Castle Palaio Pyli

I booked around 6pm and when I got there they didn’t have a room. I was told to look elsewhere for a room and on top of that, they said they wouldn’t give me a refund because it was booked through Hotels.com! What s terrible start. Ages later they went and got the cleaner, who was probably having dinner with her family at 8pm, to ‘prepare a room for me’ which was apparently ‘locked for next season’. Appalling room condition. Very very outdated, damp walls smelled so intensely I couldn’t sleep from the smell (and I could not leave the balcony door open as I was on street level and plenty of mosquitoes too). I woke up coughing. Very old bathroom, the door was peeling, the side light wasn’t working, the emergency light outside the room was broken and flashing, which woke me up when it was still dark… I left the place absolutely exhausted. ‘You get what you pay for’ they say, but this was completely unacceptable even for €45.

The hotel was not as modern or contemporary as it appears in the images. We are experienced travellers, always exploring 5* luxury hotels at a mid-level. For the price point we found this hotel disappointing. Firstly the room we were given was so far from the main pool which caused us difficulties with a toddler. The childrens pool is busiest but they only allow you to reserve beds for 45 minutes (although there was some degree of discretion by the staff). By the time you take your toddler to breakfast your beds have gone so there is no point getting up early to get beds and if your not there. The food choices were pretty much the same every day and we only enjoyed the Asian and Italian restaurants. We also read that they cater for children but the only options in every restaurant other than the Italian was chicken nuggets and chips or tomato pasta - again extremely limited and repetitive and not as family friendly There was very limited evening entertainment by the outside bar where everyone gathered yet there would be great acts in a conference room where most people either didnt even know it was happening or didnt want to be sat in a conference room with a limited choice of drinks! The entertainment should 100% be on the outside stage area where people can enjoy and appreciate the effort. Overall, whilst Kos was beautiful and the resort and pools were really nice, we wouldn't return again.

This is the second time we have stayed and absolutely love it. There is always space for improvement in anything and as a very up market all inclusive, and the cost which is appropriate, not including certain drinks within the all inclusive package is a mistake and doesn’t feel very welcoming. Aperol spritz etc. in addition, when asking for a bottle of wine for the room is a reasonable request, not being allowed and having to make repeat trips back to the bar doesn’t sit sometimes as well and as declining as it could be. There can be a balance and guests would appreciate this I’m sure.