Dillon Hotel in Paros Greece?
 

Has anyone stayed at Dillon Hotel in Paros Greece?? Have seen some reviews on the internet but would prefer first hand experience from someone who has been there.

Reviews are first-hand experience. Do you know for certain that the reviewers had not stayed at this hotel but gave their opinions of it?

I don't know Dilion Hotel, but from the description it is just off Livadia Beach, and a short walk to the center of Parikia. There are dozens of hotels in that area. If you want to be centrally located then it may be a good option, but the beach itself is nothing special. Personally I would rather stay in Naoussa or one of the smaller resorts around the Paros coast.

Adrienne, there are many cases of fake reviews on travel websites, the good ones sometimes posted under pseudonyms by owners themselves, and the bad ones by competitors or someone with a grudge against the owner. In this case many of the most favorable reviews were by first time posters, which, with me, sets alarm bells ringing. Bornintheusa is right to be sceptical.

Heimdall--yes I tend to like to stay in places that are recommended by Fodors forum readers who have actually stayed in them..I am looking for a budget place (about 50E) in some small centrally located town in Paros that is near the port and buses which I can ride to visit the surrounding towns..hopefully near a nice beach so the hotel doesn't need to have a pool. Breakfast included would be a nice added perk. Was considering Oia but it is way out and would be harder to see as much as I can in 2 days. Can you recommend any small town and hotel that would fit this bill??

Parikia is certainly the best place for connections to other parts of the island, the drawback being that it doesn't have a particularly good beach. Livadia has nice sand, but is near the harbor - nice for shipwatchers, but not my idea of a good beach. Naoussa has excellent bus connections with Parikia, taking about 20 minutes, and has several beaches, including Kolymbithres, served by taxi boat from town. There are also buses to Santa Maria, and to the long, sandy beaches on the east coast between Piso Livadi and Drios. Swimming in the Aegean has completely spoiled me, and I no longer enjoy using pools.

I actually prefer to stay on Antiparos, which is well connected with Parikia by ferry and bus. There are half a dozen beaches within easy walking distance from town, and a pedestrian-only street from harbor to Kastro Square lined with shops, cafes, and tavernas. It's easy to get back to Parikia if you want to do sightseeing on Paros - a seven-minute ferry across to Pounta, and another 15 minutes by bus. From June to September there is also a direct boat between Antiparos and Parikia.

You may prefer to stay on Paros, but on Antiparos I have stayed for many years at Mike's Place, which would fit within your budget. See http://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/antiparos.html

Born, I'm sure you did not mean to say "Oia" in your earlier posts; that is in Santorini. Without a car, and wanting a nice beach outside your door, I think Heimdall's Antiparos answer is the best one.

You need to look at a Paros Map. There are not those little towns you want that are close to Paros and also have nice beaches and Bus coonections. All the busses come out of Parikia and go back there. So you would have to go to Parikia and switch busses

Here is one place that has something of an answer if you are willing to walk quite a way, or take a taxi back after an evening in Parikia. It's on a beach just past the main part of Parikia, where the bay bends to the West... water is clear there, and is 200 meters from a beach and a short walk to tavernas. http://georgy.paros-accommodations.g...ils/index.html It is self-catering, so you'd have to shop & make your own breakfast, or else take that walk.

Hi

Some info re Piso Livadi Beach: http://www.aegeanstyle.com/paros/piso-livadi.html

Have a look at these too:

http://www.parosparadise.com
http://www.aloniparos.com
http://www.hotelargo.com

Good luck

<i>All the busses come out of Parikia and go back there. So you would have to go to Parikia and switch busses</i>

Not true! Bus route #5 operates out of the Naoussa Terminus, and doesn't go anywhere near Parikia. It serves Santa Maria, Prodromos, Marpissa, Piso Livadi, Logaras, Pounda Beach, Golden Beach, and Drios. Bus route #2 goes between Naoussa and Parikia, from which you can connect with other routes to Aliki and Pounta-Antiparos. Anyone knowing the geography of Paros would realize that you have to go through Parikia to get to Aliki and Pounta Port anyway. Lefkes, another major sight, is on bus route #1 from Parikia, but you could also get there via bus route #5 from Naoussa and getting off at Prodromos.

Jan, I know you mean well. ;-)

You're right, Heimdall, I got confused. I do know that you can go from Naoussa & get to other places ... I guess I should have said that the main bus routes operate from BOTH towns. I need to study them, since I think I'm going back to Paros in 2011... hope to stay in Antiparos before it gets all glammed up.

Hi Jan,

No worries about Antiparos getting glammed up unless the fabled new Paros airport is built. Antiparos is actually closer to the present airport than Parikia, and the location earmarked for the new one is closer yet. Plans are for a 6,000 ft runway which will handle international flights, and bring both Paros and Naxos within range of package holiday companies.

There has been talk of a new airport for many years, but typical island politics has delayed the project. The good news is: construction has yet to be funded. With the current economic climate in Greece that probably won't happen anytime soon, so my favorite little island is safe for the time being. :-)

The recent talk of celebs buying land on the island is true, but anyone going there hoping to spot Hollywood stars is likely to be disappointed.

Key element to take a decision and to check if all those advices apply is WHEN someone is on the islands. For example it's true there are buses from Naoussa to most places during high season, while off season there are none or only a couple per day, so it's true you have to go to Parikia and take an other bus to visit Lefkes for example.

We rented a car on Paros, easy to do through our hotel and inexpensive.We toured the whole island at our own pace.

Hi Mariha,

You are correct, of course, about off-season bus timetables. Since bornintheusa will be travelling in mid-June, that won't be a factor. :-)

Hi, yes we stayed at Dillion Hotel in Paros during September this year. We booked it on an accommodation website and stayed there because the reviews were so good and the price was also good. The owners picked us up from the Ferry terminal, were helpful friendly and the breakfast was good. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. It was a great location up a quiet side street but very close to the beach and shops and restaurants. Would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It is about 3 star standard. It certainly lived up to the reviews.