CAMPING ΜΕLTEMI — Hotel in Municipality of East Mani

Camping is a way of getting away from the hassle of urban life. A place to unwind and recharge. But for me, the unorganised (free) kind has never been an option. Which is all the more reason to love camping Meltemi.

A large part of what makes Meltemi so great is the variety of services and activities available within it. Clean, modern toilets. Kitchen and dining area. Restaurant and grill with affordable homemade Greek food. Bar, pool, cinema (children's movies only), beach volleyball, basketball, outdoor games for kids, tennis, table tennis, playground, windsurfing, but most importantly, a beautiful seafront that, in the 21 years I've been fortunate enough to enjoy it, never ceases to make me smile. The other part is the people. From the reception to everyone working behind the scenes, from tirelessly cleaning toilets to serving your food, each and every one is a testament to Greek hospitality.

Moving on to more practical information. All areas have shade. Some more so than others. That said, if you'd like to enjoy shade throughout your day you are advised to bring sunshades. In Greece we have olive harvesting nets that I find work pretty well for this. Whatever you end up going for, pick something that allows water to go through it. The same goes for any potential flooring. Reason being there is a slight chance of rain every year and you do not want to be on the receiving end of stagnant water (your mileage may vary). In addition, keep in mind that olive trees restrict wind to the point of relative stillness. Always book in advance as the camping is full during high season. Also, do note that there are neither deckchairs nor umbrellas on the beach in front of the camping, so you'll either have to bring your own or go to the adjacent Café Bar "Ocean". Finally for the things the mini market of the camping can't provide you can go to the supermarket "Praxis (Panagakos)" a kilometre or so east of the camping.

Whether you are a couple, a family or just a group of people looking for an affordable summer vacation you can rest assured; you have found one of the best summer destinations in Greece. All you have to do is book it and...

We enjoyed our stay here. The campsite is is in a good location and offers a lot of amenities. There is a shop, a restaurant (we always ate well there), a pool, a playground for kids and of course the beach with a small beach bar. They also have a public kitchen with a large picnic area and public refrigerators. Oh, and they have a washing machine and a dryer.

The sanitary facilities must have been renovated quite recently however they still have some flaws. The sinks only have cold water which only has an on/off button you control with your foot. It would have been nice to also have hot water and some more control over the amount of waterflow. The showers were in mixed condition. Even though everything was new, some doors would not properly shut. Maybe using wood and exposed hinges in an area that is in constant contact with water was not the best idea. Also there's no safe dry spot to put your stuff so you risk splasing water on your fresh pants or towel. Toilettes always had toilet paper available and the facilities were clean.

The tent areas are all shaded by olive trees and very spacious. The areas for campers on the other hand looked very narrow and people were sitting cramped in between their own and the next vehicle. Only the beachfront area seemed to offer more space.

Overall staying at Meltemi was a pleasant experience. We stayed for five...

On arrival I found it hard to comprehend the glowingly positive reviews I had read, and the personal recommendation I had received. My first impression was that the site resembled a prison. There were chains in between each motorhome pitch, which were uniformly regimented, and there was a metal hatched wire fence separating the bar and restaurant area (which was good, serving boxed salads as well as hot food), ruining the view of the ocean. It was like being behind bars. ||I chose this campsite (following a recommendation), for its pool, which was advertised as being open between 11am and 6pm. On arriving to use the pool at 11am I found it closed and was advised it wasn't open until Friday (6th June)! Unacceptable. This should have been advised on check in. I would have gone elsewhere. ||I left as soon as I had determined the pool wasn't open, staying only one night. I will not be returning. Sites should clearly advise in advance if facilities are closed. On raising this with the site I was advised that the closure was due to the weather. Clear skies and 27 degrees C, no rain? Baffling - and the only pool they had been closed on our travels so far.||If you like regimented pitches, a view of the ocean through hatched fencing and hit and miss amenities, this...