Platanista Hotel — Hotel in Municipality of Kos

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Platanista. It is spotlessly clean (except for some of the drinking glasses in the morning) and the waiting staff were friendly and boy did they work hard and long days. Especially the lady who seemed to be a supervisor in the restaurant and snack bar. The food was really good, except the fresh fruit was always a bit lacking, we didn't see watermelon until half way through our holiday, every other greek holiday its been plentiful and at every meal. We had a lovely room, with a great view from our balcony. Although with 3 of us in there, it would have been nice to have three chairs on the balcony and 3 mugs in the room. If you are getting in after midnight, bare in mind there will be nowhere to get food or water. Although we did have a bottle in our room. We brought some with us from Manchester airport, but there were people asking as they were checking in. Kos airport has nothing in arrivals either, not even a vending machine. The 'beach' wasn't for us. There are photos online where a few years ago they clearly had sand imported and it looks quite nice. It doesn't look like that now. It's described as a pebble beach, but last year we stayed where there was a pebble beach and we could walk in with beach shoes. Here you definitely need shoes but there are sandbags to walk into the water on. Like I said, it just wasn't for us. We hired a beach buggy from safe wheels by the hotel and toured the island, and visited Paradise Beach instead. There is a hotel shop but again sells minimal things, although it has a good stock of ice creams and ice lollies. No drinks, you need to walk down to the supermarket for water and drinks etc if you want them cheaper than the hotel. The Iced coffee wasn't up to much, so we bought cans from the shop. Lastly, the entertainment. Professor, was lovely, I really warmed to him. However, I did feel he made some stuff up as he went along. It kinda feels like he's just been left to it without much training or guidance. The lady with him barely said two words. I don't think it's the job for her. Activities were a bit hit and miss, although my son enjoyed the football and water polo. There is nothing for little kids. We saw 1 mini disco on our holiday, and that was after a parent asked. I was shocked at the equipment that the kids had to use for activities. A battered old football that burst, this is the end of May. Why isn't there already a supply of new balls for the season? Wooden beach ball bats for tennis! Apparently the hotel didn't want them using racquets because you have to hire the racquets and court (€12 for an hour), even though there are two courts and playing with your family is different to playing with other people from the hotel in an organised activity. Just feels a bit rubbish as a guest to not have equipment for activities. Also, the net on the pool basketball hoop is just torn and hanging off. How much is a net? Just to make it look tidier! Plenty of sunbeds, I've never been to a hotel where the beds aren't all covered up by 7am. We regularly went to the pool 9-9.30 and got 3 easily. Makes a pleasant change. The acts that came a few nights a week were fantastic, especially the singing acts. The bus service is terrible at the moment, we were lucky to get on one, but we were the last he let on, it would have been a 2 hour wait for another one to Kos. We also waited 30 mins for a taxi, which didnt show. It costs €9 to Kos or €14 if you pre book it! We only visited Kos once because it was a faff, and none of us wanted to walk there before walking around town as well. Every other island we've been to the buses have been so convenient and reliable. Obviously not the hotels fault, just something to bare in mind if you aren't hiring a car. If I could go back to Platanista on a different island I would but Kos over all was a bit of a let down. Still had a...

We've just returned from 10 nights at this wonderful hotel. I am usually ready to go home from longer trips but this time I was sad to leave. We stayed in room 302 myself and my two children (7,12) and my parents in 301. These rooms overlooked the side/front aspect of the property where there was plenty of chickens cockadoodledoin and happy well fed cats, as an animal lover I loved this, so was not an issue to me at all, my daughter and I had a real soft spot for the hen and her chicks, we were sad to leave them! The rooms and the full hotel for that matter are completely immaculate. The bar at the entrance of the hotel is amazing for the sunset.||The members of staff that went above and beyond and deserve a mention were Spartak and his two lovely daughters, Eleftheria, the most lovely cleaner, and Maria in the restaurant who looked after us every morning/evening. The food in the restaurant was to a high standard and if anything with too much choice, I ate far too much just so I could try all of the lovely stuff, my 7 year old is very picky but she always found something she liked despite no actual 'children's' buffet. The pool bar served a good variety during lunch times and wasn't badly priced at all, the drinks were a little overpriced though I'd say, 7eu for a smoothie.|We spent our pool days at the smaller pool, the swim up bar wasn't used very much but that pool was very relaxed and never an issue getting a sunbed no matter what time of the day you got there. We went to the beach several times and come back to swim and always had 5 sunbeds together even later in the day!|The entertainment was quite hit and miss, the mini disco was consistent starting at 20:45 for the kids which in my experience is a good time for families who like to eat a little later, but the rest of the entertainment sometimes not starting till long after 22:00 got a little tedious waiting around.|There was a shop within the hotel selling amenities but not drinks, however the shop at the hotel down the road at Nirides did, including 6 bottles of water for a few euros. There is not a lot around the hotel so if you prefer somewhere hustle and bustle, bars etc, this is not the place for you. ||There are a few things I would give constructive criticism on, not complaints but maybe a thought for the hotel. |- The pool opening times could be amended, and the chain around the pools I don't think is necessary|- None of the salad bar items are labelled, so you don't actually know what you are eating which isn't necessarily an issue for me personally but someone with allergies this could be a problem|- The smaller pool with swim up bar, the drinks are the same price but half the measure|- There is no recycling bin around this pool only two small waste bins|- Be prepared to pay above the norm for the tourist tax 10eu per night!||I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a complete chill out holiday with great food and a relaxed wonderful atmosphere. I would go...

I have been to the hotel many times but I thought I would add an update about the Hotel Platanista, having been there in July for the first time.

The rooms are always clean, well ventilated and offer a comfortable night’s sleep wherever you are located or whichever option you choose. They are well sized and offer good storage facilities. Tea and coffee facilities are provided.

The hotel continues to have a good mix of age groups (I noted a greater number of younger guests in July than I usually see) and a nice selection of people from various countries who mix well together. The greater numbers continue to be from Holland, Belgium, Germany and the UK but also others from many different countries. I am always grateful for the language skills of the staff but also those coming to the hotel where the universal language is, of course, English.

The choice and standard of food is excellent as is the range of drinks. There is a daytime taverna/snack bar with drink and a cocktail bar by the second swimming pool. On that subject the two pools are very well maintained and there is a lifeguard. There are always sun beds even when the hotel is full. I don’t use the private sandy beach facility across the road but it is well kept and a favoured option for a number of people. There are good car parking and bike storage facilities.

The animation team (Sorin, Aga and Jaimee – spelling may be inaccurate!) together with increased financial investment from the hotel management have enhanced the entertainment programme with more good external professional entertainers and improved quizzes where there is greater guest involvement.

As always, I will conclude by recording what I consider to be the hotel’s continuing greatest asset – the staff team. Whether it is excellent room staff, management/office/reception, the maintenance team, bars, restaurant and catering staff, one always feels welcome and ‘at home’. In addition to doing their duties the staff always find time for discussions and amusement. Of course there are changes each year but whoever undertakes the staff selection does a good job (I am an ex-HR person by the way).

So, the Hotel Platanista remains an excellent choice for your...