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Naxos Hotel Question

I am seeking advice concerning finding a hotel on Naxos. We will be there for 5 nights in June.

We would like something in or within walking distance of the old town. A lot of quaint Greek charm would be a big plus. Being at a hotel on the beach is not the primary purpose of the visit, but we would like to visit beaches, and if a hotel happened to be on the beach and was still close to the old town, that could be a plus but is not essential. A nice pool would also be a plus but is not absolutely essential. I think this puts me in the Hora/Agio Georgious Beach area.

I don’t think I want to pay more than $200 per night, but I don’t want to pay that much for something that is not much better than something that is much cheaper. The reason that I say this is because I have searched Naxos hotels on the internet and note that some options are beginning to disappear, and prices on lesser hotels seem to be rising. Some reviewers claim that after arriving and looking around, they realized that they could have done better for much less. I don’t want to pay an inflated price for a mediocre hotel when I could have stayed at another equivalent mediocre hotel (or a hotel with different features, such as no beach or pool) for much less.

To summarize, desirable features, in order of importance include: 1) in a safe area; 2) quaint Greek charm with a view of some type (not necessarily a sea view); 3) in walking distance of the old town; 4) with a pool; 5) on a beach; 6) no rental car necessary but the possibility of parking one if one is obtained.
Thank you and I greatly appreciate any suggestions.

Posted by
11507 posts

I have a great recommendation bit am on my phone when I get on my laptop will give a more detailed answer

Posted by
3115 posts

Use the filter system at www.booking.com to search for affordable hotels on St. George Beach. It's just a short walk away from Naxos Town. It may be too soon to book for next June, but you can at least find one you want and book it as soon as they allow.

Posted by
11507 posts

Hi.. so .. we just spent 5 nights in Naxos this past May. We being my hubby and I .. and our adult daughter and her boyfriend, and a friend of our hubby who joined us for 4 nights.

Our adult daughter and her bf had a regular room.. it cost them 45 euros a night, and included breakfast.. It was small , but clean, had good ac,, and a tiny balcony with a sea glimpse.. perfect for their needs and budget..

However.. we had a GREAT room.. this is a small hotel with only 16 rooms.. 14 very similar to one dd stayed in.. but the top floor has two rooms only .. and a rooftop terrace you share and its huge, had great comfy rattan and cushioned furniture.. and the VIEW was amazing.. look up photos .. 180 degrees.. town on one side and the ocean all around you !

Beach is like 3 minute walk.. main part of old town is about 6 minutes.. but you are in such a cute area.
The hotel is family run.. and they are so nice.. omg.. the nicest people ever. Ekathi is the cook /hostess.. and every morning she puts out a lovely spread.. with at least 2 hot dishes , different every day.. a quiche, a potatoe and cheese dish.. sausage casserole.. just random different hot dishes.. and of course all the other stuff you expect, greek yogurt.. HOMEMADE pastries , cereal, fruits, cheese, sliced meats.. etc.

The room we had cost 110 euros a night and slept four , as it had a small room off the main room with two couches that convert to single beds.. and another tv. but we just used the extra space for our luggage and stuff.

We spent hours out on our deck.. the first night hubby ran downstairs because we couldn't find a wine opener( there is one in the room) and EKathi insisted on sending up a few tiny sandwiches because she said " oh you must have a snack with your wine".. this was free.

One morning we rented a car and were doing an island drive.. Ekathi came out of kitchen with some wrapped cakes and pastries from breakfast.. she said " a snack for the drive" and we ended up blessing her as car broke down and the snack made us a lot happier while we waited .

We asked Vassili ( owner , on desk all the time) where to go for dinner one night.. he recommended a small place that was amazing.. hes also warned us about the "big plates of food".. wish he had listened.. we all have doggy bags to bring home.

They drove us to the ferry the morning we were leaving.

We loved every minute at this place.. its not a fancy new luxury place.. its much much better then that..lol

Take a look at photos on review sites.. the room top room is the one you want.. the views, the comfy furniture..
Ps rooms have good ac, a kettle, a mini fridge and comfy beds.. a bit old fashioned in style.. but we liked the character.

Hotel Kymata , Naxos

Posted by
11294 posts

Pat: unless I missed it, I think you neglected to give the name of where you stayed. It sounds great, but without a name, address, or website, I don't think the OP can stay there!

Posted by
11507 posts

Ha.. Harold you are right.. will edit it in.. lol

Posted by
3311 posts

See my answer to your query on Fodor's. I also like Kymata, and it's got very modest rates, but no pool. Is that Essential?? The water at the beach is wonderful in June, that's when I'm there.

PS: your concern about "a safe area." There is no area in Naxos that is unsafe ... in fact, having visited 25+ islands and a dozen mainland locations repeatedly since '99, I have yet to find a location in Greece where i didn't feel safe. A nice change, very refreshing.

Posted by
9 posts

We ended up going to Naxos based on recommendations from this forum. We could not have been happier and it turned out to be our favorite spot during 18 days of travel. We LOVED every bit of it! We stayed at Pension Sofi and could not recommend a better place. It is not high end and not on a beach BUT it is a five minute walk from town, very cozy and the family that runs it are amazing. Staying there made our trip to Naxos very special!

Posted by
3311 posts

L wortzman, she DID put the name in, at the last -- Hotel Kymata. The other person, mslaal, seemed to want a hotel that was near to the beach, and also had a pool. His/her limit was $200 per night -- which is WAY more than Naxos charges, he/she must be used to Santorini, or Mykonos or other hyper-ballyhooed places.

There are only 3 "upmarket" hotels with pools near the beach and town, in the St. George/Ag. Giorgios Beach area ...

• HOtel Nissaki Beach is closest to beach AND is closest walk to the Town. Actually has small strip of beach-front, but not a swimmable part .. you have to walk down beach a way to swim. And its pool is jammed between 2 "arms" of the hotel, just a concrete niche, not landscaped, rather "motel"-looking. Hotel has nice outdoor terrace, lots of uniformed staff if that's your thing,
• Hotel Galaxy -- again, lots of staff, swanky lobby etc. Is far back from beach, front is on busy road.
• Naxos Resort Beach Hotel -- near Galaxy, but closer to beach, visible from lawn surrounding pool. My choice of the 3.

If one does not need a pool (and in May-June, why), there are dozens of small family-run hotels & pensions which have rooms with balconies and attractive views, ranging from directly on the sands to several hundred yards away... some providing breakfasts, some providing kitchenettes, all providing hospitable hosts and in May-June VERY moderate prices. As Lee recommended, for a start you can go to booking.com, put in your desired dates, and see what's available in y our desired price range. Such a website also has a google map showing exact locations, so, no surprises. After that, check reviews from Trip Advisors ... This is basic research. When you have focussed in on a few, and still cannot decide, come back with a list of 2-3 choices, and we can weigh in. That is how we can be most helpful.

Posted by
32171 posts

I'd highly recommend http://www.hotelgrotta.gr/ in Naxos. It's in a great location and easily walkable to the main part of town, the rooms are very comfortable and they even have a small indoor pool.

Posted by
3311 posts

I'm more hesitant to recommend Hotel Grotta for people who don't plan to rent a car. It's on a high bluff directly north of the ferry pier .... and it's a loooong walk to the beach on the other side of town. You CAN get a bus on a nearby corner to one of the outer beaches ... but coming back, there's the uphill walk again. Also after dinner, the shortest walk uphill back to the hotel is a pathway on the hill -- and you need to carry a flashlight & watch your step. In addition, Grotta charges more for rooms with sea views .. and their "pool" is really a smallish "tub", enclosed, perhaps 3 x 4 meters, at the basement level. Grotta's plus is a lavish breakfast buffet -- but this is available at other hotels on a beach or just off a beach.

Posted by
32171 posts

I didn't find the walk from the main part of town to the hotel to be particularly difficult even though I'm 60+, either via the street or the path. The pool certainly isn't olympic sized, but it's nice to freshen up after a hot day of touring....

http://www.hotelgrotta.gr/naxos-hotels.php

Their breakfast buffet was excellent, and some of the items were home made. The staff were great and I have no hesitation in recommending Hotel Grotta.