Exotica Hotel and Spa by Zante Plaza

"I don’t usually leave negative reviews but I want to stress that this should not be a 4-star hotel. I’ll start with some positives! The cleaner did a fantastic job of keeping our room tidy and providing clean towels each day. She was very polite and always said good morning to us and wished us safe travels as we were leaving. The air-con was free! The staff in the restaurant were friendly and plates and glasses were always taken away promptly. The hotel location is fantastic, it’s right in the middle of the resort so the main strip is only a 2 minute walk and the beach is a 10 minute walk. There are ample sunbeds available around the pool so there was never any rush to grab one early. Now the negatives… Upon arrival, we were given very little information or direction on the hotel facilities. We weren’t told where the restaurant or pool was, or opening times. We will simply given a room key and wristband and sent on our way. We were given a room in the first block, where the shower and the toilet is basically in the bedroom with only a shower curtain and glass barn doors to hide the toilet, giving very little privacy. Thankfully I was on holiday with my fiance so it wasn’t too much of an issue for us, but this would have been extremely awkward and uncomfortable if sharing with friends. The shower was terrible, it was a rainfall shower and the pressure was very poor, I ended up using the handheld shower making it very difficult not to flood the room with just a shower curtain to catch the water. The pool is only open 10am-6pm. This wasn’t a huge issue for us but I thought the chain around the pool was quite dramatic and unnecessary. I found the bar lady at the pool bar very abrupt and rude. I even saw her rolling her eyes at other guests a couple of times, she clearly doesn’t enjoy her job to say the least! We enjoyed the food at breakfast and around the snack bar but the food at lunch and dinner wasn’t great. The meat dishes especially were fairly inedible and choices repetitive. We found ourselves having evening meals out at local restaurants in the last 4 days of our holiday as we really weren’t enjoying our nights at the hotel. Drinks are typical of an inclusive, cocktails from a machine and watered down beer. The pool area had a big issue with wasps, the bar was swarming with them. We stopped making use of the all inclusive as having any kind of drink by your sunbed just encouraged wasps around you. This is somewhat out of the hotel’s control but it would have been nice to see some kind of traps to help stop them. We asked for a late checkout due to us having a night return flight and found that the reception staff made this extremely difficult. We asked on day 7, 8 and 9 of our holiday and each time was told to come back tomorrow to ask again. In the end, we were told to come back at breakfast on the day of our checkout to see if they could find us a different room for late checkout. This left us with a lot of uncertainty about how we could spend our last few hours before flying home. Cost for late checkout was €40. If I was to describe my experience at the hotel, I would say it was fine. Just not what I would expect of a 4-star hotel or for the price we paid for it! We will be returning to Kalamaki in 2028 as we loved the resort, sadly this hotel was the only thing I wish I could have changed."

"I always want to be honest in my reviews and on this occasion I honestly do not feel I can recommend this hotel to others. Starting with the positives, the room was clean and the cleaner we had always said good morning and was really lovely and friendly. The receptionist was also super helpful and polite to us. Both members of staff were an asset to the hotel. On the negative side of things, I can’t understand how this is a 4 star hotel and in my opinion its 3 star. The drinks were awful, the gas on the fizzy drinks constantly went and drinks were flat, my partner said the beer was awful also (better in a plastic disposable cup if you can get one) so maybe the cups change the taste. All the spirits were not as they should be. We ended up buying drinks for the fridge which defeats the object of all inclusive. Accessibility was hard. We were top floor of the building (4 lots of steps) and no ramps or lifts. Therefore on arrival and departure we had to get all cases, buggies and toddlers up and down ourselves. Food was varied but not many options and definitely not suitable if you are a fussy eater and not many options for children unless they want chips daily. We were really disappointed that the entertainment didn't ever start till gone 9pm. We have a 2.5 year old and this just wasn't suitable and one of the days when we did venture to take a look the room had a disco ball and music and not a single person there. The only night that seemed busier was the greek night. Location wise you are 3 minutes from the strip with excellent bars and proper entertainment which we loved and the beach was a 10 minute walk in the opposite location. I hate to be negative but on this occasion neither myself or partner felt this hotel was worth what we paid."

"I am so sad to be writing this review but feel I need to be honest. We got married on the island 20 years ago and stayed at this hotel and returned for our anniversary with my daughter, her husband and baby granddaughter with us to celebrate. When we stayed many years ago it was only bed and breakfast they offered and it should have stayed that way. The food on offer was very limited, of a poor standard and cold. The room allocated to my daughter and son I. Law with a baby was unsafe and 5 times during our 10 day holiday the air con stopped working. The staff seemed annoyed when you had to request assistance with anything. The pool area hasn’t been updated since 2006 and areas are looking really tired. The drinks again were of poor choice and quality. The saving grace were the many restaurant we ate out in for breakfast lunch and dinner, where the service and food were amazing but that was a substantial additional cost on top of what we had already paid, which for some families would not be feasible. Sadly based on this visit we would be unlikely to return to or recommend this hotel."