This year due to Covid 19 things were different. Special organisation was required to maintain social distancing especially at breakfast. This was unfortunatelly not really achieved. The queue in front of the buffet was not keeping the appropriate distance and since the process required a significant amount of time - especially after 9 o'clock - a lot of people had to queue without precaursions. For the rest, the hotel is very nicely located, with excellent view and quite decent facilities. Everybody tried to adjust as good possible to the circumstances. Staff was polite and helpfull,
Excellent hotel, an example of professionalism and Greek hospitality , exceptional services and stuff. It was an overall great experience. We had a wonderful time. Congratulations to the hotel's management.
1. Sailing This is written from a sailor's perspective! Good things: -a good selection of HP boats in very good condition (they are hardly used). RS100, RS200, RS500, vago, aero. -a good range of more basic boats (picos, lasers, bahia, venture, RS cat) -the opportunity to try out foiling -a great sailing area- half the bay- plenty of room, much better than many sailing areas I have experienced on similar holidays -very enthusiastic team of beachies -very good for beginners/ intermediates -good windsurfing instruction -we did get some windy days However: -not nearly enough single handers for the guests (only 6 lasers of which only 3 had full rigs) -not enough staff so when lessons were in progress it was hard to get help with rigging the boats. Not all the staff were trained in how to rig the HP boats. -the kit on the beach was different to what was promised on the website- it was difficult to find out in advance what kit there would be, as the booking team didn't know. -courses advertised on website (eg more advanced sailing) not actually available as not enough staff. - foiling only actually available on certain days of the week depending on staff, and also very wind dependent. We were lucky (and it was brilliant) but that was due to chance and a lot of pestering. -not much available for teens. They could join the adult classes if over 14, but if age 12-13 and competent (so outgrown Youth Squad) there wasn't much on offer. 2. Hotel This is not exclusively for the use of Ocean Elements guests and was really busy with other clients, so it was often difficult to get a table for 5 in the evenings as the restaurant was too busy. It was so overcrowded that you could barely get between the tables. In the mornings at breakfast a lot of other clients smoked at their tables so it was quite unpleasant. The swimming pool was also too busy most of the time for us to use it. The whole ambiance of the hotel was far from relaxing. The road between the hotel and beach is very busy (think A-road) with cars constantly speeding at 30-40 mph. It felt a bit dangerous especially if you were a family with young children.…
We spent a fantastic week at Nautica Bay in Porto Heli. The sailing and sailing instruction was great, in a lovely location. The watersports equipment was freely availably and the staff very friendly. The hotel rooms were modern and clean, each with their own balcony - and our bed was very comfortable. There's a good-sized pool with a nice bar area, too. We had half board with breakfast and buffet-style dinner includes. The food was nice and there was lots of variety, catering for all types of diets. Our only gripe was that there's no zebra crossing to the road between the hotel and beach.
What made this holiday stand out so much was the Ocean Elements staff - our kids were in the youth squad and they absolutely loved it. Arriving with no sailing or windsurfing skills they quickly became competent at both - it was great to see. They are exhausting sports in the heat of summer but the coaches showed huge flexibility to ensure the kids were enjoying every moment. As the parents, we loved that all the facilities were also open to us, took no time to rig a sailing boat, grab a kayak or get a paddle board for us - the beach bar was also a great spot from which to watch the kids. All in all, an absolute winner of a holiday.
We had a fantastic week at Nautica Bay as part of an Ocean Elements activity holiday. The rooms are divided into raised blocks, more like a motel than a hotel, which gives it a nice, landscaped feel. The beach is literally the other side of the road, and it's a 10 minute walk to the nearest large supermarket. There are good restaurants a 5-minute walk away, and also a mini-mart. Reception sells bottled water for the same sort of price as a supermarket. The pool is large and clean, with a deep end that's 3.3m deep (and a relaxed response to the no diving rule!). There's also a lovely semicircular toddler pool. The lunches and evening meals were very good, with a wide selection of hot and cold food and filtered water so you don't have to drink it bottled. The staff were all friendly, and there's a great shop in reception that sells sports gear, clothing, postcards - everything, really. There's also a postbox in Reception. There is mini golf (a bit past its best), tennis, ping-pong, a small playground and a bouncy castle for young children.The bay is great for water sports, and apart from the minor negatives - the long drive to the airport (just under 4 hours) and the breakfasts (a bit cheap e.g. not real cornflakes or real bacon) - it's a fantastic place for a family holiday. FYI apart from the Ocean Elements group, most of the other guests were either Greek or French, which might explain why the food was so good!…
Brilliant , the hotel was on the beach, water sports were available all day. The coaching staff great. Nothing too far. Village 5 Euros in a cab. Lovely restaurants. Good food at the hotel. Would recommend 👍👌
My kids or of an age where sitting by a pool all day would not be enough for them and would drive me bonkers. Therefore, we looked at an ‘activity’s’ holiday where the kids could learn new stuff and so could the adults. I was dreading the idea of booking into a ‘health farm, Ra Ra, boot camp’ for my summer hols or having spotty teenagers all bleary eyed throwing a windsurfing board or worse a sail boat at me in the morning, pointing at the ocean and saying “don’t forget to be back by x O’clock” as their idea of ‘instruction’ but figured it would be better than the alternative of sitting by a pool all day. Or be told every time I ask for something “sorry, that’s not included and will cost extra...” What I actually found were lovely guests, who were down to earth, up for a great time and had many of the same concerns I had boarding the plane. The dress code was informal, the vibe was positive and the atmosphere was relaxed, which helps with kids in tow! The instructors were on another level. Bright, funny, passionate, helpful and truly enjoyed their job and hanging out with the guests. I would seriously class them as friends even after knowing them just a week. Genuine, good people, who were also amazing sailors, bikers, surfer, etc... everyone is accommodated and not made to feel like there is a pecking order or judgements being made, from absolute beginners like me to the guy I met who had sailed the Atlantic, everyone is equal. I would say however, if you’re looking for 5* swanky accommodation, 24 hour room service, cocktails for lunch and a wine list from Napoleons cellar with fine dinning, swerve this holiday, it’s not for you. Unless you walk down the bay to one of swankiest hotels in Greece for dinner! On the kids movie night - possibly. If you want to get on the water, have fun, enjoy evenings with new friends around the pool bar and have your children entertained to the max. Go for it, you won’t be disappointed. To top it all you come home with new skills and a certificate to show your friends back in the UK. Beats the usual souvenirs that clutter the average home! I think this holiday was the first time I booked something off the net that was under sold and totally over delivered. The team there will ensure you have a great time... Enjoy.…
Spent a week learning to sail with husband and wih older teens learning to windsurf and cannot rate the Ocean Elements staff highly enough. Despite their youth they were expert sailors and patient instructors even with clumsy amateurs old enough to be their parents. All of us left with a new skill and RYA certificates and the confidence to sail /surf independently elsewhere. In the evenings they were sociable and entertaining and during the day they could not do enough for you. The sailing equipment was always available and rigged for you in minutes. Safety standards were absolutely excellent. If you wanted to try something challenging to sail they were happy to help you make the most of it but did not push anybody to do anything they were uncomfortable about. The hotel was spotless and well equipped and their staff were also excellent. Only complaint was the hardness of the beds and the rather bland food. It was a bit too international with too few Greek specialties but it was perfectly acceptable otherwise. Overall, it was the best holiday we have had in years and we would all go back again.…
I have not long returned from the Nautica Bay Hotel in Porto Heli, Greece. I had a lovely room with a view overlooking the swimming pool and out over the bay. The room was cleaned every day and was spotless. The food was excellent and as it was a buffet there was plenty of it. The manager, George, and his staff were very helpful in all that they did. This is the third time I have stayed at this hotel and I would definitely do so again.
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