Pine Bay Holiday Resort

The Location was great. The weather was perfect. But the hotel was really awful. Too busy and crowded. Hundreds of kids checked in for a sports competition. Everywhere was noisy and busy. Even, the bathroom water went cold. In the middle of the night, the power generator started working woth a lot of noise. Oh come on man. Is that really a 5 star hotel. I dont think so.

I stayed at Pine Bay for a week in late September. The hotel is set in a gorgeous location with stunning natural surroundings, amazing Aegean waters, and beautiful weather. The complex is vast, offering plenty of activities and quiet spots for relaxation. Our room was pleasant, featuring the sea view we booked and excellent Wi-Fi—the best I’ve experienced in a hotel.

However, my experience was significantly marred by persistent hygiene problems that disrupted my stay daily.

Hygiene and Cleanliness Issues

Housekeeping often missed replacing towels after cleaning, requiring me to call reception each time. The corridors were cluttered with cleaning carts and vacuum cleaners throughout the day, with carts filled with garbage and dirty towels—a constant inconvenience and unpleasant start to our days.

The most disturbing hygiene issues were in the dining areas. I observed staff placing dropped food back into serving dishes, which is unacceptable. Tableware was frequently unclean; finding a fish bone in my beer glass that initially appeared to be something else was particularly disturbing. At the ice cream station, the server did not wear gloves or use napkins, handling waffles directly with visibly dirty, long nails. Each time, I ended up discarding the waffle due to this unhygienic practice.

These ongoing hygiene lapses made dining an unsettling experience and significantly affected our ability to enjoy meals.

Staff and Communication

Communication with the staff was challenging due to their lack of interest. Upon arrival, we received no introduction to the hotel’s facilities and had to seek out information ourselves, setting a concerning tone for the rest of our stay.

Food and Dining

The dining options heavily favored meat dishes, with little consideration for vegetarians or vegans. Dishes were not labeled, and vegetarian options were limited. The quality of the food was disappointing, with tough beef and overly hard fish. Vegetables were unappealing, often showing residue of dust or pesticides.

Some staff members displayed a lack of professionalism, openly calling each other names in front of guests. Misrepresentation occurred when I requested a diet soda due to dietary restrictions and was served a mixture of regular soda and soda water without being informed, which could have serious health implications, especially for someone managing diabetes.

Conclusion

Despite the beautiful location and potential of Pine Bay, the persistent hygiene issues and poor service significantly detracted from my stay. The daily disturbances from unhygienic conditions and staff shortcomings made it impossible to relax and enjoy my vacation. I do not feel that the hotel provided value for the money I paid.