First trip to Skiathos.
Stayed at the Esperides Beach for 14 days. In general the hotel is perfectly situated on its own beach. A water taxi for 2.5 Euros that takes you to Skiathos Town hourly, a nice trip! I advise you use this, getting a bus (although cheaper) is a nightmare. In my opinion they become dangerously overcrowded. The Hotel is spotlessly clean, with excellent staff. Entertainment, a male and female duo once a week, but I have to admit they were good, excellent guitarists.

Other entertainment was given by Jason (the rep.). He was simply brilliant, (if you like pub quizzes that is). Beware, bar prices are way OTT. 3 Gins and 2 Baileys came in at 32 Euros. I jest not! Speak to Dimos the barman nicely and the measures go up!

Food good overall but breakfasts were same everyday. Repeat main menus weekly. Swimming pool very tiny! Beach courtyard food very good with large portions.

Skiathos Island in general? Don't go for a fortnight. Once you have seen the town.. that's it! Boat trips are overcrowded. Taxi drivers are maniacs! No respect for passengers what so ever, although you can talk them down for fares to beat bus fares.

Koukounaries beach? forget it, it's just a forest of beach beds and palm canopies that have simply taken over the whole beach, unless you are lucky enough to get one by the seas edge.

Oh and I mustn't forget the constant barking of dogs next to the hotel. Every night for 14 nights, Drove us mad.

we stayed at the esperides for the second time in aug 2008.the location,cleanliness of hotel,room maid service was first class.
the food was varied well cooked and always replenished regulary.the dining room staff were very efficient and friendly.if you had a joke with them they had a joke back with you.w hy a previouse review was derogatory i
fail to see why.(you get out of life what you put in) all in all a very enjoyable holiday.thanks to all cocerned
chris & keith

ON arrival at the hotel, we were given a ground floor room,with no sea view.

We had booked a high floor sea view room. We managed to get a move eventually to a part sea view.

The breakfast was reasonable but the evening meal was dire, no variety and just put into metal trays with no thought of presentation.

The hotel was clean and the staff were great. We did escape into Skiathos town via the water taxi.

There was only entertainment once a week.

Fantastic hotel.

Staff very friendly. Rooms cleaned every day by very friendly staff nothing too much trouble.

Food very Greek, plenty of it and very varied, not a roast beef or yorkshire puddings dinner in sight, lovely.

The hotel was fantastic with a clean beach and swimming pool, although there weren't many sun beds around the pool the beach had plenty and at 8 euros for 2 sun beds and a brolly right on the beach it was heaven.

Skiathos town was great with lots of little streets and easily accessible via a taxi water boat running every hour at 1.50 euros each for the 15 min ride it was well worth it.

The hotel had no entertainment but the taverna next door at the paradise bar has a greek night with dancing on a thursday brill also just up from the bar visit the turtle sanctuary my grandaughter and her new found friends loved it.

I'll be booking again for next year.

Arrived at the hotel at approx. 8:30pm by the hotels own mini bus, and formed no immediate opinion it had no wow factor. The member of staff at reception was very abrupt telling us to wait for the porter, no welcoming smile here, the porter arrived to take our bags to our room which was pretty standard fare:- twin beds, bedside tables, chest of drawers & a chair. Outside was a small balcony looking out over the bay. The balcony from our room was private & relaxing.

Deciding to go down for something to eat before looking round was our first real mistake, although washed & refreshed, we did not change our clothes & found ourselves sat as far away from the food & the last remaining diners as was possible. The waiter came over & the frown was visibly showing on his face as we ordered 2 cokes. The food was good & hot with plenty of choice even though it was now 9:30pm.

After this 1st encounter we settled in for the rest of our stay. The food proved to be very good if a little boring at times but there was always a good choice even at breakfast. For the most part the staff were friendly except for in reception where we failed ever to really get a smile & they were not very helpful.

One problem we found with the hotel was the cleaner would be waiting outside our room at 8:20am each morning having made enough noise previously to awaken the dead.

The pool area is ridiculous with only 16 sunbeds & 4 parasols & the pool is tiny. We found out that the same people would put their towels on the chairs before 7am & even set alarm clocks to wake them up to do it!!!! We did manage one morning to sit around the pool but when we got up to go get a coffee another couple came along & just threw our towels, bag & shoes into the flower bed!!!! We then went to the beach for a lounger & found there were none to be had. The loungers on the beach belonging to the hotel were charged at 8euro, a bit steep considering the cost of the holiday & the lack of anywhere else to sit on the beach.
The beach was clean & even had a lifeguard.

There is no entertainment at this hotel just the bar & the taverna.
There is a jewellry shop in the hotel which is wonderful but frightfully expensive & the staff are really pushy you can not just have a look not even in the window as someone will come out & ask if they can help.

The girl in the kiosk selling tobbacco & souveniers was brilliant & very friendly as were the staff in the taverna.
All in all we would say the hotel was good but not a 4* more like a 3* & more suited to someone who just wanted to sit on the beach all day & make money for the owner!