Sidari Hotels - Alkyon Hotel

For a start, let’s check out the numbers – on Trip Advisor, of 44 reviewers, 75% rated it very good or excellent, and 79% would recommend it.  These are very impressive results considering the large number of reviews.  It’s the same story on Holiday Watchdog, where 36 reviewers gave an average score of 8/10.  But why the high scores?  We had better take a closer look to see what’s so special about the Alkyon:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the options for board basis?

Most people come here half-board, which offers great value here compared to eating out, so much so that you will still be able to treat yourself to the odd meal in the resort and stay within budget.

Where is it?

The Alkyon Hotel is about 300 metres or less than five minutes’ walk from the centre of Sidari, the popular holiday resort on the north-west corner of Corfu.  The main sandy beach with its sunbeds and water sports is just 100 metres away, and there are more coves to explore within easy reach.  Being at one end of the main beach, the Alkyon is near enough to be convenient for the resort centre but far enough away to make it a nice quiet spot.

Like all Sidari hotels, the Alkyon is just under 40km from the airport, but because of the country roads of Corfu it takes about 60 minutes to cover this distance by taxi and maybe 90 minutes by coach transfer.

Who is this hotel best for?

Families with children will be happy with the hotel and its location, being within easy walking distance of the town and the beach even if you have small kids, yet offering a nice quiet setting at night.

Couples who like a reasonable amount of liveliness in the evenings will be pleased with the range of bars and clubs that come to life at night five minutes away in the resort centre – I’m not saying it’s Magaluf, far from it, but compared to other resorts on Corfu, there’s plenty going on after dark to give you a great night out in Sidari, and many of the bars front straight out onto the beach.  Feeling brave?  The main nightclubs, Caesars and Ice, hold popcorn and foam parties!

Just a quick note for people with walking difficulties – the hotel is on a flat site so wheelchair users will find it manageable to get around.

What’s the food like?

Food is served in a light and airy dining room with views out over the gardens.  Breakfast, served from 8am until 10am, is continental consisting of a choice of toast, cereals, Greek yoghurt, orange juice, tea or coffee, but for about 2 ½ euros you can upgrade to a full English if you fancy it, and it’s good value – eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and toast.  A reasonably-priced snack menu is available all the way through until 7pm and food can be eaten by the pool, in the bar area while watching the wide-screen TV – wherever you fancy basically.

In the evening, the half-board package includes dinner from 7pm until 10pm.  Now, this is not the usual buffet-style service that many people will be used to in Spain, for example – here you get a full-on sit-down meal served by waiting staff.  There is a choice of starters, main courses and desserts, with usually three or four choices in each course on the half-board menu.  The menu changes daily and dishes such as swordfish; steak; pork and chicken are on offer.

If you can’t see anything you like, you can choose from the main a la carte menu for a couple of euros extra.  If you’re not on half-board, you too can dine here as an optional extra and choose dishes from the full a la carte menu.

What about the bar?

The spacious pool bar has to be one of the nicest in any hotel in Sidari.  It has a large seating area with chairs and tables

Sidari Hotels - Alkyon Hotel Foyer

inside and outside so you can take your pick depending on the temperature.  There is also a large flat screen TV with satellite channels.

How do the rooms compare to other Sidari hotels?

Like many Corfu hotels, or Greek Islands hotels for that matter, the Alkyon’s rooms are basic, but kept very clean.  The rooms look out over the pretty Sidari countryside, and each has a bath with shower over, balcony, sea or pool view, hair-dryer, TV, phone and air conditioning for an extra charge of around 35 euros per week.  Cots are available too if you need one.

What’s outside?

There are pretty gardens and a sizeable rectangular pool with a separate area reserved for young children.

Do they have Internet access?

Yes, there are two pay-as-you-go internet terminals in the reception area.

Are the staff friendly?

It seems to me that the staff at the Alkyon have a bit of a fan club – there are more kind words said about the people here than at most other Sidari hotels.  I have to tell you, at Suntrap Holidays we are not easily impressed but we think the team here are great.  The waiter and waitresses work extremely hard here to keep everyone happy and entertained, and everyone from the reception staff to the cleaning team are described as polite and friendly by customer after customer.  Nothing seems too much trouble here and the staff really do go out of their way to make sure you have a great time.  Watch out for the man who tends the pool and gardens, he’s a star.  And if you see Andrea standing still for more than a minute or two, call an ambulance.

What other facilities are on offer?

Unusually for Sidari hotels, this one has a small jewellery shop in the reception area, so there’s no need to go on a special shopping trip for to get that special little present for your loved one – just drag yourself away from the pool for five minutes and you’re there.  So there’s no excuse, OK gents?!

What’s the entertainment like?

Well, it’s pretty impressive actually, with a varied selection of events such as quiz nights; bingo; karaoke and the big one – the Greek Dancing Evenings.  If this is “your thing” you can find some great videos right here: Alkyon Hotel Sidari – Greek Dancing.

Verdict

If you are looking for a relaxing Corfu holiday in one of the most popular hotels in Sidari, handy for the beach and the resort centre yet far enough out of town to avoid the noise, then the Alkyon could be just the place for you.  I give it 8.5/10.

You can get a great deal on this and other hotels in Sidari here: Sidari Hotels.

Suntrap Holidays Rating: 8/10

Ok so you go to Kavos for 24/7 partying, right?  But does that really mean you want to stay in some flea pit with rats running in and out and all the doors kicked in?

Thought not.

So best choose one of the Kavos Hotels that’s going to look and feel OK during those rare sober cold-light-of-day moments!

Believe me, it’s been a struggle because here at Suntrap Holidays we don’t just recommend any old dump, and there’s a bucket load of ‘em in Kavos I can tell you, so you really need to be careful.  You will be pleased to know I’ve done all the hard work for you and found a Kavos hotel that I’m gonna recommend to you.

Look, it’s not the Ritz, OK, but it’s clean, tidy and good value for money.

It’s the Morfeas Hotel.

Kavos Hotels - Morfeas Pool

It gets mixed reviews – but what you need to know is that the good reviews are from younger customers on clubbing holidays, and the bad reviews are from families (with your actual children!) or couples looking for a quiet romantic break – in KAVOS, I ask you!  Err, anyway,  on to the review:

Where is it?

The hotel is maybe five minutes’ walk from the main bars so you can have some chance of some sleep away from the loudest noise – maybe!  It’s only about 100 metres from the sea too!

Facilities

Like many Kavos hotels, this one has a pool, and they keep a good vibe going – you can chill to Radio 1 playing out of the bar, and top up your alcohol levels in case you feel a sober moment coming on.  Try the famous Morfeas Mule! (But remember drinkaware.co.uk, right!)  There’s also a lounge bar with satellite TV too.  Bargain!

Food

They’ll do you a cooked breakfast for a small amount of dosh, and there’s always snacks available from the pool bar to keep you going through the day.  Nice one!  There’s a restaurant here too with top steaks, and you can often see the reps eating here so you know it’s good.

Rooms

Most folks say the rooms are basic but clean, and I agree.  The cleaner comes in every day – but listen boys and girls,

Kavos Hotels - Morfeas

that’s no excuse to trash the place, right!  You get your own bathroom and shower, and a fridge, kettle – all that.  A balcony or terrace too.  There’s also air-con for 25 euros a week if you want it.

What’s Up?

You won’t find this at all Kavos hotels – there’s a bang-on Greek night every Thursday in the summer for about 20 euros – and it’s worth the money, this one.  You get fed too.  Maybe the staff don’t like washing up, cos after the meal there’s all that Greek plate smashing thing goin on!  Don’t plan an early night on the Thursday with all that happening.  Err, make that – don’t plan an early night EVER in Kavos!

They do a wicked pool party here too.  Loads of naff games that are so not cool, but seeing as you’re on holiday   Oh, and lads, if you’re into showing off what  you’ve got, you need to know that Jason will issue a “punishment” if you turn up in speedos.  Don’t ask..

Kavos Scene

There are L-O-A-D-S of bars and clubs here, probably more than in any other resort in the Med and is definitely the number one clubbers’ paradise on the island of Corfu.  No worries there.

Do me a favour if you come here – ASK THE BARMAN at the hotel where the best places are because they change year to year.  He’s a good bloke and he will tell you the places to avoid as well.

In the daytime, go on one of the boat trips with diving off the boat and a BBQ on the beach – it could well be the highlight of your holiday in Corfu – apart from the night life of course.

Verdict

There are loads of Kavos hotels and apartments, but only a few I would recommend and the Morfeas is one of them.  The family who run this hotel are very friendly and the people who come here are up for a laugh.  You’re getting really good value here, there’s plenty going on – and tell your Mum it’s clean too.

I’m giving it 8/10 and believe me, for Kavos, that’s a BIG score.

You can check out the best deals and live availability on the Morfeas Hotel here: Kavos Hotels