stanbr

Did you look at Spiros? Its only about 100 meters from Argo and is actually closer to the beach.

And from what i recall it has a much nicer pool area.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7632162394787/

travelerjan

Overit, you need to listen to recommendations... like stanbr. AND to look carefully at the text and photos of each hotel, and think about the choice that can help you to relax, not be on "mommy duty" 24/7.. The reason you are going to St. George is not just the proximity to town.. it is because it is an IDEAL SAfE beach for kids the age of your boys. It is very shallow until you wade way out, so it is SAFE even for toddlers... and y our boys can sit in water, just barely covering their swimsuits, and play with sand and buckets.The beach is MUCH safer, you can sit under an umbrella and read a book (or a phone, more likely), and children 3 yards away will be safe. I see this every May-June, with Scandinavian parents.

By contrast almost none of the pool hotels have "baby pools". even Hotel Spiros just has one pool... and the shallowest part typically is 2.5 feet at least -- you would have to be IN the pool at all times, and actually hold up the youngest. More Work for Mother The only hotel near the beach that shows a "baby pool" in photos is Naxos Resort Beach Hotel, which you already dissed. So don't jump at a decision.

OverIt

Travelerjan, while I appreciate your suggestions, I don't appreciate the snark. As for the phone comment, what's that about? I have never even bothered to take my phone out of the country and probably won't bother now.

Stanbr and Heimdall have been very helpful, and I am listening to them. You, however, seem to have a superiority complex.

OverIt

I did check Hotel Spiros, stanbr. The issue with it is that the room currently available for four people on our dates has 2 twin beds and one sofa bed. My husband and I don't want to spend our first vacation in five years on a sofa bed or in two twin beds pushed together, if that's understandable.

Booking for 4 is a bit tricky in that sense. We don't want two separate rooms as my boys have never stayed in a hotel before so they might get scared.

travelerjan

Overit, have you looked at SUN BEACH? this is right off the beach, and I just checked booking.com and put in a "dummy booking" for Sept 4 - 9 --- for the first week in September it still has one 2-bedroom apartment available... one BR has twin beds, one has king-size bed; $500 US for 5 nights ... I've done a walkby of this place, seems v. nice, Booking.com reviews are 8.9 "excellent" .... you can book it & cancel w.o. penalty. I'd suggest you take a look tonight.

stanbr

No problem you have to do what works for you. Its a matter of understanding all the possibilities and making the choice that makes the most sense.
I appreciate you indicating you were not ignoring my suggestion and indicating that it didn't work for you.

Thats totally OK but we all spend a lot of time here trying to help people to get the most out of their Greek experience but often we don't get any feedback as to what made you make your decision. Often we feel like our input is worthless. Its much better to do as you have done to say thanks but this make the best sense for us.

Have a great vacation

Have you asked Spiros if they can push the twin beds together. They have two room units where they call this matrimonial configuration. Thats a pretty common solution in Greek hotels.

justineparis

Wow afraid to wade in here lest my head get bitten off , but since I've stayed at kymatas ans loved it I will .

We have stayed in many nice hotels , and some lovely resorts , but the Kymata is special and I suppose only some folks can appreciate the old world family run charm . It's very clean , the ac was very efficient , and the breakfasts homemade ( including the jams ) . The staff will treat your children like little princes , and you like family .
You should take the top floor suite , roomy and the views are to die for ! No elevator however and it is third floor , but we are older and fatter than you and managed fine !

The location is perfect and I really can not imagine sitting at a hotel pool when the beach is so beatiful , the water so clear and warm , the beach lounge chairs so comfy to camp out all day ! We would don in morning , have lunch on beach , enjoy drink service on beach ( so cheap ) . Try having a Greek salad at a few places , we did then would return to ur fave place each day ! Close to hotel on the beach !

Anyways Geeece is amazing , don't try to make it like going to some resort in Florida or Hawaii , enjoy the quirks , it's not about nasty dirty cheap ( yuck ) bit about casual , comfy , laid back and authentic

Heimdall

Justineparis wrote:

"I really can not imagine sitting at a hotel pool when the beach is so beatiful , the water so clear and warm , the beach lounge chairs so comfy to camp out all day!"

Exactly my thoughts! I can't imagine travelling all the way to Greece, then sitting around a pool, although I know some people do. I have nothing against pools, and in fact worked my way through university as a swimming pool lifeguard in the summers. When I am in Greece, though, I prefer swimming in the sea.

The Aegean Sea at Naxos is so crystal clear and clean, it's like swimming in a big swimming pool without the chlorine. Naxos, like most Greek Islands, doesn't pump its sewage into the sea, so the water on beaches is always pure. Children have fun playing in the sand and looking for small sea creatures.

OverIt

Amazing info. Tx

OverIt

You folks have convinced me that I won't be needing a pool in Naxos. I forgot how much I hate chlorine, and we can schedule one day at the Naxos water park. There are pools all over the world but the Aegean is only in one place, right?

It's been years since I've been at the beach (the last time was Sri Lanka in 2011!)

The number of options on Naxos is overwhelming but I cannot bring myself to cancel my booking at Kymata. It's where my heart wants to stay. On the other hand, I don't want to hold onto the booking and inconvenience the owners and other travelers who might want the room.

Heimdall

If your heart wants you to stay at Kymata, then that's where you should stay. There are really no bad choices on Naxos.

stanbr

Often your first decision is the right one. We get to overthinking and doubting ourselves but now that you have eliminated the need for a pool you will find Kymata is perfect for you.

justineparis

Overit.. did you book the top room suites.. ?

Zoi_1250

Overit I am afraid we have confused you a lot already with all the different suggestions, but I can't but recommend you also check "Villa Naxia". You will not find it in online booking platforms, only send a request directly to their website. It is right on the beach of St George and had a full renovation in 2016 (or perhaps 2015). It doesn't have a pool, but the rooms are very fresh (your husband will be happy) and I think the rates are normal. Kymata is indeed very central and the staff very friendly and welcoming, it is also a good choice but surely more "basic" than Villa Naxia. Anyway, I am sure you will enjoy your vacation on Naxos! The island is ideal for families!

travelerjan

I second the recommend for Villa Naxia, & wish you luck -- it is getting very hard to book ... word has gotten out!

OverIt

Thanks for the tip!

I checked the site a few days ago (needed a break from trip planning) and saw the Villa Naxia recommendation.

So I contacted them, and they have availability two of the four days we plan to be in Naxos.

So we are booking two nights at Kymata and two nights at Villa Naxia. Although it might seem like a pain to shift hotels, it works for our budget and we will get two experiences.

casperjj

Overit I would love to hear your thoughts on Villa Naxia. Our family of five will be visiting next year and I've been debating between Villa Naxia and Korali Boutique hotel. Unfortunately Kymata doesn't have rooms for five.

travelerjan

Villa Naxia is farther along the beach of the 2, and set back, but with a view of the sands. I happen to like the decor a lot, and the setting and it actually has more space around it thus, and more rooms with open views. The fact that Korali has added the designation "boutique" in the last several years makes me wonder... perhaps it has bought new furnishings and is giving itself airs.

casperjj

Thanks travelerjan. Its really helpful to hear insight that compares the two. How is the location of the Korali? You mention that Naxia is further along the beach... is that a good thing? Korali seems to have two hotels... boutique and another one I think.

travelerjan

Why don't you search "booking.com St George Beach Naxos" and that will bring up the location ...the little google map (to the left) can be clicked on, and enlarged. In order to see the hotels (which appear as little "baloons" on the map, yu have to put in a starting/ending date. In order to see the maximum number of hotels, yo would need to put in a "dummy date" when most hotels will have vacancies. I suggest to put in something like Oct 15-17. there will be a list of hotels, just click on any one, in order to bring up the little map. Click to enlarge... ou will see all the hotels ... The baloons with Red centers are fully booked.. for the rest, click & you get their name, and their price for those dates. You can judge for yourself.