Agiou Foka, Psalidi, Greece | (937) 315-4602
Tons of activities for kids, including ponies and a water park
Rooms in the newer block are modern with functional air-conditioning
All rooms come with furnished balconies -- some overlooking sea
Relaxing outdoor pools with plenty of sun lounger spots open
Close to Kos Town and its harbor, as well as other island beaches
Spa has treatment rooms, sauna, and an indoor pool
Shuttle bus is available to and from Kos Town
Bicycles can be rented and flat paths head into Kos Town
Fitness center offers classes like yoga and kickboxing
Free parking is available just outside the property
Most interiors in need of refurbishment
Inconsistent food quality and often repetitive dishes
Off-season means fewer services available
Beach on-site is rocky and there's a charge for loungers and umbrellas
Some rooms look out over maintenance road in the back
Free drinks with all-inclusive packages end early in the evening
Wi-Fi requires a fee
Gym is poorly equipped and shared with the whole complex
Kipriotis Panorama Hotel & Suites is one of the more moderately priced upscale properties in the area, but that's largely due to the need for thorough renovations and better quality food in the buffet restaurant. Still, the 254-room hotel offers families with kids a seemingly unending list of activities -- from ponies to a water park -- which is really the property's major selling point. Grown-ups should know that Wi-Fi is often unreliable, older rooms are dated and drab (newer rooms are more modern and attractive), all-inclusive drinks stop relatively early at night, and arriving outside of peak season might limit some of the services and features available. Couples may prefer the four-pearl Michelangelo Resort and Spa, which is more stylish and sleek, and has a great swim-up bar.
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Scene
Interiors in need of renovation, but still a good spot to keep families entertained
The exterior of the hotel is definitely impressive, with a massive sculptural entrance and stories rising up in terraced layers. However, the luster disappears once through the front doors. The lobby, with a pale blue statement ceiling, peach chairs, and dated tile, needs refurbishing. It seems like it's in the works, though, as management says that renovations in the lobby, restaurants, and older rooms are underway as of summer 2017.
Guests coming toward the start of the season or as late as June should know that some services might not be available until peak season, like the shuttle bus into town. Families on vacation dominate the crowds, but it's also a popular spot for couples.
Location
On the coast, within easy reach of Kos Town by car or bike
Located on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean and the coasts of Bodrum, Turkey in the distance, the Kipriotis Panorama is one hotel in a larger resort complex with five hotels and a massive conference center. The hotel is seven minutes by car from the center and harbor of Kos Town, and there's a shuttle bus to go to and from, which makes accessing its tourist sights and nightlife easy.
Beaches are also close by, with the rocky Psalidi Beach a few minutes' walk from the property and Agios Fokus beach an 11-minute drive away (umbrellas and sunbeds are available to rent at both). Thermes Beach, which is famous locally for its therapeutic properties, is 15 minutes away by car along the coast of the island. Those who prefer not to drive can get around pretty well on bike: There's a bicycle rental center on-site, plus flat routes along the coast go into town from just off the property.
Kos Airport is about a half-hour away by taxi.
Rooms
All rooms come with balconies, but older rooms are in dire need of renovation.
Rooms and suites are all air-conditioned and come with their own large, furnished balconies, though some views are over the maintenance road, so be clear when booking. Guests should also know that there's a pretty apparent divide in aesthetics and quality between new rooms (nearer the quieter pool) and older rooms -- it's best to request a new one as the furnishings are nicer and the air-conditioning is a little more reliable. The older rooms look genuinely tired, done in shades of mauve-y brown upholstery, and beige carpets and bedspreads. TVs are available in all rooms, though they're the dated boxy types in older units.
Bathrooms, all with shower/tub combos, are straightforward in design and are supplied with robes, slippers, and free toiletries. Rooms have kettles with free coffee and mini-fridges, while safes require a fee.
Features
Excellent facilities for kids, but food gets mixed reviews
The hotel has two massive outdoor swimming pools with loungers and umbrellas, and a bar by one of them. A rocky beach is on-site, but loungers and umbrellas require fees. Kids are well-catered to with day clubs, ponies in the paddock, a shallow pool, paintball, mini-golf, and spots for teens to hang out. The complex's Aqualand water park, with six waterslides (for all ages) and water games, is a 10-minute walk from the Panorama. Entertainment on-site, especially for kids, tends to be pretty good.
The breakfast and lunch spot, Ariadne Restaurant, has a corner with local specialities during breakfast, though the rest of the menu can get repetitive. For lunch, the most popular spots at the hotel (and in the resort complex) are at Souvlaki & More, which offers a range of casual food, and Fish & More. Dinner at the Triton skews a little fancier, serving Mediterranean and Asian food. There's also occasional barbecue and themed cuisine nights. Some diners at the buffet restaurants have complained that they felt rushed by staff when dining, and that food is typically rated as average (it's also sometimes cold). Food and service at the a la carte restaurants is usually better.
One nice touch is the midnight snack buffet, which is open for two hours around midnight and serves soups, sandwiches, salads, and pasta. Beyond food options, there are three bars: one inside, one by the pool, and another one the beach -- some with self-service beer taps. Unfortunately, free drinks with all-inclusive packages stop surprisingly early in the evening.
The spa has an indoor swimming pool and hot tub, plus well-reviewed massages and wellness treatments available. The hotel's gym isn't the most impressive: there's limited equipment, though there are classes like kickboxing, yoga, and Zumba. It's worth keeping in mind that it's shared between all the properties on the complex. There are also two tennis courts, water sports, and horseback riding available.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, though it's not very reliable, and it's not free. Free parking is available just outside the hotel, but there's sometimes not enough spots during peak season.
