The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino

So I booked this fairly last minute - I wanted 5 days fly and flop with a great spa and somewhere close to an airport and where I would feel safe as a solo traveller. This place delivered. I had a great time. I had an infinity garden room with pool which overlooked the golf course and ultimately the sea in the distance. My room was at the end of a row and was super quiet and felt pretty private. It was very tranquil and relaxing and I felt completely safe and secure. So the rooms take a bit of a bashing online for the dark wood - I’m not a dark wood fan but I thought the rooms were very nice and well appointed. Big, comfy bed and nice airy feel. A well stocked mini bar. I also think the hotel grounds are nicer than the promotional photos - the hotel is big but it is very well laid out with lots of stone, good planting and olive trees and it feels light, clean and quite luxurious. The adult pool is really very nice if not a little on the small side - beds fill up early. I also had a really nice time at the family pool, the lifeguards work hard to make sure no wild antics and the sun loungers are nicely spaced out. I actually chose to hang out there some days instead of the adult pool. At both pools the staff are lovely, work really, really hard and do a really amazing job in looking after you and the pool food is good and service super quick. I was not super impressed with the beach - it is a reasonably plain strip of dark grey sand and dark water, and way too many people, it was really hectic. Not for me. Breakfast was also super hectic but once you got used to it, it was fine, good food selection and the staff are really nice. It’s on until 11 which is helpful but top tip would be get there early to avoid the crowds and to get a spot of your choosing at a pool. I always managed to get a sun lounger even showing up most days after 12 but I saw some people not so lucky and some tempers fraying as a result. I had seven treatments at the spa and it is a really, really good standard. The therapists are really lovely, they take amazing care of you. For me I would return for the spa alone. There is a chemist, newsagent, ice cream parlour, hairdresser, clothes shops and restaurants on site - all very handy and very nice standard. I had room service each night and it was decent and quick, no issues at all. All staff serving the food were super nice and professional. Concierge chaps also brilliant. A few small areas for improvement - I had two small issues / requests which were both ultimately dealt with very well by the hotel but in each case took multiple phone calls and visits to reception (one simple request took 4 phone calls and two reception visits, and there was much confusion). In my view the management / reception desk side of the hotel needs to step up a notch or two. Some reception staff members are also a bit unfriendly and not client focussed enough - chatting amongst themselves rather than helping guests etc. Some of the common areas were not tidy enough. I don’t want to see dirty tablecloths/ room service paraphernalia, broken sun loungers, damaged sun lounger mattresses, spare mattresses etc on my way to breakfast or when moving between the pools. The exterior decking outside of the rooms needs more cleaning in my view and some steps around the pool had bit of tape hanging off etc, some sun loungers had wet green mould in the creases. I think it’s tacky to have part of the beach and part of the pool reserved for suites. I never saw anyone using the suite pool sun loungers and the beach area was barely used. If there isn’t enough capacity then it is pretty unpleasant to see families being turned away from the pool and beach whilst these areas just sit empty - feels pointless. Personally if I pay for a suite it’s for the room space, not for this kind of stuff. Overall it was really great - I had a lovely time.

Maria and Erieta absolutely providing the finest hospitality. Romanos is sensational. Breakfast was so delicious especially with the wonderful servers. Money well spent.

Argyris is amazing and made my experience incredible. The meals are to die for. I’ve never had a more luxurious vacation. The pools beaches and rooms are beautiful. I can’t believe a place like this exists. Please come here if you want to be happy and relax. Service wonderful.