Hi There
Can anyone help with Serifos and Sifnos accommodation suggestions please. I have read through the msgs on Fodors but there doesnt seem to be too much written. I tried Corelli Bungalows but already taken and Geronti Pensions I am waiting to hear from (2 Fodors suggestions). Going at the end of this month (ahhh), a couple early 30's, no car, so perhaps central to amenities (beach restaurants), and looking for nothing over the top just clean and comfortable with a local feel. All suggestions welcome - big thanks

As for Sifnos if money is not a problem then THE place is Elies Resort in Vathi
www.eliesresorts.com

Alexandros in Plati Yialos is an other excellent option with a pool and easy beach access.
http://www.greekhotel.com/cyclades/s...ndros/home.htm

Tks for suggestions - unfortunately money is a problem (hopefully not a life long problem though).Did you find the walk to Apollonia too far for restaurants at night? Quite a few people mention Apollona is a good area to stay in?

As for Sifnos ,the island is a gemafe,clean and funny.

To and from Apollonia ,which is uphill, you will need to take a taxi or a bus from any seaside town.
Renting a car or a bike (to access the beaches and attractions) in the island is a good idea.

Fo a hotel deal and any arrangement you could contact the very reliable and helpfull local travel agent Thesaurus
www.thesaurus.gr

Many Thanks for this helpful info Mzani

MisheeG - I do hope you get a positive reply from Mrs. Geronti, as the pension is HEAVEN! I know she's already (fully?) booked for July-August, but you may well be lucky in June. Buses from/to Apollonia/main villages should be every hour at end of June. Here's a suggestion for beach rooms at Kamares, the port. I really like the harbour, although the beach isn't my favourite – nice sand, backed by dunes and trees, but very shallow water. However, on the far side of the harbour, in the area called Ayia Marina, there are some lovely places to stay, where you can find some big, flat rocks and really deep water – if that interests you. Some friends stayed in a beautiful room here with a terrace right on the water: they loved it! I only have a telephone number, but I think the lady speaks English. She's called Mrs. Dina Palaiou (Pal-ey-oo). +30 22840 32364. Almost next door is one of the best restaurants on the island – Aryuris' Taverna. Worth coming here, even if you're not staying in Kamares! At Platy Yialo you can have the same view and access to the beach as you would at the Alexandros hotel but at a MUCH lower price, just across the road into the resort. Margarita Karavou has really attractive, modern rooms: her number is +30 22840 71268 or 71168. The travel agent mentioned by Mzani would be able to help with these places, but you often get a better price if you communicate directly. Good luck! (Let us know how you get on.)

Hey thanks NikolettaG! Yup we are in for Geronti Pensions - very excited about that one working out! We actually had to take an earlier flight so we will be in Sifnos for a Fri/Sat night without a place to stay (move into Geronti Sun) so your msg is well timed as I was thinking of where we should stay in Sifnos to try something different from Appollonia. I heard Vathi was nice, relaxed beach type place? Have you been? Platy Yialo also seems to be nice beach type of place from what I have read. Are they quite similar places? Am I reading too much into it for two nights...probably. Tks for the restaurant suggestion - will definitely be trying that one out!

You'll have a GREAT time! Fun to have two extra nights, too! Platy Yialos and Vathy are very different – Vathy is beautiful, small, on a little, almost landlocked bay. I don't know about accommodation there, apart from the enormous Elies resort hotel (which you can't actually see from the beach). Buses from Kamares aren't as frequent as they are to beaches like Platy Yialos, so transferring your luggage back and forth could be a little awkward, maybe, but you could always take a taxi. It would be beautiful there in the evening! We used to be tied to school holidays, and for over twenty years we spent most of July and August at Platy Yialos. We loved it: the beach was frequently advertised as the longest in the Cyclades, but it has become narrower over the years, and much busier! But the end of June is a very good time to come: the island is still quiet – when we were at Platy Yialos about two weeks ago there was only one restaurant operating: now lots will be open. Try 'To Kati Allo' at the end of the road, by the last bus stop. Lovely setting, and the food is terrific, with some dishes you don't usually find on the islands, as the owner is from northern Greece. For two nights at the end of June you should easily find accommodation when you arrive, or you could phone ahead: the info office in Kamares is +30 22840 31977; the Aegean Thesaurus Travel Agency is +30 22840 33527. Here's a website with photos of the beaches, and of the area around the Geronti Pension. www.igogreece.com. On 'select area' click 'Cyclades Islands', Sifnos, then choose topics on left of page. Hope this helps!

Tks again NikolettaG - your info is helping me tremendously. Now that I have Sifnos a bit worked out, have you been to Serifos?

Also, I am booking through the thesauraus travel agent and initially they asked for a deposit but now they said I should pay the full amount since my stay is so close? Is that normal? I have always paid full upon check out of a place? Just checking your thoughts?

Sorry, MisheeG, I can't help at all with Serifos: all these years of travelling to Sifnos and we've never been to the nearest island! I am a bit surprised that Thesaurus is asking for the full amount – this is presumably for the two extra nights? In May we met a couple at the Geronti Pension who had booked with the travel agent when they arrived, and I know they paid Mrs. Geronti when they left. I wouldn't worry, however – Thesaurus has a very good reputation. I've only heard positive things about them – I know they've been very efficient in helping people who have had to make last minute alterations to their travel plans.

Tks for the reassurance. They said it is their policy so I went with it - hopefully it will be fine. Tks again for all your suggestions will be trying them all out. Counting down the days - will let you know how much I loved the islands when I get back. Cheers for now

Glad to help - enjoy!!

Hello MisheeG!
Just back from Greece (where I actually MET the fabled NikolettaG, we talked for hours)... and if it's not too late, perhaps I can help you about Serifos.
There's a hotel/pension just 200 yards down Livadakia beach from Coralli, towards the town.... Taverna Vassilas ... has rooms... they probably have no web page --- but you could e-mail Coralli and try to get them to give you a phone number, I bet you could get in.

Should you decide to stay on Sifnos, we stayed in Pension Aretia in Vathi. That was in 1999 -- they'd only been connected by road for 2 year. Now, this Elies Resort pops up (somewhat unobtrusively, I'm glad to read). We thought Areti was great simple. It was 30 euros a night in 1999. Now, it's 45 euros. Beats the 300 euros Elies charges, and it's closer to the beach!

bookmarking

Yup that sure helps Traverlerjan! We will try and locate that one through Coralli it sounds ideal. Just a few more days and we will be living the Greek life...thanks of course to the fantastic help from the above!

Will send this while the memories are still fresh. We loved Sifnos. We ended up spending 2 nights in Vathy at Marino's Studio's and ABSOLUTELY loved it! The studios are great - clean, so affordable, right on the beach (30 second walk) with appliances like a big fridge which is great when its hot for cool drinks! Marino's Studios are brand new and situated in what I think is the best part of the bay of Vathy(quieter) and off the beaten track (if this really applies in Vathy?). Marino the owner brought us fresh eggs for breakfast from his chickens to cook in our kitchen and courgettes from his garden - too sweet. The restaurants in Vathy are right on the water where your table is in the sand and you look over this quaint bay - heaven. After 2 days here we headed to Appolonia and stayed in Nikoletta's place (Ms. Geronti's daughter) which again is beautiful and she is lovely as well. We missed the quaint fishing village life of Vathy, but Appolonia is good for transport and visiting other spots on the island (all buses connect in Appolonia) and its a beautiful town too. So highly recommend the island and the places to stay above - more than impressed with both! The recommendations from this post were great too we tried most of the places incl Aryuris' Taverna which we loved so thanks again for all the tips!

So glad that Sifnos worked out as you hoped!! I stumbled on to Nikoletta's rooms by accident in 2005, and the next am., waking at dawn and standing on the patio, I was in state of pure bliss. I caught the mood with my Nikon, and can now bliss out at the sight.
Likewise with Vathy; first I swam at Platy Gialos, but then Vathy, oh my. I loved eating at the taverna where one's chairlegs were practically in the water.

Can you tell me whether anything worked out for you on Serifos?? Or did you just have such a good time on Sifnos that you left Serifos for another time?

I've only once been asked for full payment in advance for a multi-night stay in a Greek hotel, on Spetses. Ordinarily I wouldn't be willing to do this, but in this case they offered a big price break, so I accepted. If you pay in advance though, in Greece or anywhere, be sure to get in writing (email or fax) a clear statement of the cancellation/refund policy before you give them your credit card number or otherwise send money. I wouldn't dream of paying without this.

Serifos has basically two attractions: a wonderful old Hora (main village high in the hills) and great beaches, including one (Livadaki)within a short walk from town. There isn't much else there, and the restaurants are generally mediocre. I found the hotels varied greatly in quality though the prices were generally the same, so look around before choosing one. We got a remarkably large and nice studio apartment at a surprisingly low rate in Livadi (Serifos Port)at the Areti on the hill above the port. The Areti is a hotel, but just below the hotel they also some studios with kitchenettes, so you need to go to the hotel's office whether you want to see a hotel room or a studio there.

I also have considerable experience but will only add to what's been said that I prefer to stay in Artemonas. It's a little more isolated but very quiet and public transit is good. You can also walk to Apollonia, where most of the services are -- it's something of a climb, but you get used to it after the first fifteen or twenty times.

Above message last paragraph should beging "I also have considerable experience OF SIFNOS ..."