Al Mare Villas

Accommodation We stayed in a traditional villa which was spacious and well finished. The upper floor, where you access the villa, had a large bedroom and large bathroom. There is not a great deal of storage (draws) in the bedroom and not enough hangers, so if you can, I would take some of your own. Also, the bedroom lacks a chair, which due to the design of the bed (Lindian style) means that it’s rather awkward to sit on the edge of the bed to put your shoes on etc. The mattress itself is super comfy but low to the platform it sits on, so if you are a regular visitor to the toilet during the night then you may find it difficult getting in and out. My wife and I had to shimmy our way to the steps at the end of the bed to step down. The kitchen was small but adequate and did lack some equipment, (Toaster, tin opener, large glasses) but wasn’t really a problem as we ate out in the evening and had breakfast and occasionally lunch at the Gallouni Bay Café which is part of the complex. Overall cleanliness was good, but as the daily servicing of the room only consisted of emptying the bins, making the bed and changing the towels, it would be handy if the owners could provide at least a cloth to wipe the surfaces down, and a brush, mop & bucket so you can deal with any spillages etc. Ants are a bit of a nuisance, so it is imperative that the work surfaces and floors are cleaned regularly. We ended up using a pack of baby wipes. Pool The pool was a good size and very relaxing. In August it was just the right temperature to cool you off, unlike the sea which was very warm. There is obviously a lot of limescale in the water, which is evident by the crustacean mark around the waterline of the pool and the steps into the pool, which were also a little green with Algae. Gallouni Bay Café Firstly, the young lady who serves you is amazing. Not only does she remember all your preferences, but also just seems to calmly look after everybody without fuss, even when it was busy. The food is renowned and rightly so. In addition to the buffet offering, you can choose anything (and everything) from the menu. Mix & match, whatever you like, all cooked to order. Location The nearest restaurant (and in our opinion the best) is Il Ponte, which is about a 12-minute walk turning right as you exit the car park. It is a bit more of an incline both going and coming back, but doable. If you walk up the hill past Il Ponte, you will reach a small set of shops and a couple of bars / cafes where you can watch football and sport. The Tavernas to the left of the complex down on Kiotari beach are about 20 minutes, but the walk is slightly easier as it’s mostly flat. If you didn’t have a car, I would suspect shopping of heavier items such as water / beer etc would be a challenge, although the supermarket Kourtis do deliver. If you wanted to travel a little further, there is always Mike the Taxi driver who’s number you can obtain from reception. Overall whilst there are some minor improvements that could be made, the accommodation, staff and location is excellent, especially if you are looking to relax and chill out.