Symi, Greece

Beautiful unspolt Greek island. Heaven on Earth. No children, authentic, stunning scenery, no club 18-30.

If you want a quiet holiday with Greek tradition go to symi and eat and drink with the locals. We stayed up in the Greek part and we felt like we were one of the locals.

An amazing place. The architecture is very special and this island is the jewel of the Aegean.

Let's hope it remains so.

I am only writing this review to put right the unjust comments about Symi, Greece made by another reviewer on this site that I'd had the misfortune to read before I visited.

My experience was the opposite to that previously described. The hotel is not one of those flashy high rises you see in the more populated resorts that tend to be the norm these days.

My wife and I found the hotel provided us with an ideal base for both the beaches and trips further afield at night times (walk or bus). The rooms were clean and simply furnished with a TV, fridge and air conditioning that worked. Close the balcony doors at night and close the thick curtains ('thick' to to keep the ravages of the sun away through the day), turn on the air conditioning and enjoy a mossie free nights sleep.

As for the surrounding mountainous, I found them a joy to behold watching the shadows lengthen as the sun set in the evening, casting an orange glow (it's called nature you know). Pedi Bay is a quiet chilled out area of Symi, with a few small Tavernas that serve standard Greek fare, enjoyed by tourists and locals alike, and quite ample really.

Accept it for what it is; ie. simple, quiet and in no way flash, and you'll find you'll enjoy the experience all the more.

If you want noise, glitz and tat, then this is not the place for you.

We stayed at the Pedi Beach Hotel in Symi. This hotel was the pits. The rooms were appalling. Curtains were black out linings that were heavy with dust. Furniture was very heavy and dark. The bathroom!!!!!!!A tiny square shower base set into a corner with a curtain rail that was supported at the 2 points by the wall but not at the crucial point in the centre so that the curtain just slid down the rail and gathered at this point. The bathroom floor was flooded every time we had a shower.

The food was very suspect. Breakfast was laid out the night before. Fruit, yoghurt, cereal etc.all uncovered and not in a refrigerated unit. The night time temperatures were approx.20c and the flies and mosquitoes had a wonderful feast every night!!!!!!!!! Our Saga rep told us that this was the only hotel on the island that could take a group of 28 people and Saga had awarded it a gold merit for it's food.

Pedi Beach itself was a big shock on day one as it is enclosed by very high, grey, barren mountains that resemble a huge mound of excess concrete that someone must have dumped one dark night. However, the little bay and it's local tavernas and people seem to caste a spell on you and you are slowly enthralled by it's simplicity and charm.

Being very Greek can have it's drawbacks. There is only one road into Pedi Beach and the local council decided to tarmac it. The local bus ran in the morning and we all trooped into the main harbour for a wonderful day strolling, watching, drinking and eating. We had been warned that the bus may have to drop us off as near to Pedi Beach as the roadworks would allow. What we didn't realise is that the tarmac would be laid the whole width of the road leaving no path for us to walk along back to our hotel. We had to scramble along a dried out ditch for most of the way back but at one point had to walk on the soft tarmac. God bless her - our tour rep came to meet us off the bus and guide us back and even brought carrier bags for us to walk on over the tarmac section. This didn't stop my husband getting his shoes covered in tar. The local boat builder sorted him out with petrol and rags and he was able to clean his shoes on the seashore surrounded by a hen and her chicks. Our stay would have been idyllic if we had been accommodated in one of the self catering apartments snuggled among the old fishermans cottages.

This islands is a must see. The many beaches are fantastic for relaxation and I would highly recommend it. The weather was fantastic and the food is second to none. I will definitely be going again. A must for any couple looking for a fantastic break.