"The background story of the hotel is lovely. Spiros, the owner, used to meet his wife, Anastasia, in secret under the large eucalyptus tree which still stands and the main hotel was built around it ❤️
The images on the hotel and holiday company websites portray a beautiful, idyllic boutique hotel. However, the reality, unfortunately didn’t quite live up to the impression created by those images.
Overall, we had a mixed experience at Castelli Hotel. I think the key is to arrive with realistic expectations and take the hotel for what it is. There are certainly some positives, but there are also areas where we felt improvements could be made.
On arrival, the reception staff were very welcoming and friendly, and check-in was quick and straightforward. We were shown to our room, although it would have been helpful to have been given some general information about the hotel, such as meal times and what is included within the all-inclusive package, rather than simply being directed to a notice board. A small information booklet or leaflet in the room would make a big difference for guests arriving for the first time.
Our room was in the 'newer' block, which is quite a distance from the main hotel, restaurant, bar and pool. The room itself was nicely presented and had tea and coffee facilities, a fridge, safe and TV, although the choice of channels was very limited. There was a slight musty smell when we arrived. The shower was particularly awkward for anyone taller due to the sloping roof, and the water temperature was quite inconsistent, going from hot to cold and back again. The bed and pillows were very comfortable.
As we arrived after lunch had finished, the hotel had kindly put some food aside for us, which was a really nice touch and much appreciated.
The all-inclusive drinks offering is quite limited compared with other adults-only all-inclusive hotels we have stayed in. We completely understand that local spirits and beer are often what is included, but the cocktail choices were mainly very sweet vodka or gin based drinks, with other cocktails available at an additional cost. The wine wasn't really to our taste either, undrinkable, and the rosé in particular wasn't what we expected, we think they mixed red with white wine. There was also very little flexibility with the inclusive drinks menu.
The food itself was tasty, but unfortunately we found that it was often not as warm as it should have been. At busy times, finding a table could also be difficult. The same applied to the evening entertainment – if you weren't down by around 8.30pm, you could find tables but no chairs. When we asked if additional chairs were available, unfortunately we were told no.
The waiting staff work incredibly hard and put in long hours, and we certainly appreciated how much they had to do. A little more interaction and friendliness would have made the experience even better.
Around the pool, sun loungers are another area where planning ahead is definitely required! Although the signs state that loungers aren't available until 9am, by 7.30–8am most were already taken, with guests waiting around the pool for them to be put out. There are additional beds in the grassy/tree area, otherwise known as the 'olive garden', although some were in need of repair and the surrounding area could have benefited from a little more maintenance. This area is overgrown, generally untidy and looked like wasteland.
The poolside snack bar is also quite basic, offering small ham and cheese rolls and pastries, so don't expect a large selection of snacks throughout the day.
I think one of the main challenges for the hotel is the additional accommodation blocks, which means there are now more guests using the same main facilities. At busy times, this does seem to put pressure on the restaurant, pool area, sun loungers and entertainment seating. In my opinion, the hotel would benefit from focusing on improving and maintaining the existing facilities alongside the additional accommodation, rather than simply increasing capacity.
Top tip: If you stay here, book the à la carte meal for the ABBA night. We really enjoyed the food and service, and another bonus is that you'll have a table and chairs for the entertainment afterwards. For us, this was definitely the best evening of the week.
We've stayed at several adults-only all-inclusive hotels on Greek islands, including Zante, so we do have something to compare Castelli with. While we enjoyed aspects of our stay and the staff were generally welcoming and hardworking, personally we didn't feel that the hotel represented particularly good value for the price we paid. The 4-star rating also felt a little generous compared with other 4-star adults-only all-inclusive hotels we've experienced.
That said, if you go with realistic expectations, you can still have a good holiday here. There are some lovely aspects to the hotel, and with a few improvements to the facilities, food service and all-inclusive offering, we feel it could be a much better experience."
