My husband and I are going to Athens for a friend's wedding. We will have 4 days afterwards to explore another part of Greece. Crete is an option but we learned about an area called Costa Navarino in the western coast of the Peloponnese. Has anyone been to this part of Greece? Any thoughts on The Romanos resort there?
Thank you!

I was in that area a year ago... it was beautiful and unexploited... I walked along a pristine beach for a mile, last May, and was in heaven. I stayed in a small hotel of about 20 rooms in Gialova, a tiny shore village with 3 hotels and about 5 tavernas, an eden about 200 yards long, right on the water ... Now just a bit further along that beach this super-deluxe resort has opened, draining precious ground-water to enable a golf course, in a region where water is precious and the environment is fragile. This sanctuary for the rich will employ locals in menial positions ... but it already is changing something that cannot be changed back. Because the investors have great influence,and because Greek government protective policies are ineffective, the impact on wildlife and on local water resources has been glossed over, with a "greenwash" PR project of an environmental studies center. What is done cannot be undone, but it is my hope (probably in vain) that people will NOT go to this place and support this exploitation.

Dear LY,

Thank you for posting your inquiry with regard to The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort. We would very much like to share this spectacular area with you during your upcoming trip to Greece.

We have prided ourselves in preserving the resources and natural beauty of the area throughout construction. Please rest assured that the resorts have been built to the highest of environmental protection standards.

The construction footprint is less than 10% of the area, the resort runs on 100% renewable energy and we are in partnership with BirdLife International and Stockholm University to preserve the natural habitats of the species native to the area. The resort is also self-sufficient for water (for the golf courses), and we have our own water treatment facility under the golf course.

I'm afraid that traveljan who posted in response to you may not be aware of the efforts we have made to protect this astounding area, it may well be that we need to do some more publicity of our environmental policies to allay concerns.

Please don't hesitate to contact me should you require further information.

Kind regards,

Leah Lenihan
on behalf of Starwood Hotels Costa Navarino.

Has anyone stayed here yet? Would love to hear more...

I live near the resort. It is a lovely place, but out of place for the area. If it was only going to be the one resort we would be able to live with it & probably support it, but there are going to be more, all in a small area of tradition, farming, natural beauty & history.
There is plenty of other accommodation around in smaller hotels & self catering apartments where people stay to come & see an unspoilt area. With the economic situation the owners of such places (& the restaurants, tavernas & shops) have suffered the last year or so, they will continue to suffer if all of these resorts are built as they will take away the very reason people like to visit, no mass tourism or large resorts!

Well said, yiassas, and you certainly know the area and the tourism there and describe the dilemma exactly.