Gaia Royal Hotel

My husband and I stayed at the Gaia Royal Hotel from 7th - 16th October. We were allocated room 128 on the second floor. We paid £550 each through Jet2 Holidays for a last minute break. We’ve done pretty much nothing but lie by the pool which was the whole point of this trip. The AI is poor. General AI is a blue wristband and ultra AI is a red wristband. To be able to get bottled water and cocktails from the bar you have to upgrade to ultra all inclusive for €25 per adult per day or €12 for kids. We’ve only seen one couple with red wristbands while we’ve been here but loads of people buying and paying for cocktails in the bar in the evening. Kind of makes it pointless paying for AI The “mini” pool bar at the quiet pool (which we are overlooking from our room) has a miserable barman and poor snacks. Only wraps and croissants. No matter how many times you visit the bar, he doesn’t interact, doesn’t remember your drinks, nothing at all. The “proper” pool bar is over at the other block which has a large kids pool and a large noisy adult pool. They have pizza and sandwiches available, music is playing and all the activities take place over there. The mini mart is there and the “zoo” is next to it The gym is under the evening bar in the main building. Tea and coffee are available at breakfast but if you get one from the main bar at other times, it’s in a tiny paper cup. Cleaning is erratic although our cleaning lady was super cheerful and friendly. Towels not changed. Sheets changed once and when they were one of the new bed sheets was stained. Tea / coffee / milk not replaced. Kettle lid broken so the kettle doesn’t switch itself off when it boils. Have to unplug the fridge to plug the kettle in. The fridge is so noisy at night it’s impossible to sleep with it plugged in. No bottled water is provided in the room. Reported the shower not draining twice. Allegedly someone came to have a look but it made no difference. Max three minutes in the shower before it’s overflowing and turning the bathroom into a pool. Fixtures and fittings in the room are basic and cheap. Balcony is a decent size but quite dirty. Mosquito screen door on the balcony and a screen on the bathroom window is a nice touch. Blackout curtains which do quite a good job. There is no currency exchange at reception. They told us the nearest bureau de change is in Kos town. Nearest ATM is at the shop at the Neptune hotel next door but one. You can get to the hotel by walking along the beach and up through the gardens. While out finding the ATM there we found a lovely taverna called Epikouros run by George who was fantastic. Highly recommend. Stunning sunset from the beach. Main bar has two sleazy greasy barmen who take unfriendliness (unless you’re 18 with your girls hanging out) to a new level. Coffee is awful. Two coffee machines in the restaurant at breakfast with a very limited selection. Badly placed so creates a bottle neck at the entrance to the restaurant. Cats everywhere. All food is lukewarm but generally very good. Pork especially good. Plenty of choice at dinner of salads and at least four choices of mains (meat dishes) along with a variety of pasta, salad and veggie options. Fruit, pastries, yoghurt, and sweets every day. Breakfast is the same every day. Bacon is hit and miss. Again, nothing is hot, it’s all lukewarm and there is only one microwave. Outdoor seating area at the restaurant is lovely with a view of the sea. This place is mosquito hell. I used spray, candles, after bite and still ended up with around 19 bites. You will need something strong if you’re prone to them. This place is a 3 star at best but more like a 2/3. For October the weather was outstanding. Average of 23 every day which was unseasonably warm for that time of year but it was perfect for us. The hotel is very no frills and miles from anywhere so in hindsight perhaps not the best choice for us. We love Greece but this hotel has put us off returning to Kos.

We stayed at the Gaia Royal between the 13th and 20th October. We understand that it is close to the end of the season but if you are paying for All Inclusive it really should be available until the very end. Drinks unavailable at the bar because they wouldn’t open a new bottle, children’s meal section missing most nights at the buffet. The hotel itself is a little tired, but the room was clean although marketed as a two bedroomed suite it was only really one bedroom and then a bed in the main area. The pool was nice and the beach lovely and we enjoyed unseasonably hot weather so we were lucky. The one star reviews on here are unfounded in my opinion, we didn’t smell anything nasty, the zoo is a nice little addition for children. More of a petting zoo really with goats and guinea pigs, but our Grandson enjoyed it. The food was basic but good, breakfast was the best meal of the day with plenty of choice for everyone. We ate out and hired a car and this did give us the freedom to explore. There are lots of cats, which we loved but some may not.

Just got back from 10 nights stay here would say was far better than we expected the food was amazing with lots of choice they also had a lot of traditional Greek dishes to try which was great to experience. We had a problem with our first room when we arrived as the patio doors on both balconies didn't lock the reception was very helpful and changed our room which was great right by the pool and opposite the main building where everything goes on. This complex is very clean all public areas and rooms are kept to a good standard, clean towels when you want them just remember to leave your towels on floor if want changing as found if you hang up they are not always changed. Drinks we feel should be included on the beach along with cocktails as only use the local brands you can buy branded drinks at a cost of 4 euros we did buy a few cocktails but once you found your drink of choice was fine. Entertainment wasn't great but then we did go away late in the season this didn't spoil our time here as you just ended up meeting lots of other people which was nice. It is a bit remote but the island is not very big and reasonable excursions available if you want to get out and about. Overall we had a good time here and would probably return but upgrade room to guarantee good location on the complex

Staff were great, the buffet food was good and varied. Everywhere was clean. Entertainment very poor. Reported maintenance issues were ignored ( simple things like a plug in a sink not working - reported 5 times). The hotel feels in need of a refurbishment.

Had already booked this and they started reading all the reviews ..... omg what had i booked. so after visiting had to write this ..... First of all - not sure what all the reviews are about getting a drink of water is quiet simple go to the pool bar and ask for drink water and would you like ice yes please ! i read so many reviews saying had to pay for water ?! yes if you want a bottle . i quiet simply took my empty bootle to the pool bar or restaurant at meals time and re filled it time wasn't difficult with ice too. Rooms are little tired and furniture and decor but you can pay more for better finished suite if that important to you. Air con worked all fine !! bed wasn't particular comfortable but more bearable and lacking in pillow guess i could have asked for more pillows thou . Bathroom was nice ,better than the actually room and had been refubished 2 shower heads walk in shower / powerful and hair dry - powerful apparently fixed to the wall. TV - tiny but didn't actually bother as was only uk news to watch ... Wi Fi was hit and miss depending on time of day sometimes would work in the room always worked by the pool and reception. fresh towels every day - room was cleaned every day just after 9;30 for us . a lot of rooms seem to have 2 balcony's and there are huge :) 3 chairs and a table sun loungers no problem at all but this was first week of October 3 pools all offer different themes music no music and different food etc , you need to take the time to walk around and ask , the place is huge and the garden and paths are lovely very well looked after, you need to try different pool bars as food drink various some do pizza some dont some have cake and biscuits. after reading other reviews i have come to the conclusion these guests did not try all the pools or bars it is a massive place you need to explore and try .... The smell - well this really does depend where you situated and occasionally is a pong in the air but not all the time and would not ruin your holiday. The hotel is about 15 min from the airport and cost 22 euro for taxi but will do it for 20. the hotel is remote and you really do need a car to make the most of your stay - Mastihari beach has the best sun set ever !!!! i rented a car please do NOT rent a car the hotel absolute rip off !!! airport is the best and drive yourself , drive around here is so simply and for a first timer on the right. Food - huge choice lot and lots of salad choices and always chips if that's your thing or pasta and loads of bread cut your own loaf - were no burgers or pizza suggest you stick to spain if that's your thing. special menu for kids 7-8pm chicken nuggets etc oh and kids pool was lovely with all the little buildings and different mini pools lots of them. one toasting machine at breakfast proved a challenge gave up on that and cereals couldn't find anything i like tbh . lots of egg choices thou larger on tap was not the best more like gas and water anything decent was extra . we extended our room for late check out 7pm 50 euro but really lovely toilets and showers down below the reception with piles of fresh towels to use. would i stay again - probably not but value for money was good.