel has many loyal guests returning year on year so early booking is recommended. 

Please note: The swimming pool is planned to operate from mid-April to late October (exact opening/closing date dependent on weather conditions).

The Kalamitsi Hotel is built above a beautiful bay about a mile south of Kardamili. It has natural surroundings and a long white pebble beach nearby.

The hotel has been designed in a typical Maniot style. It comprises various stone buildings of one or two storeys dotted amongst the olive trees. The main building contains the BB rooms (double or twin) and the beautifully refurbished Suites. All have air conditioning, modern shower room, TV, fridge and wide covered balcony with sea, country or mountain views. The rooms are spacious and beautifully furnished in local style.

The studios are terraced within the grounds and are sold on a room only basis. They offer the same facilities plus a kitchenette (cooking rings, fridge) and have a veranda looking onto the olive grove. The Family Studio sleeps up to 5 and has two bedrooms (one double, one twin) plus a living room with kitchen and a sofa bed for a child.

The main building contains reception (safe facilities here) and has a lift. Evening meals can be taken on the front terrace and we have had good reports of the food here. A small path leads, via some 60 steps, to the beach (free towels provided).

The Kalamitsi is a small and friendly hotel, and the family deserves credit for carefully preserving the natural surroundings here. A very peaceful location in a beautiful setting.

NOTE: board basis is B&B for the rooms and suites and Self Catering only for the studios. 

Hotels within Monemvasia are very much sought after and the Byzantino has been featured by Sunvil for several years.  This is a charming, homely hotel, divided into 7 independent, historic buildings dotted around the castle and renovated in a tasteful and sensitive manner.  You are inside a medieval castle but with modern amenities. Stone, wood, exposed beams, wooden floors, expensive fabrics and glimpses of the sea and surrounding walls and historic buildings create a unique ambience.

Accommodation

• 20 air-conditioned rooms including classic, superior and exclusive collection rooms and one suite spread across 7 historic buildings
• Each room is different and individual in terms of its decoration and style
• All rooms have bathroom (shower), satellite TV, fridge and complimentary WiFi internet connection
• Most rooms have sea and castle view
• Some rooms have a balcony or terrace

Amenities/Leisure

• Cafe Byzantino and reception
• Wine hour at cafe Byzantino (free for guests staying in an exclusive collection room)
• Guided tour of castle (payable locally)

The 3 star Byzantion Hotel is located in the village of Mystras, close to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras and 5 kms from the town of Sparta. It has a friendly family-run feel and simple, comfortable rooms, all possessing wifi, air conditioning, fridge, shower room and balcony. To the rear of the hotel is a delightfully peaceful garden with a swimming pool and shade provided by the olive trees. Within a few minutes' walk you will find a choice of tavernas.

Right on the sea, with a small beach to one side and close to Tolon’s fishing harbour, is Minoa Hotel. Long established, it has built up an excellent reputation and the family who run it ensure a friendly atmosphere.

The Minoa offers not only an excellent location, perhaps the best in the village, but a standard of comfort and facilities above its official category and in our opinion is one of the best run and most comfortable hotels in Tolon.

Due to its location, ramp access for wheelchair users and lift we consider the Minoa to be a good choice for those of limited mobility.

Accommodation

• 44 Standard and Sea View rooms for couples and singles only
• Larger Sea View Family Rooms for 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children (bunk beds)
• Some front and rear rooms can interconnect, excellent for families
• Three Junior Suites

Facilities/Amenities

• Ground floor lounge
• An internet corner (15 mins. free use of PC per day)
• Restaurant
• Beachside bar
• Lift
• Sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach are free of charge for hotel guests
• Guests may also use the swimming pool of its sister hotel, the King Minos a 5 minute (but steep) walk away.