Trish

I'll be travelling in the Peloponese for 2 and half weeks in August part of this will be with family in Spetses and Patra. I'm looking for info and hotel suggestions in Nafplio, Monemvassia, Kythira. If there is any can't miss places or sites please let me know.

Hania

In Nafplio I have stayed twice at Hotel Byron. It is newly renovated. It is a couple of streets up (south) from Plateia Syntagmatos & a block to the east. Excellent location and a really cute, modern place in an old building.
In Monemvassia I have stayed twice at Hotel Filoxenia. It is just before the causeway on the mainland, close to the main restaurant area, across from Hotel Minoa.It is a full service modern hotel with reasonable rates. tel. (0732)61716. There are really neat places in the castle but they are expensive and will be booked in August.
Never been to Kythira. Hope this helps.

Trish

Hania,
Thanks for the reply. Do you think it's worth the extra money to stay in the old town. How many days do you think we should stay in Monemvassia we were thinking just overnight but we could make it two.

TomWard

If you are going to go all the way to monemvasia you must in the old town (walled city). We spent two nights at the Byzantino. The atmosphere in the city is Incredible.

Hania

Sorry to respond so late. Yes, if you can afford it, it is worth staying in the old town in one of the renovated hotels. I saw one displayed in a travel magazine and I looked inside it and it was really nice. In August it would be worth it as it will be bustling and fun, I think. In May it would be dead at night as most people congregate along the waters edge before the causeway at the restaurants located there in the evening and the castle would be boring then.

Hania

I would say that you need at least 2 nights and one day in Monemvassia. You can see the whole castle in one day.

Trish

Thanks again for the help. We will only have one night to spend in Monemvassia in between Elafonisos and Nafplio. We are having a really hard time getting a room though, no one wants to give us one for only a single night in August. Thay keep saying call back at the end of July. So we may have to wait and see.

Hania

I have never travelled to Greece later than late June so I have not experienced this difficulty although even in the spring they push for more than one night. If you get really stuck maybe you could book 2 nights and then when you get there cancel the extra night due to a change in plans. I do not think they can stick you with the extra night if you are just reserving a room. Maybe you could check this out? You will love the beach at Elfonisos.

Trish

Thanks again Hania, I was able to get 2 rooms at the Byzantino for one night which was a relief since my father will be travelling with us (normally I make no reservations). Another question though, did you stay the night on Elafonisos or just daytrip, any hotel suggestions there.

Hania

I have been to Elfonisos a couple of times and have stayed both times at Lafotel (It is modern with balcony and fridge; some rooms have cooking area. It is behind the waterfront restauants). There are several hotels and one other that I would recommend. I think it is Lionardis or something like that (owned by the brother-in-law of the one who owns Lafotel). It is further down the water's edge and maybe a little newer with better view. I will look it up and let you know. In August there should be a passenger boat going from the town to the beach and back. The walk is about 5 klm. A nice walk accept for the islands dump; the dirt road follows along the sea but after walking it a few times the boat looks like a good option. There should be one or two small tavernas at the beach open in Aug. The beach is the nicest one I have seen in Greece and I have been to Greece 9 times and I have seen too many islands to count. They say that Princess Di was there a few days before her death and that George Bush Senior has been there. By a look at the yachts you see from time to time at the beach, I believe the stories.

Hania

Lafotel in the town of Elafonisos
ph. (0734)61138 or 61180 or 61181.
fax(0734)61183.
Owner Stravos Tsirigotakis

Other hotel "Lionardis" I don't have the phone # for.

Trish

Thanks for your suggestions Hania. So far the only hotel I've been able to get a response from on the island is "Panorama". I'll probanly wait a little longer and see if anyone else will answer their phone. I do have the rest of my hotels arranged for Nafplio, Monemvassia and Kythira.

Hania

Most of the hotels there open up in May. The owners live in Athens.