Naxos Resort Beach Hotel

The Naxos Resort Beach Hotel occupies several buildings with the square shape, flat roofs, and archways typical of Cycladic architecture. White and stone facades are pleasantly accented with wine-red balconies and shutters as well as beautiful climbing plants. The surrounding lawns and gardens are well-kept and brilliantly colored. Inside, the lobby is welcoming and bright with a central glass ceiling that lets in lots of natural light and white tiled floors and ceilings. The lobby leads to other areas, such as the breakfast room and indoor bar. There are plenty of couches to sit on, while a corner full of travel guides and two laptop computers invite guests to plan excursions. Though pleasant, the hotel shows its age with dated furnishings such as the blue and beige couches and armchairs in the lobby. The interiors and exterior of the hotel can feel like two different properties, as the surrounding grounds are fresh and more modern than the common spaces inside. Nonetheless, the location is exceptional and with a large outdoor pool and roomy kiddy pool, this property attracts tourists and families who want to relax and explore the island’s offerings.

Beyond the narrow streets of Naxos Town (Chora) sits the Naxos Resort Beach Hotel, which is situated near other hotels slightly beyond the hustle-and-bustle of central Chora, but still in walking distance. Saint George (Agios Georgios) Beach is just a one- or two-minute walk from the hotel, while the busiest part of Naxos is about 10 minutes away on foot, with plenty of restaurants in walking distance. The Naxos Archeological Museum is a 13-minute walk from the hotel, and guests can walk to the Port of Naxos (and ferry) in 14 minutes. The airport is a seven-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel can arrange airport and ferry pickup/drop off or car rentals and also has its own parking area.

Rooms are basic and somewhat dated and tired, usually with beige and white walls, beige tiled floors, and generic wood furniture. Double Rooms feature side-by-side twin beds. Bathrooms are similarly bland with beige tiling, white fixtures, and a standing shower. All rooms have a balcony or terrace with a table and chairs, and most rooms offer a view of the sea, garden, or pool -- though some ground-floor rooms may overlook the parking lot. All rooms are air-conditioned and include hairdryers, individual toiletries, minibars, satellite TVs, safes, wardrobes, and free Wi-Fi, though some guests say the Wi-Fi only works in the common areas. 

The hotel’s best feature -- other than its proximity to the beach and town -- is its large outdoor pool, which includes an attached hot tub and a roomy kiddy pool. The area is clean and well-maintained, surrounded by lounge chairs and a few thatched umbrellas. Some guests complain that there are not enough chairs, however, and that those available get claimed early in the morning. The poolside bar and restaurant are similarly well-kept, with plenty of seating at wood bar stools, tables, and chairs, some of which are in the sun and others under an overhang.

While the pool is more akin to one found at a four-pearl hotel, other areas don’t quite measure up. The sauna, hammam, and indoor hot tub are small and situated in a dated and windowless space. The fitness area has several pieces of dated cardio and weight equipment, but its located in a similarly unattractive room with blue wall-to-wall carpeting, no windows, and an old coin-operated massage chair. The hotel also has a hair salon and offers massage sessions. An event venue can host up to 110 people.

The breakfast area and indoor bar are clean, but feel dated with a blue and beige color palette that seems trapped in another era and chairs with white slipcovers. The free breakfast gets mixed reviews and comes with the buffet standards like cereal, coffee, eggs, yogurt, fruit, and pastries. The hotel offers room service, currency exchange, and fax service. It can arrange dry cleaning, car rentals, and airport and ferry transfers. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but some guests complain that it’s slow or only works in the common areas.