Afandou, Golden Days Review

Overall Rating

Everything

No complaints, just the lack of pavements took some getting used to!!

OK, where do I start?? Oh, I know, BEST HOLIDAY EVER!!! We had never ventured as far on holiday before, tending to stick to Spain (never again!) but this wonderful village with all it's charms has completely stolen our hearts. First of all, until it was recommended to us we had heard of neither the Golden days or Afandou, now it's somewhere we'll never forget. The accommodation is spotless, very basic but what else do you need? The hotel has an excellent restaurant on the terrace which is open from 0830-2030, breakfast is served til 1130, which is great after a night in town(more about that later!). The bar & restaurant are mainly run by the gorgeous Yiannis who seems to be there 24/7, when we asked him when he slept he replied with a grin "I sleep in the winter!". The bar is open all day & very reasonably priced. The hotel also has a pool table, dart board, swimming pool where lots of fun & games go on mainly due to Lambros who's whole purpose in life seems to be to make sure you're having a good time and a lovely garden where you can just while away the hours on a sun lounger. I have to point out that this is the first holiday we've ever had we're you're actually encouraged to have inflatables in the pool. There's regular entertainment including a Greek night with dancing & a barbecue which is a must, a karaoke night where once again Lambros shines & a quiz evening. Venturing outside the hotel you're on the main street down to the village square. Both sides of the roads are packed with shops, bars & some of the best restaurants we've ever had the pleasure to eat it. My favourite was the Four seasons just down from the hotel. Absolutely superb, I'd never eaten Greek before & now am completely converted. Try the Greek plate with a bit of everything, you won't be disappointed. My partners favourite eateries was Mimhes, further down on the other side. This small family run taverna which also does a take away service - try their gyros, I guarantee you'll never eat another greasy English kebab- has excellent value, delicious meals & drinks. A 3 course meal for 4 including drinks cost us 30 euros, amazing! Others well worth a mention are Tastys, Annas, Bon viveur & the Life garden where if you get a pizza get it between you, trust me!!We never had a disappointing meal in the whole fortnight. So after you're well fed it's time for drinks. Although there are bars all the way down including a lovely German bar we tended to head into the main square where we found Iakynthos, its the 2nd bar after the co-op bank with the 3 telly's & thanks to the cheap drinks & the wonderful atmosphere created by Minas & terry(who takes bar tending to another comedy level) every night we went there we had a great time, you must visit there at least once, you won't be disappointed. My partner also wants a mention for Mikes,a cocktail bar just off the square opposite Bon Viveur, it's the only bar in town that serves John Smiths on draught, the hostess Maria is delightful & someone else I now class as a friend. Well, if you don't like the sound of this wonderful place by now there's no hope!! My notoriously hard to please 16 yr old who actually said the place 'looked like dullsville & he wouldn't have gone if it hadn't been paid for' is now recommending it to all & sundry & 2 families of friend of his have now booked up for next year! Not only are we going back for a week in may we've also booked our wedding there for next October, scrapping our original plans in Cyprus. The hotel is doing our reception on the terrace & it's going to be fantastic. So if you do go to this little Greek paradise, when you see Carol, Yiannis, Lambros & Irene at the hotel & Minas, Terry & Maria in town,tell them "Deb & Steve & their lads from Whitley Bay say hi....& thanks for our best holiday ever"