The Skiathos Bulletin Board

skidsy · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Wirral.

I've got quite a bit on after getting home yesterday but here is part one of my feedback.

Beaches - Staying at Koukounaries we should have the pick of the beaches to access. We haven't been since 2003 and I am dismayed to report that I will never consider going back to Banana. When we arrived we had met several other parties going back up the hill....at 10am. We got to the beach and there may have been sand but we couldn't tell due to the rows and rows of sunbeds in pairs only two feet apart. We had already avoided the place for three days due to a non stop dance party that had been taking place. We too turned round and went to Ambelakia instead. Avoid Banana like the plague unless you are under 25 and recently loved being on Malia beach in Crete. Little Banana is still fine.

Koukounaries beach - Spent a day here early on. Go told to put the sunbed back in position as we moved it into the shade from the umbrella. Unfortunately this meant we were almost sat on the next set of beds. At one point I dropped the back of mine down for a snooze and trapped the foot of the bloke behind me. The only plus on this beach is that you don't need to buy a newspaper as it is possible to read the one being held up by the person on the next set of sunbeds. Like Banana, only the music is quieter.

Mandraki - Fantastic (can forgive the hole er WC) went here twice, once for a little drive when the weather was not so good and once in the blistering sun for the whole day.

Ambelakia - Just how Banana used to be, not crowded, great beach taverna and little bar. Lived here and on the last day I arrived to watch the sunrise at 6.45 and stayed put until 7.30 at night. Had some great conversations about the demise of Skiathos with the lady in the taverna to the point where Mrs Skidsy came off the beach to find out if I had collapsed in the toilets.

Popped into agia eleni beach too. Not much has changed here since 2003.

Eating
The prices haven't really increased since we were last there but the quality has bombed. The Strofilia had a grill restaurant which was not there last time we went. The food here is good but expect to pay slightly more for it.
Golden Beach - Service good, food good but usual assumption that chips go with everything.
The Big Bad Wolf - Possibly the worst place I have ever had the misfortune to visit since first going to Skiathos in 1991. I haven't got time to type out the misgivings of this meal but might put something on the Tavernas section later.
Sunset Taverna - The chef here cooks everything from scratch so if you are prepared to sit and chat whilst he does it I guarantee you the best food you will have in Koukounaries except BBQ night on a Friday which is a full on pig out meat fest. It gets a bit heavy going after the third visit to the grill Embarassed

Ilias Orchard - Declined since our last visit although there was an almighty row going on in the kitchens. People were getting the wrong food and drinks and when ours arrived it was ropey as hell. I think we got them on a bad night as our neighbours ate there often as did an Irish Chef who we were comparing food notes with. I ordered Kleftiko which for my obviously tourist mentality had been transferred to pristine foil and paper before being put on the plate. A bit like the authentic Greek souveniers with Made in China stamped on the base.

Away from the resort we had some really superb lunches up at Platanos and the Poseidon at Megalli Amos when the weather was not very good. The Platanos, Kastro and Evangelistra Monastery are now all accessible in a fiat Cinquecento rather than a 4x4 as the entire road is tarmaced form the ring road side of the island. You still need a 4x4 or a good set of lungs to get to Mandraki Beach though.

The Weather - My heart went out to those who flew out with us on 1st August but only for one week. It was overcast on 2nd, the 4th was a bit mixed and on the 5th it rained like only Noah knows how, more of that later as I need to go and put the heating on...

patsy · Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 930 Location: sussex

hi skidsy,welcome back,and such a good honest report. that's the trouble with going back after a lapse of a few years,you see the changes,and your little bubble bursts, i have never been to banana beach(thank god ) i know what you mean about the "kleftiko" comeing in a parcel,like unwrapping a xmas cracker !! could it be it saves the plates getting so mucky ?fortunately i always went in may, empty beaches and no sunbeds,there is no way i would go on a beach that was crowded,especialy the closeness of the sunbeds,(would rather sit on a "greek rock" ) am very much looking forward to your part two post.