Hi Helen
The great love of my life is Lesvos island and particularly Skala Kalloni. Molyvos is a wonderfully scenic resort overlooked by the castle and full of little winding cobbled streets lined with shops and tavernas. Restaurants hang precariously out of the side of buildings overlooking the harbour and the coast. Extremely picturesque and atmospheric.
Skala Kalloni is very centrally placed on the island at the head of the gulk of Kalloni- ideal for exploring from especially if you are planning on having a car. It centres around the square which backs on to the picturesque little harbour.......yes complete with bobbing fishing boats. And its a working little fishing fleet - I've spent many a happy time sitting in the mornings watching the fishermen unloading their catches and selling the fish to the locals and the restaurants. One guy is there every morning tenderising the squid ready for sale to the local tavernas. There are 2 bakeries and 4 or 5 hotels all within 10 minutes walking distance of the square ( the Kalloni 2, Pela and the Pasiphae are probably the best options) plus a varied selection of rooms for rent. Tavernas and bars line the square and from there spread along the waterfront.....I'm not really biased as you can probably tell!! In the evenings the Greek families from the town of Kalloni 3 kms inland arrive to eat in the tavernas around the square. Not a disco or loud music bar in sight!!
From there you can travel up the coast to Eressos or down past the salt pans to Vatera in the south of the island. Make sure you stop off en route at Skala Polichnitos a lovely little fishing harbour that is not to be missed! Plomari and the Gulf of Gera are definitely worth a visit. The local ouzo of Plomari is supposed to be one of the best aound....and i totally agree!! There is a beach at Plomari but it is just a little way out of the town. It is more of a working town town than holiday resort but interesting to visit all the same.The tiny resort of Perama on the gulf of Gera is also delightful...very quiet and quaint with just a handful of tavernas lining the waterfront. Sorry....I could go on forever!!
If you have any more queries I shall be delighted to help...if i can.
Kath

Hi Kath

Many, many thanks for your most comprehensive run-down on Lesvos! You have confirmed more or less what I thought - that we will love Molyvos but Plomari could possibly be too commercial/industrial.

We will take your advice and look at hotels in Skala Kalloni for the first week - from your description it sounds a little like Kokkari in Samos.

This will be almost our tenth Island - we can't keep away! Helen

About 10 years ago we stayed in the village of Petra which is just along the road from Molyvos and had a fab time. It was one of those places where you could go into the kitchen and pick what meat or fish you wanted (no menu). We played cards with the locals on an evening and a climb to the top of the hill where the church is was a great place to watch the sunset. No discos or loud bars. Molyvos was just a short cab ride away and was equally as nice - one of my favourite memories of that holiday is having dinner there one night on the balcony of a restaurant which over hung the harbour. Fabulous. Both places were beautiful and unspolit.

The island is lovely and that holiday is one of the best in Greece we've ever had. I keep yearning to go back but there are so many other places in the world to see!

Molyvos sounds perfect - I think I have definitely decided on the Molyvos 1 Hotel which seems to get good reviews.

I am still unstuck on a Skala Kalloni hotel - the Pela seems to be best as it is within walking distance of tavernas, etc. - but I was hoping for a sea view. The Malemi and Kalloni II seem to be further away.

Once this is done .... it's just flights and car hire!

Hi Helen
I'm glad you found the info helpful. From Molyvos there are 2 resorts on the north coast that you can visit as well, Petra which is the first you come to along the coast road with its little church perched high on the rock overlooking the town, and Anaxos which has a lovely sandy beach and lotsof bars and restaurants again lining the waterfront. If you venture deeper into Anaxos there are little winding streets leading back from the main road that pass by fields with goats and sheep and dotted with the occasional little shop, taverna or small hotel.
The 4 main English tour operators who deal with Lesvos are Manos, First Choice, Thomas Cook (all who do Skala kalloni) and Kosmar. If you are planning on "doing your own thing" so to speak, flights are bookable with first choice and excel. I have web addresses for the Pasiphae hotel that would enable you to book with them direct and also gives you loads of info and pics about the hotel and the surrounding area.
Best of luck in getting yourself sorted...let me know how you go on and where you eventually decide to stay.

Kath

Hi helen
I've sent you a private message with details of the websites....i couldn't post it on the forum for some reason??!!
The Pela hotel is directly behind the Kalloni 2 which overlooks the beach. The pasiphae is a little further out but is my personal favourite. Manos do rooms where I stayed in 2006 called the Arisvi which have just been newly spruced up and again have sea views.
Please let me know if you get the details of the websites on your private message.
Kath

Thank you very much for your message, Kath. It did come through OK. I hadn't looked at Thomas Cook or First Choice. I will do that tonight. I had also looked at Greek Sun and Sunville who we have travelled with in the past. I will have to work out whether it is cheaper indepenently - I don't think it always is.

At this moment in time, I think it is Pela in Kalloni and the Sea Horse Hotel in Molyvos - both with Manos.

I did do a bit of a u-turn last night and thought about a week in Lesvos and a week in Lemnos or Chios - but the ferry time makes the whole journey from Gatwick about 15 hours - which I think would be too much. I did then see that there are direct flights to Lemnos but from looking at some sites I think it may be a "young" island like "Ios" - I couldn't tell.

Thank you again for your help. Helen

Hi,
Can highly recommend the Plaza Palace Hotel (and studios) in Anaxos. You can book through Thomas Cook and Direct Holidays this year. Built in 2005, has gym, poolside bar, wonderful hosts - although didn't actually stay here (spent two weeks at the Virginia Studio opposite - rubbish accommodation - also in TC this year, pls don't book these, they really are bad), checked out PP's rooms - lovely and clean, we were really looked after, particularly as they knew our holiday was ruined by being dumped in the Virginia.
Carrie

Thank you for advice.

Have got as far as booking flights!! First Choice came out the cheapest.

Am now looking at Hotel Pela in Skala Kalloni and either Sea Horse or Molyvos I Hotels in Molyvos.

Plomari is certainly not a commercial resort, it's very much an alive town and you can see Greek daily life going on around you.

Helen

We had a great holiday at the Sun Rise Hotal in Eftalou which is in walking distance of Molyvos.

Have also stayed in Petra where we stayed at the Lassia. Lovely memories, and without hesitation would return to either.

Peter

Glad peewee mentioned Eftalou. This is our favourite area. We stayed in the Panselinos Hotel apts. just past the Sunrise. Lovely area, quiet and undeveloped with some excellent tavernas nearby. Very pleasant walk into Molyvos (about 40mins) which we did several times. You do need a car to make the most of Lesvos its a big island. Our airport transfer took 3 hours with First Choice so we would collect a car from the airport next time.

Hi
Thanks to everyone for all your continuing advice! Flights are definitely booked and I have decided on Molyvos I Hotel or Sea Horse Hotel in Molyvos. Eftalou looks really nice but our walking in the evening is normally limited to wandering a couple of minutes to a taverna and a saunter around the shops.

I was interested about the Plomari post - this was a place I had originally looked at and decided against. Any further information about Plomari, particularly, hotels would be appreciated.

We are hiring a car for the whole two weeks so we can explore the island during the daytime.

Helen

The Sea Horse is a wonderful position and I have heard good things about it. I don't know the Molyvos 1 hotel at all but it has received some good reports on this site.
Wherever you choose, Molyvos is splendid. You should be able to beat 40 minutes to Petra which is well worth a visit and there is a bus service back again.

We have been 6 times to Molyvos and it is wonderful, I would stay in either Molyvos 1 which is near the Olive Press where we always stay, or the Sea Horse with its lovely setting in the harbour. Both will be fine, Eftalou is a great favourite of ours as well the hot springs, the beach and the Eftalou Taverna. All get 10 out of 10.

Molivos 1 Hotel is undergoing some refurbishment this winter so it should be a good pick for the summer

the sea horse I would highly recomend, stayed there last year and had a great time.

Finally booked !!!! Pasiphae Hotel in Skala Kalloni for first week and Sea Horse in Molyvos for second week. Has worked out really cheaply - about £600 each - which is far less than we have spent on Greek Island holidays over the last few years.

Counting off the days now!!! Helen

Hi Helen
So glad you got sorted in the end......I certainly know the Pasiphae is a good choice - I've spent many happy hours round their swimming pool and having their wonderful tuna salads for lunch at their poolside restaurant!! Oh how I wish I was there now!!!
Molyvos is a good choice too, very picturesque and within easy reach of Petra, Anaxos and Skala Sikamias if you fancy a change of scenery for a day.What dates have you booked for by the way??
Kath