Naxos hotel
 

Any advice on a hotel in Naxos for middle of May? Something in a cute area, walking to a town, maybe close to a beach if possible, but not a resort type place. Don't want to spend more than around $250 per night.
Thanks!

I always recommend staying at St George beach. It is located right on the edge of Naxos town and is about a 15 minute walk to the waterfront with all of its clubs tavernas shopping and antiquities.
One thing we learned is a good night sleep is essential so St George beach is perfect you get a beach holiday and the benefits of being near the action in town but far enough away that it is quiet at night for sleep.

If you want an even better beach experience head out to the west coast where you will find excellent beaches at Prokopous, and Plaka beaches. These are better beaches but are about 7 kilometers from town and other thna beaching there is not much else to do.
At St George beach the best hotel is Naxos Royal Beach Hotel. it is actually about 30 meters from the beach and the only real sea view is from the pool area. In May you should expect to spend about 80 euros for a double.
You will have trouble finding a hotel in Naxos at $250 per night.
There are lots of other hotels in the area but none in the class of Naxos Royal.
There are really no resort type hotels in Naxos.
Here are our pictures of Naxos.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/552001505EYxVYT

Stan, can you tell me which hotels are actually right ON St. George beach? I've tried for Hotel Glaros as you have suggested many times but they are booked for my dates in June. Are they located out on that little tip part of the beach? If so, are there any others there too? Is Hotel Galini right on the beach? Do they have balconies with ocean views? Are there any others?

We stayed in Galini last summer and thought it was terrific. The rooftop unit is pleasant and has a very nice view of the beach, although it isn't located directly ON the beach. Personally, I liked being a few steps removed, and Galini was better located for going into town.

Can I ask why you preferred being away from the beach? Can you tell me specifically where Galini is located? I can't seem to find any good maps of where the hotels are...

IIRC, the Galini is located at the very edge of St. George Beach, the closest side to the town.

Map of hotels:

http://www.naxos-greece.net/site/gfx...hotels_map.jpg

That map shows the Galini and Sofia Latina (40 and 31) as two separate hotels, but iirc, they are in the same building and run by the same management.

I thought the Galini faced the beach and the Sofia Latina did not, but I might be wrong. Maybe overbeck or someone else who has stayed there can explain the setup.

Oh perfect! Thanks.

Galini is about 60 meters from the tiny beach around the corner from St George beach. It looks out over a vacant lot/parking lot and a chapel.

Although it is a nice hotel and many people really like it, if a beach view is important then you will be disappointed. For a hotel directly on the beach try Hotel Asteria. www.hotelasteria.com
The only thing separating your room from the beach is a garden a low wall and the beach front boardwalk. We do our beaching directly in front of this hotel all the time because it is the closest access to the beach from our hotel. I have never stayed there but I know it well. It has the best location and looks to be in good condition.

My husband and I stayed at Hotel Asteria a couple of years ago - it was a nice, basic, clean and friendly hotel. Breakfast was basic but good and we really enjoyed being right on the beach but within easy walking distance to the town and bus stop. If I recall it was very inexpensive then, around maybe 30-40E per night (September).

Thanks Stan and Stefi. I have been wondering about that hotel but couldn't find too much on it. From many of the pictures I have seen of the shoreline along St. George beach, it seems there are a lot of awnings set up on the beach and I didn't know if they would block the view or make it difficult to get out to the beach. Anyway, I just contacted them to see what they have available. Hopefully they'll have a room with a great balcony or veranda facing the beach. Since I live in Southern California, and I can't afford to live right on the beach, it would be nice to wake up and have the shores outside my window.

If you are on a second floor you will have a unobstructed view of the beach. Even on the ground floor you will have a view of the beach when you wake up. Remember this is Greece and people are on vacation. No one is on the beach at breakfast time. All those umbrellas on the beach do not go up until 9 or 10 o'clock and come down by 5 or 6.
Even if they are in your way in the morning grab a coffee and walk 20 meters, your feet will be wet and only the horizon will end your sea view.
Enjoy.