"We have recently returned from a stay at the Hermes Hotel in Skiathos and came away feeling rather disappointed. There are some positives, but they are outweighed by a number of issues that make the hotel's official 4-star rating difficult to justify.
Firstly, the staff were genuinely lovely throughout our stay. Everyone we encountered was friendly, polite and always willing to help. Breakfast was also good, with plenty of choice and particularly nice coffee that was strong and fresh each morning.
Lory’s souvlaki shop on the main road next to the hotel was very good and many guests used it at lunchtime.
Unfortunately, that's where the positives largely end.
The manager was somewhat unusual. Whilst never rude and generally pleasant enough, he wasn't especially welcoming. One thing that left us uncomfortable was being required to pay the tourist tax in cash despite everything else in the hotel operating on a card-only basis. No receipt was provided, which also seemed odd.
The photographs used by TUI are also extremely selective and do not provide a true reflection of the hotel's condition. We felt somewhat misled. Throughout the property there is a noticeable sense of dilapidation and deferred maintenance. Examples included cracked basins in our room, a missing bathroom lightbulb, rusting railings, worn and uneven decking and an ancient sofa that looked long overdue for replacement.
The decking around the dining area was particularly concerning. In places the boards are lifting, paint has worn away and it genuinely feels as though sections could give way underfoot. Across the entire property there are countless small maintenance issues which combine to create a generally run-down atmosphere.
Our room had a kitchenette complete with a full-sized cooker and fridge, yet no crockery, cutlery, glasses, plates or cooking utensils were supplied. This rendered the kitchen virtually useless. What's even more confusing is that guests are reportedly not permitted to bring their own food into the hotel, so it is difficult to understand the purpose of providing cooking facilities at all.
The hotel advertises itself as non-smoking, yet ashtrays are positioned around the pool area and smoking appeared commonplace and completely unchallenged. There were also numerous lists of rules displayed throughout the property, many of which came across as unnecessarily passive-aggressive rather than welcoming.
One of the biggest frustrations was the pool area. Pool towels are provided, but there are only 14 sun loungers for the entire hotel. This is simply nowhere near enough and meant many guests had no realistic opportunity to use the pool comfortably. There appeared to be plenty of room for additional loungers, making the shortage even more baffling.
Prospective guests should also pay close attention to the hotel's warning about access. The TUI website suggests the approach may not be suitable for guests with mobility issues. This is a huge understatement. The slope leading to the hotel is extraordinarily steep. Walking down it requires care and hauling suitcases up was genuinely exhausting. Anyone wearing heels would struggle enormously and, in our opinion, a handrail should be installed for safety.
There were plenty of other small frustrations. Doors in our room would not stay closed properly and frequently popped open. None of the bathroom or toilet doors had locks. The air-conditioning unit was extremely old and noisy, forcing a choice between being hot and uncomfortable or trying to sleep through constant noise.
Breakfast, while enjoyable, also suffered from a poor layout. Guests had to lean over other items to reach the coffee and juice stations. A simple rearrangement with an additional table would make a significant difference.
The location is reasonably good for beach access, with two beaches each around a 10-minute walk away. However, there are very few restaurants or bars nearby. We found ourselves catching buses almost every evening to Agia Paraskevi, Troulos or Skiathos Town just to have some dining and entertainment options.
Overall, this hotel is simply not a 4-star property. In our opinion it is closer to a 2-star hotel, or perhaps a modest 3-star at a push. We were particularly disappointed because TUI properties normally align much more closely with their advertised ratings.
We absolutely love Skiathos and will certainly return to the island, but would we stay at the Hermes Hotel again? Absolutely not."
