Skiathos Thalassa, Philian Hotels and Resorts

We often stay in expensive places, but this one was not. Regardless of that, it was very very good. The breakfast was amazing (other than no actual fresh orange juice)...the variety on offer, including many fresh creations and cakes was fantastic and good quality. The room we had was spacious and clean.

The room was spacious, modern, and very comfortable overall. We especially appreciated the king-size bed, the excellent pillows, and the ample storage space for our belongings. Breakfast was another highlight: varied, fresh, and with something new each day to keep things interesting. The location is also a plus—just a 12–15 minute walk from the main street and only 5 minutes from bus stop #4, making it easy to get into town or reach the beaches. A thoughtful touch was the welcome drink offered to guests, though unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to enjoy it myself. That said, there are a few areas where the hotel could improve to truly match its 4-star rating: 1. Overall value for money feels average. The property consists of three buildings. While the main building (where the reception is) feels updated, Theros (where we stayed) is noticeably dated. The doors to the rooms feel flimsy and require a firm push to close properly. There’s also no elevator—though to their credit, the hotel employs a young staff member to help with luggage, which was helpful. The mosquito nets were missing, and the air conditioning unit in our room seemed 20 years old and only worked sporadically. (To be fair, after we called reception, they promptly fixed the remote, and I noticed they were replacing some older AC units with new ones, so improvements may be underway.) 2. Missing essentials for a 4-star experience. Certain amenities that I would expect from a hotel at this level were absent: no vanity kit, no “Do Not Disturb” door sign, no hotel slippers, no cotton buds, and no shower cap. While slippers might be optional, the others feel like standard inclusions. When I inquired at reception, the staff member seemed slightly dismissive and didn’t appreciate my remark that these were essentials for a 4-star property. She assured us she’d arrange them, and to her credit, shower caps were provided. However, slippers never arrived, the door sign remained missing (leading to us being disturbed by housekeeping on the first day), and instead of cotton buds, we received earplugs—likely a language misunderstanding. 3. Housekeeping staff attitude needs attention. The housekeeping team left the most negative impression. They often appeared grumpy and unmotivated. On our first day, we were slightly delayed leaving the room (there was no “Do Not Disturb” sign), and when asked for 15 more minutes, they seemed visibly irritated. Even after we informed another staff member that the room was ready for cleaning, it wasn’t cleaned an hour later when we returned. On the third day, the bed was made haphazardly, with my pajamas left balled up on the counter. While towels were replaced daily and overall cleanliness was satisfactory, these small lapses and the unfriendly attitude stood out in a negative way. 4. Beach loungers are not complimentary. As other reviewers have noted, the hotel charges €20 per day to reserve a beach lounger. Given the relatively small and underwhelming beach area, this felt excessive. We opted not to use them at all. ⸻ In summary: There’s a lot to like about this hotel—the spacious rooms, the great location, and the lovely breakfast. However, to justify its 4-star rating and pricing, more attention is needed to detail, service consistency, and updating facilities in all buildings. I’d describe the value for money as average: not bad, but with some room for improvement to make the overall experience as seamless and enjoyable as it could be.