Review Rating: 3/5
Website: https://chrysoulahotel.gr/
Date of Visit: August 2021
Introduction
Chrysoula Hotel and Apartments is a medium-sized accommodation complex situated at the eastern end of Kefalos, a small resort located in the far southwestern corner of Kos. I spent 4 nights here in August 2021, booking at fairly short notice when my stay on Kos was unexpectedly extended due to difficulties in securing accommodation for my onward island-hopping journey.
I was mainly drawn to the hotel by its large pool and cheap price which, as you will discover in this review, was a mixed blessing.
Location
Chrysoula Hotel is set back from the main road into Kefalos, a short walk from the beach and opposite a small mini-market. It’s at the quieter end of the resort, meaning that most tavernas and other amenities are further southwest and require a short-medium walk to access.
A bus stop opposite the hotel on the main road does provide convenient access to public transport.
Rooms
The rooms can only be described as basic, bordering on what I would consider acceptable even for a budget-priced hotel. The bathroom was in need of a good clean, and the air-conditioning – a €5 daily surcharge – was so feeble that I resorted to leaving my key fob in the electricity slot so that I could keep it running while I was by the pool in the vain hope it would have cooled the room sufficiently on my return.
The room did come with a small kitchenette with basic utensils and a reasonably good fridge, so at least I could keep my bottled water cool.
Service
Perhaps the best thing that can be said about Chrysoula is that the staff were very friendly. Breakfast (another relative highlight) was served by the pleasant pool bar staff who were also on hand during the day selling drinks and snacks at reasonable prices.
Facilities
Aside from the staff, the main (perhaps only) selling point of the hotel is its huge pool: a full 25-metres, it’s one of the largest I’ve seen at a Greek hotel and almost seems out of place here. Being a competitive swimmer, I thoroughly enjoyed my morning swims and refreshing dips throughout the day. The area around the pool isn’t massive, but during my time at the hotel there never seemed to be a shortage of sunbeds.
Food and Dining
As mentioned above, the breakfasts were reasonably good: not just a buffet, but a selection of dishes that were cooked to order and served to the table. The quality wasn’t fantastic, but equally, it was a pleasant surprise given my experience of the hotel in general.
The snack food served during the day was reasonably priced and of a typical selection: burgers, chips etc.
Price
The room itself cost just under €48 per night which, in peak season, is pretty damn cheap. But, add on the €5 per day for (awful) air-conditioning and it seems less so. Value-wise, it certainly doesn’t punch above its weight and given the overall facilities scarcely seems like much of a bargain really. If it wasn’t for the excellent pool, I would have been sorely tempted to check out early and find somewhere else.
Overall Experience
If you haven’t guessed by now, I didn’t have a fantastic time here. It succeeded in being cheap enough that I didn’t totally regret it and the pool certainly made it more bearable. The friendly staff and decent-ish breakfast helped too.
Conclusions
My main objective was to spend a few days outside Kos Town and save money on more expensive accommodation elsewhere. Chrysoula Hotel & Apartments was an experience and I enjoyed my time in Kefalos, but due to the issues highlighted above, I don’t think I would return and would find it difficult to recommend to anyone other than those on the tightest of budgets.
Links
Find more Kos Accommodation or check out our Kos Island Guide.
