Its in the new Kosmar brochure, looks gorgeous. You might see me there (if you're lucky) good choice!

anyone been to Finnikounda we have just booked for 2 weeks in the Summer any info or photos on the area would be greatly appreciated

thanks in advance

We're going 1st May. Visited briefly a couple of years back when we were in Chrani and liked the look of the place. It has nice beaches, doesn't look over-commercialised and is in an interesting area to explore. There are some good photos on this site:

http://www.finikunda.com/eng/

Visited Finikounda last June early July with Kosmar, think the journey time form Kalamata airport is more 1 1/2 hours than 1. But you do pass through some lovely countryside on the way, the route is very rural and to be honest wondered at times if our coach would keep on the little road. Once you arrive the scene from the approach road is spectacular, then you see this straight Motorway type road that runs right near the back of the village! and you wonder why one earth you have just made that roundabout journey from the airport. Its a long story ask a local but the road does not actually connect up with anything at the moment so consequently you have this huge road perfectly tarmaced with no traffic on it!!
Anyway back to Finikounda, for a real Chill out holiday go there if you want bars and night clubs don't. The beach in front of the village does not allow sunbeds like most other Greek resorts which is good as it retains its village feel. But like most people if you don't want to fry in the sun you need at least an umbrella, so most tourist buy these along with lilo's and fold up sunbeds and cart them down to the beach and cart them back up to their apartments/hotels at the end of the day. Its really not too much of a bother as most of the accomodation is placed around the village.
The restaurants are great, one in particular called Ellenia which is pearched above the bay and have singers/entertainment a couple of times a week which is about as lively as it gets. (Try the stuffed and filleted sardines - who else would bother to fillet a sardine!! All the others are good too (12 in total) plus a lovely little bakery. It was real Greek sometimes you asked for a particular dish and the owner/waiter would shout out "Mama is that on tonight" it is all family run and everything is fresh, the catch of the day often ended up on the Menu. Try looking at finikounda.com. The other beach is huge but consists of coarse sand and was a little difficult to get in the sea as there were stones /rocks near the shore but once you are in it was great clear and clean and warm. The most people we ever saw on the "Big beach" was about 20 (we counted) and has a couple of tavernas to the rear if you started to get over-done in the sun. The small beach got a little busier but was lovely fine sand and slopes gently into the sea.
There is one supermarket to the rear of the village and one or two little grocery type shops in the actual village with a butcher is you are feeling up to doing you own cooking. The local children enjoyed the village beach too so don't expect it to be very quiet as they jabber away excitedly once school was over for the day (again this did not bother us) it is after all their village and it is a working village not just a tourist spot. There are a couple of bars and a coulpe of internet cafes we enjoyed the most wonderful view, a cold beer and picked up our messages when returning from the big beach.
It is a lovely relatively undiscovered spot - and we would return again but probably would try to go independently this time - The journey from the airport is the only problem.
If you do go on any organised trips bear in mind they take you to Kalamata first then pick up other tourists from Stoupa and join up the groups which adds ages to journey times.
The people a very friendly - but then again they had just won the European football!! Would go again - if you need the comforts of umbrella
and beach mat - buy them on your first day and leave them for the next occupants of your apartment -if you work it out its no more expensive than paying for a sunbed elsewhere for a week or two.
There is a castle in the nearby town of Methoni?? which we scrabbled about but quite frankly we did nothing except chill out people watch, eat and drink it may not be to everyones tase but it does re-charge your batteries if you are more energetic wind surfing/sailing is the thing as it is quite windy offshore but is turns to a gentle breeze on the beach -again this is good as it can get very very hot. Another good thing is most air-con is free - you will need it in July and August.
Hope you enjoy your stay we did!
One last tip do not even joke about taking snaps at the aisport this is where the famous planespotters were arrested (there is nothing there to take snaps of anyway) but is is part military part commercial - we got stuck for seven hours on the return journey and there is one tiny cafe there - don't be tempted to use up your film there use it in Finikounda it is much prettier.

Very good description, baggage!

The quick way from the airport is to travel via Pylos and Methoni (1hr). That's where your 'motorway' comes from. The route the Kosmar bus takes is through Akrithori and all sorts of villages east - they drop people off in Chrani. Definitely a slow and windy route!

If you're doing DIY you may find it very expensive to buy flights into Kalamata unless there's something available at the last minute. My travel method is usually flight to Athens (easyjet or ebookers) allied to car hire for a week (£100). It's an easy 5hr drive from Athens airport, and the total cost of travel is about the same as the £240 for the Kalamata flight. With the advantage of a car for local exploring.

JimB

Brilliant info on Finikounda just what I wanted
do you know what the hotel Finikounda is like : :

Try Dimitri's website - http://www.finikunda.com - for detail.

Four small hotels (30 to 60 beds), Korakakis, Finissia, Finikunda and Golden Sun. Plenty of good apartments outside July and August.

Don't worry that Korakakis is listed as an E grade hotel. It's the oldest in town, and that's not very old. I'd guess 1975? But regularly updated over the years. It's right on the beach at the quiet corner of the village. You can see the setting on the website if you go to the accommodation listing on the website. Get a balcony room facing the sea if you can, the position and view is unbeatable.

Finissias is a new arrival (3 yrs ago?) next door to Korakakis, same comments.

Hotel Finikunda is older, 150m inland in the centre of the village, with balconies but without views. It arrived in 1985, give or take an inch. A laid back place.

Golden Sun is a 10min walk to the East of the village, on a separate and quiet beach. It has a wonderful setting with a magnificent views out to sea. It's the only Hotel with a swimming pool - fresh water with lovely views again. It's partly used by Neilson (see their brochure, Thomas Cook outlets) as a sail and windsurf centre. so there are lots of active 25 to 50yr old Brits in residence. Expensive bar and food compared to town.

JimB

You'll be arriving on the Orthodox Easter Day, when most of the villagers (those who have survived the fireworks and gunshots at midnight) will be barbecueing small lambs or goats and wandering from house to house greeting their friends in celebration.

We've planned our arrival for Apr 27 to get the full atmosphere . . .

JimB

It sounds good. Hope to be in Finikounda end of May. Does anyone know anything about Korakakis Beach studios ? Are there any good walks in the area, is there a walking map available? Is there a bus service to Koroni and Methoni and Pylos ?
Many thanks. Catharina

Buses to Methoni and Pylos (not many, 3 or 4 a day if I remember right) but none to Koroni. Some buses go to Harakopio, just a few km from Koroni. A taxi from there is about 10 euro. Taxis are not excessive - a day trip to Koroni was around 30euro three years ago. It was worth the trip.

Car hire for a day or three is the most convenient way to see the area. Either that, or become a bicycle person. Many good rides in the area for those who don't mind a few hills.

No walking map, but a couple of reasonable local walks to nearby villages or beaches, about 10km round trips, with many shorter strolls through the farmland inland of the village.

JimB

Thank you Jim for your information. We will probably hire a car for
for some days, as you suggested. We also hope to walk quite a bit as hopefully the countryside should still be full of flowers.

Has anyone been to the Sirius Studios, Finikounda, they are new and have a good website, but I would like to hear a real review. If you know the property any information would be most appreciated. We are going in May, a couple in our early 60's, active like walking, eating out etc. Any useful tips please.

I'm pretty sure the Sirius apartments are in front of the one and only Supermarket in which case you can pop next door for your necessities and buy the bread when it is still hot from the bakery section. If I'm correct they are near the play ground which does get used at around dusk by the village children - we stayed just up the Road at the Constantine apartments and we were never disturbed in fact it was nice to hear them laughing and playing - Its only a village so there won't be hoards! The only other thing I can think of that migt cause a raised eyebrow is the Church bell! this gets rung at various times and despite checking our watches several times could not seem to make out when and for what reason!! Its nothing to worry about either in fact it will become a talking point between you and your beloved as you try to come up with reasons for it ringing at say 7.50am one morning and 8.10 the next ! perhaps the priest needs a digital watch who knows! - I think you can find him sitting in the corner shop sometimes - not sure if he speaks English but he seemed friendly whilst cooling his feet in a bucket of water!!.
The apartments looked very nice, clean and new, just a couple of minutes away from "Downtown Finikounda" don't blink though or you'll miss it.
They were opening a sort of coffee/cake shop on the Main Road behind the village when we visted last year so perhaps this is now up and running and might be worth a visit on the way back from the Beach.

I can honestly say it is a lovely place to go for a relaxing holiday but if you feel like walking I'm sure you'll find some interesting paths and the views will be stunning.

ENJOY!!!

going to the Stella Apartments at end of May - anyone been or know what they are like?

have you looked on a website called holidays uncovered if you click on greece misc and go down a bit you will see some reviews on finnikounda sounds so nice cant wait to go can you! love to see more photos of the place though would you hardly any info about so must be quiet---- great!!

Has anyone stayed at Costana's appartments what are they like. Also which is the best beach for children. Can't wait for the Summer.

If you are going with Kosmar then I have probably got the name wrong and you are right Constanas not Constantine as I have said above. But if its the same see my (lengthy) reports above.

They are very clean and airy, the owners friendly, free air conditioning - great the only draw back was the balcony is in the sun in the morning so its sometime too hot to enjoy breakfast al fresco! when we were there some Greeks were also staying and they just moved their patio furniture out to the back - but you know what we British are like - so we boiled in the sun
- but it is nice and shady in the evening. They did get a little put out as someone had blocked their drains I think one of the Greek children had put a nappy down the loo and they had to get a digger in so they were right to be upset. They have a nice pagoda in the garden which did house an old 1940's car we were told the old car was still used and makes for some memorable photos, they moved it apparently so that guests can mingle and use the pagoda pre-dinner or just enjoy the garden which they spend a lot of time tending.

Very well equipped - but no kettle
so use the coffee maker thinggy instead. very convenient for THE ONE AND ONLY SUPERMARKET. The best beach for kids is the village beach, the big beach is vast and not so easy for them to get in and out of.

Thanks Baggage for the useful information, raised a smile about the church bell, at least it is not 5 a.m.! Looking forward to our visit very much and will certainly post any information we gather on this site as it is so useful.

Happy Holidays to you all!!

Thanks baggage, this is really helpfull. Yes we are going with Kosmar. I thought maybe they were the same ones but just wanted to check. Can't wait now.