The Smaragdi Hotel is the nicest friendliest place I have managed to find in Greece so far!

It is run by the family and Stamos will make sure you dont forget him!!

We always said we would not go back anywhere but have now been back to Smaragdi for five years running.

We take 2 seperate weeks a year,one to somewhere else in Greece and now one to Smaragdi.

If you do decide to visit you will have a nice relaxing holiday.

Smaragdi complex has been open since 1996 and consists of traditionally styled white buildings in blocks of 4, some of which have balconies and others patio spaces with chairs and tables and drying areas.

The complex surrounds the swimming pool and has lush attractive gardens. Across the road is their annexe which is again white buildings in pretty gardens but these are slightly bigger with single patios.

The rooms are generously sized and traditionally furnished -ground floor ones with concrete based beds - so comfortable! They are well equipped with kitchenette, electric kettle , fridge, ceiling fans ,air conditioning (you pay a hire charge for the control for it) and TV , Phone and radio. The bathrooms are basic but have shower curtains (somewhat of a rarity in greece!) and the showers are reasonably powerful too.

The complex is owned and run by Smaragdi , her husband Dimitris, daughter Maria and her fiance Stamos, all of whom speak excellent English and are keen to please and offer help day or night. They offer excellent breakfasts and tasty snack meals throughout the day and there is a weekly greek night with barbeque and traditional greek island dancing. The bar is well stocked and they offer cocktails and reduced price beer during a "Happy hour" between 6 and 8pm !!

You can choose to book half board instead of self catering. They are able to arrange car hire at prices below the tour company prices and are mines of information about the local area and good places to visit.

The complex is beautifully clean and well tended and the maids visit every other day providing clean towels & sheets each visit (even on the day before you go home!) Towels are larger than the 'average'apartment towels and they also provide bathmats!

It is a short 2 minute walk to the quiet black sand beach of Perivolos, you can walk along the beach to busier Perissa or the other direction to Vlihada. There are lots of tavernas , bars and clubs along the beach front. Most of the bars will allow you free use of their sunbeds if you patronise their establishments.

A walk up the road away from the beach takes you to the Euromarket - the well stocked local grocery shop , with a tour agency & car rental shop which has exchange facilities too next door. The local buses stop regularly here, and for a few Euros you can then travel to Fira, Pyrgos , Emborio and further afield.

Further on to the main Perissa Road on the left there is a very nice 24 hour bakery next door to the Co-op supermarket and the post office.

Best described as a small typically Greek set of apartments on the edge of Perissa village.

Accommodation basic Greek style but adequate.

Apartments were approx 20 min walk from main village shops restaurants etc which did seem to get longer as the week went on ! 30 secs walk to beach

Very nice pool with plenty of loungers never crowded always some spare

Staff (a family who own the apartments) very friendly and accommodating nothing too much trouble

Pool side snack bar very good serving a range of snacks throughout the day

A nice place to chill out for a while representing good value for money

The island itself is fairly low key with not a great deal to do, one week we felt was sufficient....advise all to give the volcano trip a miss too hot, too steep and too long!

Perissa is not suitable for children under 10...no pavements etc

If you are looking to just relax for a while in pleasant surroundings with nice people then you could do a lot worse