cheryllj

I am trying to choose a hotel in Naxos, Greece for three nights in May. I have narrowed it down to three choices, but I'm trying to figure out if the higher-priced choices are worth the extra money.

I can get the Hotel Galini for 40 euros a night, the Hotel Grotta for 74 euros a night, or the Hotel Naxos Royal for 100 euros a night. My original choice was going to be the Hotel Grotta as a good "happy medium," but I've read some comments here that it is kind of a hike into town.

Can anyone comment on the locations of these three places? Is the Naxos Royal worth the extra money? I was hoping to save some money in Naxos so I could splurge a little in Santorini. But if the Naxos Royal is in the best location and is truly deluxe and a bargain at 100 euros, then I would choose that.

Heimdall

Galini and Naxos Royal are 'kind of a hike into town' as well, but from the opposite direction. Both are near St George Beach, about a 10 min walk into the part of town around the kastro. It's an easy walk, though.

cheryllj

Thanks, Heimdall. Which hotel of the three has the best location, in your opinion?

The Hotel Galini seems to good to be true for 40 euros a night. Is it really dumpy? The website doesn't really offer many photos of the rooms, so I'm skeptical, even though the reviews on tripadvisor are all good.

Heimdall

Galini and Naxos Royal are both near St George Beach, and a short walk into town. Galini is on the beach itself, and marginally closer to town than Naxos Royal. Other Fodorites have stayed at Hotel Galini and give it good reports. Both hotels are in a very touristy area, which may put some people off.

Naxos Royal is nearly new, and probably the best hotel on Naxos, considering its location and amenities. Last June I stayed at Hotel Argo, which overlooks Naxos Royal, and was impressed by the look of it, but didn't go in to look around.

I'm not familiar with Hotel Grotta, but know which part of town it is in. Not the best place to stay if you want to be near the beach, but just about as easy to get to the harbor and kastro area as the other two.

nicegirl512

I LOVED the hotel Galini. Cannot recommend it highly enough. It's very close to St. George beach, you don't even need to put on shoes to get there. It never occurred to me that it is considered "outside" town. It's a 15 minute leisurely stroll to the pier, which is at the far end of the main drag of the Hora from St. George. It doesn't have a pool, though, if that's a feature you're after.

Staff was friendly, breakfast was delicious, and the room could not possibly be described as dumpy. Granted, I didn't see any other room but frankly I think I got one of the worst because it's one of the few without a balcony and it was lovely. I wrote about arriving at the hotel here, http://travelathomeandabroad.blogspo...arrive-on.html. My review (I reviewed all the hotels I stayed at here http://travelathomeandabroad.blogspo...in-greece.html) says:
City: Naxos Town
Hotel Name: Hotel Galini/Sofia Latina
Rate: 35E/nt for a single
Breakfast: Greek continental with a few interesting additions, such as cinnamon sesame seed rusks.
Notes: This hotel was delightful. When I arrived the owners told me to sit down, have some water. When I finally told them I had a reservation they laughed and said they knew, I was the only single they were expecting that day. It is just steps from St. George beach and a quick walk to the waterfront and pier. My only complaint was the fire exit indicator lights. They were so bright I had to hang a towel over the ones shining directly in my eyes, which was quite an operation involving a very precarious sideways tiptoe perch on the refrigerator (oh yes, there's an in-room refrigerator).
Location: come off the ferry, walk down the pier to the harbor, and turn right (away from the Portara). Walk along the water always (DON'T TURN ANYWHERE), rather than going up to the main drag. Eventually the road will turn into a wide flagstone drive. You'll pass the Naxian Sphinx on your left. Keep going while the road winds around. After the bend there will be a driveway and the tiny church of St. George on your left. You can see the hotel behind the church. Make a left and go up the driveway and you're there. This is probably about 500 meters. A cab is 6E if you're not up to it.

There are pics of the inside of the room on both of the above linked posts.

cheryllj

Thanks for responding, nicegirl. I accidentally asked this question on the wrong thread:

Do you know if the Hotel Galini has twin rooms with two beds? I had been looking for standard doubles when I was planning to go by myself, but now that my friend is going with me, we'd prefer to have two twin beds and I know those rooms are harder to find.

That and the lack of a pool is what is making me lean towards the Naxos Royal over the Galini, although the Galini seems like such a bargain. The Naxos Royal has assured me we can have a room with two beds, but I haven't heard back from the Galini on that question and the website doesn't mention any twin rooms.

nicegirl512

Well, I know it has at least one room with three single beds because they had given away their single and put me in the triple. I think it's pretty safe to assume they have rooms with two single beds.

travelerjan

I have stayed at Galini, and they have a wonderful buffet breakfast, bountiful, enjoyable. Yes of course, they have many rooms with two single beds. Actually they have two hotels side-by-side -- Galini & Sophia L. They are both owned by same family and are identically furnished and are booked thru Galini.
We had a lovely room up one flight, with balcony... it looked out on the little church at the end of the beach.

I have also stayed at GRotta -- it used to be much more of a budget find. It also has a lovely breakfast buffet. However, as noted, it is on the side of town where the Pier is, uphill from there on the top of a bluff... so you have to take a bus to the beach or a looong walk to St. George beach. And they charge more for a room with a water view. Go with Galini.

PS: Naxos royal is NOT in the best location... it is back from the beach.

travelerjan

I forgot to say -- why go to a pool when there is the beach? St. George Beach is VERY clean in May, not crowded; it is shallow (you must wade out about 100 yrds to swim), but for that reason, it is OK to swim in May.

Remember, Greeks don't know about heated pools, so pools can be as cold as the sea water. A pool may make sense in Santorini where the beach is not sand, but black grit, but in Naxos there are 10 miles of sandy beach all in a row.

Heimdall

I've never stayed at Hotel Galini, but from my experience rooms with twin beds in the Greek Islands is the norm. In fact, every room I've ever stayed in has had twin beds.

And yes, why swim in a pool when you have the beautiful Aegean on your doorstep? You can swim in a pool anywhere, and, IMO, is only an advantage when you don't have easy access to the beach.

cheryllj

I appreciate all the comments. I don't really care about the pool, but my friend does. She's hoping it's going to be unseasonably warm and is rooting for global warming this May.

So it sounds like everybody thinks the Galini is the best choice, especially considering how much cheaper it is. Thanks!

travelerjan

Cheryl, forgive me for this observation but from your anxious questions on other postings about your friend, and pleasing her, she sounds like Miss Picky-Picky 2007.

Are you going to have to cater to her all through your trip?!?! Is she her family's Princess? You're doing all the planning work and she just supplies 'attitude. Beware ... if so, the trip can become very looong, unless you can get her to loosen up a little. "

cheryllj

I don't mean to make her sound that way. She's not that high maintenance. And I'm not that anxious, really. I just want to pick the best hotels possible that fit our budget b/c I took on the responsibility of choosing the places. And there are so many to choose from, so it can be a little overwhelming at times.

cheryllj

Oh, and I've chosen all of our Greece hotels now (including the Galini in Naxos), so I will shut up with all the questions. I really appreciate the help.

kendy

I have just come back from greece and one of out stop overs was in Naxos. We stayed in the Golden Beach studios St Goerges beach. It was excellent quiet and close to restaurants and beaches. there was a fridge hot plates and utensils clean showers and the owner was very hospitable Nicollette tel 0285 24657 fax 0285 24657 our rate was 40 Euros this was mid Sept and was negiotable. Suggest you try it