Patmos Aktis Suites & Spa

Now that we have checked out, I have upgraded my original assessment from one star to three stars. We stayed using some well-earned Marriott Bonvoy points, which I am rather pleased about given that our one-bedroom accommodation was showing a cash rate of approximately €1,400 per night. At that level, expectations are understandably high. Unfortunately, our stay started badly. We arrived on our motorbike and, while taking off our luggage, were immediately told by the manager that we needed to move the bike. There was no “Welcome”, no “Can I help with your bags?”, just an instruction to move. First impressions matter, particularly in hospitality, and that interaction rather set the tone. Check-in itself was straightforward and we were told we had been “upgraded”, although the view from the doorway of our room — see photograph — made the description of an upgrade rather optimistic. Lunch at the Taverna came next. The setting and views are beautiful, but the service was poor and dishes arrived sporadically rather than together. Then came the sunbed saga. We selected some vacant beds on the front row, not understanding that there was a system determining which beds guests could use. This resulted in another completely unnecessary confrontation and eventually a discussion with reception before we were allowed to use them. However, this is one area where my opinion changed at checkout. The duty manager explained the reasoning behind the system. In previous years there had been no effective control, with some guests apparently taking multiple beds and then barely using them. The hotel therefore introduced a system to prevent this. Importantly, they also explained that they specifically did not want to follow the Mykonos-style approach of charging extraordinary sums — potentially €500 — simply to reserve prime sunbeds. Suddenly, the policy made considerably more sense. The problem wasn’t necessarily the policy. It was the communication. Explain that to guests when they arrive and a potential confrontation becomes a perfectly reasonable conversation. That evening we ate at one of the hotel’s restaurants and again found the service incredibly slow and lacking warmth. Breakfast the following morning highlighted some more fundamental issues. There was nobody to greet us or show us to a table. I went directly to the egg station and asked for a salmon omelette, only to be told that the lady cooking the eggs couldn’t take my order. I had to find a waiter, tell the waiter what I wanted, and then have the waiter tell the person standing directly in front of me to cook it. A rather extraordinary system. Worse still, the items I added from the buffet — hash browns, mushrooms and bacon — were all cold. For a hotel positioning itself at this level, somebody should be checking the buffet continually, including the temperature and quality of the food. We subsequently returned to the beach and discovered another issue with the sunbeds before eventually being accommodated. Then we asked for towels. There weren’t any. They had run out. Again, these aren’t catastrophic problems individually. But when you combine the arrival, restaurant service, breakfast, sunbeds and lack of towels, they create a pattern of unnecessary friction. At checkout I was asked how our stay had been. I replied: “Challenging.” To their credit, they asked why and listened. I explained the towel problem and the rather bizarre experience at the egg station. They appeared genuinely unaware that these things had happened. The duty manager also took the time to properly explain the sunbed system. And that conversation probably sums up my entire experience of the hotel: Communicate, and problems become solutions. There are some very good things here. The property and setting are beautiful, and credit where it is due, the pizza at Borolo was excellent — easily one of the culinary highlights of our stay. But luxury hospitality is about far more than beautiful surroundings and expensive rooms. It’s about making everything feel effortless. It’s about somebody saying, “Welcome, how can I help?” It’s about food arriving together and hot. It’s about having towels available. And, above all, it’s about communicating with guests rather than allowing perfectly solvable situations to become confrontations. That culture starts at the top. There is the potential for this to be an outstanding hotel. The ingredients are certainly there. What it needs is stronger leadership, greater consistency and a much greater focus on the basic principles of hospitality. Our final verdict: three stars — beautiful surroundings, an excellent pizza at Borolo, and some encouraging communication at the end, but far too many avoidable service failures for a hotel operating at this price point.

Currently here check in was lovely nice upgrade but apparently we are not worthy of front row sunbeds It reminds me of portentous Mykonos We have a house on beautiful kos island where everyone is friendly roll on Wednesday morning ferry

Our recent stay was our fourth at Patmos Aktis, and once again it reminded us why we keep coming back. From the moment you arrive, there is a sense of calm that makes it so easy to unwind. The hotel is beautifully designed, with stunning gardens, elegant spaces, and a setting that perfectly complements the natural beauty of Patmos. Lia greeted us with her usual warmth and kindness and immediately made us feel at home. Her genuine smile, attention to detail, and effortless professionalism perfectly reflect the exceptional hospitality of the entire team. Our room was excellent, with a very comfortable bed and everything we needed for a relaxing holiday. The beach in front of the hotel is simply outstanding—crystal-clear water, with comfortable sun loungers, and the perfect place to spend the day. A special thank you to Kostis, Elias and Nicos for their friendly and attentive service on the beach. Nothing was ever too much trouble. Breakfast was another highlight thanks to Panagiotis, whose warm welcome and attention to every guest never went unnoticed. We also enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Barolo Patmos, where both the food and service were excellent. Having explored much of the island over the years, this time we were perfectly happy to spend our days at the hotel, enjoying the beautiful beach, outstanding service, and wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. Thank you to everyone at Patmos Aktis for another memorable stay. We left feeling refreshed, looked after, and already looking forward to returning.

We arrived in Patmos without a reservation and were fortunate to find availability at Patmos Aktis Resort & Spa, even while they were still doing final setup for the season. Even with everything the team had going on, they graciously accommodated our group of three couples. Our stay was amazing and memorable in all the best ways. A special shoutout to Vasilis and General Manager Manos Niotakis. They—and the entire staff—went above and beyond to make our stay exceptional. Their hospitality, warmth, and attention to detail truly made the experience special. Our group of three couples highly recommends Patmos Aktis Resort & Spa to anyone visiting Patmos. We would absolutely stay here again.

If I could choose one hotel to take with me to stay in on a beach holiday anywhere in the world it would be Patmos Aktis. Super location, completely renovated and excellent food but it’s the wonderful staff that seal the deal. Each and every member of staff is so friendly, helpful, happy and professional. The hotel building is two stories high and has about 60 bedrooms which makes so easy to get around and so quiet. Well done to everyone who looked after us at the end of a long busy season for them and never once failed in their duty. The island of Patmos is nothing short of heavenly.