"It’s our second trip to this hotel, and it just got better for us! Our first trip 2 years ago we kept ourselves secluded and private as to enjoy our honeymoon. This year, we brought our family as we wanted to share in our experiences with them - which we will hopefully put across in our honest review below!
We travelled as a family group of 6, 3x couples (24m, 21f, 31m, 32f, 60m & 59f). We were checked-in together in the same block next to the main pool. The rooms were spacious, clean and balconies overlooked the pool, with ours in particular being on the top floor had great views of Faliraki! The rooms had exactly the facilities that you’d want/expect, with optional extras available for a refundable deposit. Our housekeeper (I wish we caught her name, I want to say Maria?) was fantastic. Always smiling and saying hello, she kept us topped up with towels, toiletries and bottles of water (a godsend!). Our TV had programming issues, but we never used it so didn’t bother to bring this up to management. Our only issue with the room came with the flush mechanism on the toilet. Speak to the hotel and they’ll help sort any issue you have!
Food-wise, you’d be hard done by not to find something you like. There’s a healthy mix of various cuisines on offer at all times! We’re not the fussiest of eaters but it’s best to keep an open mind. If you’re expecting to what you eat at home, you won’t go far. The food is hot, fresh, and very tasty. Were found the snack bar to be the perfect alternative to a full lunch, with (in my opinion) the best fresh pizza in Faliraki! It’s so good! There’s also Gyros, hotdogs, hamburgers, grilled protein, fish fingers, chips, salads, dips, desserts and fruit galore! Dinner in the main restaurant is often themed, with Mexican, Italian and, of course, Greek nights to name a few! Drinks at meal times are self-serve, including the beer and wines! We had no concerns with the food - the only thing that genuinely bugged us is the sheer GREED of some residents. If there is an order limit on drinks at the bar, there surely should be a fair use policy on food. This is particularly targeted towards the snack bar.
The drinks service is phenomenal, and the bar staff are fantastic. They are on the go constantly. There are the odd few punters/residents who take advantage but generally the guys and gals behind the bar will ensure you’re well looked after… often with your drinks poured and ready before you’ve even ordered! They just see you coming 🤣 again, there is already a fair use policy on drinks, allowing you to order two drinks at a time (a bit of a pain if you’re with a group, but nothing major) however there was one day that the bar was SO busy that the beer pumps packed in and were out of action for a full afternoon… completely out with anyone’s hands and not a problem though, as there are alternatives!
The wildlife around this hotel is incredible. The peacocks run free and can be very vocal! They are a part of the hotel, and are looked after by the staff to a degree that they all have names! We’ve also seen grasshoppers, dragonflies, doves, hedgehogs and of course, cats! There were a number of cat families at this hotel… which brings me to say, please stop letting your kids remove any kittens from their mothers! It happened frequently and it’s not nice to see.
Day-time entertainment is fairly good. The entertainment team put on Darts, Water Polo, Ping-Pong, Water Zumba, Water Gym and more… there’s a kids timetable too but of course we didn’t use that! I’m sure there are also yoga classes but unsure. The entertainment team are fantastic! Huge shout out to Julia, Fero & Ralu… they were very polite, friendly and energetic! They always said hello and would sit for a catch-up before zooming off to take part in party dances etc! There is music around the main pool all day, as well as the option of using the massage booths! There’s a daily deal on the price for massages etc. Let’s not forget there’s another pool with water slides (flumes)! CONS:- it’s been said 1m times before, but there are just simply not enough sun beds or enough space around the main pool for all the residents. Sunbed wars are rife here, with the vast majority of holiday makers ignoring the hotel’s sunbed policy - Sunbeds shouldn’t be saved before 10am, else your belongings are removed. This never happened. We witnessed one woman save 12 sun beds at 6:20am and nothing was done about it… it was easy for residents to flaunt this rule which was frustrating.
Evening entertainment is also very good… there is a programme of events each night of the week. We would very much recommend the Live Music event and the White Party (it’s not essential to wear white but why not!? Join in and you’ll find your time here is so much better!)
We cannot mention the entertainment team without mentioning one man in particular… Our family were absolutely smitten and charmed by the one and only, Sam. His charisma and ability to light up the smile of anyone he interacts with is second to none. He cares deeply about everyone at the hotel, including staff, residents and the wildlife! He is ferociously fun, incredibly energetic and unbelievably friendly. We were also very lucky to see another side to Sam… which is to say he is a deep, insightful and very spiritual person. We would be remiss to say our trip was not complete without Sam’s friendship. He is an incredible human being and we hope he knows how much we value the time he puts in to his work. He truly is the biggest asset and credit to Evita Resort. He should be protected at all costs!!
Our biggest issue came on our last full day… 4.30pm and there were workers drilling right outside our hotel room installing new lights fixtures. Not only was the noise incredibly agitating, but the mess they made and left was atrocious. Their timing couldn’t have been worse because the pool was empty and most residents were in their rooms! Shocking timing and appalling standards (I realise the hotel are not fully at fault here but there must be some level of accountability!)
Additional Info:-
The hotel lobby has a baggage drop-off for your date of departure. It also holds a desk for renting a car, a scooter or quad! The same desks also allow you to book excursions.
Faliraki main centre is a 15/20 minute walk and fairly easy to get to - go past the 800 block and it’s a straight road! Alternatively, there is a bus stop outside the hotel (although the schedule is vague and buses seem to be sporadic - this was a constant source of frustration for us). The hotel also has a taxi pick-up point, and for a family of 6 we were €14.20 to Faliraki centre (€11 for 4 people).
We’d recommend the following cafes, bars and restaurants in Faliraki:
Sarakis (best coffee in the world!!)
Manolis Taverna (Greek heaven!!)
Colossus Bar (best atmosphere!!)
Greek Spirit
Paparazzi Bar
Jamaica Bar
I’ve probably missed some things but this is, in my view, a very, very good hotel. As I’ve said, be open-minded and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Ps sorry for the lack of photos! We were just having such a good time!"
