Pilot Amphora Boutique Hotel - Adults Only — Hotel in Municipality of Apokoronas

The hotel is very inconsiderate.

We are a family of three, and our original plan was to check out from Santorini on September 19 and take a ferry to Crete to check in at this hotel. However, due to severe weather, the Aegean Sea Authority issued a sailing ban, and all ferries were canceled, including ours. We immediately checked the flights on that day, but all flights required a transfer in Athens and the earliest arrival in Crete was on the 20th.

We called the hotel right away, explained the situation, and asked to change our check-in date and get a refund for the night of the 19th (we had booked through Ctrip and already paid in full). Over the phone, the hotel said they agreed to change the date and that there would be no charge. Later that same day, we sent an email to request written confirmation of the refund and date change, but the hotel replied refusing, saying that according to the booking policy, no changes were allowed. We had no choice but to wait until we arrived the next day to negotiate with the hotel directly.

After checking in, we reviewed the Greek legal terms and learned that in cases of force majeure, if guests inform the hotel in a timely manner, they are entitled to a refund. When we raised this with the hotel again, the manager first said that even if we didn’t arrive, the room had already been prepared and costs were incurred. Then they claimed that because our booking was made through a third-party platform (Ctrip), only Ctrip could negotiate with the hotel’s reservations team. We understood this point, but even after Ctrip’s customer service communicated with the hotel for two days, the hotel still refused any refund, insisting that our booking was “non-refundable.” This was despite us providing all documentation proving we had booked the ferry and it was canceled due to force majeure — not because of personal reasons. We were also victims, as the weather disrupted the rest of our travel plans!

As for the room itself, the front desk staff said the hotel was new, but there were no USB or Type-C charging outlets. Many other hotels, even older ones, provide these, so this was very inconvenient for travelers without European adapters. Each guest was given only one pillow, with no choice of height. For me, who can only sleep on a flat pillow, this was very uncomfortable — I woke up with neck pain the next morning. The bathroom design was also poor, as water from the shower would flow into the toilet area.

We booked a room with a private pool, but the pool was dirty and the water was cold. The staff told us it was only temporary and that it would be cleaned and heated the next day. However, by the time we checked out, the pool water was still cold and dirty, so we could not use it at all. I would strongly advise future guests not to waste money on a private pool room here, as it is pointless.

The room was also very dark. There was no ceiling light, and in the evening the only lighting came from dim wall strips, making it difficult to find things.

In conclusion, I would caution anyone planning to stay at this hotel: check the weather carefully and pray that no force majeure prevents you from arriving. This hotel shows absolutely no flexibility or consideration for guests, and you should not expect any solution or...

There isn't much I can add that others haven't already mentioned but I must say that this hotel is pretty close to perfect. The staff and the rooms are as fabulous as many others have said. It had a coffee machine, balcony and fabulous shower that was as hot as you wanted, when you wanted! It has a lovely pool and seating area, but what made it extra special for us was the food. We were half board and fully expected a buffet of an evening in keeping with our previous trips to Greece but this was a la carte and although not everything was amazing or delicious, most things were. We have never had food as good in any Mediterranean hotel.|The hotel is very well situated for the town centre and although its not on the beach the relationship with the "sister" Pilot Beach hotel meant you could stroll along the beach and use their loungers/ umbrellas and facilities. You can also choose to dine there if you were to decide the a la carte at the Pilot Amphora isn't for you or you just want a change. The restaurants at the Pilot Beach are buffet. This can all be done via the hotel app which ideally you should download asap as you do need to book dinner each day and this is easier to do via the app. The app also contains a lot of extra information. There is a shuttle bus between the two hotels should you not fancy the walk along he beach (about 15-20 mins). |If you do use the beach facilities at the Pilot Beach don't forget to try the smaller Kalivaki Beach at least once. We loved this smaller beach (you can rent loungers and an umbrella for 8 euro) and particularly watching the Kingfishers flying around near where the river joins the sea.|Georgioplois itself is lovely. Much quieter than its bigger neighbours and for us still retaining the charm we first discovered in the Greece of the 1980s. The town and the Hotel were almost entirely occupied by German tourists, which we prefer, but English was still the predominant language and the staff in the shops and restaurants all spoke English. |I would say however that late October might not be the best time to visit. In our second week the mountains to the South of the village were almost completely covered in cloud which meant that so too was Georgiopolis. An option would be to hire a car and visit the smaller resorts on the South coast. We did this and had full sunshine everyday. Unfortunately the staff at the hotel did not mention this, but luckily we had discovered that the south of the island has much better weather late in the season on a previous visit.|We also took the bus to both Chania and Rethymeno. The hotel is only around 10 mins from the bus stop and the buses were cheap and efficient, though only run hourly. It was 3.7E to Rethymno and 4.7E to...

What a gem of a hotel this is. Small, intimate, adults only. We arrived in the early hours of the morning to a warm welcome from the night concierge who showed us to our room and got us a snack.|The next day we awoke after a restful sleep on a comfortable bed, better able to take in our surroundings which were lovely.|All the meals were delicious. Great cooking from the chef and kitchen staff. We were half board and enjoyed an a la carte menu each night. With tasty breakfasts in the mornings. Eggs were cooked to order, so fresh each day. On the mornings we had to leave early for day trips, we were given a packed breakfast. |I can truly say the staff are exceptional. Polite, helpful and do their best to make the stay a memorable and relaxing one. The manager goes out of his way to make sure all goes well throughout the stay. He and the table staff ensure they get to know your personal preferences so that coffee is always as you like it! We didn’t get all the names but thank you to Panos, the manager, Nanos, Dinos, Irene and Menia. Also to the chamber maids who looked after our room. Even my nightwear was neatly folded. Fresh water each day and toiletries as needed. | We made good use of the pool which is a reasonable size and kept clean. We also visited the sister hotel located next to the beach. A shuttle service is provided between the two hotels . We opted to walk back along the beach which took about half an hour to forty minutes on the day we went to the Pilot beach.|On some evenings there was entertainment. Saturday and Sunday the music was provided by a young couple, with beautiful singing by the young woman across a range of musical genres from jazz to pop. |The village itself is pleasant to walk around, with plenty to see and explore. It is a good place from which to explore this area of Crete.||The one word to sum everything up is EXCEPTIONAL and we can’t wait to go back. Thank you for a...