The hotel is very welcoming on arrival - it has a traditional Greek feel rather than a large, commercialised hotel that could be found anywhere in the world.

Reception staff are very friendly and go out of their way to be helpful. During our stay we needed to get hold of some travel pills, which we could not buy at the shop. The shopkeeper suggested we ask at reception and, when we did, the lady immediately suggested contacting her collegue who would pick some up for us on her way to work. She did so, and did not even accept payment for the pills. This is a prime example of the attitudes of the staff.

The rooms are lovely - very well furnished with excellent bathroom facilities. Ours was cleaned daily to a very high standard. The only thing that can be faulted in this area are the pillows - only one thin one is given per person, which I found to be uncomfortable. I suggest asking at reception for another if you have the same problem.

The kitchen and dining room is very well run. Staff work very hard and seem to work every morning and every night. All are polite, friendly and helpful. The food is very nice, but not overly varied from night to night. Children tend to stick to the chips and pasta, so perhaps there should be more options that would appeal to them. Desserts are not of a very high standard, however I feel this is typical of Greece as a whole rather than this particular hotel.

The location of the hotel is ideal. It is a ferry ride from the main part of Kefalonia, so is away from the main hustle and bustle (although this is still quite a peaceful area) and the trip across is very short and pleasant. From the hotel it takes only a few minutes to walk down to a beautiful red sand beach, where you can find a quiet spot or walk a bit further along to where there are banana boats, pedalos etc. I recommend hiring a car and exploring the island; there is a magnificent underground lake and caves, and other activities such as scuba diving can be reached.

The entertainment team are fantastic. Jack (the team-leader) and Isabella run all the sports and have the most amazing amount of energy and enthusiasm. The encourage you to get involoved but do not pressure anybody. They work so incredibly hard, and have only one day off per week. During the day you can participate in water polo, water volley, beach volley, darts, table tennis, and the famous cocktail game, which can be anything from throwing a basketball into a bucket to a swimming race on inflatable crocodiles. The winner of each individual (ie not team) game recieves a cocktail during the night-time entertainment. Noel runs stretch class and pilates and water aerobics. There is also a kids' club, which they all get involved in and thoroughly enjoy. The only problem with the day-time entertainment is that there is not much for the 11-15 age range. The maximum age for the kids' club is 10, and only 16-year-olds and above may join in with the games for which a cocktail can be won.

The night time entertainment is very amusing and fun, and again a lot of effort is put in by the team. There is something for the children first (often a disco) and then an activity like bingo, Goula-Goula (a music quiz), a comedy show, a very embarassing "Miss Kefalonia Palace" competition (do NOT trust Isabella when she tells you that this 'surprise event' will be 'nothing bad, just a few games' and that you should take part) and various other shows. Unfortunately no ouside entertainment is hired, it is the same team every night. A traditional Greek act would be nice, even if just for one or two nights a week. There is also a video set up for the children to watch every night.

Finally, a special mention must be made for our holiday rep, Jenni. She is the best rep I have ever encountered, so very friendly and always on hand to help with any problem, great or small. She has really thrown herself into the life there; she has learned the language and teaches Greek lessons once a week for the guests should you wish to try. Her knowledge of the island is incredible. She recommended and got us onto various excursions, which proved to be fantastic. She even takes over from the animation team on their night off and does a quiz. It was greatly thanks to her that our holiday was such an enjoyable experience.